Myanmar Must-sees

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN YANGON

Meals: Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar!
On your morning arrival, meet your guide and get transferred to the city to start your Myanmar trip. The first place is Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda. Here, you will see a 70-meter-long reclining Buddha statue around the size of a blue whale. Next, you will travel downtown to explore the local life of Burmese in China Town. Your trip to Myanmar could not be complete without the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda! The best time to visit Shwedagon Pagoda is at sunset. Ascend the eastern stairway to find a row of shops at the base of the temple selling various religious items. Here you will find monks robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense and other unique Buddhist objects. Then reach the platform which forms the base of the majestic temple. Shwedagon is largely considered to be the most important religious site for the Burmese.

DAY 2: YANGON – GOLDEN ROCK

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Kyaikhtiyo

This morning, after breakfast at your hotel,  take five-hour journey to the well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State – Golden Rock. It is built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees.
En route visit Kyakhat Wine Monastery where many monks live during their studying Buddha's literature. This is a great chance for you to learn more about monastic life of young monks.
When reaching the base camp, we travel by local open-air truck to the junction camp and then to Golden Rock or and spend 45 minutes walking to the Golden Rock. If you would love to use sedan chair, it is possible and the fee is on your  own account.

Important Notes for visits to Golden Rock
What to pack

• Sturdy shoes as the way up to Golden Rock is very steep.

• A pullover, lightweight jacket and/or scarf as it gets quite cold in the evening.

• Backpack: Leave your main luggage in Yangon and just bring a backpack or small overnight back.

DAY 3: GOLDEN ROCK –BAGO - YANGON

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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Enjoy brekfast at hotel and head back to Yangon. We move to the base camp by open truck, then drive to Yangon. On the way, don’t miss the chance to make a stop at Bago (or Pegu) to explore Shwemawdaw pagoda - the tallest pagoda in Myanmar. It always amazes anyone with its stunning architecture and great scale. Take time to visit Kanbawzathardi palace-a reconstruction of the original Royal palace from the second half of the 16th century and Shwethalyaung- one of the largest Buddha images in Burma; and Kyaik Pun pagoda which is known for its four towering images of the Buddha visible from far away; as well as the town market and a Mon neighborhood where the locals once produced woven textiles Before reach Yangon, spend some time to visit World War 2 Cemetery and a workshop producing hand-made pots.

DAY 04: YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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Today catch a short flight to Bagan. This place is known to be one of the greatest architectural sites in Asia.
Discover the best of Bagan today! Not simply a chance to see the splendid Bagan temples, this excursion also introduces you to the Burmese culture, allows you to see traditional craftsmen at work and takes you up the mighty Irrawaddy River to a decidedly unusual ‘cave’ temple! Your fist port of call is the Ananda Temple – one of the most exalted of Bagan’s temples. We will ensure that our tour reaches this point before the majority of tourist arrive, enabling you to enjoy the splendor of the temple in relative tranquility. Continue to various other temples dotted around the temple plains to experience a variety of architectural styles in the area as well as the artistic wonder of the 9-14th centuries. Traveling amid the temples you will get a taste of rural Bagan life in this ‘living museum’ setting where farmers and families work amongst the monuments.
Next on the agenda is your chance to learn more about the local culture with a visit to two workshops producing Bagan’s most famous products - lacquer ware and wood crafts. Watch in amazement as the skilled craftsmen use traditional techniques passed down through generations to create beautiful items.

DAY 5: FURTHER BAGAN DISCOVERY

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up again to continue on your Bagan discovery. It’s off to the vibrant NyaungOo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily. From here you will have a look around the Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious memorial. Travel over dusty lanes and tree-shaded roads past temples and monasteries to a small village. At one of the monasteries, you will participate in a special traditional Buddhist ceremony.
From here you will journey on by horse cart for an excursion that passes Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples.

DAY 6: BAGAN – FLY TO MANDALAY

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

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Today, you will take a morning flight to Mandalay. On arrival, drive to Amarapura, Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital. Amarapura means “City of Immortality”, though its period as capital was relatively brief. You will start Mahagandayon monastery, home to more than a thousand young monks and renowned as a center for monastic study and strict religious discipline.
After that, we visit Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda houses one of the country’s most honored Buddha images, completely covered in gold leaves that are every day applied to the statue by male devotees. Then Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, known as the pagoda of the Great Marble Image. Admire the huge Buddha, carved from a single block of marble. It’s said that the colossal marble block took 10,000 men almost two weeks to transport it from the riverside to its current location. Proceed to Kuthodaw Pagoda, frequently dubbed as “The World’s Biggest Book” for its collection of 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Then it’s off to the Shwenandaw Monastery, the Golden Monastery which is the only enduring structure from the Royal Palace of the 19th century. This impressive structure is celebrated for its remarkable woodcarvings.
Late afternoon, you move to the legendary U Bein Bridge, which was built in 1782 when Amarapura was the Royal center of attention. It spans 1.2 km across the shallow Taungthaman Lake and is said to be the longest teakwood bridge worldwide. Enjoy this very special atmosphere as the late afternoon sun casts long shadows and illuminates the local people heading home. Sunset in U Bein Bridge.

DAY 7: MANDALAY – MINGUN – SAGAING - MANDALAY

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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Head off to Mandalay jetty and embark on a private boat for a 1-hour cruise on the Irrawaddy River to Mingun. Experience the sights and sounds of Mingun, starting with the celebrated MingunPaya, which would have been the world’s largest (if King Bodawpaya hadn’t died before it was finished). The construction of this enormous brick building was halted after a fortune-teller predicted the King’s death upon completion. An earthquake that hit in the 1800’s, split the monument and reduced it to partial rubble – it’s possibly the world’s largest pile of bricks. From the flat top you have a fine view of the HsinbyumePaya, Mingun village and the river. Carry on to the gorgeous alabaster Hsinbyume Pagoda, an unusual stupa with a couple of stories behind it. It’s supposedly a representation of the SulamaniPaya which according to the Buddhist plan of the cosmos, stands atop Mount Meru (the mountain that stands at the center of the universe). Afterwards hop on over to the Mingun Bell that weighs 90 tons and is claimed to be the world’s largest hung, uncracked bell still capable of ringing. Before returning to Mandalay by boat there’ll be enough time to explore the small neighborhood's throughout Mingun crafting traditional basketry and mingle with the friendly craftsmen and vendors. Next, you will across the Irrawaddy River in to Sagaing. With 600 ivory colored pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is generally seen as the spiritual hub of Myanmar and claims residence to around 3,000 monks and nearly 100 meditation shrines. You’ll visit pagodas such as Swan OoPonNya Shin, U Min ThoneSae and Shin Pin Nan Gyaing. Continue to Sagaing’s local market, a less visited tourist site. We’ll head over to a small pottery village which is recognized for manufacturing ubiquitous water pots to observe the tradesmen here applying their traditional methods for producing their goods.

DAY 8: MANDALAY – HEHO – INLE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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This morning return to the Mandalay airport for the flight to Heho, in the heart of the Shan State. Upon arrival at the Heho airport, you will proceed to NyaungShwe village. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to visit rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas. Also, be sure to stop in at the teak monastery of Shweyanpyay to witness the intricate wood carving artwork and craftsmanship of the monks there.
Then you will board a private motorboat and begin heading out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. Along the way you will pass several villages that are built on stilts over the lake, which are inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the daily activities of the local leg-rowing fishermen and see their ‘floating gardens’, which are built up from strips of water hyacinth, earth and anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles.
You will also visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses loads of early Shan Buddha Images. In the past this temple was known for its ‘jumping cats’ but these days there are only a few felines roaming around and none are jumping any more. Yet the Buddha images are still worth the visit. Proceed to the PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main haven, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf. There are also many traditional crafts originating on Inle Lake and, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making incredible woven items from lotus silk, boat builders (depending on the time of year), a cigar making workshop, blacksmiths or even silver smiths. The day will come to a close with a return trip by boat back to your hotel.

Included Meals: Breakfast

Hotel in Bagan

DAY 9: INLE LAKE – INDEIN – FLY BACK YANGON

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

After breakfast, you’ll pay a visit to the lake’s morning market (the market is open every day apart from dark moon and full moon calendar days). The market’s location rotates between the lake’s villages in a 5-day schedule and is also visited daily by the lake’s inhabitants as well as the surrounding natives who also come to sell and trade their wares. A 1-hour boat ride down a small canal will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. The Indein Pagoda complex is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sites around the shore of the lake and it consists of hundreds of small stupas that are overrun by moss and greenery.
Afternoon, transfer to Heho Airport to take flight back Yangon. Arrive Yangon, check-in hotel and relax.

DAY 10: 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.