Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 : Yangon (Arrival) - Yangon sightseeing
Day 2: Yangon–Amarpura - Sagaing-Mandalay
Day 3: Mandalay –Mingun
Day 4: Mandalay – Maymyo (PyinOoLwin) – Mandalay
Day 5: Mandalay - Monwya
Day 6: Monwya –Poe Win Tuang Buddha Cave – Pakkoku – Bagan
Day 7: Bagan
Day 8: Bagan – Heho(by flight)-Pindaya-Inle Lake
Day 9: Inle Lake
Day 10: Inle–Heho- Yangon-Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)- Yangon
Day 11: Departure
Day 01 : Yangon (arrival)- Yangon sightseeing
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and driver. Your sightseeing tour of Yangon begins with a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar’s most sacred pagoda. Shwedagon was built more than 2500 years ago to enshrine 8 hair relics of the lord Buddha. The stupa is more than 99 metres in height and is covered with 60 tons of gold plate and is topped by a collection of precious stones such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires. After visiting Shwedagon, continue to Chaukhtetgyi Pagoda. This tranquil pagoda is home to a massive reclining Buddha image with intricate detailed decoration on its feet.
Continue your Yangon sightseeing with a trip to Bogyoke market, also known as ‘Scott Market’. The bustling market is the perfect place to shop for Myanmar handicrafts, jewelry, fabrics and other local items.The final visit of the day is Botathaung Pagoda, located along the banks of the Strand River. This holy site houses two hair relics of the Buddha and features a maze-like corridor decorated with elaborate glass mosaics.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 02: Yangon–Amarpura - Sagaing-Mandalay
Transfer to the Yangon airport early this morning for the domestic flight to Mandalay. Your guide will be waiting at the Mandalay airport to greet you. Drive toward Mandalay city and make a stop in the town of Amarapura. Visit Mahagandaryone monastery where you will see over 1400 monks gathering for a food donation ceremony. After witnessing this beautiful occasion, proceed to nearby U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge.This afternoon, cross the Ayeyarwaddy River to Sagaing, a small town of religious significance. Sagaing is home to dozens of Buddhist monuments and you will visit a tranquil nunnery, the U Min Thone Sel pagoda with its 30 caves and other religious sites.
Return to Mandalay city to visit Shwe Kyin Monastery where you will have the chance to see monks praying at the end of the day.
Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 03: Mandalay –Mingun
You will be picked-up to see the occasion of Mahamuni Pagoda Face Washing which starts about 4:30 am in the morning. After seeing it, we will drive back to hotel for having breakfast and some rest. Depart after breakfast for an excursion to Mingun, a charming village home to many ancient monuments. Travel by boat across the Aye YarWaddy River, leaving the busy city behind. After one hour, reach Mingun and take a walking tour to see the main sites. You will visit Mingun Paya(a massive, unfinished brick pagoda), Mingun Bell (the largest ringing bell in the world), Memorial hall of MingunSayardaw and the white-washed Mya Thein Dan Pagoda .
Return to Mandalay city in the afternoon and continue sightseeing. Visit the famous Shwe Nan DawKyaung, the only remaining building from the former Royal Palace. This building was once used as King Mindon’s apartment and features beautiful wood carvings. Continue to Kuthodaw Pagoda. This pagoda is often referred to as ‘the world’s largest book’ as it contains hundreds of marble tablets engraved with the teachings of Buddha. As today comes to a close, head to the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy sunset views over the city.
Overnight in Mandalay
Day 04: Mandalay – Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) – Mandalay
Enjoy a full day excursion to Maymyo, also known as Pyin Oo Lwin, a charming town in the Shan Hills that was used by the British in the colonial era as a hill station. Set off after breakfast for the 1.5-2 hour drive, making your way higher in to the hills as you go.Commence your visit at the Kandawgyi Botanical Garden, a sprawling tropical garden with an impressive array of orchids and other flowers. Continue to PweKauk Waterfall to enjoy the natural beauty of Maymyo’s surroundings. Before returning to Mandalay make a stop at Maha Ant HtoKanthar Pagoda. Arrive in Mandalay in the early evening.
Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 05: Mandalay - Monwya
After breakfast at hotel, commence the 2-day overland drive to Bagan via a rural secondary road through lovely countryside scenery. On the waystop at several impressive sites near the town of Monwya including Myanmar’s tallest standing Buddha which is surrounded by wonderful Bo trees (1000 Bo trees). Continue to nearby Than Buddhay temple with more than 500,000 Buddha images and incredible architecture.
Arrive in Monywa in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Monwya
Day 06: Monwya –Poe Win Taung Buddha Cave – Pakkoku – Bagan
This morning, check out of the hotel after breakfast and set off for the Pho Win Taung Buddha Cave on the other side of the Chindwin River. Visit the sandstone caves which contain mural paintings and several Buddha statues. The site is very popular with local pilgrims who come to pay homage to the images. Continue onwards to Pakokku to visit Thi Ho Shin temple and Shwe Ku Pagoda. Cross the Ayeyarwaddy River in the late afternoon for the drive to Bagan.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 07: Bagan
After breakfast at hotel, start temple exploration to Ananda Temple which remains as one of the finest and most beautiful of all Bagan’s architectural buildings, Htilominlo Temple is a big three story red brick temple in there exquisite finely detailed plaster still remaining, Dhammayangyi Pahto is Bagan’s most massive and famous for its brick-working. Next visit to Upali Thein, in this ordination hall there are some brightly painted frescoes on the walls and ceilings, Mingalazedi built by King Narathihapati later known as “Tayokepyaymin” in Burmese history.
Continue visit to the Shwezigon Paya is prototype of late Myanmar stupas and its festival always held during the Burmese calendar month of Nadaw (November/December), Thatbinnyu Temple is the tallest building in Bagan high 61 meters, Gawdawpalin Temple (paying obeisance to the forefathers), Sulamani Temple (get big damage hit by strong earthquake happened in 2016). Your tour will end with the Royal Palace of Bagan which was reconstructed on the original palace compound.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 08: Bagan – Heho(by flight)-Pindaya-Inle Lake
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Bagan’sNyaung U airport for a flight to Heho in Myanmar’s Shan State. From the airport, take a scenic 1.5-hour drive to Pindaya, a charming town surrounded the fields and hills. Visit the famed Pindaya Caves, a huge cavern filled with thousands of Buddha images dating back to the 11th century. You will also visit a local workshop making traditional umbrellas and paper using techniques passed down from generation to generation. Next visit to the Khaung Taing Village to see the local life and works like sunflower roasting, crushing beas, making crackers and steeping rice and so forth. Then it’s on to Nyaung Shwe, passing by more beautiful scenery as you approach the edges of Inle Lake. Upon reaching town, transfer to your hotel for the evening.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe (Inle)
Day 09: Inle Lake
After breakfast at hotel, explore in the Inle lake by boat to see floating islands of vegetation, one-leg rowing fishermen’s fishing business, lovely stilt houses in the water-village, silk-weaving workshop and Padaung people at Ywama, daily activities and lives of Innthas in the lake. Continue exploring to the ancient “Ngaphekyaung” Monastery to study monks’ daily life, monastic education. Boat ride to Inn-dain village on the west bank of lake is very typical to observe local people’s walk of lives. Stroll inside the historic shwe-inn-dain ruined-pagodas complex with Shan Style. You will see the Lotus weaving and traditional cheroot-making process in the lake. Phaung-Daw-Oo is the most revered and holiest pagoda houses small five gold-gilded images.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe (Inle)
Day 10: Inle –Heho- Yangon-Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)- Yangon
After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Heho airport for a flight to Yangon. Your guide will be waiting at the Yangon airport and you will depart by private car to Kyaikhtiyo, home to the magnificent Golden Rock. Upon reaching the base camp you will transfer to a shared, open-air truck for the next part of the journey to the top of the hill. The adventurous ride takes you up the winding roads near to the Golden Rock. Disembark and continue on foot to the miraculous Golden Rock. Join the local pilgrims on the pagoda platform to pay homage at this remarkable site. Then return by foot and truck to the base camp. Continue back to Yangon by private car, arriving in the evening.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 11: Departure
Today is free to relax before transferring to the Yangon International Airport for your international flight.