Myanmar Heritage Package Tour

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT YANGON

Our experienced guide and driver will welcome you to Yangon, and transfer you to the hotel to for check-in. Relax in your own room.

Meal: None
Sleep in Yangon

DAY 2: YANGON CITY FULL-DAY SIGHTSEEING (B)

You will have breakfast at the hotel. After that, begin the day tour on Maha Bandula Road spotlighted with the ancient Immanuel Baptist Church constructed in 1830. Travel east, and you will see food stalls and markets for a glimpse of the local life. Then, turn right on Pansodan Road for sightseeing old bookstores. There will be time to contemplate High Court Building, Inland Water Transport Offices, and Myanmar Port Authority building. On Strand Road, look for the noteworthy Strand Hotel, Customs House, Law Court, and other colonnaded constructions. When you are on Bank Street, it’s a must to visit Sule Pagoda. You’re likely to meet fortune tellers gathering under the shades of the trees. In particular, Sule Pagoda is a symbol of the town that could be dated back to more than 2,000 years ago. Besides, view the distinctive architecture of Independence Monument, City Hall, and Maha Bandula Garden. The on-foot expedition will continue west to the busy Chinese and Indian quarters. You will notice golden accessory shops on Shwe Bontha Street and Moseh Yeshua Synagogue on 26th street. Next, make a stopover at the snake market of Theingyi Zei. When you reach Anawratha Road, focus on the colorful Hindu temple of Sri Kali.

Thereafter, enjoy peace and splendor of the 70m-long reclining Buddha statue in the famous Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda. In the next minutes, you’ll be glad to relax in the Royal Lake in Kandawgyi Park that is a popular hangout address of the locals. From this point, savor the interesting view of Karaweik Hall that is in a form of the royal barge. Also, spread eyes toward the majestic golden Shwedagon Pagoda. Sightseeing Shwedagon from afar might build your interest in the inner exploration. Go ahead checking in the eastern entrance in which you will find the shops selling religious objects. The best time to visit this 100m Pagoda is around sunset when the gilded stupa becomes soaked in the empyreal brightness. At the base of the Pagoda, you can witness color transformation over the gigantic monument made up of 40 tons of gold leaf.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Yangon

DAY 3: YANGON – GOLDEN ROCK (B)

After the delightful breakfast, be ready for the 5-hour drive to Golden Rock – a unique Buddhist pilgrimage venue in Mon State. Built on the top of the granite boulder encrusted with gold leaf applied by male devotees, Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda is an exceptional Buddhist site in the world.

Prior to your access to Golden Rock, appreciate the religious visit to Kyakhat Wine Monastery in which monks are following the Buddha’s literature as well as the monastic life discipline. Later, you will arrive at the base camp and be instructed to get on an open-air truck for a transfer to the junction camp. Thereafter, you can continue the transfer to Golden Rock or walk 45 minutes. If wanted, it’s convenient to pay for the sedan-chair service.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Kyaikhtiyo

What to have in your backpack

• Good pair of shoes to conquer steep routes up to the Rock.
• Garments to keep you warm in the evening, such as pullover, light jacket, and scarf.
• Backpack and overnight back instead of the major luggage (leave it in Yangon if possible).

DAY 4: GOLDEN ROCK –BAGO – YANGON (B)

Once breakfast time is over, you will move to the base camp by an open-air truck. Everything is prepared for a drive back to Yangon. The scenic drive will introduce you to Bago (aka Pegu) that is home to the tallest pagoda in Myanmar – Shwe Mawdaw Pagoda. The colossal scale and impressive architecture will convince you of its magnificence. Furthermore, value the discovery of Kanbawzathardi palace which is a reconstruction of the old royal palace dated back to the second half of the 16th century. There will be a time in Shwethalyaung that enshrines one of Myanmar’s largest Buddha images. And, do homage to the four Buddha statues at Kyaik Pun that can be seen from a distance. Take your time roaming around the town market and Mon village and see how people make woven textiles. For history and culture, pay a visit to World War 2 Cemetery and the hand-made pot workshops. Arrive in Yangon.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Yangon

DAY 05: YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN (B)

Breakfast will be served at the hotel. As scheduled, you will take a flight from Yangon to Bagan. Welcome to the world’s largest temple city with more than 4,000 monuments. In the vast plain, there are numerous archaeological ruins of the 11th-13th centuries to enrich your knowledge about Burmese pagodas and temples. Some remains exalted while the others become the remnants of history and legend. Above all, visit Ananda Temple before other travelers so that you enjoy its splendor in a peaceful atmosphere. Also, the itinerary will cover cultural experiences in local workshops for a glimpse of the countryside life in Bagan. It is common to meet families and farmers working amongst monument sites.

Proceed to the local workshops for some beautiful cultural experiences. You will discover how the Burmese lacquerwares and wood crafts can be produced by their traditional techniques kept from father to son.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Bagan

DAY 06: BAGAN (B)

You will eat at the hotel, and then get ready for the outdoor Bagan expedition. The first attraction is the colorful Nyaung Oo Market in which you can observe how the locals are trading fresh goods. From this spot, go for a tour around Old Bagan. Included on the agenda is the impressive 11th-century Shwezigon Pagoda. Walk on the tree-shaded lanes that will pass by temples and monasteries in which you can take part in a traditional Buddhist ceremony if interested.

Next, travel by a horse-cart for the sightseeing tours around Thatbyinnyu temple (the tallest one in Bagan) and the huge Dhammayangyi Temple (with the admirable brickwork). Find your spot in the upper terrace of any temple to watch the wonderful sunset over a variety of century-old monuments.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Bagan

DAY 07: BAGAN – FLY TO MANDALAY (B)

The plan today will start with the delicious breakfast and the flight from Bagan to Mandalay. Getting to Mandalay, you will take a drive to “The City of Immortality” – Amarapura that is a penultimate royal capital of the country. Then, spend some time in Mahagandayon monastery to watch architecture and learn about monastic life as well as strict disciplines that more than a thousand monks are studying. Pay respect to the ancient Mahamuni Pagoda where enshrined one of Myanmar’s most venerated Buddha statues covered in gold leaf. In the next minutes, you’re expected to stay at Kyauktawgyi Pagoda that is known for the Great Marble Buddha carved from the giant block of marble. You will be interested in the collection of 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhism teachings in Kuthodaw Pagoda (popularly described as “The World’s Biggest Book”). Go to admire the woodcarvings of the golden Shwenandaw Monastery.

Afternoons, U Bein Bridge is a must to see. It is the world’s longest teak bridge built in 1782, with the span of 1.2km, over the shallow Taungthamma River. You will arrive there around the late afternoon to catch the majestic sunset. Value the opportunities to take pictures of the teak bridge in the twilight and the scenes that Burmese monks and villagers are heading home. What a peaceful vista!

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Mandalay

DAY 08: MANDALAY – MINGUN – SAGAING – MANDALAY (B)

The key activity today is the boat trip on Irrawaddy River. After breakfast, you will be taken to Mandalay jetty to begin the 1-hour private boat trip to Mingun. There stand out some pagodas to visit. Make the first stop at Mingun Paya that is a giant brick building tied to the fortune telling about its downfall in the 1800s because of the earthquake. You will be interested in the flat top of the site, and it will reward you the beautiful panorama of Hsinbyume Paya, Mingun village, and river. Attractively, Mingun Bell of 90-tons weight is known as the world’s biggest hung and complete bell with the capacity of ringing. After that, the boat journey will go on to the surrounding areas of Mingun to stop by the traditional basketry village.

In the next hours, you will get to Sagaing. The Sagaing Hill is commonly described as the spiritual center of around 3,000 monks who meditate in nearly 100 shrines. The ivory-colored monasteries will definitely appeal to visitors who will be fond of exploring Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin, U Min ThoneSae and Shin Pin Nan Gyaing. For more Burmese cultural understanding, proceed to the off-the-beaten-track market and the handmade pot workshops.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Mandalay

DAY 09: MANDALAY – HEHO – INLE (B)

The schedule for today will be about taking you to Mandalay airport and arranging your morning flight to Heho. Arriving at Heho, you will take a drive to Nyaung Shwe village, which includes the exploration of the countryside workshops specialized in the Shan traditional paper and hand-made umbrellas. Let’s proceed to the teakwood Shweyanpyay monastery in which the age-old artistic woodcarvings are well-kept.

Be glad about the private motorboat trip on Inle Lake. Spotlighted with the floating gardens, spectacular hills, fishing boats, stilted houses, etc., Inle Lake offers gorgeous sightseeing. Also, the cultural discovery of the Intha fishermen’s leg-rowing will make the trip more special and memorable. The voyage will access Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery that shelters numerous revered and early images of the Buddha. You will then arrive at the major venue of the lake which is Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. In this spot, do homage to the five honored Buddha statues covered in gold leaf. Spread your eyes toward the surrounding areas, it’s easy to notice the Burmese floating villages. There will be time to visit the traditional workshops that make woven items from lotus silk, boat builder, cigar-making, blacksmith, or silversmith. Sail back to your hotel.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Inle

DAY 10: INLE LAKE – INDEIN (B)

The morning market tour will come after breakfast. You will have authentic opportunities to witness how residents do their business and how the market atmosphere feels like. The inhabitants of the lake and people in the surrounding areas will gather to trade their wares. At a later time, get ready for the one-hour boat trip downstream the canal to access Pa-Oh village of Indein nestled on the west of the lakeside.

Begin your on-foot discovery of the rural highlights. You can try ascending the staircase to the peak of the hill for the bewitching view of the serene landscape. At the top terrace, you can do homage to the Buddha statue that is well-preserved amongst ancient stupas and overgrown shrubbery. Next, visit the complex of Indein Pagoda that consists of numerous little stupas, which forms the mysterious and amazing sites.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Inle

DAY 11: HEHO – FLY BACK YANGON (B)

You will have a free morning at pleasure. Check out the hotel and receive a transfer to Heho Airport for a flight back to Yangon.

In Yangon airport, get a drive to the hotel. Relax in your own room and further explore the city in the way you like.

Meal: Breakfast at the hotel
Sleep in Yangon

DAY 12: YANGON DEPARTURE (B)

Be free at pleasure until the transfer time to the Yangon airport for your departure flight.

Meals at your own expense.