Myanmar at a Glance
Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Heho
5 Days/4 Nights
5 Days/4 Nights
Myanmar has been opening its doors widely to the world since 2012 and is famous for being the land of golden pagodas. In every corner of this country, you can find temples and pagodas in mound-like structures. With this short tour itinerary, we help you to discover the best of Myanmar including a half day tour of Yangon - the capital of the country, a day tour in Bagan - homeland of 2000 temples and stupas, a day in Mandalay with more typical temple visits and a day at the country 2nd largest fresh water lake of Inle.
Day 1: Yangon – Arrival & sightseeing
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you’re welcomed by our guide and transferred to downtown. We visit the colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatkyi. Then we stroll around the famous Scott (Bogyoke) Market, a sprawling complex built in 1926 and noted for its variety of handicrafts, textiles, gems, and other items which provides an excellent opportunity for a shopping fans. Next is beautiful Kandawgyi Lake with the huge mythical birds of the Karaweik Barge in prominent view. We end the day with a visit to the awe inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, perhaps the most beautiful pagoda complex in all of Asia and is one sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 2: Yangon - Bagan by flight & Bagan sightseeing (B)
Early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, you will visit some highlight temples in Bagan such as:
In the afternoon, continue your visit to Dhammayangyi Temple, a massive later period temple with the finest brickwork in Bagan and Thatbyinnyu Temple which towers above the other monuments of Bagan. As the sun goes down, you will be at one of the ideal viewing sites selected by our tour guide for a panoramic sunset view over the temples. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 3: Bagan - Mandalay by flight - Marapura & Mandalay sightseeing (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and take a morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, you’re greeted by our guide driven toward Mandalay, the last royal capital of the Burmese kingdom and a city rich in history and culture. On the way, you will stop at the ancient royal capital of Amarapura (a capital twice during the Konbaung period), and enjoy a walk on U Bein Bridge which stretches 1.2 kilometers over Lake Taungtaman. Built around 1850, it is the oldest and longest teakwood span in the world. As you stroll in the vicinity of U Bein Bridge, you can also see traditional silk and cotton weaving for which Mandalay is noted.
Then you will travel back to Mandalay and check in to your hotel, be free for lunch at your own expense and relax in your cool and comfortable hotel room.
Your afternoon sightseeing is of Mandalay city and includes the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda with its sitting Buddha covered in gold leaf (later you will see how the gold leaf is hammered out by local craftsmen). A particular highlight is the beautiful Shwenandaw Monastery, one of the last wooden monasteries in Myanmar, the teakwood was originally part of the royal palace at Inwa. Next, you visit the intriguing looking Kuthodaw Pagoda, renowned as the World's largest book for its 729 stone slabs containing the entire Buddhist scriptures. If time permits, you will go atop Mandalay Hill for a view over the city and Ayeyarwaddy River. Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 4: Mandalay – Heho by flight & Inle Lake sightseeing (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Heho. Arrival at Heho airport, you will be met by our guide and proceed to magical Inle Lake. Situated 900 meters above sea level and 22 km long by 11 km wide, this large shallow lake is in an idyllic setting surrounded by mountains and is home to the Intha people, renowned for their floating gardens and the unique one-legged rowing style of their fishermen. You travel by small private boat on the lake, visiting the famous Paung Daw Oo pagoda, with its five famous Buddha images and also nearby Inpawkhone Village where, in houses on stilts, we see traditional silk weaving with hand looms and the processing of lotus blossoms as they are made into beautiful fabric.
After our lunch time break on the lake, you will visit traditional crafts-making such as blacksmithing, cheroot (local cigar) rolling, and boat making. Enjoy a boat ride through the Kaylar village observing the many houses on stilts and the ways of life. We will see the floating gardens up close, then on to the ‘Ngaphae Chaung Monastery’ which is an interesting old traditional monastery on the lake. Go to our hotel and overnight at Inle Lake. Overnight in Heho.
Day 5: Heho - Yangon by flight - Departure (B)
Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Heho airport to take a flight back to Yangon in good time to connect to your departure flight or to fly to your next destination.
:>> Our prices include:
> Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room
> Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver
> The services of an experienced English-speaking guide throughout the tour (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reaching their destination)
> Where necessary, entry fees and permission to enter border areas for all visits mentioned in the program
> Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available
> Domestic flights from Yangon to Bagan, Bagan to Mandalay, Mandalay to Heho, Heho to Yangon, including airport taxes, economy class, local airlines
> VAT and other taxes
:>> Our prices do not include:
> International flight tickets and airport tax
> Visa handling and stamp fee
> Dinners, except as specified above
> Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
> Camera fees (if any)
> Insurance
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you’re welcomed by our guide and transferred to downtown. We visit the colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatkyi. Then we stroll around the famous Scott (Bogyoke) Market, a sprawling complex built in 1926 and noted for its variety of handicrafts, textiles, gems, and other items which provides an excellent opportunity for a shopping fans. Next is beautiful Kandawgyi Lake with the huge mythical birds of the Karaweik Barge in prominent view. We end the day with a visit to the awe inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, perhaps the most beautiful pagoda complex in all of Asia and is one sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 2: Yangon - Bagan by flight & Bagan sightseeing (B)
Early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for a flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, you will visit some highlight temples in Bagan 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 persevered in Old Bagan
- Next to it we visit Ananda Ok Kyaung, one of the few surviving brick monastery buildings from the Early Bagan period
- And Htilominlo Temple which is known to be the last Myanmar Style temple built in Bagan
In the afternoon, continue your visit to Dhammayangyi Temple, a massive later period temple with the finest brickwork in Bagan and Thatbyinnyu Temple which towers above the other monuments of Bagan. As the sun goes down, you will be at one of the ideal viewing sites selected by our tour guide for a panoramic sunset view over the temples. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 3: Bagan - Mandalay by flight - Marapura & Mandalay sightseeing (B)
Breakfast at the hotel and take a morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, you’re greeted by our guide driven toward Mandalay, the last royal capital of the Burmese kingdom and a city rich in history and culture. On the way, you will stop at the ancient royal capital of Amarapura (a capital twice during the Konbaung period), and enjoy a walk on U Bein Bridge which stretches 1.2 kilometers over Lake Taungtaman. Built around 1850, it is the oldest and longest teakwood span in the world. As you stroll in the vicinity of U Bein Bridge, you can also see traditional silk and cotton weaving for which Mandalay is noted.
Then you will travel back to Mandalay and check in to your hotel, be free for lunch at your own expense and relax in your cool and comfortable hotel room.
Your afternoon sightseeing is of Mandalay city and includes the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda with its sitting Buddha covered in gold leaf (later you will see how the gold leaf is hammered out by local craftsmen). A particular highlight is the beautiful Shwenandaw Monastery, one of the last wooden monasteries in Myanmar, the teakwood was originally part of the royal palace at Inwa. Next, you visit the intriguing looking Kuthodaw Pagoda, renowned as the World's largest book for its 729 stone slabs containing the entire Buddhist scriptures. If time permits, you will go atop Mandalay Hill for a view over the city and Ayeyarwaddy River. Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 4: Mandalay – Heho by flight & Inle Lake sightseeing (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take a flight to Heho. Arrival at Heho airport, you will be met by our guide and proceed to magical Inle Lake. Situated 900 meters above sea level and 22 km long by 11 km wide, this large shallow lake is in an idyllic setting surrounded by mountains and is home to the Intha people, renowned for their floating gardens and the unique one-legged rowing style of their fishermen. You travel by small private boat on the lake, visiting the famous Paung Daw Oo pagoda, with its five famous Buddha images and also nearby Inpawkhone Village where, in houses on stilts, we see traditional silk weaving with hand looms and the processing of lotus blossoms as they are made into beautiful fabric.
After our lunch time break on the lake, you will visit traditional crafts-making such as blacksmithing, cheroot (local cigar) rolling, and boat making. Enjoy a boat ride through the Kaylar village observing the many houses on stilts and the ways of life. We will see the floating gardens up close, then on to the ‘Ngaphae Chaung Monastery’ which is an interesting old traditional monastery on the lake. Go to our hotel and overnight at Inle Lake. Overnight in Heho.
Day 5: Heho - Yangon by flight - Departure (B)
Breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Heho airport to take a flight back to Yangon in good time to connect to your departure flight or to fly to your next destination.
:>> Our prices include:
> Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room
> Travel in an appropriate private air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced safe driver
> The services of an experienced English-speaking guide throughout the tour (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reaching their destination)
> Where necessary, entry fees and permission to enter border areas for all visits mentioned in the program
> Lunches and dinners (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available
> Domestic flights from Yangon to Bagan, Bagan to Mandalay, Mandalay to Heho, Heho to Yangon, including airport taxes, economy class, local airlines
> VAT and other taxes
:>> Our prices do not include:
> International flight tickets and airport tax
> Visa handling and stamp fee
> Dinners, except as specified above
> Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
> Camera fees (if any)
> Insurance
