GTM-(13) YANGON-GOLDEN ROCK-YANGON-BAGAN-MONYWA-MANDALAY-KALAW-INLE LAKE-YANGON

Day (01) Yangon Arrival

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport welcome by our local tour guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon, drive through the colonial style buildings downtown, the Chinatown area and the Indian quarter. Visit Sule Pagoda with its golden chedi which makes a useful landmark in downtown Yangon. Continue to Botahtaung Pagoda, located close to Yangon River and said to contain Buddha relics. Stop alongside Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake to take photographs over the lake towards Shwedagon. Enjoy the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda; famous world wide – its golden stupa is the ‘heart’ of Buddhist Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar people praying and making offerings at Shwedagon, and it’s a fascinating place to spend time watching the go by. Overnight at Yangon.

Day (02) Yangon-Golden Rock

Early morning, drive out of Yangon to the ancient capital of Bago (Pegu), about 2 hours drive northeast of Yangon. From Bago, drive to the small town of Kyaikto (approx 3 hours) and on to the 'base camp' of kinpun. In the afternoon, take a truck up a bumpy track about half way up the mountain. From here, walk up the path which climbs steeply to the legendary 'Golden Rock'. (The climbs take around 1 hour and those unwilling, or not fit enough, to walk can hire four porters to carry them in a sedan chair). The climb offers magnificent views over the surrounding countryside and the opportunity to make friends with the many local people who make the pilgrimage to Kyaiktiyo. The incredible 'Golden Rock' sits precariously on top of the mountain, and is said to balance thanks to a precisely placed hair of Buddha. Weather permitting, sunset views from Mount Kyaiktiyo are amazing. Overnight in Golden Rock.

Day (03) Golden Rock-Bago-Yangon

Breakfast. Early risers may enjoy returning to the Golden Rock to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, walk down the mountain and return by truck to your car or alternatively walk all the way down to the base camp to Kinpun. Drive back to Bago and visit Shwemawdaw Pagoda which has a stupa inlaid with diamonds and is Bago's golden landmark. See Shwethalyang Buddha, which dates from 994 and is revered throughout Myanmar as the most beautiful Reclining Buddha. Just outside Bago, visit Kyaikpun Pagoda with four 30 meters high Buddha figures seated back to back. From Bago, drive through seemingly endless paddy fields to the small town of Yangon and visit is included on the way back to Yangon at British War Cemetery near Htauk Kyan. Late afternoon, arrive at Yangon. Overnight inYangon.

Day (04) Yangon-Bagan (By Flight)

Breakfast. Early morning transfer to Yangon Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan flight from Yangon to Bagan (approx 2:10 hours). From the airport, start your full day Bagan Sightseeing tour includes visit to Nyaung-U Market with a visit to see the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, which is Bagan’s most important reliquary shrine – look out for images of the 37 ‘nots’ housed in a small hall. See 12th Century frescoes adorning the corridors of Kyansittha ‘Cave’ Temple. Next stop is Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes. Pass through Tharaba Gateway into Old Bagan. Continue to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery from the Early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. Make photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61 metres – Thatbyinnyu known as ‘temple of omniscience’ and dating from 1144. Check into your hotel late morning. In the afternoon, visit Mingalazedi, the last of the large.Pagodas built in the 13th Century, representing the pinnacle of Bamar pagoda architecture. Continue to the Myinkaba area and Gubyaukgyi Temple, with its fine stucco work. Visit Nanpaya Temple, built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings, and said once to have been Manuha’s residence. See the four Buddha images in Manuha Pagoda and then stop at Myazedi Stuppa to see Myanmar’s “Rosetta Stone”, bearing inscriptions written in four languages. Stop at Lacquer ware factory to watch craftsmen skillfully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts. At the sunset, climb to the top of one of the monuments to enjoy magnificent views over Bagan’s temples and the Ayeyarwady River. Overnight at Bagan.

Day (05) Bagan-Salay-Mt. Popa-Bagan

Breakfast. A full day to explore the countryside around Bagan (exact itinerary is subject to road conditions). Drive along the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River through Chauk, where you will see old Burma Oil installations ('nodding donkey's), and then to Salay (approx 2:30 hours). Visit Yokesone monastery, which is the oldest surviving wooden monastery hall built on 154 teak posts with beautiful wood carvings decorating the outer walls. And see Nan Paya a larage lacquer Buddha image, said to date from the 13^th century. Continue to Kyaukpadaung and drive to Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano with its shrine dedicated to animist spirits, known as “Nats”. For the energetic, time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the hill. The steps and path climb steeply up Mt. Popa- an energetic climb rewarded by fabulous views from the top. Return to Bagan, on the way continues to Payathonzu, a complex of three brick shrines with mural paintings from the Bagan period, accommodation at Bagan.

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Day (06) Bagan – Monywa-Po Win Taung(Hills)

Breakfast. Leave Bagan in the early morning and take a local ferry across the Ayeyarwady River. Once on the other side, drive to Pakkoku, and un-spoiled small town famous as a tobacco trading centre and for its weaving shops. Continue from Pakkoku to Monywa (approx 3 hours). On the way you can visit a sandstone cave system in the Po Win Hills, named after a famous 'zawgyi' (alchemist) who once lived here. The Caves of Po Win daug, numbering more than one hundred, are full of Buddhist statues and murals most exhibit the Innwa style but some may date from the 14^th Century. Nearby, visit Shwe Ba Daung, which features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with Buddha images. Continue from the caves to catch ferry across the Chindwin River to Monywa. Overnight in Monywa.

Day (07) Monywa –Sagaing- Mandalay

Breakfast. Early morning visit of the local market. Later, drive about 20 kilometers out of Monywa to visit Thanboddhay Pagoda. The richly decorated central stupa has no less than 845 smaller stupas around it. Inside the pahto, you will see thousands of Buddha images (reportedly over 500,000) decorating every wall, archway and niche. The buildings in the compound have interesting jataka reliefs and there is a huge Reclining Buddha nearby. Continue driving to Sagaing form Monywa (approx 3:30 hours). In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill, where hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. This is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Continue to Kunghmudaw Pagoda, which is painted white and has a huge egg-shaped dome in Ceylonese style. From Sagaing, continue drive across Ava Bridge (built by British engineers) to Mandalay. Sightseeing tour with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, home to Mandalay's holiest Buddha statue. Stop to see stone carving and to see gold leaf being beaten into wafer thin pieces. Visit Shwenandaw Monastery, and ancient wooden building with intricate carvings, which was once King Mindon's home. Continue to see the 'world's largest book', being the Buddhist Scriptures inscribed on marble slabs, at Kuthodaw Pagoda. Visit Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda to see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Enjoy spectacular views at sunset from Mandalay Hill, where there are interesting glass-studded temples. Overnight in Mandalay. 

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Day (08) Mandalay-Mingun-Mandalay

Breakfast. This morning proceed directly to Amarapura. Visit Mahagandayon, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study. Continue to the 150 years old U Bein teak bridge, built in 1851 at the time when Amarapura was the royal capital. After proceed to drive Mingun, Boat excursion (one hour each way) up the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun, site of the world’s largest intact bronze bell( Mingun Bell), 3.7 meters high and weighing 87 tons, Also visit the huge but unfinished Mingun Paya (built with the intention of being the world’s biggest pagoda) and the beautiful Hsinbyume Paya. After seeing enjoy the sunset along the Ayeyarwaddy River on the boat. Late evening return to Mandalay, overnight at Mandalay.

Day (09) Mandalay-Pyin Oo Lwin-Mandalay (by coach)

Breakfast. Overland to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), 1905 meter above sea [approx 2 hour]. Maymyo is famous for its climate weather, used to be a popular hill station of the British during colonial days in Myanmar. Maymyo impresses with its many churches, colonial styled buildings with English style gables, turrets and chimneys etc and horse-drawn royal carriages. Enjoy lunch at Local Restaurant. While you are in this unique hill station visit National Garden of 432 acres [laid out by Sir Harcourt Butler, former Governor of Burma] to study a conservation of diverse botanical species around the world. Visit enchanting Maymyo Market with colorful ethnic minority with their multicolor flowers and vegetables. Late afternoon return to Mandalay and overnight at Mandalay.

Day (10) Mandalay-Heho (By Flight)-Pindaya-Kalaw (by Coach)

Breakfast. Transfer to Mandalay Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan flight from Mandalay to Heho (approx 1:10 hours). Transfer from Heho airport to Pindaya (approx 2:30 hours), an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Visit magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Visit some local houses where families produce Shan paper and parasols. After lunch, scenic drive to Kalaw [approx 2 hours] through twisting and turning hilly drive through Shan plateau. Kalaw is formers British hills station town, cool, spring-like weather, pine forests, tea plantations and colorfully clad hill tribes make this town to a natural magnet for tourists.  Overnight at Kalaw.

Day (11) Kalaw - Inle Lake (by coach/boat)

Breakfast, drive to Kalaw through twisting and turning hilly drive through Shan plateau. Kalaw is formers British hills station town, cool, spring-like weather, pine forests, tea plantations and colorfully clad hill tribes make this town to a natural magnet for tourists. You may have opportunity for a social interaction with ethnic farmers along the way. Proceed to Inle Lake form Kalaw (approx 3:30 hours). If time permits you may visit Joss house of ruling Shan Sawbwa who was the first president at Myanmar independent. Overnight at Inel Lake.

Day (12) Inle Lake private excursion (by boat)

Breakfast. Full day boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer’s dream, its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic high hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar. You will see the floating gardens, growing vegetables and flowers. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, famous for its “jumping cats”. Stop to see silk weaving on wooden handlooms. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Stop at a blacksmith shop and other places as time allows. This afternoon, we enjoy another boat tour to Indaing, at the western end of the Lake. The boat takes you through a long channel where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on Lake Inle. Overnight at Inle Lake.

Day (13) Inle Lake-Heho-Yangon (by flight)

Breakfast. This morning, leave your hotel by boat and drive down to Heho Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan flight from Heho to Yangon (approx 1:10 hours). Arrival at Yangon Airport and then transfer to your hotel check in. This afternoon, you can visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see huge reclining Buddha image. Continue to the newly renovated National Museum (if open) and see the Lion’s Throne. Visit Yangon’s unique Glass Factory, which has changed very little over the years. See skilled Craftsmen hand-blowing glass and creating original glassware which is sold to hotels and restaurants all over Myanmar. Continue to Bogyoke (Scott) Market (closed on Public Holidays) gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar’s wide range of handicrafts. Also visit the adjoining FMI Center. Later, take a walk along Yangon River to see the busy harbor area, from where ferries leave for Pathein in the Delta and for upcountry towns along the Ayeyarwady River. Overnight at Yangon.

Day (14) Yangon Departure

Breakfast. Travelers having arrived mid-day on Day 1 will transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure. For those having arrived in the afternoon, a morning of sightseeing will include city highlight as shown on Day 1 of the itinerary, then transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure.

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~~~ Sightseeing ~~~
 

Yangon
 

Mandalay
 

Bagan

Inle Lake

Taunggyi
 

Mrauk U

Kyaikhityo