MYA302 - GOLDEN MYANMAR - 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS

This round trip with enough time to spend at all the places does show you most of the top spots in the so often called Golden Land. Your journey begins in the former capital of Yangon with the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda. Then after a short flight you will reach Mandalay, the second largest city and also last royal capital. From here continue your journey by overland to Monywa and later on the Ayeyarawaddy River to the ancient city of Bagan with over 2000 pagodas and temples. Another short flight will take you to the picturesque Inle Lake, another magical place of Myanmar and surrounded by the mountains of the Shan State. Finally return to Yangon, from where you can continue your journey. Daily departure from Yangon, minimum 2 persons, private tour

DAY 1 YANGON

Arrive in Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar. Here our tour guide will welcome you, followed by transfer to the hotel in the city center. Yangon with a population of more than 6 million people is lined by the Yangon River in the west and the Bago River in the south. Later start your sightseeing, which starts at the Sule Pagoda, located in downtown Yangon. Nearby see dating back to British colonial era buildings, like the City Hall and then have a stroll at the Mahabandoola Park. Then walk through the over 70 years old Bogyoke Aung San Market (also well known as the Scott Market). Here you can still find the largest selection of Burmese handicrafts. Next stop will be at Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha, before last but not least you are going to visit the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the absolute highlights during your visit in this country. Then return to the hotel. Overnight in Yangon.

DAY 2 YANGON - MANDALAY B

In the morning you will be brought to the airport 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. Your sightseeing tour will include the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe Nandaw Monastery, Sandamuni Pagoda and others. Later in the afternoon drive up to Mandalay Hill. This 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 3 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 with 1.2 km. Spend another night in Mandalay.

DAY 4 MANDALAY - MONYWA B

In the early morning you will travel for approx. three hours from Mandalay to Monywa. A lovely town, situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River and also a major trade center for agricultural products from the surrounding Chindwin Valley. It is as well the gateway to the magnificent Thanboddhay pagoda complex, with 7,350 statues and almost 600,000 sacred images of the Buddha, but also the world`s highest standing Buddha. This colossal figure measures approximately 130 meters in height and is hollow inside. Another major sight near Monywa are the impressive sandstone caves of Hpo Win Daung. Depending on your time, you can either visit these caves today or also the next day. Overnight in Monywa.

DAY 5 MONYWA - BAGAN B

After breakfast leave Monywa and drive for approx. 4 hours to Pakkoku. From Pakokku you will continue by boat to Bagan. The cruise downwards on the famous Ayeyarwaddy River will take approx. two hours. On the way you will observe charming rural villages, which are also examples of a typical river community. A bit later you will pass the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and the Chindwin River. Bagan is Myanmar's greatest wonder. This deserted ancient city alongside the Ayeyarwaddy River is home to more than 2,000 temples and pagodas, covering an area of around 40 square km. It is is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia and represents the spiritual heritage of ancient Burma. Overnight in Bagan.

DAY 6 BAGAN B

After breakfast, there will be a full day of fascinating explorations within the temple and pagoda plain of Bagan. You will see some of the most outstanding sights, like the Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Temple, Htilo-Minlo Temple and many others. In between take a stroll over the local market of Nyaung U. In the late afternoon you will visit another major landmark of Bagan, which is the Shwesandaw Pagoda. Bagan's most famous Sunset Pagoda, the Shwesandaw is the graceful white pyramid-style pagoda with steps leading past five terraces to circular stupa top. Transfer back to the hotel and spend one more night in Bagan.

DAY 7 NYAUNG U (BAGAN) - HEHO (INLE LAKE) B

After breakfast transfer to the airport for a short flight to Heho. from where it is just a short trip on the road 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 some 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. Go to visit some sights like the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery (in the past it was called monastery of the jumping cats). Finally you got the chance to visit some of the traditional handicraft centers, like silk weaving, gold & silver smithing, paper making, boat making and cheroot making. Transfer back to hotel with lovely sunset upon the lake. Overnight.

DAY 8 INLE LAKE B

In the morning continue your sightseeing by boat on the Inle Lake. Visit the Five-Day-Market. These bustling markets around the Inle Lake are mostly of interest for all the variety of different products offered, mainly grown on the floating gardens. Additional local color is added by the presence of 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. On the northwest shore of the lake visit Kaung Daing Village, famous for the production of rice crackers, tofu snacks and fried beans. Later there is some time left to relax and enjoy the scenery on the lake. Spend another night at Inle Lake.

DAY 9 HEHO (INLE LAKE) - YANGON B

You got some time at leisure. Then you will be brought to Heho Airport and take a short flight back to Yangon. Here our guide will accompany you to the hotel in Yangon for a last night in the South East Asian Garden City. Enjoy the rest of the day with leisure, shopping or explore the city by your own, for example at Kandawgyi Lake (royal lake) or China Town (here enjoy the bustling street markets). Transfer back to the hotel and stay overnight in Yangon.

DAY 10 YANGON B

Time at leisure until transfer to the airport and continue your journey......or extend your stay in Yangon, depend on your further schedule.

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
• This tour package (slightly modified) is also available with start in Mandalay and end in Yangon.
• Flights to/from Thandwe incl. accommodation at Ngapali Beach at the end of this tour package 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 for 9 nights at middle class hotels incl. daily breakfast, entrance fees as per program, domestic flights Yangon - Mandalay, Nyaung U (Bagan) - Heho (Inle Lake) and Heho (Inle Lake) - Yangon

NOT INCLUDED:

Visa for Myanmar, drinks, tips and personal expenses

HOW TO GET TO YANGON:

From/to Bangkok (Thailand) flights by Thai Airways, Thai Smile, Bangkok Airways, Thai Air Asia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, Myanmar Airways International and Myanmar National Airlines. From/to Chiang Mai (Thailand) flights by Bangkok Airways. From/to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) flights by Vietnam Airlines. From/to Hanoi flights by Vietnam Airlines and Viet Jet Air