Inspiration Myanmar 3

DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL – WALKING TOUR

Welcome to Yangon. Upon arrival, you tour guide and driver will greet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel for check in. Time to relax before an afternoon walking orientation tour of the city followed – weather permitting – by a scenic sunset boat cruise on the Yangon river itself.

Meal: Non
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 2: YANGON CITY SIGHTSEEING

Departure for a fascinating and unusual train journey on the Yangon circular line. The very slow local train loops through the suburbs and outlying villages providing an original and behind the scenes view of local life a great introduction to Burma. After lunch well take a stroll through the picturesque Kandawgyi Lake Gardens before a sunset visit to the incredible Shwedagon Temple. Burma’s most sacred & certainly one it’s most awe inspiring sites.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 3: MANDALAY – ANCIENT CITIES

Early morning flight to Mandalay and a visit to the nearby ancient city and former 14th to 19th century capital Inwa(Ava). Discover the old city, temples and villages by horse and cart before an afternoon visit to the prestigious Mahamyatmuni Pagoda and sunset at the iconic U Bein Bridge – reputed to be the longest teak bridge in the world.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

DAY 4: PYIN OO LWIN – HILL STATION TOUR

Scenic drive to the old British hill-station of Pyin Oo Lwin located on the edge of the Shan Plateau. The small town’s 1200m altitude meant it was a popular and cool retreat for the former British colonists and many historic buildings remain as well as its famous botanical gardens. We will time our return journey for sunset over the Irrawaddy River.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

DAY 5: MANDALAY TO BAGAN BY CRUISE

Early departure by boat down the Irrawaddy to Bagan bucolic country views and river scenes and a great way to arrive in the historic ancient city. Late afternoon orientation visit and sunset at the site of the 11th to 13th century capital still housing over 2000 chedis, stupas, pagodas scattered across a riverside plan and certainly one of the most incredible sites of Southeast Asia.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 6: BAGAN TEMPLES TOUR

Morning guided tour with the afternoon free to visit Bagan at your leisure. Armed with a map, hat and torch (to discover temples hidden stairways). Roam the country lanes by bicycle, hire a pony and trap, visit the best known temples or find some hidden chedis of your own. Your guide will be on-hand to advise and recommend but we would like to let you spend some time at this phenomenal site at your own leisure and pace.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 7: BAGAN TO KALAW – OVERLAND VIA MOUNT POPA

Departure by road to the distant Shan Plateau. Our first stop will be Mount Popa – one of the country’s most sacred sites located on the come of an extinct volcano which rises dramatically and near vertically from the plains below Local style lunch before a scenic climb up the Plateau itself to our destination the charming little old hill station of Kalaw.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Kalaw

DAY 8: KALAW – HILL WALK AND TEA PLANTATIONS

Morning hike through the surrounding hills to visit one of the local Palaung hill-tribe villages a scenic walk mountain views visit to the village and chance to meet some of its friendly inhabitants. Afternoon return to Kalaw and some time to wander around the small town and perhaps explore the market or sit in a local tea shop and watch the world go by?

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Kalaw

DAY 9: KALAW TO INLE LAKE – ACROSS THE SHAN PLATEAU

Day trip through the picturesque countryside of the Shan Plateau taking in firstly one of the local farmers markets before heading to the town of Pindaya to visit the spectacular Shwe Umin cave temples. Lunch by the lake and a chance to check out the traditional umbrella making which Pindaya is famous for in the afternoon we will continue our scenic route to Nyaung Shwe – gateway town to the famous Inle Lake.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 10: INLE LAKE – VILLAGES AND LOCAL MARKET

Day boat trip around the picturesque lake including visits to a lakeside village market a traditional hand rolling cheroot factory, a fascinating lotus weaving project and the highly unusual floating gardens.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 11: INLE LAKE – INDEIN BOAT TRIP

Morning departure across the lake and up river to the small lakeside village of Indein from where we will hike through the picturesque landscape to visit the site of a ruined Shan city known as the Shan Bagan, where myriad ruined stupas dot the lush vegetation Return to Nyaung Shwe for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 12: INLE LAKE AT LEISURE AND RETURN TO YANGON

Free morning at Inle Lake to do your own thing cycle to the surprisingly good Red Mountain Winery, check out the local market, visit a local village by canoe or just relax in a tea shop before an afternoon return flight to Yangon .

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 13: YANGON – FREE MORNING – DEPARTURE

Free morning to perhaps do some last-minute shopping or souvenir hunting at the famous Scott Market and a late afternoon departure.

Meal: Breakfast