CULTURAL TOURS

13-Day Myanmar Overland

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DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel.
Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI; and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 02          YANGON – PYAY (PROME) (BY LAND)

After early breakfast, drive (280km/4-5 hour) to PYAY (Prome), situated near the ancient capital of SRI KSETRA (Thayekhittaya), which flourished between 5th and 9th century and where extensive archaeological excavations have taken place.
After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Htombo village and embark for a boat trip on the Ayerwaddy river passing ancient limestone cliffs with carvings. Visit the AKAUT TAUNG pagoda and a small monastery on top a cliff before returning to Htombo and Pyay city.
Overnight stay in Pyay.
 

DAY 03          PYAY (PROME) – BAGAN (BY LAND)

After breakfast, admire the ancient stupas of the Sri Ksetra kingdom, BO BO GYI PAGODA and visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM at the Hmawzar Village, before starting your 387 km (9 hour) overland trip to Bagan. Lunch at a simple local restaurant en-route. Upon arrival to Bagan, transfer directly to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Bagan.
 

DAY 04          BAGAN

After breakfast, stroll through the colorful local market and continue by visiting the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; GU BYANUK GYI, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.
In the afternoon learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.
 

DAY 05          BAGAN

After breakfast, embark for visits to TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for their exquisite murals of 13th century and KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan.
In the afternoon, an excursion to farming villages around Bagan will give you an insight to the rural life of the local people. Late afternoon, a colorfully decorated ox-cart will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of traveling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Optional : Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. (Details see ‘Balloons over Bagan’)

DAY 06          BAGAN - SALE - MOUNT POPA

After early breakfast, you will board a boat down river (approx. 3 hour) to explore SALE, a town which developed during the late BAGAN era. Worth a visit is the YOKE SONE MONASTERY with its exceptional woodcarvings on the outside of the building. Drive to MOUNT POPA.
After lunch at local restaurant, continue to visit MOUNT POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Mount Popa is a popular pilgrimage destination for Myanmar’s. The local people travel here from far away to worship various animist spirits known as “nats”. 777 steps lead up to the shrine placed on top of the steep Popa peak. Transfer to the Popa Mountain Resort and rest of the day at leisure for relaxing by the pool or strolls through the surrounding forest.
Overnight stay at Popa Mountain Resort.

DAY 07          MOUNT POPA – MANDALAY (BY LAND)

After breakfast, the journey continues 255 km by road (6 hour) to MANDALAY through varied agricultural landscapes and villages. Lunch in a local restaurant en-route. Upon arrival in Mandalay, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 08          MANDALAY - MARAPURA - MANDALAY

After breakfast, excursion to AMARAPURA, 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues.
After lunch at local restaurant, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 09          MANDALAY – MINGUN – AVA – SAGAING - MANDALAY

After breakfast, an excursion by boat on the Ayeyarwaddy River to MINGUN, about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar constructed by King Bodaw Paya; one of the world’s largest bells, the 90 ton weighing MINGUN BELL and HSINBYUME PAYA. Return back to Mandalay.
After lunch, embark for a short boat ride over a river and explore the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Continue to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, for sunset viewing.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 10          MANDALAY – KALAW (BY LAND)

After early breakfast, a 275 km drive (8 hour) will take you to KALAW. After lunch at simple local restaurant en route, the journey continues on a narrow, winding and bumpy road through the Shan Hills. In the late afternoon you will reach Kalaw, a fresh and delightful hill station, on the rim of the Shan Plateau, which is a market center for ethnic minorities from surrounding regions.
Overnight stay in Kalaw.

DAY 11          KALAW – INLE LAKE

After breakfast, drive (62 km, 2 ½ hour) to Nyaung Shwe for full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. See the famous Inntha leg rowers, floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. You will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks and the weaving village of INPAWKHON.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 12          INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, the visit begins with the local market in the Inle Lake region (Remark : on market days only) and proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex.
After lunch, you will be transferred to Heho Airport (32 km – 1:20 hour) for a domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 13          DEPART YANGON

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for your departure flight.

Itinerary is subject to changes depending on confirmed flights, road conditions and availability of rooms.