Day 1 – Yangon
Arrive in Yangon where you are greeted and transferred to your hotel to check in. The rest of the afternoon is free at your leisure. Overnight in Yangon
Day 2 – Yangon
Yangon lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the treetops. Start the day in the heart of Yangon which features an interesting selection of monuments and colonial buildings. Visit the Independent Monument, High Court, City Hall and the Sule Pagoda. Afterwards, visit the National Museum to gain an insight into Myanmar. Enjoy a break at Bogyoke (Scott) Market, containing crafts from all corners of Myanmar, gems, fabrics and more. In the afternoon, visit some of the more well-known pagodas, including Botataung Pagoda and Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda. Finally, continue to the Shwedagon Pagoda, the highlight of any visit to Yangon. Towering over the city, this pagoda is the most sacred spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha. The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are at their most beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colours of twilight. Overnight in Yangon
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 3 – Yangon
Cross the Yangon River by local ferry, observing the local morning activities on the jetty and along the shores. After reaching Dala, take a trishaw ride past the local fish market, through green areas, and past teashops. Visit the Shwesandaw Pagoda for a dose of local legend. Afterwards, return to Yangon to catch the ferry, then proceed by vehicle to Twante. After visiting another pagoda, also called Shwesandaw and the third tallest in the country, explore the daily life of the town itself, stopping to see local cottage industries including bamboo raft making. Finish your visit of the town at the Oh Bo pottery quarter, and observe a demonstration of the local pottery techniques. On the way back to Yangon, visit the Indian inspired Paung Daw Gyoke Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic box)
Day 4 – Yangon – Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin
Enjoy breakfast before you transfer to Yangon airport for your flight to Mandalay. Then continue by vehicle to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo). Overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5 – Pyin Oo Lwin – Mandalay
Today enjoy sightseeing in Pyin Oo Lwin, originally a Shan Danu village, it is now home to around 5,000 Nepalis and 10,000 Indians. Visit the Botanical Gardens, which feature wide expanses of manicured grass, large flowerbeds, natural forest, rose gardens and an orchid house. Enjoy the views of the town from the tower in Botanical Garden. See the Purcell Tower, situated near the entrance to the town. The tower was a gift from Queen Victoria, who offered an identical tower to Cape Town in South Africa. South of the central area is the Church Of The Immaculate Conception, which features a large brick sanctuary with a belltower and cruciform floor plan. The vaulted wooden ceilings and well-appointed interior are impressive. By vehicle from Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) to Mandalay. Overnight in Mandalay
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 6 – Mandalay
The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual centre. Neighbouring Sagaing is home to over sixty per cent of the country’s monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar. In the morning, head to Amarapura, also a former royal capital, and visit Mahagandayon Monastery; monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists each morning. Pause to enjoy the atmosphere of U Bein Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends across Taungthaman Lake, and the highlight of any visit to Amarapura. On th eway back to Mandalay, stop at Mahamuni Paya. The Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image in Myanmar, covered in over 15 cm 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 gold-leaf beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered out into tissue-thin squares. Continue to Shwenandaw Kyaung, or the Golden Teak Monastery, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace. Afterwards visit Kyauktawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble. Next Kuthodaw Paya, known as “the world’s biggest book”. The final stop is at Shwe Kyin Old Monastery, an old monastery at the base of Mandalay Hill, which was built during the period of King Mindon. This evening enjoy sunset at Mandalay Hill experiencing panoramic views over the palace, Mandalay and the paya-studded countryside. Overnight in Mandalay
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 7 – Mandalay – Heho – Pindaya
Today take a flight to Heho, then continue by vehicle to Pindaya. Visit the Pindaya Caves which are ensconced in a limestone ridge overlooking the lake. Inside the cavern there are more than 8000 Buddha images made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement, and they are arranged in such a way as to form a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers. See the Shwe U Min Paya, a cluster of low stupas just below the ridge near the Pindaya Caves. Beginning on the full moon of Tabaung (February/March), Pindaya hosts a colourful pagoda festival at Shwe U Min. Lastly visit the local market and paper umbrella factory. Overnight in Pindaya
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 8 – Pindaya – Inle Lake
After breakfast drive to Inle Lake to enjoy a boat ride on the Lake and discover its calm serenity, still waters and colourful brush strokes of floating vegetation and slow moving fishing canoes. Rolling high hills hug the lake on all sides, as the lake’s shore and islands host 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the awe inspiring scenery and meditate on the one of a kind skill of the local fishermen who make use of their legs in a unique rowing technique to glide themselves gracefully around the lake. Visit the enchanting floating gardens, a teeming market and an Intha village around the lake. The day also includes a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Inn Paw Khon Village (Lotus and silk weaving villages) and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. Overnight in Inle Lake
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 9 – Inle Lake – Heho – Kengtung
Transfer to Heho for your flight to Kengtung. Where you will visit the Kengtung market a fascinating place to soak up the local atmosphere. Minority people come to town to shop or to sell their goods. Drive towards buffalo-market at the top of hill. For the Akha, the many silver shops are of special interest as there they can buy the silver coins to make their very unique headdresses. Visit a pottery village “Yan Gone” to observe the handicraft earthen pots of Shan tribe and blacksmith shop can be visited. Afterwards return to Kengtung to see Wat Jong Kham which features a tall gilded zedi topped by a gold hti inlaid with silver, rubies, diamonds, sapphires and jade, and hung with tiny golden bells. Next the Standing Buddha Statue and Thit Ta Pin Taung (Lone Tree Hill) to enjoy views over the town. Overnight in Kengtung
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 10 – Kengtung
Today take an excursion to Pin Tauk to visit Akha, Ann and Lahu tribes. In Pin Tauk begin hiking through monsoon forests which overlook verdant rice paddies; stop to visit Akha and Enn villages before stopping for a picnic lunch at Pin Tauk waterfall. After lunch continue trekking to Ann villages and Wun Mai where you can see Lahu tribes before returning to Kengtung. Overnight in Kengtung
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11 – Kengtung
Travel for 2 hours on scenic roads, passing forests, terraced rice fields and lakes while ascending to Loimwe. The former hill station whose name mean “misty mountain”. You will have a chance to observe the Old British colonial house and Catholic Church that are remained as a remarkable place of British colonial. On the way to Loimwe, stop to explore differnet ethnic groups; at HoLup Akha village guests will be able to see the traditional Akha tribes with their colourful dresses. In Nang Cho and Wa village the native Wa people inhabit. Stop to hike the tribal villages of the Wan Lun (Shan Village), Ho Lup (Akha Village), Nang Cho (Wa Village), and Pang-Kwai (Lahu Village). Overnight in Kengtung
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12 – Kengtung – Yangon
Enjoy the morning at your leisure then transfer to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13 – Yangon
After breakfast enjoy the morning at your leisure before transferring to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
