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The Heart of Myanmar (Burma)
12 days, Yangon to Yangon
Itinerary
Day 1Yangon
Arrive any time today. An arrival transfer is included.
Today is arrival day so there are no activities planned. You are free to relax and explore the city. Following a group meeting, we have an optional group dinner where you can sample some of the local cuisine.
Please note that most nationalities requires a visa to enter Myanmar (Burma); please double check this with your travel agent or local Myanmar Embassy prior to your arrival.
Arrival Transfer
Arrival transfer included.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Yangon/Mandalay
Fly to Mandalay and explore this ancient city, including the Golden Palace Monastery, Kuyuk Taw Gyi Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda, and Mahamuni Temple. Climb Mandalay Hill for magnificent views of the surrounding countryside. This evening, visit a local home and enjoy a local comedy cabaret performance by the infamous Moustache Brothers.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Mandalay Hill Climb
Enjoy the climb up this 240m (790 ft) hill known for the plethora of pagodas and monasteries sitting atop it. Enjoy the view you've earned on the steep hike. Of course, if you prefer to save your energy, feel free to take the elevator to the top.
Shwenandaw Kyaung (Golden Palace Monastery) Visit
Enjoy your visit to this stunning monastery, known as the "Golden Monastery," that was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura. Admire its delicate wood carvings of Buddhist myths. The monastery is a fantastic example of traditional Myanma architecture.
Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda Visit
View the massive marble Buddha at this beautiful pagoda. The marble is from Sagyin quarry and took 10,000 men almost two weeks to transfer from the riverside to its current location.
Kuthodaw Pagoda Visit
Visit this stunning pagoda with its gold and white buildings in a traditional Myanma style. Kuthodaw Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa that claims the honour of housing the world's largest book. A spiritually significant place for followers of Theravada Buddhism, this site will be fascinating to all visitors regardless of religion.
Mahamuni Pagoda (Buddha Temple) Visit
Visit the 100-year-old legendary Arakan Buddha, which stands at 3.5m (11.5 ft) tall. Made of bronze and covered in gold leaf, this gorgeous Buddha is a major pilgrimage site. Gaze up at the stunning statue and learn more about the significance of this temple.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Burmese Political Satire Performance
Visit a local home and enjoy a performance by the infamous Moustache Brothers. Banned from performing in public due to their political views, the Mandalay-based trio incorporate music, skits, and dance into their comedy cabaret which is presented in English but follows a traditional Burmese art form called a-nyeint pwe. This very unique experience offers local insight into the political climate of Myanmar (especially interesting in light of the recent election) and allows locals to share their views on current affairs.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Mandalay
Take a boat to the village of Mingun to visit the pagodas and local craftspeople. Visit the spiritual centre of Myanmar at Sagaing and the ancient royal capital of Amarapura.
Embark on a boat trip up the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to the riverside village of Mingun, enjoying the picturesque scenery of this river and the lifestyles of the local people who live and work on these waters. We continue by road to Sagaing. After lunch we visit Amarapura, a former capital whose name means "city of immortality."
Mingun Village Boat Trip and Visit
Take a relaxing boat trip in this serene village. Visit the Mingun Bell, which weighs more than 87 tonnes and is more than 3.7m (12 ft) tall. It's the world's largest uncracked bell and it's in good ringing condition.
Sagaing Hill Visit
Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar. It is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Visit pagodas such as Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae while in the area.
Amarapura Visit
Explore Amarapura, the former capital whose name means "city of immortality." Visit a silk-weaving workshop and then visit Mahagandayon monastery, where over 1,000 monks reside. Enjoy the magnificent view from U Bein Bridge, which is over 200 years old and made of teak.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4Mandalay
Continue exploring Mandalay and take some free time on your own.
Free Time
Enjoy some time exploring the markets, colonial era houses, and botanical garden in this cool and comfortable town.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Botanical Garden Visit
Walk through the lush foliage and enjoy the flora and fauna of this beautifully groomed botanical garden.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Mandalay/Bagan
Relax and watch the sights on a full-day cruise down the Irrawaddy River to ancient Bagan.
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the jetty for the boat to Bagan (Nyaung Oo). The journey takes 7-11 hours depending on the time of year and water level. On board there is a small café selling drinks and light meals (sandwiches, snacks and instant noodles usually).
When water levels are insufficient for the boat, we will use the bus for that part of the journey. Boat cancellations typically happen between April and September.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Ayeyarwady River Cruise
Enjoy a relaxing day floating down the Ayeyarwady. Watch daily life unfold along the river as you cruise by, taking a well-deserved rest from the hustle and bustle of exploration.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Bagan
Explore the ancient sites of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi-in) cave temple, and Manuha and Nan Paya temples. Also visit Kyan Sithar Umin monastery where we have a talk with a monk on Buddhism and daily life.
Enjoy two days exploring Bagan, the first (and very beautiful) capital of the Burmese and founded in the 11th century. This is one the most important temples and pagoda complexes in Asia. We'll wander local markets, historical pagodas, a handicraft workshop, a local monastery, and ancient temples. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.
Bagan Temple Pass
Enjoy a guided tour of beautiful Bagan. Visit the colourful Nyaung Oo Market and the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction to Bagan’s rich history. Explore Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Kyan Sithar Umin Monastery Visit
You’re invited to the Kyan Sithar Umin monastery to discuss Buddhism and daily life with one of the resident monks. You’ll come away feeling at peace and in a new frame of mind.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Bagan
Travel to the outskirts of town to a village in the middle of a toddy palm farm. Watch as the locals scale the trees and harvest the juice of the palm fruit and then process it into alcohol or molasses.
You have the option to take a hot-air balloon flight over the plains of Bagan.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time to explore this beautiful city. The morning begins with more sightseeing, the schedule to be set by the guide and group depending on their interests. We recommend a visit to one of the morning markets as well as more temples.
Toddy Palm Farm Visit
Learn more about this plant, which is important to Myanmar. It's also used to make palm wine.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Ballooning in Bagan (Oct - Mar)
Wake up early and enjoy light refreshments before your hot air balloon launch. Take to the air with a skilled pilot and experience the beauty of early morning Bagan. Drift over villages, temples, and serene landscapes as the sun rises in the sky. After landing, toast the unforgettable journey with a glass of champagne.
Please note that passengers must weigh less than 125kg (280 lb) to participate.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Bagan/Inle Lake
Travel by plane, bus, and boat to serene Inle Lake. En route, visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, Nyaung Shwe by cycle rickshaw, and observe floating villages and gardens.
This morning, fly from Bagan to Heho and then travel by road to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images. Also visit around Nyaung Shwe by cycle rickshaw, passing the many monasteries and cruising along quiet residential streets.
We then board a boat and set off down the canal toward the main part of the lake, passing villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Nyaung Shwe Visit
Visit Nyaung Shwe by trishaw, passing the many monasteries and cruising along quiet residential streets. You’ll also visit the tomato house where the lake’s freshly collected produce is sorted for distribution up country.
Boat
Board a boat and set off down the canal toward the main part of Inle lake. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Inle Lake
Explore the lake by boat and visit the morning market, floating villages, and a cheroot factory, as well as the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda and Inthien temple complex. Along the way, visit the home of a local chef and learn the basics of Burmese cooking. Sit back and relax in this charming setting on Inle Lake and enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked meal.
Depending on its location, we start with a visit to the morning market, which rotates locations on a five-day basis. (Note: there are no markets on full-moon or dark-moon days.)
Our boat then takes us down a winding river to Inthien, with its one thousand stupas dotting the hillside. Back out onto the lake we visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main pagoda and monastery, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. Mid-day, we are welcomed into a local chef's home and enjoy a home cooked meal of traditional Burmese dishes. This is a memorable demonstration and meal and a chance to learn more about family life and traditions in Myanmar.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Morning Market Visit
Explore this daily market, which attracts people from the lake’s shore who gather to buy and sell their wares. Keep an eye out for Pa-Oh, Inthar, and Shan people in their traditional outfits. Wander amid the stalls where your guide will explain what the local produce and goods for sale are.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Visit
Visit the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda monastery. While open to everyone, only men are allowed to place a gold leaf on the images. Look through the shops selling traditional Shan and Myanma items.
Nga Phe Chaung Monastery Visit
This beautiful monastery houses dozens of amazing Shan Buddha images.
Cheroot Factory Visit
Learn about how these typical Burmese cigars are rolled by hand at a factory where they're produced.
Burmese Cooking Demonstration
Visit the home of a local chef to learn about the basics of Burmese food, cooking and daily life. Sit back and relax in this charming setting on Inle Lake and enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked meal.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 10Inle Lake/Kalaw
Travel by boat and bus to the cooler air of this former British hill station. Take a half-day hike and enjoy lunch in the hills around Kalaw. Visit villages that have been helped by the Rural Development Society, a community-based organization that provides water, builds schools and libraries, and finances small-scale community projects.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Burmese Village Trek
Take a hike and enjoy a local lunch in the hills around Kalaw visiting villages that have been helped by the Rural Development Society, a community-based organization which provides water supply, microfinance, libraries, and schools to rural areas. Learn about this amazing organization and meet local people who have benefitted and become better able to support their families and their community.
Optional Activities - Day 10 HideShow
Trekking
Lace up your boots and get ready to enjoy a trek.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 11Kalaw/Yangon
Fly back to Yangon and visit the Shwedagon Pagoda. Enjoy free time to explore and shop in the old capital.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Arrival Transfer
Transfer to hotel.
Shwedagon Pagoda Visit
Enjoy your visit to this gorgeous pagoda, which is believed to be 2,500 years old. The central stupa, glittering in the soft morning light, is surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues and is considered to be the symbol of Yangon.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Yangon
Depart any time today.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.