MYA304 - FROM THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE TO MANDALAY - 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS

This sightseeing tour will bring you from the Golden Triangle in the north of Thailand to Mandalay, the second- and former royal city of Myanmar. Starting point is Chiang Rai (also possible in Chiang Mai), where you will cross in to Myanmar by overland. A short flight will bring you from Tachilek to Heho, followed by transfer on the road to Inle Lake. After two days at the lake surrounded by the Shan mountains you will be driven back to Heho Airport, from where you take another short flight, this time to Mandalay, the former royal city on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Here enjoy sights, like the pagodas of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. Then you can continue your journey from Mandalay. Daily departure from Chiang Rai, minimum 2 persons, private tour

DAY 1 CHIANG RAI - TACHILEK - HEHO - INLE LAKE

In the morning pick up from the hotel in Chiang Rai. You will heading in northern direction and drive for approx. one hour to the border crossing Mae Sai-Tachilek. After the border formalities are done you will be transferred to Tachilek Airport (if time allows a brief stop at Tachilek Shwedagon Pagoda can be done). Take a short flight to Heho. Here you are welcomed and first driven to Nyaung Shwe at the Inle Lake where you will board a boat and be ferried to the hotel on the lake. The Inle Lake is 22 km long, about 11 km wide and lies a comfortable 875 m above sea level. It is very shallow, only two to three meters deep. The lake is surrounded by high plateaus and overlooked by the misty Shan Mountains. It is also the home of the Intha people, who have adapted to their environment by building entire villages rising on stilts from the shallow waters. Lake dwellers grow an array of flowers and vegetables in picturesque floating gardens and fields, tended by workers in canoes. They have become famous for their unique one-leg rowing technique. Overnight at Inle Lake.

DAY 2 INLE LAKE B

In the morning start your sightseeing tour on the Inle Lake by boat. Go to visit all major sights like the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery (in earlier times it was also well known as the monastery of the jumping cats). Visit the Five-Day-Market. These bustling markets around Inle Lake are mostly of interest for the variety of the different products offered, mainly grown on the floating gardens. Additional local color is added by the presence of all the different tribal groups such as the Pa-Oh, who come from far and wide to sell their items. The market rotates between different villages over five days. Go on to Indein Village, located half way along the western side of the lake and very interesting due to its 1,094 stupas surrounding the main pagoda, the Inthein Pagoda. Finally you got the chance to visit some of the traditional handicraft centers, like silk weaving, gold & silver smithing, paper making, boat making cheroot making. Transfer back to hotel with lovely sunset upon the Lake. Overnight.

DAY 3 INLE LAKE - HEHO - MANDALAY B

In the morning you will be brought to the airport in Heho and fly to Mandalay, the second largest city and last royal capital of the country. There are a lot of different things to see that are very interesting in this bustling city and the surrounding ancient places. Here your sightseeing will include the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe Nandaw Monastery and others. Go on to explore The Royal Palace and stroll through the reconstruction, housing a lot of original artifacts. Here climb the 33 meter high watchtower with views over the whole palace compound and the city. Later in the afternoon drive up to Mandalay Hill, topped with a temple style pagoda of mirrored hallways, offers a fantastic view all over the city and the central plain. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY 4 MANDALAY B

After breakfast at the hotel depart for an excursion to the former capitals of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. You can have a unique opportunity to attend the daily meal of more than thousand monks at the country's largest monastery, Mahagandayon in Amarapura before visiting a silk weaving workshop. After that, continue your tour to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th centuries. Here take a ride by horse carriage. Then visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and Fort. In the afternoon cross the bridge over the Ayeyarwaddy River and continue to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hills is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is home to 3000 Monks and 100 Meditation center. Visit Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda and U Min Thone Sae's Pagoda. End the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, the longest teak wood bridge in the world (1,2 km). Spend another night here in Mandalay.

DAY 5 MANDALAY B

Time at leisure until transfer to the airport in Mandalay, from where you can continue your journey.

REMARKS/FLEXIBILITY:

• You should get your visa for Myanmar in advance! Please contact your nearest Myanmar Embassy or Consulate for it. For a while already there is also an e-visa service available and you can check here: https://myanmarvisa.com
• Instead in Chiang Rai start of the tour is also possible in Chiang Mai.
• Tour can be done v. v. with start in Mandalay and end in Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.
• Accommodation ahead of this tour package in Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai can be booked with us.
• Additional nights at Inle Lake or Mandalay can be booked as well, as well as extending the tour to places like Bagan or Yangon.
• Connecting flights out of Mandalay or Yangon can be booked with us.

PRICE INCLUDES:

Air-conditioned transportation during the tour, English speaking tour guides at each destination, all transfers and excursions as mentioned in the above itinerary, accommodation at middle class hotels and resorts incl. daily breakfast, domestic flights Tachilek - Heho (Inle Lake) and Heho (Inle Lake) - Mandalay

NOT INCLUDED:

Visa for Myanmar, drinks, tips and personal expenses

HOW TO GET TO CHIANG RAI:

Domestic flights from Bangkok (Thailand) to Chiang Rai by Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air and Thai Viet Jet Air. From/to Phuket (Thailand) by Thai Air Asia and Thai Viet Jet Air.