Undisturbed Myanmar

breakfast and lunch

Today you will take a 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.

First, experience the local life in Nyaung Oo Market where local people buy food in daily life. Then, 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. You will also visit Htilominlo Temple which contains four Buddha images facing four directions on its first floor. 

Overnight in Bagan.

Htilominlo temple

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 grass and hard to spot out. Take a horse cart, and you follow your guide to visit some best of them, including Ananda Pagoda, Mahabodhi Paya, Gawdawpalin Temple, Thatbyinnyu temple, Dhammayangyi Temple and Shwesandaw Pagoda, etc.

Following the winding path passing palm trees, small temples and monasteries, you will reach Myinkaba village, a typical bamboo village which is famous for many traditional lacquer-ware workshops. End the day by enjoying the breathtaking sunset in the plain.

 (*Optional; Hot air balloon flight can be reserved during October to next March)

Bagan

breakfast

Today, you will take a flight to Mandalay with the assistance of your private guide. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you and transfer you to hotel. The rest of time is free at leisure.

Overnight in Mandalay.

breakfast and lunch

After breakfast in hotel, we will set out to Amarapura. On the way, you will see monks collecting alms around villages, 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 Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and Bagaya Kyaung.

Next, drive to Sagaing. Over six houndred pagodas scatter in Sagaing hill, which is resplendent and dazzling from distance view. We will visit U Min Thonze Pagoda, Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and overlook the picturesque view of Irrawaddy River.

Getting back to Amarapura, you will take a boat trip under the longest teakwood bridge in the world - U Bein Bridge for breathtaking sunset view.

Overnight in Mandalay.

U Bein Bridge

breakfast and lunch

After breakfast in hotel, we will drive to jetty and take a cruise to Mingun, an ancient riverside town in Sagaing region. On the deck, you can enjoy the scenery of the Irrawaddy.

Your first stop is the unfinished Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, the world’s largest unfinished pagoda. In 1838, the huge tower collapsed in an earthquake, and only a huge tower base left. Then, head to Mingun Bell which has a weight of 90 tons, and is believed to be the largest uncracked bell in the world. Next, walk a few minutes towards the north, you will visit Hsinbyume Pagoda, a beautiful white compound like a big cream cake, which was made to commemorate a queen.

After the tour, take the cruise back to Mandalay. In the afternoon, take a tour around downtown area. First, pay a visit to Mahamuni Paya. 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).

Next, you will 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. You will also 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.

Hsinbyume Pagoda

breakfast and lunch

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.

After lunch in the floating restaurant, you will take a boat trip on the lake. You can observe the legendary one-legged fisherman rowing. They will show off their skills by posing for your camera.

As the speed of the boat decreases, your guide will introduce the construction of farm beds in the water garden. Residents collect weeds from the bottom of the lake, turn them into fertile.

Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.

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. You may see the long-necked tribe women in the village. 

Next stop is Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, which is the most worshipped shrine of the lake and houses five gilded Buddha images. Then, enter the narrow river bank, and you will reach the Shwe Indein Pagodas, which is an Indian Pagoda Complex. You will visit the biggest highlight of Indein village. Most ruined stupas have been covered with moss and weeds. But you can still discover its glory dating back to 16th century.

From the top of the hill, you can enjoy great views of Indein village and the surrounding landscape. Then, continue on foot to experience slow pace of life at Sae Ma village. Along the ride back to your hotel, make a stop at Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, a Monastery and an unusual Cat Sanctuary.

Finally, relax and enjoy spectacular sunset views over Inle Lake before returning to the hotel.

Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.

Indein Pagoda Complex

breakfast

Today, you will check out and take a flight to Yangon to catch up your departure flight home.