Grand Tour of Myanmar – 11 Days

Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by our representative who will accompany and transfer you to your hotel. Check in and refresh.

This afternoon, take a tour around the city centre partly by car or partly on foot. See its historical and colonial buildings. Visit Sule Pagoda a 2200-year-old temple surrounded by government buildings and commercial shops. Drive past Maha Bandula Park where the Independent Monument stands. Pass by City Hall, Little India and Little China. Finally, see the Shwedagon Pagoda one of the Wonders of the World. It was built 2500 years ago and enshrined with hair relics of Buddha. Enjoy breath-taking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.

Overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your the flight to Bagan (Nyaung Oo). Bagan, on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

On arrival, visit the elevated temple and enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan. Visit the golden Shwezigon Pagoda, a prototype monument, built in Myanmar style in 1087. Visit Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple and Wetkyi-Inn Village known for its exquisite jataka mural paintings. See the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

In the afternoon visit a traditional lacquerware workshop to observe the production of lacquerware. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples. Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda houses two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed. Next, visit Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, the massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Overnight.

Breakfast. Visit Mt Popa, an extinct volcano, 1518 metres high, which has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion, and history since the earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. (Climb is optional!)

In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan, (1 hr.) stopping at a local village to see how the people use the fruit of the palm tree to make wine and molasses. Then transfer to your hotel and relax.

Overnight.

Breakfast. Drive overland from Bagan to Mandalay arriving there in the afternoon. Check in and relax at your hotel.

This afternoon, visit the famous Mahamuni Pagoda, with its 13ft-high seated Buddha image. Visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving. Head to the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.

Overnight.

Breakfast. Explore the historic sites around Mandalay, visiting iconic attractions including Mingun’s gigantic stupa stub and Mingun Bell the world’s largest uncracked bell. Visit a Buddhist nursing home for family-less elderly folk across the road. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant.

Return to dry land by boat and drive to Sagaing crossing a bridge over the Irrawaddy River. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing. Sagaing Hill is the religious centre of Myanmar, home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Visit pagodas such as Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae and the typical local market, offering items including pottery, silver and other handicrafts.

Stop at a small pottery village to see how water pots are made. Continue to the 200-year-old U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge. Stroll along the bridge and enjoy the fabulous views.

Overnight.

After breakfast, drive to Pindaya. Arrive and visit the famous Shwe Oo Min Natural Cave Pagoda, a massive limestone cavern filled with thousands of gilded Buddha statues. Drive north and visit the beautiful teak Kan Tau monastery, with a large collection of antique Buddha images on ornate plinths. Then, visit a workshop producing umbrellas and souvenirs made with Shan recycled papers. Leave Pindaya and drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake.

Overnight.

After breakfast, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water.

Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, famous for the 800 years old Five Buddha statues which are covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.

Overnight.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Yangon. On arrival at the Yangon airport, visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, famous for its huge image of a reclining Buddha, built in 1966 to replace the old image built in1907. You will also have the option to visit Kandawgyi Lake. Next, go shopping at the Bogyoke market (formerly “Scott market”) for wide range of Myanmar handicrafts, jewellery, fabrics, and lacquerware.

Overnight.

After breakfast, drive approx. 4 hours to Kyaikhtiyo, visiting the Htaukkyant War Cemetery enroute. From your hotel in Kyaikhtiyo first take a truck to base camp village and then enjoy the one-hour trek up the hill to Golden Rock to enjoy the sunset. The famous ‘Golden Rock’ is a sacred, massive gold-leafed boulder delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff near the top of Mt. Kyaikhtiyo and it is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines.

Overnight.

After breakfast, return to the base camp by open-air truck and begin the return journey to Yangon. Enroute, stop to visit Bago, the capital of the Mon Kingdom in the 15th century, steeped in legend. Learn about the history and myths of the city with your guide. 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 meters, higher than Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, and can be seen from around 10 kilometres outside of the city.

Visit the local sights, including the town market and a Mon neighbourhood where the locals once produced woven textiles. Return to Yangon this afternoon. Arrive and check inat your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight.

Breakfast. Check out and transfer to the airport.

End of Tour.