Myanmar Culture Tour – 14 days

Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Mingalabar! Arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are greeted by our tour guide and driver. Welcome to Myanmar, the country has just opened its doors to the world after 60 years of isolation and now waiting people to explore its unique heritage and culture.
Yangon is the former capital and remains the most developed city of Myanmar. The bustling city of Yangon is the best place to witness the country in transition, where century-old buildings from the British colonial period vie for space with the emerging modern skyline. Head to the hotel to check-in and freshen up.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo
After breakfast at hotel, you are leaving Yangon; enjoy a scenic journey to Kyaiktiyo, 190km to the east. One of Myanmar’s great pilgrimage sites is the Golden Rock, a huge boulder covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. The pagoda at the Golden Rock is said to hold a hair of the Buddha. Late morning, arrive at Kyaiktiyo base camp and transfer to the transit junction with one of the small open trucks in one-hour ride, followed by up to an hour challenging walk up to the hill top.
Here, you visit Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, built on the top of a huge gilded boulder and enjoy sunset from this unforgettable site.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Kyaikhtiyo
Day 3: Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Yangon
After breakfast, return to the base-camp by open truck and head back to Yangon. Have a stop to explore Bago, an ancient capital dating back to the 6th century. Sightseeing in Bago includes the beautiful 55m long reclining Buddha called Shwethalyaung, the Mon style Shwemawdaw Pagoda – one of the most venerated in Myanmar. Its spire stands 114m high and is taller even than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Also visit the old Palace of Kambozathadi and the huge four sitting Buddhas. Transfer back to Yangon by late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 4: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Sightseeing
After breakfast at hotel, you are leaving Yangon for Bagan. Spend the whole day exploring Bagan where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside. Our first temple visit is to Ananda Temple, Shwezigon Pagoda, Nanpaya Temple, Thatbinnyu… In the afternoon, you visit a traditional lacquerware workshop, try creating some products yourself and bring home some unique the handicrafts. Later on, from an elevated vantage point, you witness the panoramic view of the archaeological wonders in sunset. This is the most relaxing way to end a day in Bagan.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.
Day 5: Bagan rural sightseeing – Mt. Popa
Begin the sightseeing with a visit at the colorful Nyaung U market which remains very authentic with a wide range of local grown products. Next, you take an exotic horse cart ride around the ancient land, feel free to drop by any temples in Bagan and many other interesting sites nearby. Now you proceed to the typical Burmese villages, discover their agricultural lifestyle, such as Min Nan Thu Village and Shwe Hlaing village…
Continue your journey to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. It is the worshipper center of the pantheon of Burmese ‘Nat” spirits (which form an essential part of Buddhist beliefs in Myanmar).  Climb 829 steps with bare foot to reach the revered Popa Taungkalat Monastery perched dramatically on a large rocky outcrop. The adventurous is rewarded with sweeping views of Popa National Park.
In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan and stop en-route at the workshop making traditional palm sugar, cigar maker and peanut oil distillation. You cap the day with an unforgettable sunset from a boat on the Irrawaddy River.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.
Day 6: Bagan – Fly to Mandalay – Sagaing – Inwa (Ava)
Take the morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, meet our tour guide and head to Sagaing, which is renowned as the religious center of not only Mandalay but also Myanmar. Here you will be impressed with the view of the countless white and gold pagodas dotting along the river and around the Sagaing Hill. Furthermore, it is also the home to more than 100 meditation centers and 3,000 monks. Here you will have the visit at Pagoda Cave, U Min Thonze Pagoda and U Ponya Pagoda. You then board a ferry for a short ride across the Myint Nge Rive River for Ava, which was the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese Kingdoms from the 14th to the 18th century. Upon arrival, you take a horse-cart for a leisurely ride around villages. Stop for a visit at the Bagaya teak monastery; Being over three hundred years old, but the construction is well preserved and now still in use. The next monument is the Nanmyin watch tower, also called the “Leaning Tower of Ava”. It is the last standing structure of the Ava dynasty palace. Last but not least, you visit the 300-year old Maha Aungmye Bonzan monastery with the finest construction of elegant archways.
End of the day, you have a drive to Mandalay Hill for the sunset and the panoramic view.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 7: Mandalay sightseeing
Today you visit Amarapura, the royal capital from 1783 until 1859, now has the country’s most prominent monastic college named Mahagandaryone Monastery. Here you have great chance to experience the monk life in Mandalay. Every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up silently to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Next, you embark on a private boat upstream Irrawaddy River to visit Mingun. Upon arrival, the first site attracting your attention is Mingun Pahtodawgyi, the uncompleted yet the largest pagoda in Mandalay. Continue the sightseeing to Mingun Bell, the world’s largest ringing bell, which is said to weigh around 90 tons. Then take a walk to the incredibly-white Hsinphymae Pagoda with its special structure and history. A visit to Mingun is definitely the highlight of your journey in Mandalay. In the afternoon, visit Shwenandaw Monastery, the famous construction with the exquisite wood carvings and stunning perfection in every detail. It is the sole surviving Royal Palace building in Mandalay, which offers a glimpse of the original style and traditional architecture of the Myanmar royals. The next stop is Kuthodaw Pagoda, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, well-known as the world’s largest book inscribed on 729 stone slabs. It’s time to learn about the story and scriptures with our experienced tour guide. Late afternoon, you have the drive back to Amarapura and transfer to the nearby U Bein Bridge, which is the world’s longest teak footbridge. This is a fantastic place to take beautiful photos and enjoy a leisurely stroll along the bridge as the sunsets.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 8: Mandalay – Fly to Heho – Pindaya cave
Leave Mandalay for a short flight to Heho. Our tour guide is waiting to welcome you upon arrival. Enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya with opportunities to stop and photograph the colorful farms and rolling hills of the Shan Plateau. Upon arrival, you visit the limestone caves that house more than 8,000 Buddha well preserved statues of various sizes. Afterward, you proceed to the handicraft village and see how the locals make the Shan parasols and paper. Late afternoon you head to hotel in Inle Lake. Check in your hotel; rest of the time is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 9: Inle Lake discovery
Journey by boat to the most outstanding sites, including: Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest one of Inle Lake with five 800-year-old golden Buddha images. In the afternoon, you continue to Ngaphechaung monastery, the biggest and oldest one over Inle Lake. Here you observe the unique architecture, remarkable collection of Buddha images (But it’s best known for the ‘jumping cats’. In the past, they were trained to jump through hoops in the air). From here, you proceed to Nam Pan village; cigar house, cotton and lotus weaving factory of Intha people. If time permits, stop for some moments at Inthar Heritage House on the way back. The restaurant reflects the style and elegance of the Inthar. It’s also a hotel and catering school, a gallery and a Cat Sanctuary for nearly extinct Burmese cats.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 10: Local market – Indein boat trip
Boarding on boat again and sail toward Indein. En-route, you visit local 5-day market which is rotating between 5 different lakeside villages over 5-day period. The market is a unique culture; people all around the lake and mountains come here to exchange not only their daily products but also the indigenous cultures. Finally, you reach Indein village. Take an easy walk through verdant bamboo groves to the hilltop of more than 1000 ruined stupas embracing the Shwe Indein pagoda in the middle. All were constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You then visit small communities that live along the lake. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 11: Heho – Fly to Thandwe – Ngapali beach
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Heho airport and take morning flight to Thandwe – gateway airport to Ngapali beach. Upon your arrival, join in hotel shuttle bus and transfer to Ngapali beach beach. Free relaxation and have a good night on the beach then.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Ngapali
Day 12: Ngapali beach
Free day enjoy the beach by yourselves.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Ngapali
Day 13: Thandwe – Fly Yangon – City tour
Today you fly back to Yangon in the morning. Upon arrival, you have a trip downtown with a walking tour through the historic quarter. Along the way you visit the former City Hall and various other examples of 1940’s colonial British architecture. The hidden art galleries inside the small alley could also be the next stop on your tour. Continue to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which houses the sacred reclining Buddhas as well as the country’s largest one. Spend time at Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott Market (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Built in the 1920s under British rule, the side is listed a heritage of Yangon. It has more than 2,000 stalls dominated by large selections of antique Burmese handicraft, clothing and jewelry…
Last but not least, you go to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site of Myanmar and the oldest one in the world. The Pagoda contains a 99m high golden stupa and spires, adorned with 7,000 diamonds, sapphires and rubies and allegedly, hairs belonging to the Gautama Buddha. If you are fortunate, join a special oil lamp lighting ceremony with thousand oil lamps are lit around the gilded pagoda. This ancient and symbolic Buddhist ritual will be the truly awe-inspiring spiritual experience.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 14: Yangon departure
Breakfast at hotel. Today is your free day and we arrange you the airport transfer.
Get ready for the International flights.
Thank you for your trust and traveling with us
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A