Day
1 -
Mandalay
MANDALAY ARRIVAL
Upon your arrival in Mandalay, you are welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the sunset on top of Mandalay Hill where you can admire the beauty of Mandalay City.
Overnight: Mandalay
Day
2 -
Mandalay
MANDALAY: AMARAPURA; SAGAING & AVA (B)
First, visit Mahamuni Buddha Image – one of the most sacred Buddha Images in Myanmar. Continue then to Amarapura, once an ancient capital of Myanmar, where you can observe the life of over 1000 monks at Mahagandaryon Monastery. Visit also the silk weaving factory. Afterwards, travel to Sagaing for a breathtaking view from the Sagaing Hill onto the fascinating landscapes of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Next, stop in Ava and visit the Meanu Okkyaung Monastery by horse carts. During this tour, you also see the Nan Myint Tower, which is 27 meter hight, and the Bargayar Monastery, which is well-known for its wood carving with 267 teak pillars. Finish your day with a sunset by crossing over the U Bein Bridge in Amarapura.
Overnight: Mandalay
Day
3 -
Mandalay
MANDALAY: CITY TOUR (B, L, D)
During the afternoon, enjoy a rickshaw city tour of Mandalay, including the gold leaves beating, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw (Golden Palace) Monastery. Then transfer to Shwe Kyin Monastery which is located at the Mandalay Hill. Visit this monastery and observe the ceremony of blessing by the monks in the evening. After sunset, all monks come together into the ordination hall for praying.
Overnight: Mandalay
Day
4 -
Yandabo Village
MANDALAY – YANDABO VILLAGE (B, L)
Drive to Myinmu in the morning and take the express boat to Yandabo village. Upon arrival, stroll in the authentic typical village and walk among the villages’ houses while watching them patiently working the day, sit on the river’s shore and be charmed by the colours of sunset.
Overnight: Yandabo Village
Day
5 -
Bagan
YANDABO VILLAGE – BAGAN (B)
Before heading to Bagan, take a relaxing boat trip to the nearby village of Pan Nyo. The highlight of the village are the around 4,000 buffaloes, and it is a magnificent moment when those 4,000 buffaloes take a bath in Ayeyarwaddy river in the morning. In the afternoon, take the express boat to Bagan.
Overnight: Bagan
Day
6 -
Bagan
BAGAN: FULL DAY EXCURSION (B)
Today, you spend your day in the amazing city of Bagan with its thousand of temples. Start with a visit to the colourful local market and continue then to the Shwezigon Pagode, the glory of Bagan. The Htilominlo Temple has the best pilaster carving, while the Nathtaukkyaung monastery consists of teak wood. Also on your list is the Ananda Temple, the masterpiece of Bagan, and the Gubyaukgyi Temple, one with the best mural paintings of the 11th century. Next, visit the Manuha temple with its huge Buhhda image. The Dhamayangyi Temple is the biggest one in the whole city. Last temple for today is the Sulamani Temple from the 12th century. Finish your day with a fantastic sunset view from the top of the sunset hill.
Overnight: Bagan
Day
7 -
Bagan
BAGAN: FULL DAY EXCURSION (B)
After breakfast continue with your visit of the thousand pagodas and temples. Start with the Lawkananda pagoda, which has the fascinating river view. Payathonezu Temples and Apyeyadanar Temple have mural paintings, while the Nagayon Temple is from the 11th century. Late afternoon, finish your trip with a visit to the Minanathu village to observe the daily life.
Overnight: Bagan
Day
8 -
Inle Lake
BAGAN – HEHO – INLE (B)
Take a morning flight to Heho and continue by car to the Inle lake. Start directly with a boat excursion to the Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the most venerable pagoda. Also visit the lotus petal robe and silk weaving looms at Inn Paw Khone. Last stop, is the cheroot factory in Nampan Village on the lake, before checking-in to your hotel.
Overnight: Inle Lake
Day
9 -
Inle Lake
INLE: TAUNG CHAY VILLAGE & INN DEIN VILLAGE (B)
Spend the day exploring the Inle Lake by boat. First stop is the Ywama village, followed by the Taung Chay Village. This last one is located at the foot of a hill and offers an impressive view. Stroll through the village and observe the production of traditional rice creepy. Walk up the short walk to the Taung Chay Tawya monastery and enjoy the panoramic view. Continue then to Inn Dein Pagodas which lay in ruins and covered by trees and bushes. Stroll through the nearby Bamboo forest, before you head back to your hotel
Overnight: Inle Lake
Day
10 -
Kyaikhtiyo
INLE – YANGON – KYAIKHTIYO (B)
Fly back to Yangon in the morning. Upon arrival, drive to the Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo). The balancing pagoda stands on a boulder. On the way, enjoy the natural beauty and Mon villages. Upon arrival at the base camp, take the open truck to the top of the pagoda. Visit the site and enjoy the sunset from this unforgettable site.
Overnight: Kyaikhtiyo
Day
11 -
Hpa-An
KYAIKHTIYO – HPA-AN (B)
Drive to Hpa-An today. En-route stop in Thaton and also Bayint Nyi Cave with its hot spring lake that exists in that cave. Also visit Kawgun Cave on the way before you reach Hpa-an. Kawgun cave is located near Kawgun village and is a natural lime stone cave. The rock surface is profusely decorated with different kinds of clay Buddha images and votive tablets. It is a rare cave in the lower Myanmar. According to the style of the Buddha images it can be datable to 15th century A.D. Hanthawaddy period. Upon arrival in Hpa-an, check in at the hotel and enjoy the sunset at Shweyinhmyaw pagoda.
Overnight: Hpa-An
Day
12 -
Mawlamyine
HPA-AN – MAWLAMYINE (B)
Today, take a nice boat trip from Hpa-An to Mawlamyine on the Thanlwin river, which is one of the famous rivers of the country. On the way stop also at Kawhnat Kadow Village. Upon arrival at the jetty, take a tuktuk to U nar Oak Monastery where you see the best glass mosaic decorations and teak wood Buddha images. The monastery is donated by a Myanmar the well-known teak merchant, U Na Oak because of his patriotic battle in terms of inland water transport business against the then Irrawaddy Floatilla Company in the British times. Walk around the monastery complex, take pictures of the amazing wood-carving decorations on the inner walls of the monastic buildings. Sometimes, you even see the European pillar pedestals at some of the buildings. Back to the boat and continue sailing to Mawlamyine.
Overnight: Mawlamyine
Day
13 -
Mawlamyine
MAWLAMYINE: BILU ISLAND & MAWLAMYINE (B, L)
Drive to Bilu Islands and your first stop will be the slate industry. School kids, even nowadays, have an old-fashioned slate board for the first grade to learn the writing of the Burmese Alphabet. Further down the road is a local blacksmith who is sharpening the sickle for the rice farmers. The wooden houses are in great shape and an eye catcher. You reach Ywa Loot Village, which is known for making smoking pipes. Watch the workers manufacturing their pipes in their local homes. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Visit other small industries that produce the rubber band made from leftovers of the rubber industry, the cigar rolling shop and rice paddy cultivation (seasonal).Then back to Mawlamyine and visit Kyauktalone Pagoda to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and sunset from Kyaik Thanlan Pagoda.
Overnight: Mawlamyine
Day
14 -
Yangon
MAWLAMYINE – YANGON (B)
After breakfast, take the local train from the station to Thaton and enjoy the great views. On your way to Yangon, visit also Bago, before you have some free time in Yangon for own explorations.
Overnight: Yangon
Day
15 -
Yangon
YANGON DEPARTURE (B)
Depending on your flight time, enjoy some free time, before you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight or flight home.
Mt. Popa, Mandalay Division, Myanmar
