Exotic Myanmar Highlights Tour 13 Days

Day 01 : Arrival to Yangon ( D)
Upon arrival at airport, pick up and transfer to your hotel. Relaxing. Dinner will be served in Karaweik Palace Restaurant watching Myanmar Traditional Dances. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

The Magnificent Shwedagon

Bagan Plains

Day 02: Yangon city tour (B, L )
Today we will visit Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South-East Asia. On the way visit Shwe Taw Myat Zedi (Buddha's Replica Tooth Relic Pagoda, Kaba Aye Pagoda (World Peace Pagoda) built for memorial of the 1954-56 sixth Buddhist Synod, is located on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Mayangon Township. And then proceed to Mahapasana Guha : "Great Cave", built close to the Kaba Aye Pagoda. Lunch at restaurant. After check in the hotel, take some relax for a while. Afternoon sightseeing Chaukhtatkyi Reclining Buddha Image: 230 ft (70 m) long in the pose of rest, the original image was built in 1907 and the Shwedagon Pagoda: world famous glistening gold stupa towering over the city with spearing to height of 326 fees.
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 03 : Yangon – fly to Bagan (B, L )
Morning we take a domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to hotel and proceed on a sightseeing tour, starting with the busy local market and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century. See 13th Century frescoes adorning the corridors of Kyansittha 'Cave' Temple. Continue to Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi In village), another 'cave' temple with fine frescoes of the 'Jataka Tales'. Next stop is Htilominlo Pagoda, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes. Visit the Taungphi village to see old monasteries, which have beautiful Khone Baung dynasty frescoes. Lunch at Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit continue to Annada Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery from the early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. Make a photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61 meters - Thatbyinnyu known as 'temple of omniscience' and dating from 1144. Continue to Mingalazedi Pagoda, the last of the large Pagodas built in the 13th Century, representing the pinnacle of Bamar pagoda architecture. Enjoy sunset at one of the monuments along Ayeyarwady River.

Day 04 : Bagan (B, L )
This morning we have time to explore the Myinkaba village area either by bicycle or by horse cart. First we visit Gubyaukgyi Temple admiring the fine stuccowork. We continue to Nanbaya Temple, built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings, and said once to have been Manuha's residence. See the four Buddha images in Manuha Temple and later stop at Myazedi stupa to see Myanmar's "Rosetta Stone", bearing inscriptions written in four languages. Lunch at Decent Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit to Lacquer ware shop to watch craftsmen skill fully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts. After that visit to Abeyadana Temple with frescoes representing Bodhisattvas and the gods of Indian mythology. Continue to Damayangyi Temple, a massive-looking temple dating from 1170 that is famous for its interlocking mortar less brickwork. Next, visit Sulamani Pagoda, one of Bagan's great two-storied Bamar style temples, which has 4-seated Buddha images. Observe a sunset in the vicinity of Bagan's ancient monuments.

Loftiness that is Thatbyinnyu

The Htilominlo Temple at Bagan

Day 05 : Bagan – Pakokku – Monywa (B, L )
Breakfast at hotel and drive to Pakkoku, an un-spoiled small town famous as a tobacco trading centre and for its weaving shops. Arrive at Pakokku and visit the local market and see genuine indigenous regional open-air market with a vast array of things for sale including local's snacks, fresh vegetables, ingredient, textiles, handy crafts, etc. If time allows, continue to see the small Thanaka vendor, cheroots factory and slippers workshop and wood carving sculpture. Lunch is taken at a simple local restaurant. Then continue drive (approx. 4 hrs) to Monywa.. Arrival Monywa and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day at leisure.

Day 06 : Monywa – Mandalay (B, L )
Early morning visit to local market. Then we drive to Chindwin River. Cross the river by ferry and proceed by pick-up (45 km) to visit a sandstone cave system in the Po Win Hills, named after a famous 'zawgyi' (alchemist) who once lived here. The Caves of Po Win Daung, numbering more than one hundred, is full of Buddhist statues and murals. Most exhibit the Innwa style but some may date from the 14th century. Nearby, visit Shwe Ba Daung, which features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with Bubddha images. Drive back to Monywa. Lunch at simple local restaurant. In the afternoon, check-out from hotel and drive about 20 km out of Monywa to visit Thanboddhay Pagoda. Inside the pahto, you will see thousands of Buddha images (reportedly over 500,000) decorating every wall, archway and niche. The buildings in the compound have interesting jataka reliefs. Proceed drive to Mandalay. Arrival Mandalay and transfer to hotel.

Day 07 : Mandalay (B, L )
Start your morning Mandalay sightseeing tour with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Stop to see stone carving, Kalaga tapestries being created and gold leaf being beaten into wafer thin pieces. Visit a Burmese candy making work shop. Visit a place where you can families making the traditional golden umbrellas which are used for the ceremony of novitiation. Check into your hotel late morning. Lunch at Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Shwenandaw Monastery, an ancient wooden building with intricate carvings, which was once King Mindon's home. Continue to see the 'world's largest book', being the Buddhist Scriptures inscribed on marble slabs, at Kuthodaw Pagoda. Visit Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda to see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Enjoy spectacular views at sunset from Mandalay Hill, where there are interesting glass-studded temples.

Day 08 : Mandalay - Mingun - Sagaing  (B, L )
Early bird: After an early wake up, drive in downtown where watch the beautiful scene of monk's procession along the road accepting the alms offering. You can also see the local life and why not take a tea or a light breakfast in a typical tea shop. A unique Mandalay scene hiding behind the early morning light. Breakfast at hotel. A boat trip on the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun about 11 km (one hour each way) upriver from Mandalay. The boat trip (approx. 1 hr – up river trip) is interesting because you see all types of wooden boats and bamboo rafts, carrying goods up and down the river. Visit the Mingun Bell, weighting 90 tons and being the world's largest intact bronze bell. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume Paya and the unfinished Pagoda (built with the intention of being the world's biggest pagoda). Then return to Mandalay and proceed by car to Sagaing. Lunch at Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill, where hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. This is perhaps the living centre of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Return to Amarapura via the Ava Bridge, built by British engineers. Then continue to the 150-year-old U Bein teak Bridge, built in 1851 at the time when Amarapura was the royal capital. Walk over U-Bein Bridge, which is over a kilometer long and enjoy spectacular views at sunset. Return to Mandalay.

Day 09 : Mandalay – Fly to Heho – Kalaw (B, L )
After breakfast, we transfer to Mandalay Airport for domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho, transfer to Kalaw (50 km – 1½ hours), an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Kalaw, which was formerly a British Hill Station. Enjoy walking through Kalaw, visiting the local market, the tiny train station and perhaps walking up the hill to see the old catholic church (if open). Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, take a walk through the hills and start walking to Myin Ma Hti village 31/2 hours. The ethnic groups are Danu, first walk through the pine forest and after 1 hour walking you will see potatoes, mountain rice and huge vegetables plantation field. They all worked with ox and buffalo, no machine no tractor. Unbelievable to see people working a huge field with man power and animal. Enjoy the nature beauty, on the way you'll see little boys and girls helping their parents. The Myin Ma Hti's villager are farmers 100% earn their living on agriculture. Myin Ma Hti known for his lime cave 200meters long. Return to your hotel.

Day 10 : Kalaw – Inle Lake (B, L )
This morning scenic drive across the Shan Plateau to Nyaungshwe where we board our own boat to go to our hotel in Inle Lake. Lunch at Restaurant. In the afternoon, we enjoy another boat tour to Indein, at the western end of the Lake. The boat takes you through a long channel where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on Lake Inle. The beauty of sunset over Inle Lake enchants all visitors.

Day 11 : Inle Lake (B, L )
This morning, explore one of the 5-day markets (on market day only). By visiting 5-day markets, clients will get insight into the life-style of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants who came to these markets to sell their goods. Enjoy boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer's dream, its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic high hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake's unique "leg rowers" – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar. Lunch at Restaurant, located in the middle of lake. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. See traditional handicrafts - silk weaving on wooden handlooms and a blacksmith shop. Pass endless floating gardens, where fruit and vegetables are grown. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. One can see ancient Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old.

Day 12 : Inle Lake – Heho Fly back to Yangon (B, L )
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe and then proceed to Heho Airport. Return domestic flight to Yangon and transfer to hotel. Lunch at Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Bogyoke Market (closed on Mondays and Public Holidays) gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar's wide range of handicrafts. Walk along Yangon River to see the busy harbor area, from where ferries leave for Pathein in the Delta and for upcountry towns along the Ayeyarwady River.
Overnight in Yangon

Day 13 : Yangon - Departure (B)
Free until transfer to the airport for the flight back home.

What's included ?

• Accommodation based on twin sharing All kinds of internal transportation as above mentioned itinerary
• Domestic Flight tickets for (Yangon - Nyaung Oo, Nyaung Oo - Mandalay and Mandalay - Heho, Heho - Yangon)
• Sightseeing on Inle Lake by private boat
• English Language guide
• Meals as listed in the itinerary: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner
• Entrance Fees & Zone Fees as per mentioned program
• Good local car experienced car driver
• Government Tax
• Service Tax

What's Excluded ?

• International Ticket Fare with insurance surcharge and Fuel surcharge
• Visa Fees & Travels insurance
• Personal Expense such as beverages, telephone calls, laundry services, Minibar, etc….
• Drinks at meals and purify drinking water and snow Towel along in program
• Other services not mentioned above including