Best Of Burma
9 Days / 8 Nights

Important Note: Travelers checks and credit cards are no longer accepted by any establishment in Myanmar. The U.S. dollar is the only form of currency currently accepted.

Day 1: Arrive Yangon / Afternoon Yangon Sightseeing
Arrive at Yangon Airport on your own flight arrangements. Meet your guide after customs.

Afternoon sightseeing highlights will include a visit to Sule Pagoda, located in the center of downtown, this octagonal-shaped pagoda stands 157 feet high and is said to be over 2000 years old. Drive by Kandawgyi Lake, also know as the Royal Lake, this natural body of water, located in the center of the city is a popular place for the local community.

Also visit bustling Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market), the most vibrant and largest market in Yangon. With over 2000 stalls, this is the best place in Yangon to browse through the complete range of local handicrafts.

The highlight of today’s sightseeing is a visit to the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda. This pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond all recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold-leaf, which is continuously being replaced. Return to your hotel.
Overnight accommodations at the Park Royal Hotel or similar.

Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.

Sightseeing highlights today will include a visit to Shwezigon Paya, this stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar. Also visit Ananda Pahto, one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.

As time allows, also visit Gubyaukgyi Temple with its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan. Manuha Temple, built in 1059 by King Manuha and Shwesandaw Paya, built in 1057 by King Anawrahta. This is the first monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the Stupa.

Also visit a lacquerware workshop, the villages around Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the workshops and learn about the painstaking process of laquerware making and decoration.
Two nights’ accommodations at The Hotel At Thanbar Gate or similar.

Important Note: The path to the top of Mount Popa is very steep in places and require climbing up and down stairs that resemble ladders.

Return to Bagan, as time allows, continue sightseeing from the previous day

Enjoy a visit to the three former royal capitals, Amarapura, Sagaing, and Inwa, each with its own unique atmosphere. Drive to Amarapura and visit Mahagandayon Monastery; every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists.

Continue on to Sagaing, the spiritual center of Myanmar. Hundreds of stupas, monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found in Sagaing Hill, sometimes known as a living Bagan.

Cross the river by ferry to the ancient capital of Inwa, situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Inwa is now a quiet rural oasis, enjoy a leisurely horse cart ride around the peaceful countryside, briefly visiting a beautiful teak wood monastery. On the way, stop and observe how local artisans make the famous alms bowls out of iron.

Finally, return to Amarapura, to end the day at U Bein‘s Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometer across Taungthaman Lake. At dusk, the bridge teems with monks and local people as they stroll home or linger to enjoy the colors of the sunset. Return to your hotel in Mandalay.
Two nights’ accommodations at the Mandalay Hill Resort or similar.

Day 05, Mandalay Sightseeing (B)
Breakfast at hotel. The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. Neighboring Sagaing is home to over sixty percent of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar.

This morning, head to Mahamuni Paya, the Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image in Myanmar, covered in over 6 inches of gold leaf. Worshippers flock daily to the shrine at four in the morning to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. En route to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of the making of gold leaf. Also visit a craft workshop.

Continue on to the Golden Teak Monastery, built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments by King Mindon and his chief queen.

Also visit Kyaukawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble. Finally, visit Kuthodaw Paya, known also as the world s biggest book.

This afternoon travel upriver by boat to Mingun, enjoying the views of river life, pass by fishing villages, market boats, women attending to their washing and children playing in the water. Explore the ruins of the vast Mingun Paya, a monument to human ambition, never finished, its size would have dwarfed all contemporary pagodas. After visiting other nearby pagodas, return downstream by boat to Mandalay. Return to your hotel.

Kalaw was a popular hill station during the British days. Kalaw sits at an elevation above 4000-feet, on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslim, Bamar and Nepali.
Overnight accommodations at the Amara Resort.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour around Kalaw. Highlights will include Thein Taung Pay, a temple perched on the hill overlooking the main road. There are many Western style building still standing in Kalaw, visit Christ The King Church, founded by an Italian missionary. The highlight of this mornings sightseeing will be a light trek to a nearby hilltribe village. Popular hill station in the British days, Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslim, Bamar and Nepali.

The plateau near Kalaw is inhabited by people of the Palaung and Pao tribes. Intha, Shan, Taungthu, Taung-yo, Danu. Kayah, Danaw and Bamar people occupy the mountains to the north and east. One of the main sources of income is the cultivation of a large leaf used to wrap Burmese cigars.

After your trek, continue overland to Inle Lake. Inle Lake is located in Shan State, high hills rim the lake on all sides. Her calm waters are dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. The lake's shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people.

Upon arrival at the lake, board a boat and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight accommodations at the Inle Resort or similar.

This morning board a small local boat and explore the many sights around the lake. You will visit floating gardens, a floating market and a Intha village around the lake (please note that no markets take place on full moon or new moon days). Also visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, famous for cats that have been trained by the monks to jump through hoops.

Continue overland to Heho Airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon Airport, meet your guide after baggage claim and transfer to your hotel.

Remainder of the day at leisure for you to explore Yangon on your own.
Overnight accommodations at the Park Royal Hotel or similar.

Tour Starts: Yangon
Tour Ends: Yangon
Tour Code: MY-T-17
9 Days / 8 Nights
Type Of Tour: Locally Hosted Tour By Private Vehicle, With Driver & English Speaking Guide.
Included Meals: 8 Breakfasts
Included Flights (Economy Class): Yangon to Bagan / Bagan to Mandalay / Heho to Yangon

Visa: Required.
Note: Visa fees are not included and must be paid in person. We suggest you get your visa issued at the embassy prior to your trip.