GRACIOUS MYANMAR

Day 1: Arrive Yangon (AM flight) (D)

Upon arrival, you will be greeted by our Guide who will accompany you as you transfer to the hotel.

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 cities in Southeast Asia.

Lunch at local restaurant (own account)

This afternoon, your journey begins with a visit around the city and its highlights. Stop at the National Museum where a tour of the priceless ancient artifacts, works of art and historic memorabilia will help you gain insight in to the country’s history. Of particular note are the three halls on the ground floor, which hold exhibits on the evolution the Myanmar alphabet, the Lion Throne Room, and artifacts from the Yatanabon Period. Continue to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which houses a 70-meter reclining Buddha.

Special welcome dinner and Overnight in Yangon

Day 2: Yangon – Mandalay (by flight) (B, L , -)

Early this morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay. Begin your sightseeing tour of Mandalay with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda is home to one of the country’s most revered Buddha images which, over the years, have been covered with gold leaf giving it an almost ‘lumpy’ texture. Mandalay is well known for its skilled craftsmen and as you tour traditional workshops, you will learn more about the city’s cottage industries. Observe the production of wood carvings, kalaga tapestries, and gold-leaf where the techniques remained unchanged from those used centuries ago to craft items for the Royal Court.

Enjoy the lunch at local restaurant

This afternoon, continue your tour of Mandalay with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19^th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving.

Head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.

Dinner (own) and overnight in Mandalay

Day 3: Amarapura – Sagaing - Mingun (B, L , -)

Today, begin your morning attending a special ceremony in Amarapura. Witness the alms collection at Mahagandayon monastery, when over one-thousand monks gather to collect their daily meal from the local Buddhists. After this beautiful spectacle, continue to a nearby silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products.

This afternoon, cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing. Enjoy lunch in Sagaing before continuing your touring.

Sagaing is covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries; Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Visit Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda and U Min Thone Sae’ Pagoda. After that, proceed to Mingun by car. (45 mins)

Visit the main sites of Mingun beginning with the famous Mingun Pahtodawqyi. This huge brick structure was left unfinished after an astrologer predicted the King’s would die should the temple be completed. In the 1800s, an earthquake left several large cracks in the structure. Continue your visit at the beautiful white Hsinbyume Pagoda whose distinctive style is meant to resemble the mythical Mount Meru. Then, see the Mingun Bell which weighs 90 tons and is considered the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell.

Return to Mandalay by boat, a scenic one-hour journey during which time you will have the chance to see beautiful views of the Irrawaddy River and small villages on the river banks. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Dinner (own) and overnight in Mandalay

Day 4: Mandalay – Bagan (by car) (B, L , -)

After breakfast at the hotel, the scenic drive to Bagan begins. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to visit local villages in order to learn about Myanmar culture, tradition and lifestyle of local people. (310 km/ 6 hour drive)

Lunch en-route

Arrive in Bagan late in this afternoon.

After freshening up at the hotel, take a short ride to a nearby temple to watch the sunset. From high atop the temple, you will have fabulous views of the surrounding planes and river in the distance: A great introduction to Bagan.

Dinner (own) and overnight in Bagan

Day 5: Visit Bagan (B, L , -)

Get up early in the morning to catch the beautiful sunrise from the upper terrace of the temple (Meenyein Gone Temple). Return to hotel for breakfast, then resume your temple touring with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction in to Bagan’s rich history. Continue with a visit to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples. Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed. Neighboring Ananda Okkyaung is one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period and is filled with intricate paintings. Then, visit to nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

Then, scenic drive to Shwe Hlaing village, it will take around 15-20 minutes’ drive. Upon arrival, visit around the village and meet with friendly local people.

Lunch at the village

OR OPTION FOR BIKING: After breakfast back at the hotel, you half day biking trip begins with trip to Nyaung U market where variety of street vendors selling their local goods and always busy with local people. Then, visit around the little town of Nyaung U and go on to Shwezigon Pagoda. After that, resume the cycling journey to Gubyauk Gyi temple near Wetkyi Inn village and headed to old Bagan archeological zone. Visitor will pass Ahlopye Stupa, Sin Pahto, Htilominlo, Min Oh Chan Thar pagoda and ending the tour at Pitaka Teik near Tharabar Gate by discussing and sharing the experience on this trip with local tour guide under the shade of Neem Trees before transfer back to your hotel by car. Lunch at local restaurant. (Please check for Additional charges of biking arrangement)

This afternoon, continue to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s least visited areas. Here you will explore temples such as Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya before heading to the riverside pier.

Board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Irrawaddy River to enjoy the sunset and riverine life of Myanmar. As you cruise the waters, observe the lifestyle of the fishermen and riverside villagers as well as enjoying the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples. Then, transfer back to your hotel.

Dinner (own) and overnight in Bagan

Day 6: Mt. Popa – Bagan (B, L , -)

Today, your journey begins with scenic drive to Mt. Popa. It is an extinct volcano with a height of 1518 m, about 48 km south east of Bagan.

Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. Explore around the “Taung Kalat” and observe about flora and fauna in Myanmar.

Enjoy the lunch at Popa Mountain Resort

After lunch, you will be transferred back to Bagan and rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner (own) and overnight in Bagan

Day 7: Bagan – Heho – Pindaya – Kalaw (by flight) (B, L )

After breakfast, you will transfer to airport for the flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you journey to Pindaya begin with scenic drive to Pindaya. (1 ½ hour drive) You will visit famous Shwe U Min cave where pilgrims placed thousands of Buddha images over the span of many centuries. Then, observe how the paper parasols and traditional Shan Paper are being made at a small workshop at the foot of Shwe Oo Min Hill.

Lunch at local restaurant

After lunch, resume your journey to Kalaw. It is a beautiful hill station in the midst of rolling hills and pine forests and it was summer resort in colonial era. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and rest of the day at leisure.
Dinner (own) and overnight in Kalaw

Day 8: Kalaw – Htee Thein (Trekking) (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will visit morning market in Kalaw. On the market days, the hilltribes of the surrounding villages gather to buy and sell their products and crops. The market is a fascinating mix of people and goods.

Then, you will transfer to Baw Hnin Gone village to start your trek to Inle Lake. (1 hour drive)

Today’s trek is around 4-5 hours through beautiful scenery of the Shan Plateau. The gently undulating terrain is dotted with villages of the Palaung, Shan and Danu people as well as many other hilltribe groups. You’ll encounter friendly locals: farmers working in the fields, curious kids playing in the woods and villagers going about their daily lives.

Enjoy lunch en-route.

Late this afternoon you’ll reach Htee Thein village, your overnight stop. You will either stay in a village monastery or in a family homestay. This is a great way to meet and learn more about the cultures and traditions of rural Burmese life.

Overnight at Htee Thein village

Day 9: Htee Thein – Kyauk Su – Than Daung – Inle Lake (Trekking) (B, L )

After breakfast, say goodbye to your hosts and resume your walk to Inle Lake. Today’s trek is also around 4-5 hours with the final destination being Than Daung village. Then, pass through Kyauk Su and Ngue villages on the way. Lunch will be served en route.

Upon arrival at the lake shores, transfer to your hotel on Inle Lake by boat.

Rest of the day at leisure at your hotel on Inle Lake

Dinner (own) and overnight on Inle Lake

Day 10: Inle Lake Touring (B, L )

After breakfast, your journey begins with a visit to Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ who jump through hoops in the air! You will pass the 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. Then, you will visit around the Thar Lay village to meet with friendly local Inthar people.

Lunch at local restaurant

This afternoon, explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.

Dinner (own) and overnight on Inle Lake

Day 11: Inle Lake – Indein – Heho – Yangon (flight) (B, L ,D)

After early breakfast, visit 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).

From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of In Dein. Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.

Enjoy the bamboo forest picnic lunch at Indein.

After lunch, transfer to Khaung Daing and drive to the Heho Airport for the flight to Yangon and upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.

Late this afternoon, visit Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. The central stupa is 90 meters tall and gilded with gold leaf. As the sun begins to set enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pagoda and surrounding skyline before transferring back to your hotel.

Special farewell dinner at Le Planteur Restaurant

Overnight in Yangon