Mystical Myanmar - 10 Days / 9 Nights
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Tour Highlights
- Explore impressive colonial and spiritual heritage of Yangon, one of the most fascinating capitals of South East Asia
- Visit the ancient cities of Ava, Amarapura and Sagaing, all former capitals of this “Golden Land”
- Marvel at Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital
- Cruise down the mighty Ayeyarwady River
- Enjoy the spectacular view from the top of Mt. Popa
- Discover the floating gardens and villages of Inle Lake
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Yangon
Arrive in Yangon. Meet your Exotissimo guide at the airport and transfer to hotel. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quite and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South East Asia. After lunch, a city tour includes the National Museum, Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda's 70m long reclining Buddha, downtown Yangon with its faded colonial atmosphere, Sule Pagoda, Mahabandoola Park, India town and bustling Chinatown. Overnight in Yangon. (B)
Day 2 - Yangon - Nyaung U- Bagan
After breakfast 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 make 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, we head to Tayokye Pyay for a first overview over the plain of Bagan. We continue to the Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, followed by 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 and Ananda Okkyaung is one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period. End the day with a horse carriage tour among the temples starting at Ananda and passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, the massive Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork and Sulamani.
Sunset over the site from one of the open upper terraces in Bagan. Overnight in Bagan. (B)
Day 3 - Bagan
Option: from October to March, early morning hot-air balloon flights over the plain of Bagan and its 3000 sites. An unforgettable and unique experience!
After breakfast at the hotel, visit the colorful Nyaung Oo Market before proceeding to Myinkaba village. We go for a walk through the village and have the opportunity to visit the local sites (Gubyaukgi, with some of the oldest mural paintings, Manuha and Nanpaya) as well as look into the production process of lacquer ware, one of the best-known Myanmar handicrafts in one of the local family workshops.
In the afternoon, visit to the countryside village of Minnanthu, the least visited area in Bagan with temples such as Payathonzu, with its unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence, Lemyethna and Nandamannya, before heading to the riverside near Nyaung U Village where we board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Ayeyarwaddy before sunset.
Overnight in Bagan. (B)
Day 4 - Bagan - Popa - Mandalay
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Mount Popa, an extinct volcano over 1,500m high, about 48km south east of Bagan (1 hr). Mount Popa plays an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since the earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits.
Continue by road and head across the central plain to Mandalay, the former capital of Myanmar (5 hrs). Overnight in Mandalay.
(B)
Day 5 - Mandalay
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), Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving and the impressive Kyauktawgyi Pagoda with it’s huge sitting Buddha. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Overnight in Mandalay. (B)
Day 6 - Mandalay - Mingun - Ava - Amarapura - Mandalay
After breakfast, transfer to the jetty and board private chartered boat for a cruise over the Ayeyarwady River towards the former capital of Mingun. After a 45-minute cruise, arrive in Mingun famous for its huge unfinished pagoda also home to the Mingun Bell, considered as the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell. Also visit the beautiful white Hsinbyume Pagoda. Head down the river by boat to Sagaing, two hours away, passing Sagaing Hill dotted with hundreds of white stupas. Continue to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th centuries, and visit by horse and carriage the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and fort. At the end of the day transfer to Amarapura, the 18th century capital and visit the 200-year old U-Bein Bridge during sunset when the villagers are crossing the bridge to return back home. Overnight in Mandalay. (B)
Day 7 - Mandalay - Heho - Pindaya - Inle Lake
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 are 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 hotel (for hotel with lake location, transfer by boat). Overnight at Inle Lake. (B)
Day 8 - Inle Lake
After breakfast, a full day tour of Inle Lake by boat includes a chance to see the leg-rowing fishermen and the floating gardens, built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Visit a floating village at Ywama, the lake’s downtown, where a floating market is held every 5 days. The tour also includes a visit to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and the jumping cat monastery, with beautiful antique Buddha statues. Overnight at Inle Lake. (B)
Day 9 - Inle Lake - In Dein-Heho - Yangon
After breakfast, excursion by motorized boat to In Dein, an off-the-beaten-track site in the south of the lake. From Ywama, the boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the market place of the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. In the afternoon, transfer to Heho Airport for the flight back to Yangon. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Yangon. (B)
Day 10 - Depart Yangon
After breakfast at the hotel, Finish the tour with a visit to Myanmar’s holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda with its golden stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf. After lunch, free time for shopping at Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott’s Market before transfer to Mingaladon Airport for late afternoon onward flight. (B)
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