Essential Myanmar

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVAL TO YANGON

Stop At: Yangon Yangon, 339 Bogyoke Aung San Road Sakura Tower Rooftop, Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar
Upon arrival to the YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by English speaking station guide and our journey begins with a tour through the colonial-style city center of Yangon. We visit the golden SULE PAYA stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city –CHAUK THAT GYI pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and KARAWEIK HALL to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on KANDAWGYI (ROYAL) LAKE. We visit BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SWEDAGON PAGODA, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 2: YANGON – BAGAN

Stop At: Yangon Yangon, 339 Bogyoke Aung San Road Sakura Tower Rooftop, Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar
After breakfast, we transfer to Yangon airport for the domestic flight to NYAUNG U/ BAGAN. Upon arrival, visit to the NYAUNG U MARKET, the largest market in the Bagan region, to get a glimpse into the local life. We also see how cottage industries like brick making are carried out with traditional methods. We continue to the gilded SHWEZIGON STUPA, purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. And then KYANSITHA UMIN, a cave temple, the long dimly lit corridors are decorated with frescoes, some believed painted by Tartar invaders during the Mongol occupation after 1287.Next, we visit GUBYAUKGYI (Wet-Kyi-Inn), this 13th-century ‘cave temple’ has an Indian-style spire like the Mahabodhi Paya in Bagan. It is interesting for the fine frescoes of scenes from the Jatakas. Then to HTILOMINLO TEMPLE to learn how Burmese sand paintings are created. The day’s temple tour continues with a visit to the beautifully symmetric and majestic ANANDA TEMPLE with its four standing Buddha images that seem to gaze at the viewer with fixed serenity wherever the viewer stands. Then we visit DHAMAYANGYI TEMPLE, the largest temple of Bagan with the thickest walls and the SULAMANI TEMPLE. Finally, proceed to BUPAYA to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 3: BAGAN

Stop At: Bagan Viewing Tower, Bagan Myanmar
After breakfast, we learn how Bagan’s famous lacquer-ware crafts are produced in MYINGABA VILLAGE, and then go to MYAZEDI TEMPLE. Closely, the MYINGABA GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE is a sight to behold, housing Bagan’s best preserved mural paintings of the Buddha’s Jataka reincarnations. MANUHA TEMPLE, built by the Mon king in the 1300s, represents his time in captivity under the Bagan king. And then we visit the DHAMAYAZEKA ZEDI, providing panoramic views of the temple studded plains of Bagan. It is worth a look around for bamboo and wood houses built long ago. LAYMYETNAT TEMPLE and PAYATHONZU with MINNANTHU VILLAGE are of a later period than those in Central Bagan. NANDA-MAN-NYA TEMPLE, It is a single-chambered temple has very fine frescoes and a ruined, seated Buddha image. TAYOK PYE PAYA is a large temple, built by Narathihapate (1256-1287) who is known as the king who fled from the Mongolian invasion, thus ‘Tayok Pye’ in Myanmar. For sunset, a BULLOCK OR HORSE CART RIDE around the temples offers unparalleled photo opportunities of one of the richest archeological treasures in Southeast Asia as the sun dips behind the temple ruins (weather permitting)
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 4: BAGAN – HEHO – INLE LAKE

Stop At: Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Myanmar
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the Bagan airport for the domestic flight to HEHO, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. En route to Inle Lake, we stop at a LOCAL FAMILY WORK SHOP to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made by traditional methods using the fibers of the mulberry tree. Next, we take a 1-hour drive to INLE LAKE that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. After checking into the hotel, we embark on afternoon explorations of INLE LAKE, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake. And then we visit PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, the home of some of the country’s most sacred Buddha statues covered in gold leaf by devout followers.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 5: INLE LAKE & INN DEIN

Stop At: Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Myanmar
After breakfast we journey out by boat, following the currents of a small river to reach the INN DEIN PAGODA COMPLEX, a site that makes us feel as if we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. We boat back to the lake and visit to the INPAWKHON WEAVING VILLAGE to learn how local silks, linens and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, we stop at a house for BURMESE CATS built over the lake, where we see the preservation efforts and reintroduction of this rare pure breed of felines to Myanmar. At NAMPAN VILLAGE, local craftsmen show us how Burmese cigars, or “cheroots,” are traditionally packed and rolled. We end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 6: INLE LAKE – YANGON

Stop At: Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Myanmar
After breakfast, we transfer to Nyaung Shwe town by boat and 1hr drive to Heho airport for the domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, we visit the quaint YANGON OLD QUARTER, built during the British colonial era. Many charming historical buildings are still located here. During our stroll through bustling MARKET STREETS full of merchants and food stalls. Then stop for a cup of tea and snack in the fashion of locals, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon. Next we visit the RIVER ART GALLERY, where the works of some of the most famous and skilled Burmese artists are on display fitting of the grand surroundings. In the afternoon, we visit BOTATAUNG PAGODA located beside the Yangon River and enjoys nice fresh air from the river. It also more peaceful and less crowded that the other pagodas in Yangon.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel

Day 7: YANGON – DEPARTURE

Stop At: Yangon Yangon, 339 Bogyoke Aung San Road Sakura Tower Rooftop, Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar
After breakfast, free at leisure until transfer to Yangon airport for your international departure flight
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.