Myanmar Discovery

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN YANGON

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar!
You will be greeted and welcomed by your local private tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage. If you arrived by mid day flight, your lunch will be served at a restaurant in town. After lunch, a walk through "downtown" Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city center. Late in the afternoon, visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar's most sacred places. The massive bell-shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz - a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this "Golden Land".

DAY 2: YANGON - GOLDEN ROCK

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Golden Rock Hotel

Early morning drive to Kyaikhtiyo, passing the World War II War Cemetery, dedicated to the 27,000 Commonwealth Forces who died in Burma. Upon arrival at the base camp, transfer to a special open truck for uphill toward the second base camp and take a light trekking to the Golden Rock along the twisting footpath through bamboo forest. At the summit is a small Pagoda insignificant in size but unique for its position. The rock is completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edged of the cliff. Marvel the sunset on hilltop and watch the evening activities at the shrine of the local pilgrimages before descent trek to the Golden Rock Hotel for overnight.

DAY 3: GOLDEN ROCK - YANGON

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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After breakfast, leave your hotel to take a downhill ride by a special open truck to the base camp where your private car is waiting for you. Drive back to Yangon via Bago. On the way, visit the cashew nut, rubber plantation and the nearby an orphanage house. Make a short visit of Bago town tour including local market; Shwetharlyaung, 55 meters long reclining Buddha Image and Shwemawdaw Pagoda, its spire is even taller than the great Shwedagon Pagoda. Return to Yangon through a rural landscape of rice fields and small villages.

DAY 4: YANGON - BAGAN

Included meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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This morning, after breakfast, take an early flight to Bagan. After check-in, set out for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with the exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple. In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquerware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multicolor mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan.

DAY 5: BAGAN - MT. POPA - BAGAN

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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Early in the morning, you will be watching the sunrise over Bagan (optional) and back to the hotel for breakfast. After that, head to Mt. Popa (about 48 km southeast of Bagan). Mt. Popa is known as the abode of Nats (spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honored by some Myanmar people and the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak. It's time to climb for 777 steps to the summit. Proceed to Popa Mountain Resort ( 1hr drive ) for the lunch. The restaurant offers a great view of the Popa summit that stands straight from the central plain. After lunch, return drive back to Bagan. On the way back, make a stop at the village cottage industry to learn the regional product as well as to watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion to brown sugar.

DAY 6: BAGAN - MANDALAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

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After breakfast, transfer to Nyaun U airport for flight to Mandalay. When you arrive at Mandalay airport, drive to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century-old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. Proceed to Mandalay and check-in at the hotel.
After refreshment, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a lifelike Buddha image. Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar and that makes her be the best place to see all the traditional arts and crafts. Start visiting gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. Continue to visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world's largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha's Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill.

DAY 7: MANDALAY - MINGUN - MANDALAY

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

After breakfast, you will be transferred to a jetty for a private boat across the River Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue. Return to Mandalay. After lunch, drive to Ava, 30-minute to the south of Mandalay, was known in the west as the Kingdom of Ava. Stop by a tributary and cross it with a ferry. Travel by pony-cart around Ava to Nanmyint leaning tower which gives a birds' eye view of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River; Bagaya wooden monastery; Aungmyaybonza Monastery made of brick and stucco. Though the Royal Palace has gone, the Pagodas, Temples, and Monasteries still remain. Return drive to Mandalay and see the silversmith work place on our way back to the hotel.

DAY 8: MANDALAY - HEHO - PINDAYA

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Pindaya

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After breakfast, check-out, and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Upon arrival, travel by road to Pindaya (60km) about a 90-minute drive. After check-in at the hotel, make an excursion to the caves which houses over 8,000 Buddha Images of various sizes, made from teak, lacquer, marble, alabaster and cement. In the afternoon, explore the district for it's famous traditional paper & umbrella making home base cottage industry. Back to the hotel to end the day.

DAY 9: PINDAYA - INLE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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Breakfast at the hotel, as usual. Check-out and transfer overland to Inle Lake. You have a leisurely morning making your way down into the Inle basin and by "long-tail" boat out across the lake to your hotel right on the lake. The afternoon is spent to visit villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method that the locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. Later on get back to the hotel for the peaceful evening of relaxation.

DAY 10: INLE LAKE BOAT EXCURSION

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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In the morning, you will be taken to visit a floating market which is a 5-day rotation market. The most fascinating thing is to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue the excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th-century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to your hotel late in the afternoon.

DAY 11: INLE LAKE - HEHO - YANGON

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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You are heading back down the country today to return to the airport at Heho for the morning flight to Yangon. Making the way back to Heho and down the escarpment to Nyaung-Shwe for a busy local market. Check-in at the airport and fly back to Yangon. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel for refreshment. In the afternoon, transfer to Karaweik, a royal barge for a fantastic photo shot along the "pilgrims" causeway across the Royal Lake with stunning views of Schwedagon Pagoda and visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) for souvenir shopping. Back to the hotel for the evening on your own discovery.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE FROM YANGON

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Not available

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Free until transferring to Yangon International Airport to take your departure flight home. Meals on your own account. End of tour services.