Myanmar Hill Tribes Trekking 12 Days

Day 1: Yangon arrival (G)

On arrival in Yangon, you will be met and driven to your hotel for a short rest. In the afternoon, you will walk through “downtown” Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors and visit the Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city centre. Later in the afternoon, you will visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. Your overnight accommodation will be in a hotel.

Day 2: Yangon/Bagan (B, L, G)

This morning, you will take an early flight to Bagan. After checking in the hotel, you will start your sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple.

In the afternoon, you will visit a lacquer ware workshops then continue to Manuha Temple, Ananda Temple and enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. You will spend the night in Bagain.

Day 3: Bagan/Mt.Popa/Bagan (B, L, G)

After breakfast at hotel, you will head to Mt. Popa about 48 km south east of Bagan. Mt. Popa, known as the abode of Nats (spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak. It's time to climb for 777 steps to the summit.

After lunch in the Popa Mountain Resort, you will return to Bagan. On the way back, you will stop at village cottage industry to learn the regional product as well as to watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion to brown sugar. You will spend the night at hotel in Bagan.

Day 4: Bagan/Mandalay (B, L, G)

This morning, you will be transferred to Nyaun U airport for morning flight to Mandalay. On arrival, you will be driven to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery, the two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. You will then proceed to Mandalay and check in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, Golden Palace Monastery… You will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 5: Mandalay/Mingun/Inwa (Ava)/Mandalay (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. You will then visit the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe before returning to Mandalay. After lunch, you will drive to Ava, 30-minute to the south of Mandalay, was known in the west as the Kingdom of Ava. Stop by a tributary and cross it with a ferry. You will then take a pony-cart around Ava to Nanmyint leaning tower which gives a birds' eye view of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River; Bagaya wooden monastery, Aungmyaybonza Monastery made of brick and stucco. You will spend the night in a hotel.

Day 6: Mandalay/Kyaing Tong (B, L, G)

This morning, you will be transfer to Mandalay airport for your flight to Kyaing Tong. Arriving in Kyaing Tong airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will visit Wan-Pauk village to see the red clothed Palaung still dressing traditional style with silver and lacquered waistbands. You will overnight at the hotel in Kyaing Tong.

Day 7: Kyaing Tong (B, L, G)

After simple breakfast at hotel, you will start the day with a visit to Pin Tauk village, which is about 2 hr drive from Kyaing Tong. You will then hike up to the villages on the higher slopes to visit Akha and Ann Tribes where they possess distinctively different costumes and beliefs from the other tribes particularly interest with their black teeth. Picnic lunch will be served at Pin-Tauk waterfall.

After lunch, you will return to Kyaing Tong and stop to visit Wan Kan village to study the traditional process of making Rice wine and Wan Lau village to see the hand made Shan paper works. You will spend the night in Kyaing Tong.

Day 8: Kyaing Tong (B, L, G)

This morning, you will visit Hokyin Mountain, which is approximately an hour drive from Kyaing Tong. On arrival, you will hike up about 1 and half hour to visit Akha villages where Lahu and Akha tribes living together with different beliefs. After picnic lunch, you will visit Hokyin village and return to Kyaing Tong for overnight accommodation.

Day 9: Kyaing Tong/Heho/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will visit some of the Akhe's Wan Sai village and Ann's Ho Lung village before going to airport for your flight to Heho. On arrival, you will be transferred by road to Inle Lake and then to the hotel by long tail boat across the lake. Your overnight accommodation will be in a hotel in Inle Lake.

Day 10: Inle Lake Boat Excursions (B, L, G)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit floating market which is a 5-day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue your excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. In the late afternoon, you will return to your hotel and overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon (B, G)

After breakfast, you will check out the hotel and transferred back to the airport at Heho for a flight to Yangon.

In the afternoon, you will be driven to Karaweik, a royal barge for fantastic photo shot along the “pilgrims” causeway across the Royal Lake with stunning views of Schwedagon Pagoda and visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) for souvenir shopping. Your overnight accommodation will be in Yangon.

Day 12: Yangon departure (B, GP)

Your time will be free until your car arrives to take you to the airport for departure flights. Tour ends.