Myanmar with Beach Break

DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN MANDALAY

Meals: Not available

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

Welcome to Mandalay, Myanmar!
Mandalay is the second largest city in Burma (after Yangon), and a former capital of Myanmar. The city is the economic and religious hub of upper Myanmar and is centered around the Royal Palace. Half of Burma's monks reside in Mandalay and the surrounding areas.
After clearing the custom, getting picked up and transferred to the hotel for checking in. The remainder of the day is yours to relax.

DAY 02: MANDALAY SIGHTSEEING

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

Your orientation tour of Mandalay begins with a visit to the Mandalay Palace Kyauktawgyi Pagoda with a giant Buddha carved from one marble block. Then proceed to Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as 'The World’s Biggest Book' for its collection of 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. End the morning with Shwenandaw Monastery, the Golden Monastery which is the only enduring structure from the Royal Palace of the 19th century.
This afternoon continue on with the Mahamuni Pagoda which 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. There are also many craft workshops in Mandalay and, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making gold leaf, tapestries, wood carvings or marionettes if you are interested and if time allows.
Next drive to Amarapura, Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital. Visit Mahagandayon monastery, home to more than a thousand young monks and renowned as a center for monastic study and strict religious discipline and continue on foot or by bus a short distance to U Bein Bridge. Built in 1782, it spans 1.2 km across the shallow Taungthaman Lake and is said to be the longest teakwood bridge worldwide. Enjoy  the late afternoon beauty as the sun casts long shadows and illuminates the bridge. Back to the hotel for the night.

DAY 03: MANDALAY – FLY TO BAGAN

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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Get the early morning transfer to the airport to catch a domestic flight to Bagan.
Bagan is known to be one of the greatest architectural sites in Asia. When Bagan was the center of Myanmar from the 11th to 13th centuries the monarchs built multitudes of massive stupas and pagodas, scores of which are still present on the shores of the Irrawaddy River. The majesty of Bagan with more than 4000 red brick temples on a plain of the size of Manhattan island is one of the highlights of a Myanmar holiday that will soothe the eye of every traveler.
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 first visit is to 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 tourists 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.

DAY 04: FURTHER DISCOVERY OF BAGAN

Included meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

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OPTIONAL: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE OVER BAGAN - (Only available from October through March/10 Apr and the extra fee is updated to you at the booking time)

The morning will start off with an exciting hot-air balloon ride above the Bagan countryside. You will observe one-of-a-kind views when the sun begins to rise over the Irrawaddy River and various stupas in the region. You’re simply not going to find many other opportunities like this on Earth.

Start morning with visit to Nyaung Oo 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. Explore the village on foot, getting a glimpse of local lifestyles of Bagan’s residents. Continue to more lesser-known monuments, selected based on your interest, in the area for the remainder of the morning. If you wish, a short walk can be arranged through a series of smaller monuments which allows for a unique perspective of Bagan. 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, and of course, Sulamani Temple. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples.

DAY 05: BAGAN – FLY TO HEHO – INLE LAKE

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

This morning transfer to the airport for your domestic morning flight to Heho. From Heho, it is a scenic one-hour drive (32km – 1 hour) to Nyaung Shwe, gateway village to Inle Lake.
Then you will board a private motorboat and go to 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. 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 Nga Hpe Chaung 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. Finally, proceed to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, 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.

DAY 06: INLE LAKE - INDEIN

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

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Today begins with 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 is a hive of activity as the lake's residents gather to buy fresh produce and other goods in the early morning hours.
Continue with 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. Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending the moss-covered stairway to the top of a hill. Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you will be greeted buy an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Then it’s time to embark on a 45 minutes trek to Sae Ma village. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the natural beauty and panoramic vistas of the area while basking under the shade of the bamboo grooves in the area. Upon arrival at the village, observe the daily lifestyles of the rural inhabitants. Afternoon back to your hotel for relax.

DAY 07: HEHO – FLY TO THANDWE

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali

After breakfast, get transferred to Heho airport and flight to Thandwe.
Upon arrival at Thandwe Airport, you will be welcomed by a representative of your hotel who will escort you to Ngapali Beach.
After your check-in, you’ll be free for the rest of the day to enjoy the idyllic beach and take advantage of the hotel facilities.

DAYS 08 - 10: NGAPALI BEACH BREAK

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali

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No tour activities are included these days.
Lapped by the warm waters of the Bay of Bengal, the beautiful stretch of palm-fringed coastline at Ngapali remains one of Asia's most delightful and untouched beach destinations. Ngapali is at its best from November to March, yet even at peak season the area has a sleepy, small-town atmosphere that makes it a perfect place to relax

DAY 11: THANDWE – FLY TO YANGON - SIGHTSEEING

Meals: Breakfast/ Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

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Today, catch a morning flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon airport, get picked up and transfer to the city for hotel check-in. The remainder of the morning is yours to relax. In the afternoon, begin your sightseeing of Yangon with a visit to the 70-metre reclining Buddha at Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda. head on to Chinatown for a change of scenery and check out the dragons and incense of the colorful Khen Hock Keong Chinese temple. Explore the vibrant street stalls where vendors sell all kinds of fruit, vegetable and other goods or simply just walk around and soak in the atmosphere of this little China in Yangon. Resume your sightseeing with a visit to the gleaming royal barge at Kandawgyi Park. Then, as the sun begins to set, travel to the resplendent Shwedagon Pagoda. Begin at the eastern entrance to find a row of shops at the base of the temple selling various religious items such as monks robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense and other unique Buddhist objects. Continue up the stairs to the main platform of Shwedagon where you will gaze in awe at the 100-metre gold-covered chedi.

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.