Burmese Days

Duration: 10 Days/9 Nights
Routing: Yangon - Bagan - Mt. Popa - Mandalay - Inle Lake - Yangon (Myanmar)

The land that inspired the pens of Kipling and Orwell perhaps will stir your heart to write of the beauty you see! Enjoy relaxing on pristine Inle Lake or seeking the spirits atop sacred Mt. Popa. The memories of this adventure will last a lifetime.

In the morning, arrive at Yangon international airport and transfer to the hotel. Begin a sightseeing tour, which will include the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda; Chaukhtatkyi pagoda, which is a colossal reclining Buddha; and the National Museum, filled with artifacts and cultural exhibits of Myanmar.

Overnight at your hotel in Yangon

Meals: none
Accommodation: see below

After breakfast, go to the Yangon airport to take a flight to Nyaung U. Arrive in Bagan and check in to the hotel. Your guide will take you on a sightseeing tour of one of Asia's most popular archeological destinations. Highlights include visits to Nyaung Oo Market; and many of Bagan’s distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi , a 13th century cave temple with interesting fine frescoes; Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best preserved in Old Bagan; and next to it Ananda Ok Kyaung, one of the few surviving brick monastery buildings from the Early Bagan period.

We return to the hotel for a rest before our afternoon visit to a lacquerware factory. We will also visit Dhammayangyi Pahto, a massive later period temple with the finest brickwork in Bagan. As the day wanes we will be at Bupaya, a Pyu-style stupa which is located right on the banks of the Ayeyawady river and from where we commence a scenic boat ride to the mid-river where we can see the Shwezigon, then return to Ayeyar jetty to disembark.

Overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, drive to Mt. Popa, which rose from the ground in a massive earthquake in 442 BC. Mt. Popa is famous as the abode of Nats (Spirit Gods) and for its panoramic view of the local tropical region. On the way back to Bagan we visit a toddy palm juice production plant.

Overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Eat breakfast at the hotel and head for Nyaung U airport to fly to Mandalay. Arrive in Mandalay and transfer to the hotel. Next, travel to the former royal capital of Amarapura. The tour highlights Mahagandayon monastery which is a school for young monks, and the U Bein Bridge. It is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km is the longest teakwood span in the world.

Visit Inwa, which was founded in 1364 and lasted nearly 400 years as a royal capital. Highlights include the ‘leaning tower of Ava’, Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a brick-and-stucco monastery; and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung

Overnight at your hotel in Mandalay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Eat breakfast at the hotel. Travel with your guide to Mandalay jetty where we take a short and pleasant ride upriver to Mingun, the site of what would have been the world’s largest zedi had not King Bodawpaya died in 1819, thus halting all further work. Later an earthquake in 1838 split the monument and reduced it to partial rubble. Nonetheless, it is still a very impressive sight as we approach from the river. Nearby we can also visit the Mingun Bell, moved from the zedi after the earthquake and now hung in a newer shrine. It is said to be the largest hanging uncracked bell in the world. Return to Mandalay.

In the afternoon visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, gold leaf hammering, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery and Mandalay Hill.

Overnight at your hotel in Mandalay.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Have breakfast at the hotel, and then leave for Mandalay airport to take a flight to Heho. Arrive in Heho and transfer to Pindaya. Pindaya is noted for its extensive limestone caves filled with Buddha images. Driving there you will pass through the PaO and Danu villages of Pwehla and Ji Chanzi and endless fields of dry cultivated mountain rice and potato. Inside the Pindaya Caves are nearly 8,000 Buddha images that have been placed there over the centuries as a form of merit making. Made of various materials and of different sizes, the statues are situated in every nook and cranny throughout the many cave chambers.

Overnight at your hotel in Pindaya.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Today, after breakfast, drive to unique and magical Inle Lake, located about 1000 meters above sea level and 22 km long by 11 km wide. Witness fisherman rowing in the one-legged style that is characteristic of Inle Lake boatmen. See floating vegetable gardens of grass and earth on the surface of this shallow lake. Another attraction is a visit to the ‘jumping cats’ monastery, Phaungdaw U Pagoda and silk weaving.

Overnight at your hotel in Inle.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Eat breakfast at the hotel and go sightseeing at Inle Lake with a visit to Indein and its enchanting 16th century pagodas. To reach Indein and the nearby village we will take a boat ride up a small scenic creek that feeds into Inle lake.

Overnight at your hotel in Inle.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

This morning, after breakfast, transfer to the Heho airport to fly to Yangon. Arrive in Yangon and visit Botataung Pagoda, which is hollow. Walk through it and see many ancient relics and artifacts. Visit Chinatown before going to the famous Scott Market, a sprawling 75 year old complex noted for its variety of handicrafts and other items which provide an excellent opportunity for a shopping spree.

Overnight at your hotel in Yangon.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: see below

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight onward.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: none