DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL – CITY TOUR
Upon arrival in Yangon International Airport by morning flight, you will meet our guide transfer to the hotel. After check in the hotel and refreshment, we will start orientation tour in Yangon. First, we will visit Sule Pagoda. Well-known as the Land Mark in city centre, legend said that the Pagoda is 2,000 years old and the central Stupa is still enshrining a hair of the Buddha. Then from Pagoda, we will take the walking tour to the charming and interesting area with its old colonial architecture buildings such as City Hall, High Court, etc. This area is really reflecting the special identity of the city from old British colonial time.
You also will have time to visit Bogyoke Aung San – the central market of Yangon with interesting collection of Jade, Petrified wood and local handicraft.
Evening great sunset at marvellousShwedagon Pagoda& its pagoda bazaar. The massive and magnificent gold-encrusted Shwedagon Pagoda (100 meter high), is one of the wonders of the world. It was built 2500 years ago and enshrined with hair relics of the Buddha and is the holy place for local people to meet devoted Buddhists at meditation and pray.
Meal: Non
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
DAY 2: YANGON- BAGAN – WHOLE DAY SIGHTSEEING IN BAGAN
In the early morning, transfer to airport and leave for Bagan – the place also known as the “City of Four Million Pagodas.” Many of the pagodas and temples are small and simple—but the number of them is staggering. Although Bagan’s centuries-old shrines, pagodas, and stupas do not actually total in the millions, there are well over 2,000 of them scattered along the remote 16-square-mile plain, flanked on one side by the Irrawaddy River. This qualifies Bagan as the largest temple city on the planet, as well as one of the most important archaeological areas in all of Asia. The majority of ruins in Bagan were constructed between the eleventh and 13th centuries, a time when Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire.
Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to hotel.
After that we will take the tour to Bagan. Firstly, visit of village market in the town of Nyaung-U: a great opportunity to mingle with the locals and wander among stalls that feature locally-grown crops, rattan items, tea leaves, and colorful traditional clothing. Then we make a short stop to see ShwezigonPaya, a beautiful gold-domed pagoda constructed early in the twelfth century that is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. Our guide then will take you for the walk to visit the Lacquer ware village where you can learn how the local people manufacture this well-known handicraft of Myanmar.
After lunch in local restaurant, we will have time for resting in the hotel before continue the tour to visit AnadaTemple – one of the finest in architecture and most revered temples with its four standing Bagan style Buddha images and huge carved teak doors from thousand years ago. There are different Pagodas to visit today but the will be no repetition, as they all beautiful, interesting and different. In the late afternoon, we’ll head to a nearby jetty, where we’ll board a boat to gain a new vantage of the Irrawaddy (also called the Ayeyarwady). The people and the country’s economy depend on this natural resource, as you will undoubtedly observe by the countless number of barges, bamboo rafts, and fishing boats that ply the waters around us. From on board, we will be able to observe how everyday life plays out along the riverbanks.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
DAY 3: BAGAN – MT POPA – BAGAN SIGHTSEEING
This morning we will wake up early today to get to ShweSandaw Pagoda – the best location where we can have the amazing panorama views of Bagan and it’s pagodas and Stupas in the dawn. This is also the best place for taking photos of Bagan. Witnessing the morning sun illuminating the ancient temples of Bagan is an unforgettable experience. After that, return to the hotel for breakfast.
After that, we will take the excursion to Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano, located 50 km south-east of Bagan and a one hour drive on the road to Mandalay. Climbing 777 steps to the summit takes about 45 minutes and you can visit the Mahagiri Shrine dedicated to the “Nats” (spirits), stupas and a picturesque complex of monasteries at the top where there is a wonderful panoramic view. On the way back to Bagan, observe the natives collecting the juices from the palm trees, palm sugar making technique as well as palm wine.
Afternoon visit Bagan including Dhammayangyi Temple – the widest temple in Bagan. From a distance it resembles the early step pyramids of Egypt. The sides at the base of the structure are almost 78 meters long, while the central core of the temple measures 25 meters long. There are four entrances that each contain a seated Buddha image on a pedestal, the main entrance is the Eastern one. The Western sanctum contains images of the Gautama Buddha and the future Maitreya Buddha, side by side. The temple grounds are surrounded by a wall with huge arched gates that lead to the pagoda. To prevent further deterioration the terraces of the temple are closed to the public.
In the late afternoon, our guide will take you for the pleasant walk in the beautiful area of the complex of Pagodas and Stupas of Khayminga Temple in the sunset time.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
DAY 4: BAGAN – HEHO-INLE LAKE SIGHTSEEING
In the morning, we take a flight to Heho. Upon arrival, we will drive to NyaungShwe village, the starting point of the trip into the Inle Lake, passing through breath-taking scenery in many ways, with great panoramic picturesque landscaping. You can see the local fish men fishing on the traditional boat with typical way of rowing their boat by one leg – the most well-known image of Inle Lake, witnessing the local traffic on the lake as well as other ways of fishing by local people. Inle lake is vast area but you always can see some activities on your on your boat ride. It is ideal way for taking the photos of the lake. We will cross the lake then and visit Nga HpeKyaung – a stunning wooden Pagoda and monastery built on the stilts with beautiful selection of Buddha statues inside. From the pagoda, you also can have the great view of the floating garden – very amazing way of local people growing their vegetable on the surface of water with very well-known tomato farm. Then we continue to Nampan, a village built on stilts over the water. Here, we’ll visit workshops to learn about cheroots, popular cigars made by hand and wrapped in tree leaves, and see how Inle Lake canoes are built. We also will come to visit one of the typical families living on the house on the stilts in the village before cruising to In Paw Khone village- well-known for silk weaving workshops and the technique and creation of the fascinating design of the silk products from unique material from special silk taken from lotus stem.
After lunch in local restaurant, we will take the brief visit of PhaungDawOo Pagoda – famous for 800 years old Five Buddha statues which are enshrined in the center of the building. Millions of local people have come to pray and stick the gold leave around the Buddha statues. Images that are so laden with gold their features are unrecognizable.
The boat then will take you to visit the workshop of weaving by the Padaung tribe – very famous as long neck lady tribe. They came from their village on the other side of the lake, but you can meet, interact as well as learning about their interesting custom in this workshop.
The last place to visit in our long but interesting day on Inle Lake is Mine ThaukBrige – over one kilometer wooden bridge built by local people on the side of the lake. It is very scenic place for watching the sunset, taking photograph and mingle with local people. Coming back to the boat station across the lake again in the sunset time.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
DAY 5: INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON
Morning take a flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon transfer to the hotel for check in.
Then we will visit Kandawgyi Park, one of the most scenic places in the city with beautiful lake, lovely wooden bridges, green and impressive vegetation. This is also can be the ideal place to mingle with local people.
Enjoy evening sunset at Botahtaung Pagoda, which is hollow type, like maize inside decorated with glass mosaic and it means the Pagoda guarded by one Thousand vanguards. It is located by the river bank and close to Habrour, attracted by the pleasant atmosphere of the waterfront. You can visit Nathida Jetty and its surrounding to discover the daily working life of Myanmar People.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
DAY 6: YANGON – DEPARTURE
After breakfast, free time at leisure. You can be relaxing at the hotel or discover Yangon on your own until the departure time to the airport for the flight home. End of Essential Myanmar Tour 6 Days.
Meal: Breakfast
