DAY 1 YANGON [-/-/D]
Yangoon Building
Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon. Visit first SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years. Proceed then to the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI. From there go then for a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake; and then stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET (closed on public holidays) with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Complete your day in Myanmar with an extended visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
DAY 2 YANGON [B/-/D]
Golden Shwedagon Yangoon
After breakfast, drive to the landmark STRAND HOTEL and have a look at PANSODAN JETTY to observe the busy life on Yangon River. Continue driving up PANSODAN STREET famous for some of Yangon's most impressive colonial buildings. Start your walking tour at MAHABANDOOLA ROAD from where you have the perfect view on SULE PADOGA, CITY HALL and HIGH COURT. Cross through the greens of MAHA BANDOOLA GARDEN before discovering the gold shops of SHWE BONTHA STREET. Go further on to KON ZAY DAN STREET and SHWEDAGON PAGODA ROAD before crossing through the animated INDIAN DISTRICT of ANAWRAHTA ROAD to reach the HINDU TEMPLE. Continue to 31st STREET well known for second hand book. Complete walking time is about 1 ½ hours, whereas transportation waits at pre-determined locations to pick up passengers that prefer to drive. Lunch to own account. In the afternoon we will visit the CHINESE TEMPLE in Chinatown and then head to the train station for a 20 minute ride on the circular line. This short ride will give guests the opportunity to mix with the local people and observe the Yangon city life. Return transfer to hotel. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
DAY 3 YANGON – BAGO - KYAIKHTYIO [B/-/D]
You will be picked up at your hotel for the drive to BAGO (84 km - 1½ hours). On arrival in Bago visit the THAMANAY Buddhist Seminary. This monastery has about 150 monks living there and is located at the entrance of the city. The tour will continue to one of Myanmar's landmarks, famous for its precarious position and religious importance, KYAIKTIYO the 'Golden Rock' is a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. To reach the pagoda from KIN PUN base camp a steep 11 km road leads to the upper staging point. Please note that the journey is made in open trucks, which are very crowded and uncomfortable (be aware of this before you decide to join this tour). The 'upper area' must be traveled by foot, at present, and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path ascending some 500m to the GOLDEN ROCK on top of the mountain range. If you wish to take a more comfortable approach, you can sit back and be carried in sedan chairs by four porters. This will incur an extra cost of approx. US$ 12.00 to 14 p.p. per way (price depends on availability and guest’ body weight and is to be paid directly on the spot). On arrival you can enjoy great views over the surrounding jungle and a beautiful sunset. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at the Mountain Top Hotel (**, Deluxe room) or Golden Rock Hotel (**, Deluxe room) in Kyaikhtiyo.
DAY 4 KYAIKHTIYO [B/-/D]
Myanmar Mount Popa Buddhist Monastery
After breakfast you will return to YANGON (194 km - 5 hours). The drive back to Yangon will be a journey back in time as we will take you through rural landscapes including visits to a farming village, a small typical country side town, a pottery village as well as a Mon village that produces woven bamboo wares. We will also stop at the Allied War Graves cemetery near HTAUK KYAN and a "Nat" tree shrine. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to your hotel. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
DAY 5 YANGON [B/-/D]
Bagan Myanmar
After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, starting your day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KU BYANUK GYI, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; BU LEI THEE PAGODA, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images. In the afternoon visit one of Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts, a
lacquerware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. You will continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in the Mon style in 1059 and follow on to NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. Proceed to BUPAYA PAGODA or SHWE SAN DAW to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Lunch to own account. Dinner at a riverside restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Hotel(***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
lacquerware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. You will continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in the Mon style in 1059 and follow on to NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. Proceed to BUPAYA PAGODA or SHWE SAN DAW to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Lunch to own account. Dinner at a riverside restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Hotel(***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
DAY 6 BAGAN [B/-/D]
Inwa Temple Myanmar
After breakfast, visit further temple including the site of TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for exquisite murals of 13th century and KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan In the afternoon a visit to farming villages around Bagan will give you insight into the rural life of the local people. Late afternoon a colorfully decorated ox- cart shall be waiting to take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sights. This is the traditional way of transportation used by people in Myanmar's countryside. Lunch to own account. Dinner with puppet show at local restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan. Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offer visitors exclusive sunrise flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to March. (For details see ‘Balloons over Bagan’ progamme or contact Hop Asia)
DAY 7 BAGAN [B/-/D]
Thousand Pagoda,Bagan
After breakfast, visit the colorful local market in Nyaung U. A 50 km drive (1 ½ hours) will take you to MOUNT POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as “nats”. You you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. The journey then continues through varied agricultural landscapes (230 km – around 5 hours) to MANDALAY. Some of the roads in Myanmar are in rather bad condition and guests should be prepared for a long and bumpy journey. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
DAY 8 MINGUN [B/-/D]
After breakfast, an excursion by boat on the AYEYARWADDY RIVER to MINGUN about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Your visit will start with the MINGUN BELL, a magnificent sight of the world's largest un-cracked bell weighing 90 tons, and will continue with HSINBYUME PAYA as well as the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, built as one of the world's largest Stupa by KingBodaw Paya. In the afternoon experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the MAHAMUNI PAGODA; the SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; the GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wooden building and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major crafts center. Visit a Kalaga tapestries craftsmen’s shop. Lunch to own account. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
DAY 9 AMARAPURA – AVA – SAGAING [B/-/-]
After breakfast, excursion to Amarapura, 15 km from Mandalay. Visit MAHAGANDAYON, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study; continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was Royal capital. Since then it is noted for silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, with a superb collection of Buddha statues. In the afternoon excursion to the former Royal Capital of INWA (AVA), reached by a short boat trip. Visits by horse-drawn carriage to NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the palace building nicknamed “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Time permitting continues to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset. Lunch to own account. Dinner at local restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
DAY 10 MANDALAY – HEHO –PINDAYA - INLE LAKE [B/-/D]
After early breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (59 km – 2 hour) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries. After lunch (to own account), drive to NYAUNG SHWE (90 km – 2 ½ hours) and transfer by boat to your hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay at Khaung Daing Village Resort (**, Floating cottage built on stilts over Inle Lake) hotel on the lake.
DAY 11 INLE LAKE [B/-/D]
After breakfast, board your boat to the western shore of the lake where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden and unknown INN THEIN PAGODA complex. Visit one of the most amazing historical sights on the shore of the lake consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and greens. Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are grown in traditional ways. Walk in an easy pace along one of the many creeks passing through rice fields to the village of SAE MA. Visit the primary school of the village and possibility to meet the children and teachers to observe their way of learning and teaching. Step in a wooden canoe for an exciting ride down a narrow creek until you reach the PAUNG DAW OO PAGODA. Walk across to the weaving village of THA LAY. In the afternoon meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. Return by boat to hotel. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Khaung Daing Village Resort (**, Floating cottage built on stilts over Inle Lake) or similar hotel on the lake or in Nyaung Shwe.
DAY 12 INLE LAKE - HEHO – YANGON [B/-/D]
U-bein Bridge Myanmar
After breakfast, excursion by boat on Inle Lake to see the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Lunch to own account. In the afternoon transfer to HEHO airport (32km – 1 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
DAY 13 YANGON -DEPARTURE [B/-/-]
After breakfast, day at leisure until transfer to airport for international departure flight.
