Tour Duration         : 20 Days / 19 Nights
  Tour Type               : Classic
Tour Destinations   : Yangon/Mawlamyine/Hpa An/Kyaiktiyo/Taungoo/
                                  Kalaw/Inle Lake/Pindaya/Mandalay/Bagan/Pyay
Prices                      : contact us
Activity Level          : Regular Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

Day 1. Yangon Arrival
Day 2. Yangon - Mawlamyine
Day 3. Mawlamyine
Day 4. Mawlamyine - Hpa An
Day 5. Hpa An - Kyaikhtiyo
Day 6. Kyaikhtiyo - Taungoo
Day 7. Taungoo - Kalaw
Day 8. Kalaw - Inle Lake
Day 9. Inle Lake
Day 10. Inle Lake - Taunggyi - Kakku - Inle Lake
Day 11. Inle Lake - Pindaya
Day 12. Pindaya - Mandalay
Day 13. Mandalay
Day 14. Mandalay
Day 15. Mandalay - Mt. Popa - Bagan
Day 16. Bagan
Day 17. Bagan - Pyay
Day 18. Pyay
Day 19. Pyay - Yangon
Day 20. Yangon International Departure

Detail Itinerary

Day 1. Yangon Arrival

Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage. If you arrived by mid day flight, we may proceed for lunch. After lunch, a walk through “downtown” Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city centre. Late afternoon visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”. Enjoy Welcome Buffet Dinner at Karaweik Palace Restaurant with Traditional Cultural Show. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Day 2. Yangon - Mawlamyine

Morning drive to Mawlamyine(7 hours). On the route, visit the city of bago. The town, a former ancient port and capital, is situated about 84 km (approximately 2 hours driving time) from Yangon. The journey from Yangon to Bago leads through a picturesque rural landscape of paddy fields and small villages. The highlights include Kyakhatwine Monastery, over thousand of monk studying the Buddha’s literature and the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which is over a thousand years old. Repaired after an earthquake in the 1930’s, the pagoda has an impressive spire, one that is even taller than that of Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda. Also visit to Hinthargone Pagoda, where you can see the Nat Shrine. Mawlamyine is an attractive, green, tropical town with groups of stupas capped hills on the other side of the sea. Overnight at the hotel in Mawlamyine.

Day 3. Mawlamyine

Full day of sightseeing in and around Mawlamyine, visit the local market and the small town of Mudon (20km -1hour). A newly built huge reclining Buddha can be seen en route. Stop at Kyaukdalone, a Buddhist stupa and a Hindu temple facing each other. Sightseeing continues with the Mahamuni Pagoda, Kyaikthanlan Pagoda (known as the Kipling Pagoda) and Seindon Mibaya Kyaung, where King Mindon's wife sought refuge. These religious buildings are all situated on a mountain range from where beautiful sunsets can be observed. Overnight at the hotel in Mawlamyine.

Day 4. Mawlamyine - Hpa An

A scenic drive today takes you to Hpa An, the Kayin State's quaint capital. During the journey, you'll stop at the Buddha-filled cave of Kha Yon and Kadoe Kawnat village to visit the local monastery. Upon reaching Hpa An visit the iconic sights of Mt Zwe Kabin, whose foothills are lined with thousands of identical Buddha statues and the 'Cave of Ten Thousand Buddhas'. Overnight at the hotel in Hpa An.

Day 5. Hpa An - Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock)

Morning drive to Thaton, on the way visit Bayin Nyi cave and then drive to Thaton, former capital of the Mon Kingdom. Then proceed to Kyaikhtiyo, from the base camp (Kinpun–Sakan), car ride up to Rathedaung and then walk up to the pagoda. The Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (7.4 metres high) is built on the huge steep rock overlooking the panoramic view of the Sittaung river valley, green forests and beautiful mountain ranges etc- Sunset at the summit of the pagoda. Overnight at the hotel in Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 6. Kyaiktiyo - Taungoo

Drive to Taungoo. In the afternoon, free at Leisure in Taungoo. Overnight at the hotel in Taungoo.

Day 7. Taungoo - Kalaw

Early morning drive to Kalaw (appr. 6 hours drive), a former British colonial town. Kalaw, another hill station as well as peaceful summer resort nestled in pine-clad mountains, is 1,400 meters above sea-level. It is located 70 km west of Taunggyi. Many of the Tudor-style houses and English gardens of colonial days remain. In the neighborhood lie villages of Palaung and other hill tribes who come to Kalaw market held every five days in their colorful costumes, adding to the quiet attraction of Kalaw. Overnight in Kalaw. Day 8. Kalaw - Inle lake After breakfast visit the market and downtown area. Then drive for 15 minutes to the north-west and stop at the junction A. From here take the footpath to the right. The road and trail goes through beautiful scenery. After 1½ hrs you arrive Pane Hne Pin, a Palaung Tribal Village with a population of 600 people. These people make their living from agriculture and occasionally from hunting, and live in long houses, with 4-5 families sharing the single storied structures. From Pane Hne Pin you have to walk for 2 hours to reach junction B from where the car will bring you back to Kalaw (appr. ½ hr drive). In the afternoon drive to Nyaung Shwe (appr. 2 hours), a small town at the northern end of Inle Lake. From here take a boat for the transfer to your hotel, for check-in and overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 9. Inle Lake - Indein - Inle Lake

Full day excursion on Inle Lake (25 km) famous for its unique one-leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda housing five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images, contorted because of the quantity of applied gold leaf, gifts from the believers. The Buddha images are purported to have come here in the 12th Century. In the afternoon excursion to Indein (appr. 1 hour drive) to see the ancient Bagan + Shan style pagodas, built during Bagan Period, passing the beautiful scenery with tall grasses and little water steps. The ruin pagodas, hide in the bushes will give you an impression of you were in the 12th - 13th Centuries ago. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 10. Inle Lake - Taunggyi - Kakku - Inle Lake

This morning, leave your hotel by boat and drive up through pine-clad hills to Taunggyi, capital of Southern Shan State and a former British hill station. Visit the local market where minority people sell their produce and a cheroot factory. Just a couple of hours from Taunggyi, discover the "long lost" ruins of Kak Ku in countryside inhabited by the Pa O people. Situated in the rolling Shan Hills, Kak Ku pagoda is very unusual and little is known about its origins. The Pa O people believe that the original pagoda was built on the site some 2,000 years ago. Dozens of small stupas surround the main pagoda in a huge circle. You can wander through the stupas which are decorated with fine stucco work and Buddha images. Visit one of the many Pa O villages near Kak Ku and see a huge monastery on the way back to Taunggyi. Transfer back to Nyaung Shwe where you will board your boat return to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 11. Inle Lake - Pindaya

After breakfast drive to Pindaya (appr. 2 ½ hours), a charming village with its paper umbrella cottage industry. In the afternoon visit the Pindaya cave, famous for its thousands of Buddha images and the paper umbrella cottage industry. Overnight at the hotel in Pindaya.

Day 12. Pindaya - Mandalay

After breakfast drive to Mandalay (appr. 6 hours), the city of the last Myanmar Kings. In the afternoon visit gold leaf making industry, Mahamuni Pagoda, originally built by King Bodawpaya in 1784, hosting the revered Mahamuni image, cast in the 1st Century and now covered in thick gold leaves and arts and crafts center (bronze casting; stone carving, etc.). Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 13. Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay

After breakfast drive to Kywezon jetty to watch the busy riverside activity and take a local riverboat to the ancient capital of Mingun (appr. 1 hour per way). Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of the Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell, see the nearby unfinished Mingun Pagoda, built to be the world’s biggest pagoda and visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Then come back to Mandalay. In the afternoon visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, Atumashi Monastery, the "Incomparable Monastery", the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world's Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures and sunset on Mandalay Hill, a vantage-point for panoramic view of the city. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 14. Mandalay - Amarapura - AVA - Sagaing - Mandalay

After breakfast drive to Amarapura the “City of Immortals” and visit the 150 year old Mahagandayon monastery, and famous Buddhist learning center. It is home to a thousand monks, who will form a procession as they go to take their noon and final meal of the day. Apart from Pagodas that have survived, the ancient art of silk and cotton weaving, using handlooms, is very much alive and visit U Bein wooden bridge, over 150 years old, which is still in use. After lunch drive over Ava bridge to Sagaing, 21 km southwest of Mandalay and visit the Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees with numerous Pagodas, monasteries and nunneries. Visit the village of Sagaing, at the foot of Sagaing Hill with markets, shops and restaurants; one of the monasteries on the hillside; the Tilawkaguru cave temple, with mural paintings; Umin Thounzeh caves, containing 45 Buddha images and Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda built in 1312. The view of Sagaing from here is outstanding. Late afternoon come back to Mandalay. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 15. Mandalay - Popa - Bagan

Early morning drive to Mt. Popa (appr. 6 hrs drive). Visit the great extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, the solitary volcanic crag of Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar's most powerful " nats ". Visit the Nat Museum with its life-sized statues of the 37 Nat Gods. Walk up the steps to the stupas and shrines that top the hill above the museum, seeing many pilgrims along the way. In the afternoon continue to Bagan. On the way visit some villages and watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion into palm sugar. Upon arrival in Bagan transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Day 16. Bagan

Full day sightseeing tour of Bagan with a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples, such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; the Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes; the Ananda Temple, with four huge standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures in niches around the galleried interior and the Shwe Gu Gyi Temple, noted for its fine stucco carvings and panoramic views of the area’s many monuments. In the afternoon visit Myinkaba, two km south of Bagan. This village is well known for its lacquerware workshops and has also a number of interesting temples, as Nanphaya Temple, said to have once been the residence of King Manuha and Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, which has very nice frescoes inside. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Day 17. Bagan - Pyay

Whole day drive to Pyay (appr. 9 hours drive), also called PROME (the former name was Sri Ksetra) located on the steep bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight at the hotel in Pyay.

Day 18. Pyay

In the morning, visit to Pyay market, where you can find the local products. Then drive to Htone Bo (appr. 2 hrs.). From there, take a boat trip along the Ayeyarwaddy River to visit 'Akout Taung' (the hill of levying taxes), named after the tradition of the collection of taxes to the boat passing through the hill during the colonial times. There you can find the sculpture of many Buddha images along the cliff of the mountainside. Near by are a waterfall and a monastery. In the afternoon drive back to Pyay and visit the Shwe San Daw Pagoda in the centre of Pyay (a hair relic Pagoda, a combination of Myanmar and Mon architecture) and the night market. Overnight at the hotel in Pyay.

Day 19. Pyay - Yangon

Early morning visit the ancient capital of Pyu Dynasty Sriksetra, where you can find some of the oldest pagodas in Myanmar and a small museum which shows the cultural and architectural development of Pyu people during that time. Then drive to Shwedaung, a small town appr.15 minutes and visit the Buddha with the Golden Spectacles which is our logo. From here drive to Yangon (appr. 5 hours). Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Day 20. Yangon International Departure

After breakfast continue sightseeing of Yangon, Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2000 years, the Mahabandoola Park with its Independence Monument and walk around the downtown area and the sprawling Bogyoke Market. Wide streets, orderly town planning and neglected public buildings revive visions of British rule, while busy streets scenes and shimmering pagodas, bursting through a leafy canopy, hint at the rich local culture. Skyscrapers and glaring neon billboards have yet to overtake the capital. Afternoon free at your own leisure, till transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.