Myanmar Enchanting 7 Days

Upon arrival at YANGON airport, welcomed by your guide and transferred to hotel (Remark : Official hotel check-in time is 14.00 noon). Then, depart for a heritage tour start at YANGON CITY HALL, located at the heart of the colonial-era city. Nearby is the former Immigration Department. This building was designed in 1910 to be the country’s most upmarket department store, Rowe & Company. Proceed to the High Court, a 1911 brick building designed by the architect John Ransome. Continue walking down to PANSODAN STREET enjoying impressive colonial buildings and have a stop at HLA DAY, a non-profit social enterprise shop, offers quality contemporary and traditional handicrafts sourced from local producers often struggling to overcome disability, exclusion and poverty. You'll find colorful women's and kids' clothing, soft toys, stationery, jewellery, home wares and more there. Continue to Strand Road, home to the three-story former New Law Courts. Next stop is the 1916 Custom House, a large building with an elegant white tower and double-faced clock above the entrance. Walk past the red brick General Post Office to the luxurious Strand Hotel, built in 1901 by the Sarkies brothers, Armenian hoteliers. And also see the bustling life at the NANTHIDA JETTY. Continue visit and stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET (closed on Monday and Gazette Holidays), a compound of hundreds of stalls and shops, that gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar's wide range of handicrafts. After a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, visit the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI. Evening, visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA for sunset viewing.

Overnight stay in Yangon.

After early breakfast, transfer to airport. Flight to HEHO.
Upon arrival at Heho Airport, drive (25km – 1 hour) to NYAUNG SHWE Jetty for boat ride to INLE LAKE. Day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Then, proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INDEIN PAGODA complex.

Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

After breakfast, boat excursion in Inle Lake including Local Market (if possible according to market day schedule); the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; SILVER SMITH, BLACK SMITH AND WEAVING WORKSHOPS in YWA-MA and INPAWKHON. And also visit the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY wonderfully carved wooden floating monastery in the lake. Afternoon transfer to Heho airport. Flight to BAGAN.

Upon arrival to Bagan, transferred to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Bagan.

Breakfast at hotel. Stroll through the Colorful Local Market and continue the day with visits to 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, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.

Afternoon, visit one of Myanmar’s and Bagan’s most famous lacquer ware workshops, and see craftsmen, in MYINKABA village. You will continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059; NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument and according to legends a former palace site of King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings.  Continue to an elevated viewpoint for an unforgettable sunset over the plains.

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 in Bagan offer visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April.

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival, drive to 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. Transfer to hotel.

In the afternoon, visit also one of the most revered religious monuments of Myanmar, the MAHAMUNI PAGODA. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. Visit a Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop. Continue experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including the SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; the GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wooden building and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book made of marble. Then proceed to MANDALAY HILL for sunset.

Overnight stay in Mandalay.

After breakfast, transfer to the Mandalay jetty and board a private local boat for travel upstream on the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay to MINGUN (11 Km, about an hour). The river is always busy - small long tail boats, bamboo rafts and ferries carry goods up and down the river. Visit the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, huge brick structure that was left unfinished after an astrologer predicted the King would die should the temple be completed in the 1800s, an earthquake left several large cracks in the structure. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume (Mya Thein Tan) Paya and the MINGUN BELL which, weighing in at more than 90 tons is considered the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell. Return back to Mandalay.

Afternoon, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse carts. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also known 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 visit SAGAING. Covered with numerous white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. It is home to more than 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Visit Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae Pagodas for a glimpse into the unique environment of this area. Return back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Mandalay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for International departure.

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