The fascination of Burma

You will be welcomed at the Yangon International Airport and your station guide will accompany you to the city and where your sightseeing will begin. Yangon is the former capital of Myanmar. Compared with other Asian cities of similar size, it gives the impression of being green and full of trees, above which shimmering pagodas seem to float.

Today sightseeing includes Sule Pagoda, City Hall, Immigration office and High Court building. Then you can have a relaxing stroll in Mahabandoola Park before visiting  Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha and Shwedagon Pagoda, the highlight of any trip to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel. Today you will drive together to Kyaiktiyo. This city is one of the most interesting and sacred Buddhist sites of Myanmar. Its sacred boulder, also known as Golden Rock, covered in gold leaf, is balanced precariously on the very edge of a cliff. The legend says that the rock maintains its balance due to a precisely placed Buddha hair in the 7.3 meter high stupa.

This incredible balancing boulder stupa is about 20 km from the little town of Kyaiktiyo, which is midway between Bago and Thaton. The delicately placed gold leaf covered boulder right atop of the Kyaiktiyo Mountain is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar.

From here at the base camp of Kinpun, you will take a mountain hill truck to the mountain. There are amazing sunsets and sunrises to see and the huge rock shows its most beautiful color at dawn and dusk, while the pilgrims light candles and meditate all through the night. Overnight at Golden Rock.

After breakfast you will drive back to Yangon. On the way you might make a stop in the city of Bago, famous for its huge reclining Buddha. You will have the chance to explore Shwemawdaw Paya, Kanbawzathadi Palace & Museum, Hintha Gon Paya, Shwethalyaung Buddha. Mahazedi Paya and Kyaik Pun Paya.

Then you will drive back directly to Yangon. On the way back, you will visit the Allied War Cemetery in Htauk Kyant. This memorial cemetery was built in 1951 and is the final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers who died in the Myanmar Campaign during World War II. Stay overnight in a hotel in the city.

After breakfast your driver will bring you to the airport from where you will fly to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho you will drive by car to Kalaw, a former British hill station and one of the most popular towns to go trekking on the western edge of the Shan plateau. It is a quiet town, 1320 meter above sea level with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era.

Upon arrival you will visit Kalaw market, a good place for watching hill tribe people and the other inhabitants of Kalaw, Nepali, Indians, Gurkhas, Bamar and Shan. It also features a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. You will continue with visits to Shwe Oo Min Paya, a natural cave dripping with Buddha statues, and Nee Paya, which holds a gold lacquered bamboo Buddha.

Then you will take a short walk partly trekking to Pain Ne Pin village where you can explore unique culture and daily life of the Palaung. Overnight in Kalaw.

After breakfast you will drive to Pindaya, passing beautiful farm areas and groups of farmers in their traditional clothes along the way. You will start your sightseeing with Pindaya Caves.

These sacred cave complex features over 8,000 Buddha images made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement. The caves burrow into a limestone ridge overlooking Pindaya. Then you will continue to explore at the Umbrella Factory, a chance for a detailed look at the making of the famous Shan paper and beautiful Burmese umbrellas.

Then you will drive you to Nyaung Shwe at the Inle Lake where you will board a boat and be ferried to your hotel on the Inle Lake. Stay overnight on the lake.

After breakfast you will be escorted to your private boat and depart for a full day excursion around the lake. Inle lake is surrounded by high plateaus and overlooked by the misty Shan mountains. It is also the home of the Intha people, who have adapted to their environment by building entire villages rising on stilts from the shallow waters.

Lake dwellers grow an array of flowers and vegetables in picturesque floating gardens and fields, tended by workers in canoes. They have become famous for their unique one-leg rowing technique.

You'll see Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Hpe Kyaung Monastery. You will also have the chance to experience the traditional handicrafts and silver works on the lake. Overnight in hotel on Inle Lake.

After breakfast and check-out, your tour guide will bring you to the airport. You will fly from Heho to Mandalay. There are a lot of different things to see that are very interesting in this bustling city and the surrounding ancient cities. You will visit Mahamuni Pagoda, the Royal Palace, Shwe Inbin Monastery, Shwe Nandaw Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda.

This afternoon, you will continue the tour with further sightseeing in the city. You will explore the Kyauktaw-Gyi Pagoda; the pagoda is famous for its huge seated Buddha image, carved from one single block of marble. 

At the end of the day you are going to visit Mandalay Hill, where you can enjoy the sunset from the pagoda on top of the hill. You'll then be transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is free. Overnight in Mandalay.

After breakfast, you'll depart for an excursion to the ancient cities of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. You can have the unique opportunity to attend the daily meal of over a thousand monks at the country’s largest monastery, Mahagandayon in Amarapura, before visiting a silk weaving workshop.

After that, you'll continue your visit to Ava, the capital from 14^th to 18^th centuries, which you'll cross on a horse carriage. Then, you'll visit to the old wooden Bagaya Monastery, the remains of the Royal Palace and fort.

In the afternoon, you'll cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River and continue to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hills are widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar and are home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. You'll visit Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and Umin Thonezeh Pagoda.

You'll end the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 years old U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in the world. Overnight in Mandalay.

After breakfast you will drive to Pyin Oo Lwin, a former British hill station, located in the Shan hills east of Mandalay at an altitude of 1,070 m. It features many examples of colonial architecture, transport in traditional stage coaches and a beautiful botanical garden. Pyin Oo Lwin is also called the “city of flowers” which bloom here all year around. Its forested country lanes provide a welcome respite from the heat of the plains.

You are going to visit Naung Kan Gyi Paya, the colonial town centre, the church of the Immaculate Conception, the Chinese Temple and Candacraig Hotel. Then you'll be transferred to you hotel where the rest of the time is free. Overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin.

In the morning you will be brought to the railway station and you will travel by train to Hsipaw and also cross the Gokteik Viaduct, the second highest railway bridge in the world and the scenic cross from the bridge is a spectacular view.

Upon arrival at Nawngpeng Station your driver will pick you up and proceed to Hsipaw by car. Hsipaw, or Thibaw, as it is called in Myanmar, is one of the oldest of the northern Shan cities and throughout history, the Sawbwa or Shan Chief of Hsipaw had close relations with the Myanmar kings. You will have some time to explore this charming town partly on foot, partly by car and stay overnight in Hsipaw.

With over 500,000 inhabitants, most of them Chinese and Shan, Lashio is the largest city in the northern Shan state. It is located at the southern end of the famous Burma Road, linking the country to China and used by the British in World War II.

Of particular interest are visits to the central market with its colourful mix of ethnic groups and the hot springs on the road to Mu-Se. Overnight in Lashio.

Today you will drive back to Mandalay. The driving time from Lashio to Mandalay will be approximately five hours. You'll have free time in Mandalay for the rest of the day. Overnight in Mandalay.

The deserted ancient city of Bagan alongside the Irrawaddy River is home to over 2,000 temples and pagodas, covering an area of around 40 square km. Myanmar’s greatest wonder, and by far its largest attraction, is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia and represents the spiritual heritage of ancient Burma.

After breakfast you will start your sightseeing in Bagan. You'll visit Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilo-Minlo Temple, Gawdawpalin Temple, Thatbyinnyu Temple and, to avoid the heat of midday Bagan, you'll finally check in to your hotel and have some refreshment and relax. Then you'll continue your expedition in the afternoon visiting  Dhammayangyi Temple, Gu-Byauk-Gyi Temple, Dhammayazika Pagoda and to top the day, you'll end the tour watching the sunset from the top of Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Then you will be transferred to hotel and stay overnight in Bagan.

Today you can enjoy a unique optional adventure: a breath-taking ride in a hot-air-balloon over the ancient temples and pagodas of Bagan during sunrise. Depending on weather the flight usually lasts around 45 to 60 minutes. We strongly recommend an early booking as capacities are limited.

There will be another day of fascinating explorations within the plain of Bagan, Nyaung U and its neighbouring villages. First you are going to visit to the colorful Nyaung U Market where dozens of vendors from nearby villages come to sell their fresh products, a great opportunity to experience the local daily lifestyle.

You will continue to get to learn about the local culture with a visit to a local lacquer ware workshop producing Bagan’s most famous products. Then you'll go back to the hotel and the rest of the day is free. Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast, you are going to visit the colorful Nyaung U Market. You will then continue to Myinkaba village where you can observe workshops producing traditional lacquer ware, a specialty of Bagan.

Then you will be taken by car to Salay, an ancient religious centre of Central Myanmar. In between, while visiting the numerous ancient monasteries, adorned with beautiful woodcarving, you can enjoy the beauty of this compact city of colonial buildings, monasteries and stupas. Here, you will visit a 150-year-old wooden monastery with wood carved figures and beautiful wood carved ceilings.

We will continue the trip through middle Burma towards Mount Popa, the “flower mountain”. 777 steep stairs lead up to the 737 meters high peak of its extinct volcanic vent with pagodas and small temples perched at the summit. Mount Popa is the home of the country’s most powerful Nats (sacred spirits) and offers an entrancing view across the plains of upper Myanmar.

You'll then travel back to Bagan with a lovely scenic view along the road and continue towards the riverbank and enjoy a sunset boat cruise along the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River to Bagan. Overnight in Bagan.

You'll be transferred to the airport for the flight from Bagan to Thandwe. In Thandwe you will be picked up at the airport by a colleague of the resort and proceed to the beach. There are several beautiful beaches in Myanmar, all ideal for relaxation, but Ngapali is surely the most beautiful and most accessible one via direct flights.

In Ngapali you will find unspoiled white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water for snorkelling, sailing and wind surfing. Relax in the shade of palm trees, wander along the silver sands and watch the fishermen during their daily catch or just let the breeze from the Bay of Bengal clear your mind.Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

In the afternoon you will be brought to Thandwe Airport and fly back to Yangon. You will be transferred to your hotel in Yangon for a last night in the South East Asian Garden City.

You can now enjoy the rest of the day with shopping and further sightseeing in Scott market, an over 70 years old market with the largest selection of Burmese handicrafts you can find under one roof. Overnight in Yangon.

You'll be transferred to Yangon International Airport. Unforgettable memories of a this unique country will accompany you forever.