^{8 Days / 7 Nights}

Itinerary (Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Amarapura - Ava - Sagaing - Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake - In Dein-Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon)

ESSENTIAL MYANMAR 8 Days / 7 Nights (EMR/EM)

DAY 1 : Arrive Yangon
Arrive in Yangon and transfer to hotel. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South East Asia. In the afternoon, a first look at the city takes you to the National Museum and Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda's 70m long reclining Buddha. At the end of the day, we reach Myanmar’s holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda with its golden stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf. Overnight in Yangon.
 

DAY 2 : Yangon-Bagan (Breakfast)
After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Yangon's Mingaladon Airport for the flight to Bagan (Nyaung Oo). Thousands of ancient stupas and temples in this area make Bagan, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia. From the 11th till 13th century, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers constructed huge stupas and temples, many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. On arrival, we head to Tayokye Pyay for a first overview over the plain of Bagan. We continue with the Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, followed by Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jatakas murals paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. In the afternoon, visit Ananda, an architectural masterpiece of the early-style temple and Ananda Okkyaung is one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period. End the day with a horse carriage tour among the temples starting at Ananda and passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, the massive Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork and Sulamani. Sunset over the site from one of the open upper terraces in Bagan. Overnight in Bagan.

DAY 3 : Bagan (B)
OPTION: from October to March, early morning hot-air balloon flights over the plain of Bagan and its 3000 sites. An unforgettable and unique experience!
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the colorful Nyaung Oo Market before proceeding to Myinkaba village. We go for a walk through the village and have the opportunity to visit the local sites (Gubyaukgi, with some of the oldest mural paintings, Manuha and Nanpaya) as well as look into the production process of lacquer ware, one of the best-known Myanmar handicrafts in one of the local family workshops. In the afternoon, visit to the countryside village of Minnanthu, the least visited area in Bagan with temples such as Payathonzu, with its unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence, Lemyethna and Nandamannya, before heading to the riverside near Nyaung U Village where we board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Ayeyarwaddy before sunset. Overnight in Bagan.

DAY 4 : Bagan-Mandalay (B)

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to Nyaung Oo Airport for the flight to Mandalay. On arrival, visits start with the Mahamuni Pagoda, famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf. Mandalay has long been known as a center of skilled craftsmanship and in former times supplied the Royal Court. A tour of traditional workshops includes crafts such as woodcarving, marble masonry, Kalaga tapestry and gold leaf makoing. In the afternoon visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (the world’s biggest “book”) and Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving. End the day with a view of the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY 5 : Mandalay-Amarapura-Ava-Sagaing-Mandalay (B)
After breakfast at the hotel depart for an excursion to the former capitals of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. We attend the daily meal of over thousand monks at the country’s largest monastery; Mahagandayon in Amarapura before visiting a silk weaving workshop. We continue 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, we 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 center of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Finish the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely from teak. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY 6 : Mandalay-Heho-Inle Lake (B)
In the morning transfer to Mandalay Airport for the flight to Heho. From Heho a 1-hour scenic drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery on the way. Board a private motorboat to head out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. We pass villages built on stilts over the lake, which are mostly inhabited by Intha people, the leg-rowing fishermen of the lake and see the floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Stops for visits at the Nga Hpe Chaung (jumping cats) Monastery and its Shan Buddhas and Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary. Other visits include the weaving village of Inpawkhone, a cheroot factory where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time allows we go for an improvised walk through one of the villages. Overnight on Inle Lake.

DAY 7 : In Dein-Inle Lake-Heho-Yangon (B)
After breakfast, we head to the morning market on the lake. Rotating around villages on and near the lake in a 5 day rhythm, a colorful market visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes is held daily (except on new and full moon days). From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Paoh village of In Dein. After a walk around the village, passing a local school, take the covered stairway to the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area where ancient stupas are partly covered by vegetation. From here there is a magnificent view over the lake. Return to the lake and in the afternoon, transfer to Heho Airport for the flight back to Yangon. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yangon.

DAY 8 : Depart Yangon (B)
After breakfast, interesting visit to Bogyoke Aung San Museum, located in the independence hero’s former house (closed on Monday), before exploring downtown Yangon with a walk through streets filled with faded colonial atmosphere and busy everyday life. In the afternoon, free time at the Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott Market (closed on full moon days and public holidays) before transferring to Mingaladon Airport for your onward flight.


*B : Breakfast, L : Lunch, D : Dinner