Myanmar In-Depth Tour – 15 Days

Day 01: Yangon Arrival (Meal: No)
Warmly welcome to Myanmar!
Arrival at Yangon International Airport, welcome by Myanmar Tours guide and driver then transfer to your hotel. Your knowledgeable guide will be happy to answer any questions along the way, and will assist you with check-in and registration at the hotel.
Remark: The check in time is at 12.00noon, early check in is subject to availability upon arrival.
After checking in, your guide will take you to Insein railway station to experience the circle train around Yangon, first immersion into the Burmese local life in the rural outskirts of the city, orientation tour by car inside the British colonial area renowned for its architecture.
Later on, head to to the Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a 70 meter long reclining Buddha statue and move onto visit the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda, the defining image of Yangon with its 100-meter stupa which is literally enclosed in over 40 tons of gold leaf and a symbol of Burmese identity.
Return to the hotel then free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Yangon.

Shwedagon at night

Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha

Day 02: Yangon – Bagan (Meal: B)
After breakfast, embark on a domestic flight to Nyaung U. After landing in Nyanung U airport, our guide and driver will take you to explore Nyaung U market, a colorful display of local products. From here, transfer by local trishaw to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for a closer look at Bagan’s affluent past. Transfer to hotel and check-in after lunch time. Free time at leisure. In late afternoon, explore Bagan complex by horse cart and watch extraordinary sunset over the plains.
Overnight in Bagan.

Day 03: Bagan - Mount Popa – Bagan (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer by car for one and a half hour to Mount Popa, an inactive volcano with amazing views. People travel here to worship the diverse spirits known as “nats,” with 777 steps up to the top of the mountain crest. If time allows, arrive in Bagan on time to catch the sunset from atop a temple neat to the Ayeyarwaddy River.
Overnight in Bagan.

Bagan

Mt. Popa

Day 04: Bagan - Mandalay - Pyin Oo Lwin (Meal: B)
After breakfast, transfer to Nyaung U Airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. On arrival, drive for two hours to Pyin Oo Lwin, a former British Hill Station. Firstly, visit Peik Chin Myaung waterfall and caves, filled with Buddha images. Then head to Botanical Garden which features many collection of flora, including foreign species, orchids of various species in orchid garden, dahlia gardens, rose gardens, many exotic fruits and shady trees.
Overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Day 05: Pyin Oo Lwin - Gokteik Viaduct – Hsipaw (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to railway station for an amazing train journey to Naung Pan by crossing the world famous Gokteik viaduct built by the British in 1900, for a thrilled experience. After crossing the bridge, the train will stop at Naung Pan. Drive to Hsipaw and stop at some remote villages on the way. Transfer to the hotel and free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Hsipaw.

Peik Chin Myaung Cave in Pyin Oo Lwin

Gokteik Viaduct built by the British in 1900

Day 06: Hsipaw (Meal: B)
Wake up early this morning and walk through the ‘candlelight market’. This busy morning market is filled with people from the nearby villages – including Shan and Palaung hill-tribes – who gather in the predawn hours to trade their wares and produce. The market usually lasts from 3:30 AM until around 6 AM, thus, the stalls are illuminated by candlelight! After freshening up at the hotel and having breakfast, set off for a boat journey along the Dokehtawaddy River. Cruise upstream for around 30 minutes to a fruit plantation and disembark for a walk through the plantation, village and then up to a 150-year old monastery (40 minutes walking time) After visiting the monastery, return to the boat. The next part of the boat trip head to the confluence of the Dokehtawaddy River and stop for a swimming break and to take photos of the beautiful setting. Continue to a hill tribe village where lunch will be served. Take a stroll around the village to meet with the locals and learn more about their culture, traditions and lifestyles. Then return by boat to Hsipaw and walk back to the hotel in the midafternoon.
Overnight in Hsipaw.

Day 07: Hsipaw – Mandalay (Meal: B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit local market and walk around the village. Check out the hotel then drive back to Mandalay for 6 hours.
Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 08: Mandalay (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Founded as capital of the Burmese empire in 1861, Mandalay is the second largest city in the country. The tour will begin with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda which houses one of the country’s most honored Buddha images, completely covered in gold leaves. Then, head to traditional workshops and its expert craftsmen.
In the afternoon, continue with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda where the marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures are called the ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Then move onto Shwenandaw Monastery, a grand example of 19th century Myanmar teak architecture and also a significant masterpiece of the wood-carver’s art before we reach summit of Mandalay Hill to catch sunset views.
Overnight in Mandalay.

Shwenandaw Monastery in Mandalay

Mandalay Hill

Day 09: Mandalay (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Begin with an expedition to investigate the previous capitals around the city. Starting at Amarapura’s Mahagandayon, home to more than a thousand monks, and a busy alms collection. Then move on to Ava which was the standing capital from the 14th through the 18th centuries. Visit Bagaya Monastery renowned for its extraordinarily elaborate woodcarvings and the Nanmyint Watch Tower – also called “the leaning tower of Ava“ – the remnants of the ancient palace, and Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery by horse cart.
After lunch time, cross the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing, with Sagaing Hill known as the spiritual hub of Myanmar and which claims residence to around 3,000 monks and nearly 100 meditation shrines. Stroll along the legendary U Bein Bridge which at 1.2 km is said to be the longest teakwood bridge worldwide, before returning to Mandalay.
Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 10: Mandalay - Heho - Pindaya – Kalaw (Meal: B)
After breakfast, transfer to Mandalay Airport for a domestic flight to Heho.
After landing in Heho airport, welcome by our Myanmar tour guide and drive then drive to Pindaya. Visit magnificent Pindaya caves set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake where thousands of different types of Buddha images are displayed in the various cave chambers. After that, visit some local houses where families produce Shan paper and umbrellas. Then drive to Kalaw, a trekking destination thanks to its elevated position at 1,320m on the rolling, pine-clad hills of the Shan Plateau.
Overnight in Kalaw.

Day 11: Kalaw - Green Hill Elephant Camp – Kalaw (Meal: B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
This morning, transfer from Kalaw to Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp in Magwe village. The camp is a refuge for retired elephants from the logging industry. Upon arrival, enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a briefing on the day’s activities, the background of the camp and the history of elephants in Myanmar. Following this, embark on a short walk to the river, passing through a reforestation project set up by the camp and villagers and be greeted by the elephants. Trays of bananas and sugar cane will be brought out and some time will be enjoyed feeding the elephants. Afterwards, get dressed in traditional Shan garments to prepare for the elephants bathing in a natural pool, located between two small falls in the stream. Return to the reforestation area to plant a tree before heading to the main camp for lunch. There is time in the afternoon to explore more on foot with the local trekking guide or interact with the elephants. In the late afternoon say goodbye to the elephants and mahouts and transfer back to Kalaw. Overnight in Kalaw.

Thousands of Buddha images inside the Pindaya Cave.

Green Hill Elephant Camp

Day 12: Kalaw - Nyaung Shwe - Inle Lake (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit morning colorful local market and walk around this hill station. Then, drive down into the valley to Nyaung Shwe on the edge of the Inle Lake for 2 hours. After lunch time, embark on local motorized pirogues to explore Inle Lake, a magical watery world. Pass several stilted Intha villages built over the lake, observe the local leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens. Continue onto Phaung Daw U Pagoda, the lake’s main haven, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf. Transfer by boat to your hotel and check-in. Spend the sunset by your lakeside resort.
Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 13: Inle Lake (Meal: B, L)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer by boat to visit the lake’s morning market, the location of which changes every day. The Intha and Paoh hill tribes sell their fresh products here. Continue by boat onto the Pa-Oh village of Indein, on the western shore of Inle Lake, enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Head back to the lake and experience an exclusive lunch in a traditional Intha House and enjoy the delicious Shan cuisine, cooked in the nearby kitchen. Stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where traditional Burmese cigars are handmade. Transfer by boat to the hotel then free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 14: Inle - Heho – Yangon (Meal: B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Heho airport for a domestic flight to Yangon.
Then visit Yangon Colonial Style city center and Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a huge reclining Buddha image.
After a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a “hamsa-bird –shaped’s floating barge on Kadawgyi Lake, stroll through the Bogyoke (Scotts market - closed on Monday) market with hundreds of foods, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores, proceed to Yangon’s oldest Chinese temple and at the riverside located Botataung pagoda.
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 15: Yangon Departure (Meal: B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Free time at the hotel before heading to the airport for the international departure flight.

What is included:

• Accommodation in Double/Twin bedded rooms with daily breakfast
• Meals as listed in the itinerary: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch (Food only, without drinks)
• Local English speaking guide
• All the internal flights with economy cabin including tax: Yangon – Bagan, Bagan – Mandalay, Mandalay – Heho, Heho – Yangon with taxes.
• All activities mentioned
• Domestic Air Tickets
• All transfers and excursions with private air-conditioned vehicles with drivers mention in program.
• All entrance fees for sightseeing in the program.
• Boat trip
• Drinking water (02 bottle of mineral water per day)
• Government tax and service charge.

What is excluded:

• Early check in and late check-out from hotel
• Meals: Lunch & Dinner as not listed above
• Visa to Myanmar.
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Travel insurance
• International airfares
• Expenditure of personal nature, such as porter charges, camera fees, drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc.
• Supplement charges for other language guides on request (French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, etc.)
• Services are not listed in above inclusions.