Day 01 Arrive Yangon
On arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are met and transferred to your Hotel. After checking into your hotel, begin your day with the walking tour around the heart of Yangon where one can see mainly British style colonial buildings (City Hall, Sule pagoda which is believed to have been built about 2,200 years ago and the landmark of Yangon City Centre). Proceed down the Strand road to wander around The STRAND HOTEL, over hundred years old hotel and next visit to the ChaukHtatGyi reclining Buddha(72 meters long, one of four longest reclining Buddha in Myanmar). Finally, enjoy the amazing sunset over the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda which is believed to have been built about 2,500 years ago and the greatest pagoda of its kind in the world. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 02 Flight to Heho – Pindaya
Morning, transfer to airport for your flight to Heho. On arrival, drive to Pindaya (45 km, 01:30 hours) and visit to Pindaya Cave. The caves are supposed to be 200,000 million years old and since ancient times they have been places of worship and veneration with 8,094 Buddha images made from various materials like teak wood, marble, alabaster, brick, cement and lacquer. Next, visit workshops that make Mulberry paper and Bamboo hats. Overnight at hotel in Pindaya.
Day 03 Kalaw (Trekking)
Drive to Kalaw then start the trekking. Walk to Nanthe Village from Kalaw (approx:1 hour). Visit primary school which is our immediate next door (30 mins). From here we visit local Buddhist monastery, which is our immediate neighbour (30 mins). After spending some time chatting with monk over green tea we then to Nanthe (Danu tribe ) village (1.5 mins). Here we visit a library donated by the lodge and interact with local over a cup of green tea (one hour). From here we walk to Nanthe (Npalese) village (approx: 10 minute) where we explore the village and visit household industry making rice and plum wine process (one hour). If wish we could taste local brew wine. Later we travel back to Kalaw. Total walking hours (4 hours).Overnight at hotel in Kalaw.
Day 04 Inle
After breakfast,drive to Nyaung Shwe (~1 hr), an ancient capital of Shan ethnic located at the entrance of Inle Lake and visit the small city. Then, continue to Nyaung Shwe jetty where boat will be waiting for you. Memorable highlights visit to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda: one of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this pagoda houses five small Buddha images, Nga Hpe Kyaung (Jumping Cat Monastery) in Nga Phe village, the floating gardens and floating villages. The native people, In-Thars, grow vegetables on floating islands which are collection of floating weed and water hyacinth. Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake (or) Nyaung Shwe.
Day 05 InDein & Inle
After a leisurely breakfast, visit to the five day market then proceed to Shwe InDein pagoda complex which has the longest and the most massive covered approach way around Inle. On the way back, stop to visit at In Paw-Khong village, is the centre of the present day weaving industry in Inle Lake and well worth visiting to see both the traditional and modern looms then continue to Goldsmith and Blacksmith workshop. In Se-Khong village, there is a blacksmith workshop which produces knives and farming tools. Overnight in Inle Lake.
Day 06 Mandalay by flight – Amarapura – Sagaing – Ava
After breakfast, an awaiting car will take you to the airport for your flight to Mandalay, the former royal capital of Myanmar’s last dynasty. Tour starts to Amarapura, an ancient capital of Myanmar, where we can visit to the Silk and Cotton Weaving Industry, and Maha Gandaryon Monastery. Then drive to Sagaing, a former capital of Shan Kingdom and Myanmar Kingdom but nowadays is renowned as the religious centre of Myanmar because of over 400 monasteries spreading throughout the hillocks. And continue to Inwa, formerly known as Ava, also a former royal capital of Myanmar, you’ll be taken by a native horse cart for sightseeing around the bumpy road to visit the ruins of the old royal capital includes the watch tower- the 27 meter tall leaning tower of old royal palace: Maha Aungmyebonzan monastery- the impressive brick and stucco monastery; Bargaya monastery- a splendid teak wood monastery with wood curving. Then,we will end the day by watching a beautiful sunset of Taungthaman Lake from U Bein bridge, the famous footbridge in Myanmar. Overnight at hotel in Mandalay.
Day 07 River Cruise Mingun – visit Mandalay
After breakfast, a boat trip along Ayeyarwaddy River (~1 hr) to visit Mingun village, located at the other side of the Ayeyarwaddy river and north of Mandalay. Tour highlights include : Mingun bell (90 tons), one of the world’s largest hanging bellswas cast in 1808, Hshinbyume Pagoda- built in 1816, Pahtodawgyi- believed to be one of the largest brick base in the world and it would be one of the wonders of the world in case if it was completed and Mya Theindan Pagoda (1817) has unique architecture style which symbolized the Seven Seas if Buddhist cosmology.
Then back to Mandalay and visit to the most venerated Mahamuni Buddha image casted in Buddha time (BC 623).Later,visit to puppet wood carving, tapestry and gold-leave making centre. In the afternoon proceed to Golden Palace monastery covered by gold-leave making centre, Kuthodaw Pagoda (the world biggest book) acknowledged by UNESCO, next visit to Shwe Kyaung,a monastery once King Mindon’s royal palace apartment for meditation,Atumashi (incomparable) monastery then proceed to Mandalay Hill for sunset viewing. Overnight at hotel in Mandalay.
Day 08 Manadalay – Monywa
In the morning, you will proceed to Monywa (140km, 03 hour drive). On the way enjoy the life of the rural area and visit the Mohnyin Than Boddhay temple- over 500,000 Buddha images are seated. Then continue to the visit of a religious sanctuary impressing Bodhi Tataung Temple- over sitting Buddha images under Bodhi tress (Ficus religiosa), one of the biggest lying Buddha (more than 100m of length) and excursion to Kyaukka lacquerware village. Overnight at hotel in Monywa.
Day 09 Monywa (via Pakokku) – Bagan By Car
After breakfast, visit of the underground cave and the Buddha carved in the rock sandstone of the site of Pho Win Taung caves, peaceful and interesting place. Then Drive to Bagan Via Pakokku – 3hrs (152.0 km) in the late afternoon. Arrived to Bagan, transfer to hotel and take a rest as your own. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 10 Bagan
After breakfast at the hotel,Morning,visit to a local market which is very authentic located in Nyaung U district. Bagan sightseeing tour including : one of the ancient Shwezigon Pagoda, believed to have been built in early Bagan period, Kyansitthar U Min, Wetkyi- in Gubyaukkyi Temple ( beautiful mural paintings of Jatarka), Sulamani Temple and the massive Dhamayangyi Temple. The tour carry on to Myinkaba village to experience Myanmar’s unique local handmade lacquerware and enjoy a beautiful sunset at a temple. Overnight at hotel in Bagan.
Day 11 Bagan
Breakfast at the hotel, the remainder of the say will be spent exploring some of Bagan’s oldest and most famous temples: including Thatbyinnyu Temple (known for its great height), the magnificent Ananda Temple, Ananda Oakkyaung, Myinkaba Gubyaukkyi Temple, Manuha Temple and continue to the village of Minnanthu to observe their daily lives. After that you will take Ayeyar jetty to cruise along Ayeryarwaddy River to see the sunset. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 12 Bagan – Yangon
After breakfast, an awaiting car will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Yangon. Once checked in, you will visit Gem Museum or National Museum, as well as shopping at the Bogyoke Aung San (formerly known as Scott) Market (closed in every Monday & Public Holiday), which was built in 1920, wide choice of jewelries, jade, ruby, precious stone and clothes, paintings are on sale then the last stop at the China Town. Enjoy farewell dinner at the restaurant. Your memorable tour comes to an end today. Overnight at hotel in Yangon.
Day 13 Departure
After breakfast transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure or extend your stay in Myanmar.