GTM-(02) YANGON-BAGAN-MANDALAY-YANGON-GOLDEN ROCK-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 – 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 with via and 1:25 hours with direct flight). 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 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.

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Day (03) Bagan-Mt. Popa-Bagan

Breakfast. This morning drive to Mt. Popa about 2 hours, home to Myanmar's intriguing 'Nats'(spirits). Visit Mt. Popa. The steps and path climbs steeply up Mount Popa- an energetic climb rewarded by fabulous views from the top. After sightseeing at Mt. Popa, return to Bagan, on the way you can see through villages, goes on the groups of stupas (Paya Thozu Temple, (Three Pagoda) and near around the temples) to see the countryside and to stop at the Minanthu village and climb to the top of one of the monuments to enjoy magnificent views over Bagan’s temples. Accommodation at Bagan.

Day (04) Bagan – Mandalay (By Flight)-Amarapura

Breakfast. Transfer to Bagan Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan flight from Bagan to Mandalay (approx 1:25 hours). Upon arrival at Mandalay Airport proceed directly to Amarapura. Visit Mahagandayon, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study. A full day of sightseeing starts with a visit to the ancient city of Amarapura and to nearby U Bein Bridge, which is over a kilometer long and made entirely of teak. Continue to visit with Mahamuni Pagoda, home to Mandalay’s holiest Buddha statue, Stop to see stone carving and, later, to see gold leaf being beaten into wafer thin pieces. In the afternoon, visit Shwenandaw Monastery, an 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. Accommodation at Hotel, Mandalay.

Day (05) Mandalay-Mingun (by boat)-Yangon (by flight)

Breakfast. Boat excursion (one hour each way) up the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun, site of the world’s largest intact bronze 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 then you return back to Mandalay check out the hotel, transfer to Mandalay Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan flight from Mandalay to Yangon (approx 1:25 hours). Arrival at Yangon, check in your hotel. Overnight at Yangon.

Day (06) Yangon-Bago-Golden Rock (by coach)

Early morning, drive out of Yangon to the ancient capital of Bago (Pegu), about 2 hours drive north east of Yangon. Just outside Bago, visit Kyaikpun Pagoda with four 30 metre high Buddha figures seated back to back. From Bago, drive through seemingly endless paddy fields to the small town of Kyaikto 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 climb takes 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 t he many local people who make the pilgrimage to Kyaiktiyo. The incredible 'Golden Rock' sis precariously on top of the mountain, and is said to balance thanks to a precisely placed hair of Buddha. Weather permitting, sunset views form Mount Kyaiktiyo ae amazing. Accommodation at Kyaiktiyo.

Day (07) Golden Rock-Yangon

Breakfast. Early risers may enjoy returning to the Golden Rock; about 20 minutes walk from the hotel, to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, walk down the mountain and return by truck to your car/minibus, or alternatively walk all the way down to the base camp at Kinpun. Drive back to Bago and visit Shwemawdaw Pagoda which has a stupa inlaid with diamonds and is Bago's golden landmark. See Shwethalyaung Buddha, which dates from 994 and is revered throughout Myanmar as the most beautiful Reclining Buddha. An optional visit is included on the way back to Yangon at the British War Cemetery near Htauk Kyan. At the evening you arrive at Yangon and check out your hotel. After then transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure.

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~~~ Sightseeing ~~~
 

Yangon
 

Mandalay
 

Bagan

Inle Lake

Taunggyi
 

Mrauk U

Kyaikhityo