Activity Level
: Regular Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
Day 1. Yangon
Day 2. Yangon - Kyaiktiyo
Day 3. Kyaiktiyo - Bago - Yangon
Day 4. Yangon - Inle Lake
Day 5. Yangon - Inle Lake
Day 6. Inle Lake - Pindaya - Mandalay
Day 7. Mandalay - Amarapura - Inwa - Sagaing - Mandalay
Day 8. Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay
Day 9. Mandalay - Monywa
Day 10. Monywa - Bagan
Day 11. Bagan
Day 12. Bagan - Yangon
Day 13. 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 you 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 02. Yangon - Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo)
Early morning drive to Kyaikhto At Kyaikhtiyo Township, transfer from your car to a special open truck for
your ascent to Kinmon Base Camp (appr. 45 minutes drive). From here continue the journey up to the
Golden Rock on foot. (This trail is sometimes steep, but is smooth, and there are covered shelters every 50-100
meters to rest, and have a cold drink. Porters will be available to assist anyone who wishes help, and a "sedan chair"
conveyance is available for those who do not wish to walk.) Along the way, will be many
pilgrims who have walked from the very base of the mountain. At the shrine, is a small stupa placed atop the
Golden Rock, a massive granite boulder. Covered with gold leaf, and precariously balanced over the edge of
the mountain, it is purported to be held in place, "balanced on hairs of the Buddha". Enjoy the late afternoon
activities at the shrine, before returning back to your hotel for overnight. Overnight at the hotel in Golden Rock.
Day 3. Kyaiktiyo - Bago - Yangon
After breakfast continue the journey by air-con car to the small village of Kyaikhto. In Bago visit to the
interesting Bago Market with varieties of vegetables, flower and commodity goods, the Shwetharhlaung Pagoda,
with its giant reclining Buddha, having a history over 1000 years old; the nearby Monastic
Education Center; the Mon Village, with its array of cotton weavers; the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, with 114
metres the highest pagoda in Myanmar and walk from there to the Hintha Gon Pagoda, the place where
Bago was founded. Late afternoon drive back to Yangon and transfer to your hotel for check in. Overnight at
the hotel in Yangon.
Day 4. Yangon - Heho (By Flight) - Inle Lake
In the morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Heho. From Heho, enjoy a scenic drive to Inle Lake,
one of Myanmar best-known sights. The Intha people, a tribe of Mon descent, mostly inhabit the lakeshores
and floating villages. On arrival at Nyaung Shwe village, transfer by boat to start a sightseeing tour of Inle Lake
including a chance to see the leg-rowing fishermen. Continue to see the floating gardens, built up
from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. There are also
floating villages like Ywama, the lake’s downtown, where a floating market is held every five days. In the
afternoon continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and the jumping cat
monastery. Check into hotel in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.
Day 5. Inle Lake - Indein - Inle Lake
After breakfast, transfer by motorboat to In Dein, an off-the-beaten-track site in the south of the lake. From Ywama, the boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal leading to a small Pa O tribe village. From the market place of the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to the lake and transfer back to hotel in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.
Day 6. Inle Lake - Pindaya - Heho - Mandalay ( By Flight)
After breakfast at the hotel, leave by boat and car to enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya through the picturesque
countryside of Shan State. Visit Pindaya’s limestone cave with its maze of chambers displaying more than
8,000 Buddha statues and local handicraft workshops producing Shan paper made from mulberry bark and
traditional umbrellas made from the same paper that are used by monks all around the country. Then transfer
to Heho Airport for the short flight to Mandalay. Transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight at the hotel in
Mandalay.
Day 7. Mandalay - Amarapura - Inwa - Sagaing - Mandalay
After breakfast at the hotel depart for full day trip to the former capitals of Amarapua, Ava and Sagaing.
The day begins with a visit to the 18th century capital, Amarapura. Attend the daily meal of over a thousand
monks at the country’s largest monastery, Mahagandayon. Proceed to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th
centuries and visit by horse and carriage the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal
Palace and fort. In the afternoon cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River and continue to Sagaing.
Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious
centre of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Finish the day with a walk at
sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely from teak. Overnight at the hotel in
Mandalay.
Day 8. Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay
After breakfast, transfer to the jetty and board a private chartered boat for an excursion over the Irrawaddy
River towards the former capital of Mingun. After a 45 minute cruise, arrive in Mingun famous for its huge
unfinished pagoda also home to the Mingun Bell, considered as the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell.
Also visit the beautiful white Hsinbyume Pagoda. Return by boat to Mandalay. In the afternoon visit the
Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world’s biggest book),
Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving and the impressive Kyauktawgyi Pagoda with
its huge sitting Buddha. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill for panoramic view of city.
Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
Day 9. Mandalay - Monywa
Leave Mandalay for a 3 hour drive to Monywa, a typical Burmese town on the banks of the Chindwin River.
On the way, visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, where more than 500,000 Buddha images cover every wall and
archway of this huge Buddhist temple. Also visit Bodihtataung Pagoda and the largest reclining Buddha
image in Myanmar, 100m long and 27m high. Cross the Chindwin River and proceed to Po Win Daung .
This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is
considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddhist statues in South-East
Asia. Recently opened to foreigners, Po Win Daung with its unique, precious frescoes, some dating
from the early 17th century, is a must to see for anyone with an interest in Buddhist Arts. A few hundred
metres from the caves is Shwe Ba Daung, another very interesting site where monasteries and temples are
carved out of narrow cliffs. Overnight at the hotel in Monywa.
Day 10. Monywa - Bagan
After breakfast at the hotel, leave Moniwa along the rarely visited east bank of the river passing traditional
villages where farmers climb the palm trees to extract the juice from which they produce palm tree sugar.
Stop in Pakkangyi to visit one of the oldest surviving wooden monasteries in Myanmar. Continue 20km
south to Pakokku, a lively, typical Burmese city with a strong craftwork tradition producing colourful woven
blankets, papier-mâché toys and traditional sandals. Continue across the river to arrive in Bagan at the end
of the day. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Day 11. Bagan
Depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A
comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of
later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of
13th century and Htilominlo Temple. In the afternoon, continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King
Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural
masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the
breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Day 12. Yangon International Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, Visit the monuments of Myinkaba village, Gubyaukkhi, an early period
Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence with some of the oldest mural paintings in Bagan, Manuha and Nanpaya
temples. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the countryside village of Minnanthu, the least visited
temple area in Bagan. Observe the local farmers‘ way of life together with a visit to some of the most
interesting temples such as Payathonzu, with its unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence,
Lemyethna and Nandamannya temples. In the late afternoon transfer to Nyaung Oo Airport for the flight
back to Yangon. Transfer to hotel on arrival. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.
Day 13. Yangon International Departure
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for your return international departure flight.
