Sacred Myanmar Exploration

Welcome to Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar! Upon arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your private tour guide and driver at the exit of the airport and then be transferred to the well-selected hotel for rest.

After enjoying the delicious breakfast at the hotel, we will head to Mahamuni Pagoda, which is a major pilgrimage site in Myanmar. Here you will see plenty of male worshippers sticking the gold leave on the face of Mahamuni Buddha to pray for health and fortune. Then we will move forward to the marble street to learn about the making process of marble stone carvings. The next site will be Mahagandayon Monastery, the largest Buddhist College in Myanmar. At 10:00, you will witness the famous religious ritual of distributing food to thousands of young monks. Afterwards, your guide will lead you to a workshop to see the traditional skills of how to make gold leave, which has a history of several centuries.

In the afternoon, we will come to the foot of Mandalay Hill. The first stop here will be Kuthodaw Pagoda. Around the golden pagoda is a magnificent cluster of 729 white pagodas and each of them has a stone tablet carved with sutras. These stone tablets all together are renowned as "the world's largest book". Then we will continue to Shwenandaw Monastery and Kyauktawgyi Pagoda. At dusk, we will head for U Bein Bridge and take a boat to appreciate the sunset.

Friendly Note:
Every morning from 04:00, there will be an elaborate ritual performance of washing the face and brushing the teeth of the Buddha images by senior monks. If you are interested in the performance, please inform your guide to arrange it for you in advance.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will take a 30 minutes' flight to Bagan, the Land of Temples, to learn about the historical and cultural heritages in Myanmar. Upon arrival, the local guide and driver will pick you up and take you to visit Ananda Temple, lacquer-ware workshop, Minkaba Gubyaukyi Temple, Htilominlo Pahto and Mya Zedi Temple respectively. At sunset, you will enjoy a wooden boat tour on the Irrawaddy River to feel a different beauty of Bagan. In the end, you will be escorted to check into the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will drive to Nyaung U Market to experience the local market culture. Then proceed to two Buddhist pagodas - Shwezigon Paya and Nan Paya Temple, both of which has a history of more than 900 years. Afterwards, we will take a horse carriage to the 66-meter-high (217-foot-high) Thatbyinnyu Temple, the city's largest brick pagoda Dhammayangyi Temple and the well-preserved Sulamani Temple with abundant mural paintings inside. Finally, we will ascend to the top of a mountain and overlook Bagan under the sunset.

Better to know:
In Bagan old town stands nearly 12,000 temples and pagodas on a territory of only 40 square kilometers (9,884 acres). Under the sunset, you will enjoy spectacular views at the top of the mountain, just as the pictures on many websites. Therefore, please get your camera ready to capture the stunning images.

Meals: Breakfast

Today's destination will be Kalaw. On the way, we will have an excursion to the famous extinct volcano in middle Myanmar - Mount Popa. Here, you will see the toddy palm forest, the family workshop making palm sugar and the Taung Kalat monastery on the slope of Mount Popa. In order to visit the monastery, you need to climb 777 stairs. If you are not interested in it, we can have a rest at Popa Mountain Resort where you can enjoy today's lunch at your own expense and appreciate the scenery of Mount Popa.

Then continue the journey to Kalaw. Surrounded by mountains, it is an ideal place for hiking. After about 5 hours' driving, we will finally reach and you will be escorted to check in at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, your guide will first show you around the market and then lead you to a village in Shan State where you will get to know the daily life of the local tribes. In addition, we will explore a special scenic spot, the Kalaw train station.

In the afternoon, we will drive for 2 hours to Nyaung Shwe town, which is near the Inle Lake. Upon arrival, we will first wander around in Nyaung Shwe for some time and then head to Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung to see the wood carvings techniques of local monks. Afterwards, move forward to the hotel by the Inle Lake.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, follow your guide to explore a local morning market, which is closed on dark moon and full moon calendar days. Then a boat tour will be arranged for you. Sailing in the lake, you will see the superb skill of local fishermen rowing the boat with one foot. In addition, you will also watch the wooden villages, the floating gardens and the Buddhist temple Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda over water. If you are interested in handmade crafts, we will also go sightseeing in an art shop to see the woven products made from lotus silk, or a cigar workshop, or pay a visit to the boat builders, blacksmiths or silversmiths.

Meals: Breakfast

Today, we will take a boat to visit the Indein Village and the breathtaking Buddhist temples Shwe Indein Pagoda. Then you will be sent to the Heho airport to catch the flight to Thandwe. The duration is 1 hour. Upon arrival, the local guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Ngapali Beach is the most beautiful beach in Myanmar. Today will be a free day for you to enjoy the sea and the beach on your own. With blue sky, it would be really comfortable and enjoyable to walk on the soft and fine sand or swim in the crystal-clear water. 

Meals: Breakfast

There is so much to explore on the island. Swimming, fishing, and snorkeling, you could choose whatever you like to experience. Ngapali Beach has all the tranquility and freedom that you want for a beach holiday.There is so much to explore on the island. Swimming, fishing, and snorkeling, you could choose whatever you like to experience. Ngapali Beach has all the tranquility and freedom that you want for a beach holiday.

Meals: Breakfast

Today will be still free for you to relax yourself. Riding a bike to explore the nearby villages will be a nice choice. When you finished riding, you could have dinner on the beach while enjoying the charming sunset. 

Meals: Breakfast

The morning will be still free for you to enjoy the sun and the beach till your guide and driver pick you up and transfer to the Thandwe airport to take the flight to Yangon. The duration is 1 hour. Upon landing, your local guide and driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for check in. After a short rest, you will be transferred to visit the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda. The best time for sightseeing is at sunset when the gold-plated Buddhist pagoda glows beautifully under the light of setting sun, which is sure to leave a very deep impression on you.

Meals: Breakfast

The first stop in Yangon will be the Immanuel Baptist Church in downtown area. Then we will move forward to the resplendent and magnificent Sule Pagoda, which is the center of the city. The next stop will be the golden chamber in Botahtaung Pagoda. On the way there, you will see plenty of European architectures built during the British colonial period.

In the afternoon, we will first visit the giant Reclining Buddha statue in Chaukhtatgyi Buddha. Then proceed to the Kandawgyi Park, which is very popular among the locals. Here, you can overlook the scenery around and take pictures of the Golden Shwedagon Pagoda or the Karaweik Hall in the shape of a bird floating on the Royal Lake. After that, your guide will take you to the last stop of your Myanmar vacation package, the Maha Bandula Park to admire the Independence Monument of Myanmar.

Meals: Breakfast

It's time to say goodbye to Myanmar. Your driver will escort you to the airport according to your departure flight schedule and see you off there. Wish you a smooth journey home!

Meals: Breakfast