Beyond Myanmar

Start your sightseeing with a drive to the famous Strand Road and visit the bustling Yangon harbour, where ferries leave for Pathein in the Delta and upcountry towns along the Ayeyarwady River. Visit Botathaung Pagoda, close to Yangon River and said to contain Buddha relics. You then drive through the colonial-historical district, Chinatown, and the Indian quarter. Make a photo stop at the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years, and a landmark in central Yangon.
In the afternoon, visit to Bogyoke (Scott) Market (closed on Mondays and Public Holidays) gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar’s wide range of handicrafts and souvenirs. Stop alongside Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake to take photographs over the lake towards Karaweik Hall and the Shwedagon. Enjoy the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide – 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. It is always full of people praying and making offerings, and is a fascinating place to spend time watching the world go by. Return to your hotel.

Accommodation at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel or similar, Deluxe room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to Yangon domestic Airport for your flight to Bagan (Approx. timing; 0700/0820hrs-direct). Upon arrival in Bagan, proceed on a sightseeing tour starting with a busy local market and continuing with visit to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples in Bagan. These include the Shwezigon Pagoda, a huge gilded temple built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century and Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi-Inn), a 13th century temple with exquisite murals of the ‘Jataka Tales’ (scenes from the life of the Buddha). Continue to the eminent Ananda Temple; one of the finest and largest pagodas, with a 51-metre (170-foot) shimmering gold tip plus four huge standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery.
Later, visit a lacquer craftsman’s workshop in nearby Myingaba village. Sightseeing continues with visits to Manuha Temple, built in Mon style in 1059; Nanpaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument that is said to have been the palace of King Manuha; and Gubyaukgyi (Myingaba) under the protection of UNESCO because of its ancient mural paintings. Observe a sunset in the vicinity of Bagan’s ancient monuments

Accommodation at Tharabar Gate Hotel or similar, Deluxe room.

Breakfast at hotel.

There is no better or more spectacular view of the ancient kingdom of Bagan than from a hot air balloon. This world-famous archaeological site of more than a thousand Buddhist temples scattered over a plain is at its best when seen from a bird’s eye vantage, as the sun comes up gently over the Ayeyarwady River.
You will be collected from your hotel, and provided with a light breakfast and safety briefing while the balloons inflate, before enjoying a dawn flight lasting just under one hour. Flights operate daily from October to March (exact dates to be advised).
Drive to Mount Popa (46km, about 1 hour), home to Myanmar’s intriguing ‘nats’ (spirits). The nats are spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism. They are divided between the 37 Great Nats and all the rest (i.e., spirits of trees, water, etc.). Almost all of the 37 Great Nats were human beings who met violent deaths. The 777 steps to the top of Mount Popa provide an energetic climb rewarded by fabulous views from the top. On the way back to Bagan, stop to see local people gathering the sap from toddy palm trees to make raw sugar or toddy palm wine. Return to Bagan.

Accommodation at Tharabar Gate Hotel or similar, Deluxe room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to Nyaung U Airport for domestic flight to Mandalay (Approx. timing; 0925/0955hrs_direct). Upon arrival, drive to Amarapura and visit Bagaya Monastery and take a stroll on U Bein Bridge, which at over a kilometre is believed to be the longest teak bridge in the world.
In the afternoon, drive along the busy Ayeyarwady River where you see many boats loading goods as well as women washing laundry. The visit Mahamuni Pagoda, home to a spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Stop at local workshops to see Kalaga tapestries being made, gold leaf being beaten into paper-thin pieces. From here, we go to Kuthodaw Pagoda, where the Theravada Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 729 marble slabs, giving rise to its nickname ‘the world’s largest book’. Next visit beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery, the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing. Atop Mandalay Hill lie glittering glass-studded temple walls which reflect the evening glow as you watch the sunset. Afterwards, visit Shwe Kyin Monastery to observe student monks start their evening prayers.

Accommodation at Hotel by Red Canal or similar, Chin room.

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, stop at the Zeycho vegetable market. Board your boat and travel upstream on the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay to Mingun (11 Km, about one hour). The river is always busy – small longtail boats, bamboo rafts and ferries carry goods up and down the river. Visit the Mingun Bell, which at 87 tons is the world’s largest intact bronze bell. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume (Mya Thein Tan) Paya and the unfinished, mighty Mingun Pagoda (built to be the world’s biggest) before returning downriver to Mandalay.
Drive towards the former royal capital of Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the Myitnge Rivers. A local ferry carries you to the island where your horse cart and driver await you. Pass through the ancient city walls to visit the brick and stucco monastery of Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung) before continuing to the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. If time permits, visit some village homes to see local handicrafts such as silk weaving, cane mats and alms bowls.

Accommodation at Hotel by Red Canal or similar, Chin room.

Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to Mandalay Airport transfer to for domestic flight to Heho (Approx. timing; 0835/0905hrs_direct).
Transfer from Heho airport by private vehicle down into the valley to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake, and board your private local boat to take you to your hotel.
Enjoy a full day boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ – Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net. Stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State.
Visit a traditional silk-weaving workshop which uses wooden handlooms, and a blacksmith’s forge. Pass endless floating gardens, where Intha lake dwellers grow fruit and vegetables. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old. Return to your hotel by boat as the sun lowers and the light softens over the lake.

Accommodation at Inle Princess Resort or similar, Lake House (Front Lake Chalets).

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at Golden Kite Nampan Restaurat, Dinner at hotel.

Boat trip to the village of Maing Thauk on the eastern shore of Inle Lake. Explore the 5-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule). Walk to Maing Thauk Monastery and proceeded to Bawlapet Village on top of the mountain (approximately 2 hours hiking up a steep slope).
In the afternoon, travel by long-tailed boat across the lake to Indaing, at the western end of Inle, for one of the most scenic trips on the Lake. Passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the Lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts; enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers cultivate their land against the backdrop of the Shan Hills. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes through Indaing village to reach the 14th – 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Many pagodas here remain charmingly unrenovated, with plants and even small trees growing out of them, making the area very atmospheric. A covered walkway popular with souvenir stallholders leads up to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th – 18th century zedi; some newly reconstructed. Returning to the river you have the possibility of walking along a lovely shady path for 30 minutes to the Intha village of Sema. From here continue by boat downstream past Yethar village, watching local life on the banks and birds in the trees until rejoining the Lake near Phaung Daw Oo Paya. Return to hotel.

Accommodation at Inle Princess Resort or similar, Lake House (Front Lake Chalets).

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at Intha Heritage House, Dinner at hotel.

Travel by boat via Nampan to Sagar (approximately 2½ to 3 hours) and Thakong, a rarely visited area south of Inle Lake. Explore one of the 5-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule) and Kyauktaing, a Shan village where earthenware pottery is produced. At nearby Kyainkhan visit a family who produce monk’s robes made of fabric woven from thousands of lotus stems. In Thakong, observe local methods of producing alcohol fermented and extracted from bran rice. The day offers an insight into the unspoiled culture and traditional life-style of the ethnic Pa-O and Intha inhabitants around Sagar. Enjoy the beautiful landscape, trees and numerous settlements dotted on both sides of the canal. Late afternoon return to Inle Lake.

Accommodation at Inle Princess Resort or similar, Lake House (Front Lake Chalets).

Breakfast at hotel, Lunch at A Little Lodge, Samkar, Dinner at hotel.

In the morning, transfer by boat from your hotel at Inle Lake to Nyaung Shwe and proceed by Car to Heho airport for domestic flight to Yangon (Approx. timing:  1030/1140hrs_direct). Upon arrival, a  Guide & Car will be at disposal until transfer back to Yangon International flight.

Breakfast at hotel.

Return  economy International flight with Singapore Airlines
Domestic airfare and taxes
Current airline fuel levy (subject to change)
Meals as indicated
Accommodation in good quality hotels
All transportation, daily tours and admission fees
Horse carte in Bagan
Boat trips as specified
Balloon Ride over Bagan
Professional English speaking guides
Airport transfers on the first and last day of your tour
Myanmar tourist visa
Includes comprehensive Travel Insurance (Excludes pre-existing medical conditions and surcharge for over 70 year old travellers

Excludes :
Personal expenditures such as laundry, phone calls, beverages etc
Tipping for guide, driver and porters

Additional Supplement
Water Festival – 13 – 16 April 2017. Prices to be advised.