Treasures of Myanmar 12 Days, 11 Nights

Arrive Yangon international airport, welcome by your private tour guide. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Visit Chauk Htatt Kyi (the six storied in meaning but actually the huge reclining Buddha Image, Sule (the eight sided stupa located at the center of Yangon, the Independent Monument. And study the ways of living of Yangon citizens (which can observe the tradition and modern costume) and Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide – its golden stupa is the ‘ Heart ’ of Buddhism Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon International airport for flight to Mandalay. Arrive Mandalay International Airport. Take an excursion to Amarapura: Maha Gandayone Monastery – home to several thousand young monks where you can watch the whole monastery having their meal silently, 200 years old U Bein teak bridge built in 1728 at the time when Amarapura was Royal capital. Visit traditional hand – woven silk workshop teak posts.

Continue on, proceed to Ava (Inwa), visit Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, the hand-made workshop industry producing lacquer alms for Monk.

Then drive to Mandalay and check in at the hotel.

Today a half-day sightseeing tour Mandalay – Mingun starts from your hotel in Mandalay. Our local guide and driver will take you to the wharf for a boat trip on the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun (it is 11 km and take us about 1 hour) upriver from Mandalay.

Upon arrival Mingun, we will make our first visit to Mingun Bell, a magnificent sight of the world’s second largest bell (90 tons). Take leisure walk to Hsinbyume Paya (also know as Myatheindan Pagoda), an impressive white-washed temple noted for its fabulous architecture built like the shape of Mt Meru.

Finally, fulfill your trip in Mingun by a visit to the unfinished Mingun Paya, this one was built as one of the largest chedis in the world by King Bodaw Paya. You will go back to Mandalay by boat.

After early breakfast at the hotel, drive to Monywa. On the way, visit to Sagaing Hills (21km south-east of Mandalay) and western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy river, Kaung Mu Daw Pagoda which is the copy of Mahaceti Pagoda in Siri Lanka. Tour continues to Monywa located in the Valley of Chindwin River and a pleasant destination for the visitors. Sightseeing inclusive of Thanbode where a half million of Buddha images exits. Bode Tahtaung where a thousand of Bo trees or Banyan trees and a 300 foot long reclining Buddha image would be visited. In the afternoon, cross Chindwin River and drive to Hpo Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung by pick-up jeep or Hilux. Return back to Monywa.

Breakfast at the hotel then proceed to Phoe Win Taung Hill and Shweba Hill where we can see sandstone caves and frescoes(paintings) dating back in 14th to 16th century. Continue to Pakokku – famous for cotton blanket. Visit local market, weaving industry, peanut snacks making cottage. Here in Pakokku you will see an ornamental backdrop of a throne of a Buddha image – the most amazing wood carving you have ever seen. Continue driving to Bagan and arrive in the evening.

Optional tour: Balloon Over Bagan
It is a unique opportunity to see the Bagan with ‘BALLOONS OVER BAGAN’. You get a magnificent birds-eye view of thousand year-old pagodas, temples and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River as it has never been seen before. The balloon is guided by gentle winds not exceeding 24 km/h. Eight/Six passengers plus a pilot fit into the balloon’s basket. The champagne flights at sunrise last just under an hour and take off daily from October through March. (Due to the limited capacity, advance bookings at an early stage are highly recommended.)

After breakfast, start whole day sightseeing of Bagan’s most important temples and pagodas ranging from the temples with the earliest wall paintings to the prototype pagada the influenced the designs of later Buddhist monuments. Tour highlights include colorful Nyaung Oo Market, and Shwezigon Pagoda – built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, then go to Ananda Temple – King Kyansittha’s masterpiece and the crowning achievement of the early style temple of architecture, next is Thatbyinnyu Temple – the highest building on the Bagan plain, after that visit to Htilominlo Temple – the largest temple of Bagn – noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. In the afternoon observe the process of traditional lacquer ware, one of Myanmar’s best known handicrafts and a specialty of Bagan.

Then visit Manuha Temple, Myingabar Gubyaugyi Temple – an early period Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence with some of the oldest mutual paintings in Bagan and Dhamanyangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. Lastly watch sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River from Buphaya or Shwesandaw Pagoda.

After breakfast, visit tropical village to visit an old Noodle Cottage and observe the daily life the people in Taung Bi Village. Then visit Bupaya Pagoda, on the bank of majestic Ayeyarwady River and visit the Mahabodhi Temple, resemble of Mahabodi Temple in Bodaghaya. 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 jatakas and Lowkananda Pagoda, built in 1059 by King Anawrahta.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Heho. Arrive at Heho Airport, drive to Pindaya (65 km). Sightseeing inclusive of Pindaya Cave with thousands of Buddha Images placed there by pilgrims over many centuries and Umbrella workshop which is made from pulp. Even stroll underneath the old Banyan trees which are said over 200 years. Take fresh breath and photos then head to your hotel in Pindaya to check-in.

After breakfast, have sightseeing by foot around the Botaloke Lake and local market. Drive to Nyaung Shwe and transfer to hotel by boat to Inle Lake. Being located at the 900 meters above sea level, Inle Lake is the second largest natural lake in Myanmar with hazy blue mountains as backdrop. Afternoon, visit Indein Village, located at the western side of the lake. Passing Nyaung Ohak Monastery and follow a stair path lined up with many hundreds o wooden columns, you finally will reach the impressive Shwe Indein Pagoda Complex. From the hillside you have great view over the lake area. On the way back to the boat, walk through a romantic bamboo forest at the riverside, where you may observe local people having a bath. Afternoon continue sightseeing on the lake. Overnight in Inle lake region

In the early morning, breakfast at hotel and visit Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the most famous pagoda of the Shan State. Ywa-Ma village, gold and sliver smiths’ workshop. After lunch, visit Jumping Cat Monastery and floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and the famous leg rowers. In the evening, enjoy the sunset while visiting the Inle Lake by boat.

After breakfast, transfer to the Heho Airport for flight back to Yangon. On the way to the hotel, visit Kabar Aye (the World Peace pagoda) and Maha Pasana (the great cave for Buddhist synod) and check in at the hotel. After lunch shopping at Bogyoke Market (Scott’s Market) of hundreds of shops where you can find local products such as Gems & Jewelry, slippers, cloth, and so on. Evening stroll along the China Town and study the ways of living of Yangon citizens (which can observe the tradition and modern costume).

Breakfast at hotel. Leisure till the flight time. Transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight to conclude this unique experience.