Myanmar Culture and Beach Holiday 14 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/Heho/Pindaya (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you will take a flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Upon arrival, transfer by road to Pindaya (60km) about 90 minutes drive. After check in at hotel, make an excursion to the caves which houses over 8,000 Buddha Images of various sizes, made from teak, lacquer, marble, alabaster and cement. In the afternoon, explore the district for its famous traditional paper & umbrella making home base cottage industry. Your overnight accommodation will be at the hotel in Pindaya.

Day 7: Pindaya/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred by road to Inle Lake. We have a leisurely morning to make our way down into the Inle basin and by “long-tail” boat out across the lake to our Hotel right on the Inle Lake. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. You will spend the night in a hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 8: 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 9: Inle Lake/Heho/Thandwe/Ngapali Beach (B, L, G)

Today, you will head back down country to return to the airport at Heho for a noon flight to Thandwe. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel at Ngapali Beach. The rest of the day will be free at leisure. Your overnight will be in a hotel at Ngapali Beach.

Day 10 to Day 12: Ngapali Beach free (B)

Your time will be on your own!

Day 13: Ngapali Beach/Thandwe/Yangon (B, DP)

Free time until transferred back to Thandwe airport for your flight back to Yangon. The rest of the day will be free. You will spend the night in Yangon.

Day 14: Yangon departure (B, DP)

Free time until transferred to the airport for departure flight. Tour ends.