BEST OF MYANMAR
Isolated from tourist destinations, Myanmar boasts a mesmerized beauty, which is unlike, and unrivaled in Southeast Asia. Our Best of Myanmar features a great experience with visits to holy temples in Yangon, holy stupas of Mandalay, Bagan and exotic floating villages of Inle Lake…
DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
Mingalabar! Your guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and take you directly to your hotel. Your highlight for this evening is buffet dinner in Karaweik Palace, overlooking to the Royal Lake and Shwedagon Tower. A meal of fine Burmese food will be served followed by a beautiful cultural show of music and dancing.
Overnight at hotel in Yangon
Distance:
- Yangon Airport – Yangon center: 8 miles → 20 minutes driving transfer
DAY 2: YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN (B/-/-)
Today, take a morning flight to Bagan. Bagan is Myanmar’s archaeological wonderland, where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside.
Upon arrival, start your tour from the bustling Nyaung U Market in Old Bagan then explore the beautiful, gold leaf Shwezigon Pagoda and learn about Burmese Buddhist traditions. Continue your tour with a visit to Ananda Temple, stopping along the way on the Bagan plains to admire some of the surrounding temples. In the afternoon, take a tour of a local lacquer ware workshop and learn how this traditional piece of art is made.
We offer a beautiful sunset cruise on Ayeyarwaddy River for today, you could observe the lifestyle of fishermen and riverside villages, as well as enjoying the unique views of Bagan’s temples from the river.
Overnight at hotel in Bagan
Distance:
- Bagan Airport – Bagan center: 7 miles → 15 minutes driving transfer
- Bagan center – Nyaung U market: 7 miles → 15 minutes driving transfer
- Nyaung U market – Shwezigon Pagoda: 3 miles → 10 minutes driving transfer
DAY 3: BAGAN SIGHTSEEING (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy an exotic horse cart ride to one of the biggest temples in Bagan: Nan Paya Pagoda and many other interesting sites nearby. Continue with sightseeing to Minkaba Gubyaukyi Temple, take note of the architectural difference in MyaZedi Pagoda before heading to Manuha Temple. The highlight of today is the panoramic sunset view over Bagan.
Overnight at hotel in Bagan
Distance:
- Bagan center – Nan Paya Pagoda: 5 miles → 5 minutes driving transfer
- Nan Paya Pagoda – Minlaba Gubyaukyi Temple : 0.5 miles → 3 minutes driving transfer
- Minlaba Gubyaukyi Temple – Manuha Temple: 0.5 miles → 3 minutes driving transfer
DAY 4: BAGAN – MT. POPA – DRIVE TO MANDALAY (B/-/-)
Leaving the Bagan temples behind, we begin the drive to Mt Popa. When you arrive, join the pilgrims to ascend Mt. Popa and admire the crazy statues that line the walkway, along with the monkeys which live on the mountain. Once at the peak, you can relax and bask in the glorious views of Bagan. We then head to Mandalay by car, it takes about 4 hours.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Bagan center – MT Popa: 38 miles → 1 hour 25 minutes driving transfer
- MT Popa – Mandalay center: 117 miles → 4 hours driving transfer
DAY 5: MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – SAGAING – INWA (B/-/-)
After breakfast, drive to Amarapura. Being famous for Mahagandaryone Monastery, Amarapura is the best place to experience the monk life in Mandalay. Every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up silently to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists.
Next, head to Sagaing, discover the monk education, visit Budda cave, Uminthonze pagoda and Sunooponnyashin pagoda. Behold the panoramic view of Mandalay.
We then cross the river by ferry to Inwa (Ava), situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Once a royal capital, Inwa is now a quiet rural oasis. Enjoy a horse cart ride around the peaceful countryside, visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful teak wood monastery, Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Kyaung, and Nan Myint tower.
End of the day, walk over Ubein Wooden Bridge which is believed to be the longest and oldest teak wood bridge in the world.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Mandalay center – Amarapura: 8 miles → 20 minutes driving transfer
- Amarapura – Sagaing: 6 miles → 25 minutes driving transfer
DAY 6: MANDALAY – MINGUN – MANDALAY HILL (B/-/-)
This morning, drive to Mandalay Pier, embark on a private boat upstream to visit Mingun, famed for its huge and incomplete Pahtodawgyi Pagoda and Mingun Bell, the 90 ton ringing bell.
In the afternoon, visit Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery: noted for its exquisite wood carvings, gold leaf beating workshop, Kuthodaw Pagoda: known to hold the world largest book, then conclude the tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to watch sunset and panoramic view of the city.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Mingun – Pahtodawgyi Pgoda: 7 miles → 5 minutes driving transfer
- Mandalay city center – Shwenandaw Monastery: 5 miles → 15 minutes driving transfer
DAY 7: MANDALAY – FLY TO INLE LAKE – DISCOVERY (B/-/-)
After breakfast, leave Mandalay for Heho. Upon arrival, our private tour guide & car will pick you up and proceed to the tour.
Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar is located 900 meters above sea level and is home to the Intha people, famous for their one leg rowing technique.
Board a motorboat for a sightseeing tour to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famed for its richly gilded five small Buddha images and believed to be the holiest pagoda in Inle Lake. Our next stop is Ngaphechaung Monastery. As you travel closer to Nam Pan Village, have a look at cotton and lotus weaving factories and cigar making houses. These sites will give you a true sense of traditional Intha life.
Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake
Distance:
- Heho Airport – Inle Lake: 25 miles → 50 minutes driving transfer
DAY 8: FIVE DAY MARKET – INDEIN (B/-/-)
This morning, visit the “5 Day Market” which is held in different villages surrounding the lake. This is definitely a fascinating place to enjoy the scene of local tribes in their colorful clothes and exotic market atmosphere.
After lunch, the boat will take you to the beautiful temple of Indein, located on the hill overlooking the lake. It is relaxing to walk along the corridors and enjoy the giant columns that have been left to the nature for centuries.
Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake
DAY 9: INLE LAKE – FLY TO YANGON – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Take the morning flight back to Yangon. Spend the rest of day exploring Yangon and its highlights from Sule Pagoda, in the heart of Yangon city; Chaukhtayi Pagoda then shopping time at the bustling Scott Market (Closes on Monday and some specific holidays). Save the best for last, discover the most outstanding pagoda in Yangon: Shwedagon Pagoda, known as the “Golden Pagoda”, a real must see while you are in Myanmar.
Overnight at hotel in Yangon
Distance:
- Yangon Airport – Yangon center: 8 miles → 20 minutes driving transfer
- Yangon center – Sule Pagoda: 6 miles → 20 minutes driving transfer
- Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda – Shwedagon Pagoda: 3 miles → 15 minutes driving transfer
DAY 10: YANGON DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
You are free until your departure time. Our driver will take you to Yangon International Airport for your flight home.
HOME SWEET HOME!
Included / Excluded
To help you plan your trip, we have put together a list of what's included and what's not included in your tour package. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and help you make any necessary arrangements before your journey begins.
- 3 domestic flights: Yangon – Bagan; Mandalay – Heho – Yangon
- Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
- Services of a private driver and air–conditioned vehicles
- Service of English speaking guides in every location
- Meals are mentioned on program (B: Breakfast, Br: Brunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
- International flights
- Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels.
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal travel insurance
- Myanmar visa fee
Tour Map
This comprehensive map is designed to guide you through an exciting journey filled with remarkable destinations and captivating experiences.
