Start City: Yangon (Rangoon)
Departure city: Yangon
Yangon – Bagan – Mt Popa – Mandalay – Inle Lake – Pindaya – Kalaw – Ngapali Beach – Kyaikhtiyo – Yangon
Duration: 14 Days 13 Nights
Private Tour. Departure: Daily, upon your request. – Extendable with optional tours.
Ngapali Beach is not recommended for your stay in low season from May – Sep annually.
Please let us know your international arrival and departure flight time, so that we can adjust your itinerary much better.
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Day 2: Yangon city tour
Day 3: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Sightseeings
Day 4: Bagan Discovery – Mt Popa
Day 5: Bagan – Fly to Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura
Day 6: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay Hill
Day 7: Mandalay – Fly to Inle Lake – Sightseeings
Day 8: Inle Lake – Indein – Inle Lake
Day 9: Inle Lake – Pindaya – Kalaw
Day 10: Kalaw – Heho – Fly to Ngapali Beach
Day 11: Ngapali Beach Free day
Day 12: Ngapali Beach – Fly to Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo
Day 13: Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Yangon
Day 14: Yangon departure
COST: Price is quoted in US dollars per person based on double/twin room.
Group size | 2 persons | 4 pax | 6 pax | Single Supp |
Land Tour/pp | 1,640 | 1,419 | 1,238 | 625 |
5 domestic flights/pp | 530 | 530 | 530 | |
Total/pp | US $ 2,170 | 1,949 | 1,813 |
Tour Includes | Tour Excludes |
– 5 Domestic flights: Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Heho – Thandwe – Yangon
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– International flights
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DETAIL ITINERARY
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Our tour guide & driver will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your 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.
Your guided tour goes to Kandawagyi Park, one of central Yangon’s greenest spots. Here you will see the glittering Karaweik barge, a replica of the royal barge, and the vast lake with views of Shwedagon in the background. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.
Your highlight for this evening is the dinner in Karaweik Palace, overlooking to the Royal Lake and Shwedagon tower. The dinner is served with fine Burmese food and amazing cultural show.
Meals: Welcome Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon Full Day City Tour
After breakfast at your hotel, our tour guide & driver will escort you for full day city tour.
Begin your first Myanmar visit to Shwedagon pagoda – the most prominent monument in Yangon which dominates the sky with golden flash, giant spires and holy relics.
Reach to the post office – a lovely historic building, we then walk from Sule Pagoda passing by Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument along the way to Chinese Town, covering exotic streets of Yangon downtown and British Colonial building as Emmanuel Church, Inland Water Buildings.
Our next visit is National Museum and you can see the 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the (closed on Mondays and public holidays).
We then continue to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda’s 70m long reclining Buddha. This provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha, the feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray.
After the visit, proceed to Yangon’s oldest Chinese temple and continue to the riverside located Botataung Pagoda.
Spend a little time for shopping at the Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, – one of the biggest market in Yangon for handicrafts and other goods. (Note: Market is closed on Mondays and public holidays).
Back your hotel for staying overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 3: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Discovery
From the 11th to 13th centuries, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers constructed thousands of huge stupas and temples many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.
After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel, travel from Yangon to Bagan by a short morning flight, begin your first experience to visit Nyaung Oo Market where dozens of vendors come to sell their fresh products. The market is at its busiest early in the morning as the locals come to do their shopping. This is a great opportunity to observe the daily life of the friendly locals.
Continue the day with visits to the most beautiful pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; enrich your experience with a visit to Ananda Temple with four standing Buddha images. Continue to the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations, the next visit is Sulamani Temple.
In the afternoon, discover the traditional way of making lacquer wares by local people, you can stop over at one of the most treasured handicrafts workshops where craftsmen create fine lacquer ware which features a part the Bagan fame, nearby Myinkaba village.
As today comes to a close, proceed to Mingala Zedi Stupa or Bu Paya, travel to the boat jetty and embark on a sunset cruise. Enjoy a cocktail and a stunning view of Bagan as you cruise along the Irrawaddy River. Stay overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Day 4: Bagan Sightseeing – Mt Popa
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Mt. Popa (65 km and takes us 1.5 hour), an extinct volcano with spectacular views known as the most sarced site for meditation in Myanmar. You will have chance to challenge yourselves to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as “Nats”. Our guide will lead you to Popa Kalat Monastery where you can enjoy the panoramic view of Popa national park.
On the way back to Bagan,we will experience the traditonal palm work, cigar maker and peanut oil distillation.
In the afternoon, we have an exotic horse cart ride to one of the biggest temple in Bagan: Nan Paya, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. Proceed to Manuha Temple, which built in the Mon style in 1059, and follow on to many other interesting sites nearby such as Dhammayangyi, the largest built by King Narathu in the 12th Century, continue with sightseeing to Minkaba Gubyaukyi Temple, experience the architectural difference in MyaZedi pagoda.
The highlight of today is the panoramic sunset view from the second highest pagoda of Bagan the ShweSandaw pagoda.
Back to your hotel for overnight.
Note: Guests have the option of exploring some lesser known temples around the complex or tourguide can deduct some of temples as mentioned above depending on guests’ time and interest.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Day 5: Bagan – Fly to Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura
After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel, travel from Bagan to Mandalay by a short morning flight. Your guide and car will pick you up at the airport and take you to Sagaing, a 45-minute drive. Located across the Irrawaddy River, Sagaing is considered by many to be the Buddhist centre of Myanmar.
Drive up to Sagaing Hill to Umin Thonzeh. The name translates as ’30 Caves Pagoda’ but in reality the temple is one long hallway built alongside a hill with thirty recessed entrances giving it the appearance of being filled with caves. Inside the building you will find 45 Buddha images, an auspicious number 45 reflecting the number of years that Gotama Buddha was enlightened as a Buddha. Then proceed to Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin pagoda and enjoy wonderful panoramic view of Sagaing Hill with hundreds of stupas. If you look up at the ceiling at Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin you will find the old paintings describing the 16 scene dream sequence of Kawthala King.
Your final stop today will be in Amarapura including Mahagandayon monastery, where over one-thousand monks reside. Amarapura is the best place to experience the monk life in Mandalay.
Before departing Amarapura go to U Bein Bridge for a walk along this 200 year-old teak bridge. The bridge was constructed of 984 teak posts that were once part of the deserted Inwa Palace and it is 1.2 kilometers in length making it the world’s longest teak span. Enjoy a stroll along the bridge and fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 6: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay Hill
Drive to visit Mingun complex including Mingun Bell which is more than 87 tons in weight and more than 3.7 metres in height. This is the world’s largest uncracked bell. Just south of the bell you’ll also visit Mingun Pahtodawgyi, a giant brick structure built in the late 1700s and although it was unfinished due to economic troubles it is still an impressive site. Mingun’s other highlight is the Hisnbyume Pagoda, a white-washed temple built to resemble Mount Meru.
In the afternoon, begin with a walk up Mandalay Hill. Rising 240 metres above the city, the hill provides a great viewing platform of the surrounding countryside, Irrawaddy River and city centre. At the base of the hill you’ll stop to visit Shwe Nandaw Kyuang- or Golden Palace Monastery- which is noted for its intricate wood carvings and to Kayuktawgyi Pagoda to view the huge marble Buddha. The marble is from Sagyin quarry and took 10,000 men almost two weeks to transfer the rock from the riverside to its current location. Finally we’ll visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ‘the world’s largest book’, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings.
Continue to the famed Mahamuni Image – a bronze Buddha image castled during the lifetime of Buddha himself.
Back your hotel for staying overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 7: Mandalay – Fly to Heho – Inle Lake sightseeings
This vast picturesque lake, 900m above sea level, 22 km long and 10km across, is the second largest lake in Myanmar. Inlay Lake is famous for its scenic beauty, floating gardens of vegetation and the unique leg rowing of the Intha, the native lake dwellers. The lake is also home to a wide array of bird-life including egrets, cranes, ducks, storks and birds of prey.
Breakfast at your hotel, you are free until being picked up at your hotel, travel from Mandalay to Heho for Inle Lake by a short flight. Your guide and car will pick you up at the airport and take you a scenic one-hour drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images. We will also stop in Nyaung Shwe for a short walk around town and visit to the colorful market if it is being held that day.
Upon arrival, board on motorboat for a sightseeing tour to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famed for its richly gilded five small Buddha images, also is believed the holiest in Inle Lake. Our next visit is Ngaphechaung monastery, known as jumping cat pagoda. As you travel further to Nam Pan village; cotton and lotus weaving factory, cigar making houses will impress you with a sense of traditional Intha life.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 8: Inle Lake – Indein – Inle Lake
This morning, you will visit the 5 days market which is hold in different villages surround 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 beautiful temple of Indein, located on the hill overlooking the lake. It will be definitely relaxing to walk along the corridor and enjoy the giant columns which have been left to the nature for centuries.
There may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.
Back your hotel for staying overnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 9: Inle Lake – Pindaya – Kalaw
After breakfast, leave Inle Lake for Pindaya. We take a nice 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.
After visit Pindaya, we go ahead to Kalaw.
Located on the mild highland of Shan state, 61km from Inle, this was a popular hill station in the British days and it is still a peaceful and quiet place. At an altitude of 1320m it is also a pleasantly cool and a good place for hiking through bamboo groves and rugged mountain scenery. The main attractions of Kalaw are the town itself, with its mock Tudor colonial bungalows, its ethnic mix of people, and its setting within trekking distance of many ethnic minority villages. Kalaw exposes a green natural beauty, combining the exotic life of ethnic minorities and pine plantations.
Stay overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kalaw
Day 10: Kalaw – Heho – Fly to Ngapali Beach
Ngapali (pronounced Napally and said to be named after the Italian city of Naples) is Myanmar’s premier beach destination. Located on the Bay of Bengal coast in Rakhine State, its main feature is an idyllic stretch of white sand and palm tree-lined coast, with a number of resorts spread out next to traditional fishing villages.
At Ngapali, you can head out to sea for some fishing, take a walk to see the nearby fishing villages or simply relax in your hammock with a good book!
Breakfast at your hotel and free at your leisure and explore Kalaw on your own until get picked up. Take a morning flight to Ngapali. Get picked up on arrival and transferred to your resort. Stay overnight at your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali Beach
Tourguide: N/A
Day 11: Ngapali Beach – Free at your own leisure
Stay on your own, enjoy some of the fascinating water sport or take an excursion to Treasure Island.
Treasure Island is considered a still hidden treasure in Myanmar. The Island is a white beach, a sheltered wonderful bay surrounded by mountains with lush rainforest, crystal clear warm water, which makes the island become an idea place for those who want to escape from their busy life. Besides, we can relax by the sandy beach of Ngapali.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali Beach
Tourguide: N/A (All activities on your own arrangement
Day 12: Ngapali – Thandwe – Fly to Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo
In the morning, breakfast at the hotel. Fly back to Yangon after visiting Thandwe town and some of the most beautiful relics.
Upon arrival to Yangon, we get picked up and enjoy a scenic journey to Kyaiktiyo, 190km to the east.
En route, stop in Taukkyan township to visit the Allied War Cemetery. This beautifully-landscaped, peaceful area is the final resting place for more than 27,000 Allied Soldiers who perished during the World War II campaign in Myanmar.
Late morning, arrive at Kyaikhtiyo base camp (approximately 5 hrs). Travel by local, open-air truck along a winding road (45 minutes) where you will be dropped off at Golden Rock.
A huge boulder covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff, Golden Rock is one of Myanmar’s main pilgrimage sites. The pagoda here is said to hold a hair of the Buddha and Buddhists from across the country come here to pay homage.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Kyaikhtiyo
Day 13: Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Yangon
After breakfast, return to the base camp by open-air truck and begin the return journey to Yangon. On the way back, stop in Bago. Bago, also known as Pegu, was the capital of the Mon Kingdom in the 15th century and is a town steeped in legend.
The sites in Bago are spread out around the town and you’ll spend time exploring with your guide, learning about the history and myths of the city. Stops include the 55-metre long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha, the four seated Buddhas at Kyaikpun and the old palace of Kambozathadi. The Mon-style Shwemawdaw Pagoda is the most outstanding religious monument in Bago. This golden temple stands at 114 metres tall, higher than Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, and can be seen from around 10 kilometres outside of the city.
While in Bago we’ll also take time to visit the city’s local sites, including the town market and a Mon neighborhood where the locals once produced woven textiles. Transfer back & stay overnight in Yangon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 14: Yangon departure
Breakfast at your hotel, you are free until checking out from your hotel, travel by car to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A