Myanmar Culinary 8Days Tour

DAY 01: YANGON ARRIVAL – SIGHTSEEING

Welcome to Yangon, the city with fine colonial buildings and vivid pagodas and stupas can be found at its every corner. Upon arrival to airport, meet our guide and be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Then start our tour to Yangon. First, we head to the city center to visit Sule Pagoda and Mahabandoola Park and catch sight of city hall and other colonial buildings.

Lunch is served at a local tea shop. Dishes include Mohinga (rice vermicelli with fish sauce),Mont Pyar Tha Let (rice pancake), and Shwe Htamin (Golden sticky rice). Apart from enjoying meal, discover Myanmar’s tea tradition. Because of British influence, the Burmese has drunk strong tea with sugar and condensed milk for over a century. Still, they also drink green tea to get rid of the sweet flavor. Also, the teashop is renowned for Kyaukpadaung Paratha (flatbread) that you also have a chance to try some when you are there.

In the afternoon, let’s head to Mawtin Jetty to see the life along Yangon River. Afterwards, take the walking tour in Chinatown – very lifelike and exciting place with very good selection of local street food. During the walk, you can try out delectable Myanmar foods, such as meat, vegetable satays, and Myanmar beer.

In the evening, enjoy your dinner at Feel Myanmar Food restaurant with the beautiful introduction and presentation of Myanmar food.

Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 02: YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN – BAGAN SIGHTSEEING

This morning we will take early morning flight to Nyaung U and then transfer to 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, meet our guide and take the tour to discover Bagan start with the 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. It is also can be the great opportunity for your to get to know about the local food and ingredients of Myanmar cuisine. Then we make a short stop to see Shwezigon Paya, a beautiful gold-domed pagoda constructed early in the twelfth century that is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. At lunch, savor meal at Good Restaurant which is most known for its delicious curry – very popular cuisine in Myanmar.

After lunch in local restaurant, we will have time for resting in the hotel before continue the tour to visit Anada Temple – 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, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 03: BAGAN SIGHTSEEING

We will wake up early today to get to Shwe Sandaw 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.

Our day will continue by the visit of a workshop manufacturing Pone Yay Gyi(black soybean paste) – Bagan is an important producer of this condiment. It can be mixed with sliced onions, beaten dry shrimp, salt, peanut oil, and may be some sliced chili to create a salad dish. At the workshop, you can learn how to transform raw soya beans into Pone Yay Gyi step by step. Next, come to another workshop to see another famous Bagan dish – Pe Chaung snack – is made from green beans. Around lunch time, head to a family-owned palmyra garden out of the town, a good occasion for you to witness the daily routine of palm climber. Also, see how toddy is made, from fruit collecting to wine fermenting. Savor a delicious lunch prepared by the family.

Afternoon visit in Bagan including Myinkabar Gubyaukgyi Temple and Myinkabar Village for Traditional lacquer ware workshops to watch how craftsmen produce these beautiful handicrafts. In the late afternoon, visit 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.

Then we will have very pleasant walk to discover the area of Khayminga Temple for a panoramic view and visit of the beautiful complex of the Pagoda and Stupas on the beautiful site in the sunset time in the great harmony with nature.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 04: BAGAN – MANDALAY – AMARAPURA SIGHTSEEING

In the morning transfer to the Nyaung U Airport for a flight to Mandalay, the cultural capitalof Myanmar. Upon arrival, we will take a short drive to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura and visit the world’s longest teak bridge. The U Bein footbridge stretches almost three-quarters of a mile over Thaungthaman Lake, and is heavily utilized by the local monks in maroon robes who carry alms bowls back and forth to monasteries. Constructed of more than 1,000 teak posts, the U Bein has withstood the elements for over two centuries. Then we can observe the life of over 1000 monks at Mahagandaryon Monastery. It is not only the most reputed and well-known monastery in Myanmar but also known by all tourists from all over the world for its unique value like a person with good perfume attracts people all around without being seen. The name of the monastery means “The sense of perfume”. Drive back to Mandalay.

We’ll explore several highlights of Mandalay, which briefly served as capital of the last Burmese kingdom in the mid-19th century. We first visit the Mahamuni Paya, home to a highly venerated Buddha image, one of the most sacred in Burma. Over the centuries, devout Buddhists have been applying gold leaf to the 13-foot-high seated Buddha; that gold surface is now estimated to be about six inches thick.

We will also come to visit Jade market – the biggest market for wholesales selling Jade and precious stone in Mandalay. This is unique and very interesting market o discover.

Then,spend some time to discover Laphet Thoke, a kind of salad mainly made from fermented tea leaves, adding beans, sesames and peanuts. Another variation of Laphet Thoke is A Phoe Gyi Thoke, made by adding dried shrimp, green chili, garlic, sliced tomatoes and cabbages. At lunch, stop at a popular teahouse of Myanmar named Min Thiha. There, two popular Mandalay dishes are served: Mandalay Monte and Khotaung Monte. Apart from enjoying lunch, you can also socialize with locals people.

After lunch, we will visit Shwenandawkyaung or Golden Palace Monastery – a very magnificent building beautifully carved in wood, dating back to 19thcentury. It is of great interest, not only as a fine example of a traditional Burmese wooden monastery, but also as a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Palace that had been totally destroyed by bombs. And then visit to Kuthodaw Paya – the world’s largest book of 729 marble slabs inscribed the entire Tripitaka, that have been recognized by Guinness book.

Late afternoon, we will come to visit Mandalay Hill 230 meters in elevation, is the natural landmark of Mandalay, a vantage-point for a full panoramic sunset view of the city.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

DAY 05: MANDALAY – HEHO – INLE LAKE BOAT TRIP

After breakfast, leave Myanmar for a flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you will be driven to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. Arrive at Nyaung Shwe, a traditional long boat (motorized) will take you to Inle Lake, the vast, beautiful and picturesque nature lake, 900 meters above sea-level, 22 km long and 10 km across, is one of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar. The boat will take you 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 Hpe Kyaung – 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.

Make your stop at a tomato garden, the main product of Inle grown in floating gardens. Check out on-water planting techniques, socialize with local farmers and seetheir life. Afterwards, at a traditional Intha house, prepare and enjoy lunch with local delights like Inle-style Tomato Salad.

After lunch in local restaurant, we will take the brief visit of Phaung Daw Oo 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 Thauk Brige – 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, lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 06: INLE LAKE – KHAUNG DAING VILLAGE BOAT TRIP – FLY BACK TO YANGON

Have breakfast early before joining in five day market, a typical activity in Shan State which takes place around the lake. Next, sail to the northwest part of Inle to visit Khaung Daing Village which is noted for the traditional Shan Tofu. You will be amazed by the delicious flavor of this dish. Head to the northeastern coast of the lake and visit Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery. There, taste wines and also observe various kinds of grapes planted in the Red Mountain Estate. Drive back to Nyaung Shwe and enjoy lunch at View Point Restaurant with the best authentic Shan dishes. Shan State is the region possessing the most remarkable cuisine in Myanmar. In the afternoon, access the 150-year-old Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery and contemplate bizarre windows in oval shape and impressive glass mosaic. Lastly, we will transfer you to Heho Airport for the returning flight to Yangon.

Upon arrival, transfer to Yangon and check in the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 07: YANGON SIGHTSEEING – COOKING CLASS

In the morning, we will take a cooking lesson delivered by an experienced chief. He will be your company to a local market and help you choose ingredients to make popular Myanmar dishes. He will share with you the usage of various types of spices and vegetables. Head to Monsoon Restaurant and prepare your meal. Enjoy your achievement.

This afternoon, 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 Harbor, 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, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 08: FLY BACK HOME

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 8-Day Myanmar Culinary Tour.

Meal: Breakfast