Itinerary Details
From Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon to enthralling temples in Bagan, from U Bein Bridge of Mandalay to the serene Inle Lake, tour essence of Myanmar is all included in this Myanmar Essential Tour. If you are seeking for a tour that is certainly far from the fast-paced world, it's an ideal choice.
Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar!
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide and then transferred to your hotel. After check-in, you can have a rest or explore surroundings on your own.
Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation option:
- BEST WESTERN Chinatown Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
breakfast and lunch
After breakfast, you will visit the Central Yangon Railway Station where you will catch the Yangon Circular Train. During the 30 minutes' slow riding, you will be exposed to interesting daily life of locals.
Then, private car will pick you up at a small station and take you to visit the Sule Pagoda. It is a landmark building in the downtown area. The pagoda is near Maha Bandoola Park which is encircled by a host of colonial buildings and heritage sites, including Independence Monument and the High Court.
After lunch at local restaurant, enjoy your time for wandering in the Bogyoke Market Bogyoke Aung San Market, one of the busiest markets in Yangon with a wide range of local specialties, such as gems, wood carvings and crafts (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Next, head for the Chaukhtayi Pagoda, which famous for its giant Reclining Buddha.
At sunset, end the day with the visit to most awesome Shwedagon Pagoda from where you will see the gorgeous sunset over the 99 meters high golden plated stupa topped with diamond. It's one of the most magical moments within a day in Yangon. After the tour, back to the hotel.
Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation option:
- BEST WESTERN Chinatown Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
Shwedagon Pagoda
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, you will take a flight to Mandalay with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you and take you to start a half day city tour.
First, you will visit a gold paper factory to witness how to make the gold leaf. Then pay a visit to Mahamuni Image. There you will see local people stick the gold paper on Buddha and pray for a blessing. Besides, you can also make your own wish by sticking the gold paper on the statue (donation needed and only man allowed to do the job). You will also visit the Shwenaandaw Monastery, which has the meaning "Golden Palace Monastery" and was built in the 1900s. This exquisite monastery used to be a part of the royal palace and a textbook example of royal teak wood architecture.
Next, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, the one with the largest Buddhist books in the world. Last but not least, end the day at the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy wonderful sunset.
Overnight in Mandalay.
Accommodation option:
- Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort
- (4 Ratings)
Mahamuni Pagoda
Kuthodaw Pagoda
breakfast and lunch
After breakfast in hotel, we will set out to Amarapura. On the way, you will see monks getting around the villages to collect alms, which contributes their daily austerities and food. Driving out of Mandalay, you will be in time to visit Mahagandayon Monastery when thousands of monks are waiting in line for daily meals. What's more, you will have a chance to offer alms to those young monks at the back of the line.
Then, arrive at Inwa Ancient City, the imperial city of Burma from the 14th to 19th centuries. Take a horse cart to get around the ancient city with many historical relics, including Ava Palace, Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and Yadana Hsimi Pagodas.
Getting back to Amarapura, you will take a boat trip under the longest teakwood bridge in the world - U Bein Bridge for a breath-taking sunset view.
Overnight Mandalay.
Accommodation option:
- Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort
- (4 Ratings)
U Bein Bridge
breakfast and lunch
Today you will take the flight to Bagan with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you and pick you up to take a half day city tour. The thousands of Buddhist pagodas on the plain will surprise you. You will experience the place where local people buy food in daily life in Nyaung Oo Market.
Afterwards, visit Htilominlo Temple. It contains four Buddha images facing four directions on its first floor. You will also visit Shwezigon Pagoda, which is the first Burmese style pagoda. All pagodas all over Myanmar are built according to its magnificent style. It was built in 1060 and is still the most worshiped shrine in Bagan.
Overnight in Bagan.
Accommodation option:
- Heritage Bagan Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
Bagan
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, you will explore the World Heritage Site - Bagan Archaeological Zone, which is amazing with its over 2,200 ruins scattering on the vast plain of Bagan. Some are large and tall while others are hidden among the jungles and hard to spot out. Take a horse cart, and your guide will provide you with some textbook examples, such as Ananda Pagoda, Mahabodhi Paya, Thatbyinnyu temple, Dhammayangyi Temple and Shwesandaw Pagoda.
(*Optional; Hot air balloon flight can be reserved during October to next March)
Overnight in Bagan.
Accommodation option:
- Heritage Bagan Hotel
- (4 Ratings)
Bagan
breakfast
In the morning, you will take a flight to Heho, a small airport town on Inle Lake. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake.
With an altitude of around 3,000 feet, Inle Lake sits in the middle part and highland of Myanmar and is a great place to stay away from the hot plains. Starting a little adventure on your own or just having a rest, either can be good.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.
Accommodation option:
- Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min
- (4 Ratings)
Inle Lake
breakfast and lunch
In the morning, start with a boat trip to Inle Lake. Your guide will take you to the local market in the lakeside village. After a 5-day rotation, the trade fair is called the "5-day market" and will be held in some major villages near the lake shore.
During the journey, you will get an opportunity to observe the legendary one-legged fisherman rowing. Their technique of using one leg to control and guide the hull and the other leg around the aorta to provide propulsion is fascinating. They want to show off their skills by posing for your camera.
As the speed of the boat decreases, you will explore the floating garden. You can hardly believe it was built-up from strips of mud and water hyacinth. Residents collect weeds from the bottom of the lake, turn them into fertile. We will have a simple lunch at a floating restaurant overlooking the busy lake traffic.
Then, enter the narrow river bank, and you will reach the Shwe Indein Pagoda, which is an Indian pagoda complex. You will visit the biggest highlight of the peaceful village. Most ruined stupas have been covered with moss and weeds. But you can still discover its glory dating back to 16th century. It is so easy to be immersed in the timeless atmosphere when your boat crosses the creek.
Finally, relax and enjoy spectacular sunset views over Inle Lake before returning to the hotel.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.
Accommodation option:
- Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min
- (4 Ratings)
Inle Lake
breakfast
Today, you will transfer to airport for taking a flight to Yangon, then connect with your international flight.