SPECTACULAR MYANMAR (BURMA)

Day 1 - ARRIVAL

Welcome To Golden Land of Myanmar:

 

Arrival in Yangon and our experienced guide will meet and welcome you at the airport.

Then we will have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at hotel. 

Day 2 - YANGON CITY TOUR

City & People:

 

Let’s start with Rangoon, the central part of the city.

 

We will visit the Downtown Area, Strand Road, and old Colonial Buildings.

Then, enjoy shopping at Bogyoke Market.

Sunset at World famous Shwedagon Pagoda (2600 years old).

 

Dinner with cultural show at Karaweik Royal restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 - YANGON - BAGAN

Mystery is History:

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport. Then, fly to Bagan.

 

Today, we start our visit with top temples;

  • Shwezigon Pagoda,
  • Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyiinn),
  • Ananda Temple which is almost a thousand years old and done in an entirely different style,
  • Oakkyaung.

Afternoon we visit a lacquerware workshop.

 

In the evening, we will visit the Myin Kabar Bagan Cultural Village, where you can see the traditional looming and handcrafting.

 

The final sightseeing at ShweSandaw Pagoda; follow the steps up to one of the high terraces for a great view out over the plains.

It is the perfect location to watch the sun set over Old Bagan and the Irrawaddy River to the west – a spectacular ending to a sidestepping journey through time.

Overnight at the hotel.

No holiday to Myanmar would be complete without a visit to the temple-studded plains of Bagan.

After having breakfast at the hotel, we take a morning flight to enjoy Bagan’s 4000 temples.

The sheer number of ancient structures is at once baffling and awe-inspiring. Our guide will

explain the contours of history surrounding each temple, framing the significance of their

existence. At each temple, you must remove your shoes and socks before entering

Day 4 - BAGAN - MT.POPA - BAGAN

Excursion to Mt.Popa (50 km, 2 hours):

 

We start our day with breakfast at our hotel and drive to Mount Popa and the nearby volcanic rocks of Taung Kalat.

Mount Popa is an ancient volcano reaching a mile into the sky from the flat plains of central Burma.

We may stop at several places for taking photos and exploring the countryside. Gangs of monkeys occupy the 777 steps that slither to the top.

Afternoon back to Bagan.

The lanes which wind around the 9th -13th century structures and the mighty Irrawaddy River running alongside are an awe-inspiring setting for a bike ride.

Evening sightseeing with Ebike riding includes:

  • Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myinkaba),
  • Nanphaya Temple
  • The massive Dhammayangyi temple (the largest structure in Bagan),
  • Sulamani Temple,
  • Htilominlo Temple.

Day 5 - BAGAN - MANDALAY BOAT

Voyage Out:

 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Jetty for Boat trip to Mandalay – Ancient capital city ofMyanmar in the 11th century — along the Ayeyarwaddy River.

Enjoy the scenic beauty & ways of life along the river Ayeyarwaddy.

Arrive in Mandalay.

Check in at hotel and overnight.

Day 6 - MANDALAY - MINGUN

Breakfast at the hotel.

 

Morning excursion to Mingun by boat, visit:

 

  • Pa Hto Daw Gyi (Unfinished Magnificent Temple),
  • Mingun Bell (World Biggest Ringing Bell weighing about 90 ton),
  • World’s Biggest Lion Ruins,
  • MyaThein Tan Pagoda and then,

back to Mandalay.

Visit to Mahamuni Buddha Image (Exalted Saint Buddha image heavily gilded with gold leaf brought over from Arakan State in 1784).

 

Check in at your hotel.

 

Afternoon visit:

 

  • Kuthodaw Pagoda (the world biggest book),
  • ShweKyaung (Golden Monastery),
  • Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (huge Buddha image)

and view the magnificent sunset at Mandalay Hill.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7 - MANDALAY - AMARAPURA - SAGAING - AVA

Breakfast at hotel.

 

Drive to Amarapura, early morning visit to Mahaghandayon monastery which is the biggest Monastery in Myanmar over 1000 monks, continue to Mandalay for half an hour drive, visit traditional weaving factory for local product shopping. Proceed to Sagaing.

 

Visit KaungHmuDaw Pagoda, Sagaing Hill, Umin Thonese.

 

Trip to Ava, Sightseeing with horse cart. Excursion to the Nan Myint Tower to see the panoramic view around the beautiful Ava.

Sunset at U Bein’s Bridge, Wooden Bridge of 200 years old).

 

Evening arrival inn Mandalay.

Overnightat Hotel.

Day 8 - MANDALAY - HEHO - PINDAYA - INLE

Breakfast at Hotel and transfer to the airport.

Fly to Heho.

Arrive in Heho and transfer to Pindaya (2 -3 hours’ drive) .

 

Observe the numerous Buddha statues in Pindaya cave and also have a taste to Shan’s traditional prickle green tea salad and dried bean paste.

 

Then, transfer to Inle hotel.

Overnight at Hotel.

The Pindaya cave: is set in a limestone hill in Central Burma not far from Inle

Lake. This cave that is about 150 meters long contains thousands of Buddha

images in various styles and from different eras, from the early Konbaung dynasty

to the present day.

 

Every small corner and nook of the cave is cramped with Buddha images up to the

ceiling. Between the images are also a number of small pagodas as well as

stalagmites and stalactites. The number of images is constantly growing since

people are still adding more and more. By by now there about 9,000 Buddha statues in the cave.

Day 9 - INDEIN - INLE SIGHTSEEING

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Inle Lake.

 

Today you will have amazing memories of your visit on the spectacular Inle Lake, which is nestled between hazy blue mountains 900 meters above sea level.

Here you can study Inthar tribes at the Indein Village with its idyllic 17th century pagodas.

 

We will travel around Indein and experience their ways of life.

 

Boat trip to Inle Lake sightseeing includes:

 

  • PhaungDawoo Pagoda (5 holy Buddha images)
  • Floating Gardens & Plantation
  • Cheroot Making, Silversmith, Cotton & Silk Hand Weaving,
  • NgaPheChaung Monastery (Jumping Cats).
  • Floating Markets
  • Foot Rowers

Day 10 - INLE - RED MOUNTAIN WINERY - HEHO - YANGON

Breakfast at the hotel.

 

We will transfer to Nyaung Shwe, then 20 minutes’ drive to Red Mountain located on the side of the Inle Lake, in the southern Shan State.

 

Red Mountain Estate produces the best wines in Myanmar.

Since the begining, the wines are produced with only locally grown grapes, If you wish, you will have chance to test the wine (this will be your own expense).

 

Then we will have lunch at a small town of Nyaung Shwe, followed by transfer to the local airport and flight back to Yangon.

 

Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 - YANGON - DEPARTURE

Tour price includes:

 

  •  Deluxe and First Class Hotels (as per local government classification)
  • 3 Domestic Flights ( Yangon – Heho – Bagan – Yangon)
  • Boat cruise Bagan – Mandalay
  • Boat transportation in Inle Lake and Mingun
  • All Meals as per itinerary
  • All sightseeing
  • English-speaking guides
  • All entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Some surprises

 

Tour price excludes:

 

  • International airfare
  • Visa fees
  • Drinks during lunches and dinners
  • Guide & driver tips
  • Travel insurance (very strongly recommended and available from I.T.S. TOURS)
  • Personal expense and any other services or items not mentioned in the itinerary