Myanmar People & Heritage

Early breakfast (takeaway box) at the hotel, transfer to Yangon’s Mingaladon Airport for the flight to Bagan (Nyaung Oo). Thousands of ancient stupas and temples in this area have made Bagan one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia. From the 11th till 13th century, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers constructed huge stupas and temples, many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

On arrival, take on a morning sightseeing which features the colourful Nyaung Oo Market, the Shwezigon Pagoda, and its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi–In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jatakas murals paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

In the afternoon, visit Ananda, an architectural masterpiece of the early-style temple with two original standing Buddha images showing facial expression change, depending on the distance the statue is viewed from. The Ananda Okkyaung is one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period The next temple that you’ll visit, Thatbyinnyu, is the highest in Bagan, rising to 61 meters.

End the day with a horse and carriage tour among the temples passing by the traditional village of Taungbi, Sulamani Temple and the massive Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. Then you can enjoy the sunset on the mighty Irrawaddy River by slow private cruise.

Overnight in Bagan
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)

After breakfast at the hotel, drive through the plains to Mt Popa. Mt Popa is a place of great importance to the Burmese as they believe it is the home of 37 Nats, ancient Burmese animist spirits. The spirits predate the arrival of Buddhism in Myanmar. The shrine is located on a volcanic plug, Taung Kalat.
Upon arrival, we will climb 800 stairs to the top, learn about nats and nat worship while climbing past many shrines and seeing many local pilgrims. Your hard work will be rewarded with an impressive view over the Myingyan Plain from the top of the volcanic peak.

After returning to the base, you’ll wind our way back to Bagan. Stop en route to visit Shwe Hlaing village. The people here make their living by producing various items from toddy palm trees. Here you will experience a Burmese-style tea party hosted by a local family. Try some famous tea leaf salad with a cup of Burmese tea. Then stroll around the village and see how they climb the palm trees and how they use the sap to make palm sugar and fiery liquor.

Enjoy lunch under the shade of the toddy palm trees. A traditional Burmese lunch will be served in this local setting: a memorable meal and chance to experience local lifestyles.

This evening, transfer to Nanda puppet show. Enjoy dinner while watching beautiful puppets acting out ten traditional scenes. Accompanied by a live orchestra, the show is one of the best puppet performances in Myanmar.

Overnight in Bagan
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After breakfast at the hotel, 8:00 am, take the private air-conditioned car to the Airport for the flight to Mandalay. On arrival, a sightseeing tour of Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital, features Mahamuni Pagoda, famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf. Mandalay has long been known as a centre of skilled craftsmanship and in former times supplied the Royal courts. A tour of traditional workshops includes crafts such as woodcarving, marble masonry, Kalaga tapestry, and gold leaf making.

After lunch, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world’s biggest book) and Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill.

Overnight in Mandalay
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After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a full-day trip to the former capitals of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. The day will begin with a visit to the 18th-century capital, Amarapura. Attend the daily meal of over thousand monks at the country’s largest monastery; Mahagandayon. Visit a silk weaving workshop, the craft speciality of Amarapura. Then proceed to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th centuries and visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery by horse and carriage and the remains of the Royal Palace and fort.

In the afternoon, cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River and continue to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Finish the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 year–old U Bein bridge, constructed entirely from teak.

Overnight in Mandalay
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Transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Heho in Shan State. Continue by car and enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya through the picturesque countryside of Shan State. Visit Pindaya’s limestone cave with its maze of chambers displaying more than 8,000 Buddha statues and local handicraft workshops producing Shan Paper made from mulberry bark and traditional umbrellas made from the same paper that is used by monks all around the country.

Continue the trip to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s best–known sights. The Intha people, a tribe of Mon descent, mostly inhabit the lakeshores and floating villages. On arrival at Nyaung Shwe Village, check in at the hotel (for a hotel with a lake location, transfer by boat).

Overnight in Inle Lake
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After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a scenic drive to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar best–known sights. The Intha people, a tribe of Mon descent, mostly inhabit the lakeshores and floating villages.
Start by visiting the famous floating market, five days rhythm by villages, except for full moon & moonless day. A sightseeing tour of Inle Lake including a chance to see the leg-rowing fishermen. Continue to see the floating gardens, built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.

There are also floating villages like Ywama, the lake’s downtown, where a floating market is held every five days. In the afternoon continue visit to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and the jumping cat monastery.

Overnight in Inle Lake
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After breakfast, visit In Dein in the south of the lake by motorboat. From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the village of In Dein, a recently opened area in Shan State. After a walk around the village, passing a local school, we’ll take the covered stairway to the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area where ancient stupas are partly covered by vegetation. From here there is a magnificent view over the lake. In the afternoon, transfer to Heho Airport for the flight back to Yangon.
On arrival transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Yangon
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After breakfast finish the tour with a visit to downtown Yangon with its faded colonial atmosphere, Sule Pagoda, Mahabandoola Park, India town and bustling Chinatown. In the afternoon, there will be free time for shopping at Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott’s Market before transferring to Mingaladon Airport for onward flight.

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