DREAM TRENDY THROUGH
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
(D)
Welcome
to Yangon! Upon arrival your Guide and driver will be waiting to greet you and
transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
This afternoon take a short
sight-seeing tour of the city. Yangon, formerly
known as Rangoon,
is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual
heritage makes it one of the most fascinating and authentic cities of Southeast
Asia.
Your guide and driver will pick you up at your
hotel to embark on this half day of sightseeing. First we’ll visit Kyaukhtatgyi
Pagoda, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha. A visit to Kyaukhtatgyi
provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha,
the feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals
gathering to pay homage and pray.
Continue to Modern Tea Shop for a chance to
experience an integral part of Burmese life: drinking tea! Select from an array
of snacks and enjoy a coffee or tea as you sit amid businessmen, friends and
families who gather at the tea shop to socialize or conduct business. The tea
shop is also unique in the way they prepare the tea, so be sure to have your
camera ready. (Note: tea and snacks included)
Next your guided tour goes to Kandawagyi Park,
one of central Yangon’s greenest spots. Here you will see the glittering
Karaweik barge, a replica of the royal barge, and the vast lake with views of
Shwedagon in the background. Depending on the day of your visit Kandawgyi may
be busy with local families who come here on the weekend to relax in the fresh
air.
From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple
in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, it is believed that
the original structure was built in the 11th century then renovated several
times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central
stupa is 90 meters
tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas and your
guide will show you around the massive complex, explaining why this temple is
so revered. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa and the city skyline
from this vantage point.
Welcome dinner at local Restaurant.
Overnight in Yangon.
Day 2: Yangon – Heho- Bike to Pindaya
(B,L,D)
This morning transfer to the
Yangon Airport for your flight to Heho, in the middle of the Shan State.
Upon arrival, a short 45 minute
drive takes us along a busy road to Aungban. Our bikes and helmets will be
waiting here and after a bike fitting and route briefing, we’ll set off for
Pindaya. The road is around 40-50 kilometres of rolling hills passing through
farms and villages. You’ll have a chance to meet and interact with the Pa-Oh
people along the way as well as the farmers in their fields.
Arrive in Pindaya mid-day and
have lunch at a local restaurant.
Then check in to your hotel and
have a chance to freshen up.
Around 15.00 we will depart to
visit the Pindaya Caves, a multi-chambered cave filled with hundreds of Buddha
Statues. The elevated location also offers great views of Pindaya, its lake and
the surrounding hills. Afterwards we will stop in a local shop making paper
umbrellas, using traditional techniques famous in the Shan State.
Dinner this evening at the hotel.
Overnight in Pindaya.
Day 3: Trekking (Pindaya – Htut Ni – Si Kya Inn – Yasakyi)
(B,L,D)
Your trekking adventure begins this
morning with a hike from Pindaya to Yasakyi. The 4.5 hour trek passes through Htut
Ni and Si Kya Inn Village.
This area is mainly inhabited by
the Palaung
hilltribe, animist people who are thought to be the earliest inhabitants of
Myanmar. They still follow the same traditional lifestyle and earn a living by
cultivating seasonal crops as well as growing the leaves used to produce the
ubiquitous Burmese cigar and the cheroot.
There is plenty of
opportunity to visit traditional villages on the way and interact with the
local people, learning more about their customs and lifestyles.
Lunch at local
village on the way (lunch box)
In Yasakyi you will enjoy a freshly prepared dinner
and spend the night in either a homestay or a village monastery. (Mattress, bed
sheets and blanket will be provided. Accommodation is basic but it is a unique
experience.)
Overnight in Yasakyi.
(Trekking Time:
4.5 - 5 hours)
Day 4: Trekking
(Yasakyi–LinLayInn–MeNeTaung–PinSeinPin–HtinShuu Gone) (B,L,D)
After
breakfast, resume trekking to Htin Shuu Gone.
Along the way you
will pass through several hilltribe villages such as Lin Lay Inn, Me Ne Taung
and Pin Sein Pin which are inhabited by the Pa-O people. The Pa-O are noted by their unique dress with
the men and women donning long black pants and black shirts, the women wearing
a colorful turban and large earrings.
Upon arrival, there is plenty of time to walk around the
village and its surroundings, learning more about the local lifestyles.
Lunch at local village on the way (lunch box) and
dinner is served in Htin Shuu Gone village. spend the night in either a
homestay or a village monastery.(Mattress, bed sheets and blanket will be
provided. Accommodation is basic but it is a unique experience.)
Overnight in Mwe Daw Village.
(Trekking Time:
4.5 hours)
Day 5: Trekking
(Mwe Daw - Htin Shu Gone – Tuang Baw Gyi) - Pindaya (B,L,D)
Wake up this morning for your final day of trekking, descending down
to Pindaya. The day’s trek is short but enjoyable and we’ll spend time
interacting with the farmers and villagers along the way. Today’s villages
include Htin Shu Gone and Tuang Baw Gyi.
You’ll stop for a picnic lunch before reaching the town centre.
After checking in to your hotel and freshening up, head out for a
celebratory dinner at Green Tea. Green Tea is a fabulous restaurant overlooking
Pindaya Lake and serving a range of Burmese, Shan and Danu dishes.
Overnight at in Pindaya
(Trekking
Time: 2-3 hours)
Day 6:
Pindaya – Taunggyi – Bike to Nyaung Shwe- Inle Lake (B,L,D)
After breakfast, visit the
Pindaya Caves, a multi-chambered cave filled with hundreds of Buddha Statues.
Then transfer to Taunggyi (1.5
hour drive) where your bikes will be waiting. We’ll first visit the local
market and have lunch at Aye Thar Yar Restaurant, a lovely restaurant at a
local winery with views over the surrounding hills.
From here it’s a beautiful ride
to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway town to Inle Lake.
Along the way you’ll pass by
local farms growing oranges, sweet corn and other items and have the
opportunity to learn about the culture, tradition and lifestyle of the Shan
people. We’ll stop en route as well at the small town of Ayetharyar (1 hour)
before continuing on to Nyaung Shwe (1.5 hours)
Then a short transfer takes us to
our lakeside hotel where there is time to freshen up before watching the sun
set over the water.
Dinner is included this night at
hotel. Overnight on Inle Lake.
Day 7: Inle
Lake – Yangon (B,L,D)
This morning we set off early to see the lake’s morning market. The
market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is
visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and
trade their wares. (Note: market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon
day- depending on location we may need to reverse the itinerary on this day).
Pass villages built on stilts
over the lake, inhabited by the
local Intha people. Observe the
leg-rowing fishermen and see their
floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to
the bottom with bamboo poles. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the
lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold
leaf.
We’ll have lunch on the lake (Inthar Lay Restaurant or
similar) before transferring to Nyaung Shwe jetty to transfer to the airport
for the flight to Yangon.
A farewell dinner is served this evening at local Restaurant.
A farewell dinner is served this evening at local Restaurant.
Overnight in Yangon.
Day 8: Yangon half day bike - Departure
(B,L)
This morning we set off by bike
to Yangon’s outskirts for a half-day biking through the rural areas. The route
covers around 30 kilometres and is a great way to finish a journey in Myanmar,
observing the lifestyles and cultures of the Burmese people.
Return to Yangon for lunch (White
Rice Restaurant or similar) and a chance to freshen up before transferring to
the Airport for your international flight.
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