Myanmar in depth – 19 days

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport you will be welcomed by our local tour guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon drive to Mawtin Jetty and take a rickshaw for a short trip along the Yangon River, enjoy “High Tea” at the Strand Hotel built in 1896, once described as the “leading hotel of the East” and proceed to Botataung Pagoda, where the sacred hair relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined in it. Overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast continue sightseeing of Yangon: Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2000 years, the Mahaban doola Park with its Independence Monument and walk around the downtown area and the sprawling Bogyoke Market. Wide streets, orderly town planning and neglected public buildings revive visions of British rule, while busy streets scenes and shim Myanmar Shwedagon pagoda mering pagodas, bursting through a leafy canopy, hint at the rich local culture. Skyscrapers and glaring neon billboards have yet to overtake the capital. Late in the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: “The Shwedagon rose superb, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city.” This massive bell-shaped stupa rises nearly 100 meters above its hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon

Early morning drive via Bago to Kyaikhto passing the World War II War Cemetery, dedicated to the 27,000 Commonwealth Forces who died in Burma and the Sittaung Bridge, an area humming with riverside activity, with small markets at the water’s edge, and small riverboats, coming and going with passengers and cargo. Carts drawn by water buffalo amble along the highway. At Kyaikhtiyo Township, transfer from your car to a special open truck for your ascent to Kinmon Base Camp (app. 45 minutes drive). From here continue the journey up to the Golden Rock on foot. (This trail is sometimes steep, but is smooth, and there are covered shelters every 50-100 meters to rest, and have a cold drink. Porters will be available to assist anyone who wishes help, and a “sedan chair” conveyance is available for those who do not wish to walk.) Along the way, will be many pilgrims who have walked from the very base of the mountain. At the shrine, is a small stupa placed atop the Golden Rock, a massive granite boulder. Covered Myanmar bago gold leaf, and precariously balanced over the edge of the mountain, it is purported to be held in place, “balanced on hairs of the Buddha”. Enjoy the late afternoon activities at the shrine, before returning back to your hotel.

After breakfast continue the journey by air-con car to the small village of Kyaikhto. On the way visit the cashew nut plantation and the nearby Buddhist boy’s orphanage and also a rubber tree plantation. In Bago visit to the interesting Bago Market with varieties of vegetables, flower and commodity goods, the Shwetharhlaung Pagoda, with its giant reclining Buddha, having a history over 1000 years old; the nearby Monastic Education Center; the Mon Village, with its array of cotton weavers; the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, with 114 meters the highest pagoda in Myanmar and walk from there to the Hintha Gon Pagoda, the place where Bago was founded. Late afternoon drive back to Yangon and transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Morning flight to Heho in Shan State. Upon arrival drive to Nyaung Shwe (app. 1 hour), a small town at the northern end of Inle Lake. From here take a boat for the excursion on Inle Lake (25 km) famous for its unique one-leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda housing five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images, contorted because of the quantity of applied gold leaf, gifts from the believers. The Buddha images are purported to have come here in the 12th Century. In the afternoon, proceed to the silk weaving village of In Phaw Khon and visit Nga Phe Chaung (the biggest and oldest monastery around Inle Lake). Overnight at Inle Lake.

Early morning drive by boat for app. 2 1/2 hours south to explore the unspoiled culture and traditional life-style of the ethnic groups of Pao and Inthas around Sangha and Hmawbi area. Visit Kyauktaing, a Shan village live on earthenware pottery works; visit Kyainkhan village, to see the production of monk robes from fabrics of thousands of lotus stems and the production of high degree alcohol (CS-country spirit). Lunch at Thakong Pagoda. Late afternoon come back to your hotel for overnight.

At appr. 07:30 transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe and from there by car to Shwe Nyaung for the train to Aungban, by 144DN (Etd: 10:11 / Eta: 12:00). Upon arrival continue to Pindaya (appr. 2 hours), a charming village with its paper umbrella cottage industry. In the afternoon visit the Pindaya cave, famous for its thousands of Buddha images and the paper umbrella cottage industry. Overnight in Pindaya.

Early morning take the footpath trekking around Pindaya. The road and trail goes through beautiful scenery. On the way visit tribal villages of Danu, Taung Yoe. After 1 hr you, arrive Htwet Ni, a Danu Tribal Village with an average of 40 houses. These people make their living from agriculture & occasionally grow fruits like papaya, jack fruit. Your local tour guide will introduce you to the villagers and will show you the traditional way of making the bamboo products like hats & mats. The path goes up for another 40mins till you arrive at See Kya Inn a Taung Yoe tribal village. Native along the way do the plantation for Coffee, Malt Rice, Tea leaves and Cordial leaves. From here the footpath goes down further till you are back to Pindaya. In the afternoon drive to Kalaw (appr. 3 hours drive), a beautiful pine-clad hill station. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Kalaw

After breakfast visit the market and downtown area. Then drive to Mandalay (appr. 8 hours), the city of the last Myanmar Kings. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Whole day sightseeing in Mandalay starts with gold leaf making industry, Mahamuni Pagoda, originally built by King Bodawpaya in 1784, hosting the revered Mahamuni image, cast in the 1st Century and now covered in thick gold leaves and arts and crafts center (bronze casting; stone carving, etc.). In the afternoon visit the down town are with the sprawling Zegyo Market, the Shwenandaw monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Atumashi monastery (Incomparable Monastery); Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures and finally climb Mandalay Hill for the sunset. Overnight Myanmar Amarpurat in Mandalay

After breakfast drive to Amarapura the “City of Immortals” and visit the 150 year old Mahagan dayon monastery, and famous Buddhist learning center. It is home to a thousand monks, who will form a procession as they go to take their noon and final meal of the day. Apart from Pagodas that have survived, the ancient art of silk and cotton weaving, using handlooms, is very much alive and visit U Bein wooden bridge, over 150 years old, which is still in use. Then drive to Ava, the capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 for nearly 400 years, reached by a short boat trip. Explore by horse carts the small island between the Irawaddy and Myittha rivers. Climb the 27-meter high masonary watchtower, visit the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastary and the Bagayar Monastery, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Late afternoon come back to Mandalay for overnight.

After breakfast transfer to the jetty and board the RV Paukan 2007. The lovely Paukan is a boutique hotel on the river, beautifully furnished with a unique combination of modern and traditional motifs. The timber-walled cabins are furnished with colonial style cupboards, dresser and doors while the ceiling is traditional Myanmar. With fine cuisine and high standards of service a cruise on the Pandaw is a unique travel experience. Depart from Mandalay and cruise upriver to Mingun. Upon arrival enjoy a private tour with our guide: Visit Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of the Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell, see the nearby unfinished Mingun Pagoda, built to be the world’s biggest pagoda and visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Then come back to the RV Paukan 2007. Lunch, dinner and overnight on the RV Paukan 2007.

Early morning cruise downstream to Sagaing (appr. 2 hours). Upon arrival enjoy a private tour with our guide: Visit the village of Sagaing, at the foot of Sagaing Hill with markets, shops and restaurants; one of the monasteries on the hillside and Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda built in 1312. The view of Sagaing from here is outstanding. Then return to the RV Pandaw 1947 and continue downstream to Bagan. Late afternoon visit a typical river village. Lunch, dinner and overnight on the RV Paukan 2007.

Early morning proceed downriver to Bagan. After breakfast (if time permits) you will visit another typical river village. Upon arrival Bagan-Temples-4full day sightseeing tour of Bagan with a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples, such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; the Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, a temple with exquisite murals of Jakarta scenes; the Ananda Temple, with four huge standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures in niches around the galleried interior and the Shwe Gu Gyi Temple, noted for its fine stucco carvings and panoramic views of the area’s many monuments. In the afternoon visit Abeyadana Temple, with very interesting paintings, showing a Mahayana influence; the Nagayon Temple, an elegant and well-preserved temple, built by King Kyanzittha; the Ashe & Anauk Pagoda, with hundreds of unglazed terracotta tiles illustrating scenes from the Jakarta and Lowkananda Pagoda, built in 1059 by King Anawrahta. Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast visit Myinkaba, two km south of Bagan. This village is well known for its lacquer ware workshops and has also a number of interesting temples, as Nanphaya Temple, said to have once been the residence of King Manuha and Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, which has very nice frescoes inside. Afternoon free at your own leisure. Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival drive to Ngwe Saung Beach (appr. 6 hours). After arrival transfer to your beach resort for check-in. Overnight in Ngwe Saung.

Free at your own leisure. Overnight in Ngwe Saung.

After breakfast drive back to Yangon. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Free at your own leisure till transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight. End of Myanmar in depth.