Myanmar Culture Tour Ngapali Beach

Your independent Myanmar (Burma) tour starts from Yangon. Upon arrival, you are recommended to buy SIM card, rent Wi-Fi Router and exchange brand-new US dollars for Burmese Kyat at the airport. After that, you are recommended to hail a taxi to the Hotel Grand United Yangon - Ahlone Branch at the price of BUK 6,000. If time permits, you may take a taxi to the nearby Shwedagon Pagoda and Kandawgyi Lake afterwards.

Accommodation Suggestion: Hotel Grand United Yangon - Ahlone Branch（3 stars）

This morning you are recommended to hail a taxi to the airport for your flight to Mandalay. After landing, take a taxi to the suggested Hotel Yadanarbon Mandalay at a cost of around BUK 16,000 or carpool 4 people for a fare of BUK 4,000.

After settled down, we suggest you to charter a car through your hotel to complete today's Mandalay backpacking tour. Firstly, you may go to the Kuthodaw Pagoda to view 729 white tablets inscribed with Buddhist sutras and spend USD 10 to buy a through ticket there, which include most famous attractions of Mandalay. After that, continue your trip southward to Shwenandaw Monastery, the resting place of King Mindon. Then, you are suggested to arrive at the top of the Mandalay Hill to enjoy the gorgeous sunset.

Accommodation Suggestion: Hotel Yadanarbon Mandalay (3 stars)

Today, we recommend you to charter a car at a cost of about BUK 40,000 a day. Please arrive at Mahargandaryone Monastery at 9 am and find a good place to watch the great scene of over 2,000 monks receiving alms and having meals. Sagaing Hill is suggested to be the next destination, where there are numerous golden pagodas. After that, it's almost the time to enjoy the charming sunset at U Bein Bridge. Renting a boat at the price of about BUK 10,000 is recommended in order to get the best shot.

Accommodation Suggestion: Hotel Yadanarbon Mandalay (3 stars)

Your independent Myanmar tour today starts with a flight from Mandalay to Bagan. Upon arrival at Bagan, you are advised to take a taxi to the Thande Hotel Bagan for a fare of BUK 6,000. After checking in the hotel, we suggest you to tour around pagodas in Bagan by bike or battery car. If the weather is clear, the stunning sunset over the Bagan Plain with several stupas as background should not be missed.

After getting back to your hotel, we suggest you order a carriage through the hotel in advance for the next day's tour; the reasonable price costs around BUK 30,000.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Hotel Bagan (3 stars)

You are strongly recommended to get up early to reach the Shwesandaw Pagoda, which is praised to be the best viewing point in Bagan to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. After taking enough pictures of this great scene, go back to your hotel to have a breakfast. Then you may set out your trip to some must-see Buddhist sites in Bagan, including Sulamani Temple, Dhammayangyi Temple, Manuha Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, Thatbyinnyu Temple, Htilominlo Temple, and Shwezigon Pagoda.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Hotel Bagan (3 stars)

A relaxing tour around various pagodas in Bagan is still recommended for today. Alternatively, you may charter a car to the Mount Popa instead, which is considered a holy place among locals with numerous temples built along the mountain path. People would go on a pilgrimage all the way to the top barefoot. On top of the mountain, visitors can have a bird's-eye-view of the whole Bagan Plain.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Hotel Bagan (3 stars)

In the following two days, you are suggested to take a leisure holiday on Ngapali Beach. At the beginning of this day, please check out the hotel with your entire luggage and head for the Bagan Airport by taxi for your onward flight to Thandwe. Then, take a pickup truck to the Ngapali Beach and check in the suggested Thande Beach Hotel. After settled, you are suggested to take a break in the hotel and then spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.

Tip: Ngapali Beach welcomes the most tourists during December ~ the next February. Make sure you book the hotel a few days in advance if coming in the peak season.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Beach Hotel (3 stars)

Today you can take part in some water-based activities and taste sea food at a low price while relaxing on the beach. Another choice for you is joining in a one-day tour via your hotel to nearby islands. Pearl Island about an hour's cruise away is strongly recommended. You can see colorful corals while diving under the water there.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Beach Hotel (3 stars)

You still have a whole day relaxing yourself around Ngapali Beach. You can pay a visit to some nearby villages to immerse in local people's daily life. Also, you may have a chance to go fishing on the sea with experienced fishermen.

Accommodation Suggestion: Thande Beach Hotel (3 stars)

At the beginning of the 10th day of your independent Myanmar tour, we suggest you to take a pickup truck to Thandwe Airport and fly to Yangon. After getting off the plane, take a taxi to the Hotel Grand United Yangon - Ahlone Beach. If time permits, it is suggested that you take a tuktuk or rickshaw to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda - enshrining the largest reclining Buddha of Myanmar, Sule Pagoda - housing the statue of the Patron Saint of the mountain where the stupa seats, and the Maha Bandoola Park - commemorating a national hero named Maha Bandoola.

Accommodation Suggestion: Hotel Grand United Yangon - Ahlone Branch (3 stars)

Your fruitful 11-day independent Myanmar tour ends today. Please check out the hotel and then hail a taxi to Yangon International Airport for your homeward flight.