Myanmar eco tour – 15 days

Day 1: Yangon Arrival
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 circular train – City tour
After breakfast, our tour guide picks you up and head to the railway station. It’s your time experiencing the “circular train” for the true Burmese lifestyle. From the city center to its suburbs, you observe the vibrant and colorful life of local people. Stop for a stroll around Little India and Chinatown, which represent distinctive Yangon neighborhoods. Take in the sights, and join the locals in the popular fresh market. You might want to try some local snack, savor the exotic fruit, or pick up a colorful souvenir from vendors lining the streets.
Next 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, have a chance to 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
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 3: Yangon – Bago
In the morning, you start the tour by driving during about one and a half hour to Bago. At first, you come to Kyaik Pun Pagoda for visiting four giant Buddha Images sitting back to back against a massive brick pillar and facing the four cardinal points of the compass. Then, reach to Bago Market and witness the local life going by. It is very excited thanks to the variety of vegetables and other kinds of viand, flowers, and common goods. Drop of the well-known Shwemawdaw pagoda – the tallest pagoda in Myanmar before heading to the next destination – KhaKhatWain Monastery, which is famous for a long line of hundreds of monk, before 11 o’clock, line up silently and slowly, receive their meal and make their way into the communal dining room for lunch. In the afternoon, you come to Moeyungyi Wetlands & Resort, which is considered as a paradise for bird-watching. With an area of 100 square kilometers of wetlands, it can be compared with a wonderful house of about 120 species of bird.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Bago
Day 4: Bago – Yangon
You spend all time in the morning on exploring the natural beauty and wonders of the wetlands in bird-watching areas. Among them 350 species of Birds in Myanmar, over 120 species birds can be found in Moe Yun Gyi Wetland. Watching the bird by boat on the lake, observing the habitats of wetland birds such as the King Fisher Moeyungyi, Cranes, Lesser Whistling Duck, Great Egret, Little Egret and many more. Afterwards, continue to explore a local fishing village. After lunch and rest, get in car and get back to Yangon.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 5: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Ancient land sightseeing
Leave Yangon for Bagan. Spend the whole day exploring Bagan where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside. Start our sightseeing today with the visit to lively & colorful market of Naung U then spend rest of the day for temple exploration. Our first temple visit is to Shwezigon Pagoda, which is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. Take a panoramic view of Bagan plain at one of the highest sites. Continue to Htilominlo Temple, Ananda Temple, housing four standing Buddhas and then to Sulamani Temples. This afternoon, enjoy the exotic horse cart through Bagan plain for more temple visit. Another highlight today is the sunset view on boat over Irrawaddy River.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 6: Bagan – Mt. Victoria
Drive from Bagan to Natmataung National Park (Mt. Victoria). Birding stop on the way to see again Jerdon’s Minivet and Hooded Treepie, together with near-endemic White-rumped Falcon, White-eyed Buzzard, various species of Woodpeckers, five species of Parakeet which are Alexandrine, Rose-ringed, Blossom-headed, Grey-headed and Red-breasted Parakeets, Small, Scarlet and Rosy Minivets, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch and others.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Mindat
Day 7: Natmataung National Park – bird watching
Birding at Natmataung (Mt. Victoria) National Park. This site is a major focal point of the tour. Here you have chances to see White- browed Nuthatch and Burmese Tit (recently split from Black-browed Tit), Myanmar’s fifth and sixth endemics which are known only in here. Other speciality birds that could be seen on this area are near-endemics – Mount Victoria Babax (recently split from Chinese Babax).
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Mindat
Day 8: Mindat – Bagan
Drive back to Bagan. The driver takes up to 8 hours with stops along the way to visit tribe villages. Check in your hotel; rest of the time is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 9: Bagan – Fly to Mandalay – Sightseeing
Take the morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, 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. Next, you explore 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.
You then visit the 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. Later this afternoon, you head to Mandalay Hill at the height of 240 metres. From the highest point of the city, enjoy the sunset panoramic views of Mandalay, you can also see the square of the Royal Palace, pagodas dotted surrounding, and the mighty Irrawaddy River.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 10: Pyin Oo Lwin day trip
Escaping from the high temperatures of Mandalay, you have a 2-hour-driving to Pyin Oo Lwin (formerly Maymyo). At the altitude of 1,070m, Pyin Oo Lwin is blessed with the pleasant weather and once was a summer retreat during British rule. This hill station is well-known for its colonial buildings and lush botanical gardens. Late in the morning, you reach the hill town and wander around to explore the landmark, including the colorful local market, Purcell Clock Tower in the town center. Following up is the traditional horse drawn carriage through the streets which is very different to the one in Ava. During the ride, you experience the small taste of the colonial past, especially the unique brick and timber British houses. Following is the soft trek to Pwe Kauk Water Fall. Finally, you have a visit at Botanical Gardens. This 175-hectare garden allows you to leisurely stroll around and enjoy the wonderful landscape of peaceful lake, flower galore, and forestland.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 11: Mandalay – Fly to Heho – Kalaw trekking
Leave Mandalay for a short flight to Heho. On arrival, meet our tour guide and enjoy a scenic drive to Kalaw. Surrounded by pine tree covered hills on the rim of the Shan plateau, Kalaw is a former British holiday resort. Here you wander in the colonial districts and then hike to discover the beautiful countryside. The trek is soft enough to help you change the atmosphere and renew your energy. The route passes through beautiful plantation growing a large variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, teas… From the starting point, you will hike to a village of Palaung, Danu, Pa-O, TaungYo ethnic group. Along the way, you meet the friendly villagers, know more about agricultural lifestyle and join their daily activities. Finally, drive back to Kalaw in late afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Kalaw
Day 12: Elephant Camp
This morning you have a drive to Wet Pyu Ye junction, where our trek guides are waiting.
-Walk to the camp, it’s chance to see butterflies, birds, and orchids along the trek.
– Arrived to our elephant village and have brief information about the project (as well as safety instructions)
– Wash and feed the elephants with our daily program.
– Riding is not our focus. We will let you be in touch with our elephants as Mahouts during the washing time.
– Opportunity to help in our forest recovery project. You are welcome to join us by planting one regional tree for forest recovery efforts. (GHV team will assist for planting program).
Due to the season, we do not operate planting trees the whole year. But we welcome you to help in our seedling process for forest recovery program.
– Lunch will be served at the main camp.
– From the main camp, you can visit recycle paper project from elephant poo, and further learning elephant study with Skeleton.
– You may able to have more information about elephants and forest (from our speakers).
Late afternoon, transferred to your resort in Inle Lake. Check in and rest of the time is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 13: Inle Lake discovery
Journey by boat to 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. Continue to most outstanding sites, including: Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest one of Inle Lake with five 800-year-old golden Buddha images. In the afternoon, you visit 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. 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 lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 14: Red Mountain Vineyards – Fly to Yangon
Late morning, leave your hotel and take a short drive to Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery. This is the place you learn about the varieties of grapes and how the soil and vines are maintained in a tropical environment. Taste the premiere white and red wines while soaking in the scenic view before you take the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, you are transferred to hotel, check in and relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 15: Yangon departure
Breakfast at hotel. Today is your free day and we arrange you the airport transfer. Get ready for the International flights.
Thanks for your trust and traveling with us !
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A