Holiday In Myanmar

Tour Code: GAH – 016

Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Mandalay – Bagan – Inle lake – Ngwe Saung Beach - Yangon (21D / 20 N)

Brief Itinerary

Day – 01: Yangon arrival and sightseeing (by car)
Arrive at Yangon International Airport to be welcomed upon arrival by your gracious tour guide. Transfer and check into your hotel. In the afternoon, take a tour of Yangon including a photo stop at Karaweik Hall (named after a sacred mythological bird) which is a royal barge floating in Kandawgyi ("Royal") Lake and then stop at the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda (Reclining Buddha) a colossal reclining Buddha (which is only surpassed in size by the one in Bago). Later that afternoon, visit to the city center and see the gilded 2,500 year-old Sule Pagoda (a magnificent octagonal golden pagoda which is said to enshrine a hair of Buddha). Then, you will visit the beautiful colonial-style buildings surrounding Mahabandula Park, take a tour of the Naga (hand blown) Glass Factory and stroll through the quaint and narrow streets of Chinatown including the short visit to Tao Temple. Spend the night at your hotel in Yangon.

Day – 02: Yangon - Kyaikhtiyo ( golden rock ) ( by car )

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the delta and over the Sittang River to Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock). Upon your arrival in Bago, some of the sights that will you see are: the Kyakhatwine Monastery where there is a procession of a thousand monks (who take their meal every day at 10 AM in total silence), the Kanbawza Thardi Palace (built by Bayinnaung), the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the Shwethalyaung Pagoda (the world's most beautiful reclining Buddha) and the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (also known as Golden Rock Pagoda) which is one of the most famous pagodas in this region and is the crown jewel of the Mon State. It is located high in the forested mountains above the Mon capital, Mawlamyaing. The Golden Rock Pagoda stands on a gold-gilded boulder precariously perched at the edge of the cliff 1,100 km. above sea level. The boulder, which appears to be constantly in danger of plunging down the mountainside, seems a miracle in itself. The Golden Rock Pagoda is a small stupa measuring only 5.5 meters high, enthroned with Buddha's hair. The gold covered boulder is in the rough shape of a man's head, representing the head of a hermit. You will visit the Golden Rock in the soft light of late afternoon, which is the best time for taking pictures there. Spend the night at your hotel in Kyaikhtiyo.

Day – 03: Kyaikhtiyo ( Golden Rock ) - Bago - Mandalay ( by car and train )
After breakfast at your hotel, you will take a half hour walk to visit a small, but interesting cave. You will also stop at the some of the local shops to buy some souvenirs of some unsual jungle products from Kyaikhtiyo. In mid-morning, you will be driven to Bago. Upon your arrival, some of the sights that will you see are: the Kanbawza Thardi Palace (built by Bayinnaung), the Kalayani Sima (Ordination Hall), the Shwemawdaw Pagoda and the Shwethalyaung Pagoda (the world's most beautiful reclining Buddha) and the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (also known as Golden Rock Pagoda) which is one of the most famous pagodas in this region and is the crown jewel of the Mon State. The Golden Rock Pagoda is located high in the forested mountains above the Mon capital, Mawlamyaing. It stands on a gold-gilded boulder precariously perched at the edge of the cliff 1,100 km. above sea level. The boulder, which appears to be constantly in danger of plunging down the mountainside, seems a miracle in itself. The Golden Rock Pagoda is a small stupa measuring only 5.5 meters high, enthroned with Buddha's hair. The gold covered boulder is in the rough shape of a man's head, representing the head of a hermit. You will visit the Golden Rock in the soft light of late afternoon, which is the best time for taking pictures there. Before leaving Bago, you will visit a Wood Carving Workshop and the local Bago market. In the evening you will be transferred to the Bago Railway Station, where you will proceed to Mandalay by an overnight train.

Day – 04: Mandalay full day sightseeing ( by car )
Upon arrival in the morning at the Mandalay train station, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will check in. Your sightseeing will begin with a visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda (Mandalay’s most fabled pagoda built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya to house the Mahamuni Image). Then, you will visit the tapestry making home cottage, marble carving workshop, gold-leaf pounding workshop and the silk weaving factory. Afterwards, you will be taken to the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, which has a large Buddha image carved out of a single block of marble, to the Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace) noted for its exquisite woodcarvings, and to the Kuthodaw Pagoda known as the World's Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill with the panoramic view of Mandalay below. Spend the night at your hotel in Mandalay.

Day – 05: Mandalay - Amarapura - Mingun sightseeing ( by boat and car )
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to Amarapura, an ancient capital of Myanmar, which was founded in the 18th century. You will visit the Mahagandayon Monastery to observe the daily lives of the Buddhist monks who live there. Next, you will visit U Bein Bridge (a teak bridge, which is the longest wooden bridge in the world) and, afterwards, go to the Myanmar Traditional Hand-Woven Silk Workshop observe the weavers at work. Next, you will be transferred to a jetty to take a private boat along the Ayeyarwaddy River to visit Mingun, a village on the west bank of the river. You will visit to the Mingun Pahtotawgyi (a 162 ft. pagoda built by King Bodawpaya that was never finished, but if it were, it would have reached a height of some 500 ft.), the Mingun Bell (which is the world's biggest ringing bell) and the Myatheintan Pagoda (which is one of the prettiest pagodas in Myanmar built as a representation of the Buddhist plan of the cosmos). Then, you will explore the surrounding village. In the evening, you will return to Mandalay. Spend the night at your hotel in Mandalay.

Day – 06: Mandalay - Sagaing ( by car )

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to Sagaing Hill, which is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. The landscape around Sagaing Hill is dotted with numerous white-painted pagodas and monasteries. You will continue your tour with a visit to Kaungmudaw Pagoda, to the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and to the Pottery Making Village and the to Silversmith Workshop. In the evening you will enjoy the sunset from Sagaing Hill before returning to Mandalay. Spend the night at your hotel in Mandalay.

Day – 07: Mandalay - Bagan (by express boat and car)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to a jetty for an express boat trip to Bagan. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will have time to relax. Spend the night at your hotel in Bagan.

Day – 08: Bagan full day sightseeing ( by car )
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will begin your morning sightseeing which will include: a visit to the colorful Nyaung U Market; the Shwezigon Pagoda (with its magnificent golden stupa); the Htilominlo Temple (noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed stone decoration); the Gubyaukgyi Temple (with its superb mural paintings of jataka scenes) and a visit to the Myinkaba Village where you will observe the Traditional Lacquer-ware Industry, which is one of Myanmar's best-known handicrafts. You will take a lunch break from your sightseeing at a local restaurant in Bagan. Your afternoon sightseeing will include: a visit to the Manuha Temple, erected over huge Buddha-images; the Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and an excellent example of an early-style Myanmar temple with four impressive standing Buddha images and, last but not least, the Dhamayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. You will cap off a perfect day by enjoying the dramatic sunset from the terrace of Shwesandaw Pagoda. Spend the night at your hotel in Bagan.

Day – 09: Bagan full day sightseeing ( by car )
After breakfast at your hotel hotel, you will begin your morning sightseeing which will include: a visit to the Lawkananda Pagoda, which was built on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River by King Anawrahta during his reign in 1059 and is one of the four sacred Tooth Relic Pagodas in Myanmar (containing a replica of Buddha’s tooth); the East and West Phet Leik with its clay plaques of jataka scenes; the Thatbyinnyu Temple, which is the tallest temple in Bagan measuring 61 meters (201 ft.) tall; the Shwegugyi Temple, which name literally means the "Great Golden Cave"; the Palace site and the famous Tharaba Gate, which is the main gate of the eastern wall and the only one left out of the twelve original gates of the wall of the city which king Pyinbya established in 849 AD. You will take a lunch break from your sightseeing at a local restaurant in Bagan. Your afternoon sightseeing will include: a visit to the Apeyadana Temple, which is known for its simplicity and contains paintings of Mahayana concept; the Nagayon Temple, which was built by King Kyanzittha and which name literally means "sheltered by serpent"; the Archaeological Museum, which is within the old Bagan city and was established in 1998; the Dhamayangyi Temple, which is a massive temple with finest brick work in Bagan and the Mingalar Zedi Pagoda, which from its upper platform you will enjoy the sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River with a splendid view of Bagan. Spend the night at your hotel in Bagan.

Day – 10: Bagan - Mt. Popa - Kalaw ( by car )
After breakfast at your hotel, you will depart for Kalaw, a mountain resort town in the Southern Shan State. You will then be driven to Mt. Popa, which is an extinct 5,000 ft. high volcano covered with a forest. The name “Popa” is believed to have derived from a pali word meaning “flower”, so Mt. Popa literally means a mountain of flowers. It is to be considered the residence of Myanmar's most powerful nats (spirits), so it is the most important nat worship center. Many pilgrims visit Mt. Popa every year, especially at festival season. You will climb to the summit of Mt. Popa to see the magnificent panoramic view. Afterwards you will continue to Kalaw. Spend the night at your hotel in Kalaw.

Day – 11: Kalaw ( Trekking )

After breakfast at your hotel, you will embark upon a full-day trekking trip, from Kalaw, to Ywa Thit and then to Taryaw (for a lunch break), which is a good place to get some photos because of the excellent view. On your way back, you will visit the water reservoir (which provides water to Kalaw). You will also pass by some of the Palaung hill tribes and will have an opportunity to take photos and to observe the local tribes people going about their daily lives. At the end of the day, you will trek back to Kalaw. Spend the night at your hotel in Kalaw.

Day – 12: Kalaw - Pindaya - Inle (by car)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the Thandwe airport for your flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon, You will be transferred to your hotel where you will have time to relax. Spend the night at your hotel in Yangon.

Day – 13: Inle Lake sightseeing (by boat excursion)
After breakfast at your hotel, your Inle Lake sightseeing will begin with a boat excursion on the lake including a tour of a Blacksmith and a Silversmith Workshop, then, you will continue by boat to the floating islands, to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda (where worshippers apply gold leaf to the Buddha), to the floating gardens, to see the unique one-legged rowers (who row with one leg, while standing on the other as they are fishing), to see the "traditional fishing method" and a silk weaving factory. At the end of the day, you will visit the Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, also called "jumping cats monastery" because trained cats stay there with the monks. Spend the night at your hotel on Inle Lake.

Day – 14: Inle - Taunggyi - Kakku - Taunggyi (by car)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to Taunggyi, which is the capital of the Southern Shan State and is 1,430 meters above the sea level and surrounded by many pine trees. Due to its high altitude, it has a moderate climate. You will visit the colorful Taunggyi Market where you can see the local hill tribe people going about their daily lives shopping for fruits and vegetables and their regional products. You will then proceed to Kakku, a unique temple complex of more than 2,000 stupas that has been hidden for centures in the Pa-O heartland of Southern Shan State. Spend the night at your hotel in Taunggyi.

Day – 15: Taunggyi - Yangon (by flight & car)
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel and some sightseeing, you will be transferred to the Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon your arrival at you will be driven to your hotel where you will be free to relax. Spend the night at your hotel in Yangon.

Day – 16: Yangon free day
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel and some sightseeing, you will be transferred to the Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon your arrival at you will be driven to your hotel where you will be free to relax. Spend the night at your hotel in Yangon.

Day – 17: Yangon - Ngwe Saung Beach ( by car )
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to Ngwe Hsaung Beach. On the way, you will pass through some beautiful rural Ayeyarwaddy Delta landscapes, some picturesque small villages with their local markets and some interesting river crossings. Upon arrival at Ngwe Saung, you will have time to relax at your hotel. Spend the night at your hotel in Ngwe Saung Beach.

Day – 18: Ngwe Saung Beach
Spend the day on Ngwe Saung Beach at leisure, relaxing and enjoying the beauty of your surroundings. Spend the night in your hotel in Ngwe Saung Beach.

Day – 19: Ngwe Saung Beach
Spend a second day on Ngwe Saung Beach at leisure, relaxing and enjoying the beauty of your surroundings. Spend the night in your hotel in Ngwe Saung Beach.

Day – 20: Ngwe Saung - Yangon (by car)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven back to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon, you will have time to relax at your hotel. Spend the night in your hotel in Yangon.

Day – 21: Shopping and Departure (by car)
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to the Gems Mart and Handicrafts shops for morning shopping. You will also be taken to the Bogyoke Aung San Market (well known for gems & jewelry, arts & crafts, fabrics & fashions and local products) where you can buy you last-minute souvenirs. You will then be transferred to airport for your departure.

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