7 Days Discovery Myanmar

Itinerary

Day 1: YANGON ARRIVAL – HIGHLIGHT IN YANGON

Stop At: Yangon (Rangoon), Yangon (Rangoon), Yangon Region
Arrive at Yangon International Airport. Welcome by our well-experienced guide. Transfer to your hotel for short relax and then we will start full day city tour from heart of Yangon which is colonial-style city center of Yangon. See and visit the golden Sule Pagoda and visit some of the surrounding colonial-era establishments, including the grand City Hall and the iconic High Court Building. Hear about the history of the city and listen to interesting anecdotes to understand what makes modern day Yangon such a fascinating place. Then, we continue visit Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, to see Myanmar's wide range of handicrafts, souvenirs and gem stores.Afterward, we proceed to the Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha.Then you will stop at theKaraweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. Conclude our day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Yangon

Day 2: YANGON – MORNING FLIGHT TO BAGAN – BAGAN TOUR

Stop At: Bagan, Bagan, Mandalay Region
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport to take domestic flight to Bagan. Arrive at Bagan, transfer to the hotel for check in. Today we will explore the ancient temples of Bagan. Firstly, we will visit NyaungOo Morning Market where locals gather every day to buy and sell everything from fresh produce and meats to flowers and pottery. There are many food stalls and tea shops around, which provide the perfect vantage point for observing local culture. Next, visit Shwe-Zi-Gone Pagoda, which is one of the most significant and prototype of later Myanmar stupa, built in 11th-century AD. After that, go to WetKyi and explore Gu-Byauk-Gyi Temple to witness the lovely wall paintings dating back to 11th to 13th-century AD. Later, proceed to Htilo-Minn-Lo Temple to see the famous stucco carving and ceramic panel built in early 13th-century AD. The next one is Ananda, which is a masterwork of art and architecture in 11th century AD by King Kyansit. Stop by for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Dhamma-Yan-Gyi Temple, which is the biggest one in Bagan. Observe the wonderful brick work by the wicked king Narathu. And then, go to Sula-Mani Temple which is the most beautiful one in proportion built by the king Narapati-Sithu in 12th-century AD. After that, visit the tallest one That-Byin-NyuTemlpe built by the king AlaungSithu in 12th-century AD. Next, walk around for a few minutes at old Bagan palace sites in city wall. Lastly, enjoy the sunset from the Irrawady River by a private boat or from the watch tower. End of the tour at around 17:00.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: at hotel
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Bagan

Day 3: FULL DAY TOUR TO MT. POPA

Stop At: Mount Popa, Kyauk Padaung Road, Popa Myanmar
After breakfast you will journey to Salay, 60km from Bagan. Once there you will visit Yok Sone Kyaung monastery, a oldest surviving wooden monastery hall, was built on 154 teak posts, and features beautiful woodcarving decorating the outer walls. Here, our guide will lead you to Hnee Phaya, as well as a local market in Salay.
We continue to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with a height of 1518 m. Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. Learn about nats and nat worship as you climb the stairs to the top with your local guide. The view over the Myingyan Plain from the top of the volcanic peak is impressive (and the climb is optional!). From the top of the mountain you will be able to view the beautiful green environment of Popa Oasis, which will create a 360-degree panorama around you. On your return to Bagan later that evening, you will make a short break at a toddy palm plantation.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Bagan

Day 4: BAGAN – FLIGHT TO HEHO – INLE LAKE BOAT TOUR

Stop At: Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe Myanmar
Breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport in Bagan and take flight to Heho (Inle Lake). You will experience a lovely scenic one-hour drive (32km - 1 hour) which leads to NyaungShwe, gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to visit rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas. Upon reaching the edge of the lake, take a short orientation tour of NyaungShwe, a small town of narrow streets dotted with temples, monasteries, tea shops and local houses.
Then you will board a private motorboat and begin heading out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. Along the way you will pass several villages that are built on stilts over the lake, which are inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the daily activities of the local leg-rowing fishermen and see their ‘floating gardens’, which are built up from strips of water hyacinth, earth and anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles. You will also visit Nga HpeChaung Monastery, which houses loads of early Shan Buddha Images. In the past this temple was known for its ‘jumping cats’ but these days there are only a few felines roaming around and none are jumping any more. Yet the Buddha images are still worth the visit.
Proceed to the PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main haven, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf. There are also many traditional crafts originating on Inle Lake and should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making incredible woven items from lotus silk, boat builders (depending on the time of year), a cigar making workshop, blacksmiths or even silver smiths. The day will come to a close with a return trip by boat back to your hotel.


Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Inle Lake

Day 5: TOUR TO INDEIN VILLAGE

Stop At: Indein Village, Inthein, Taunggyi Myanmar
You’ll pay a visit to the lake’s morning market (the market is open every day apart from dark moon and full moon calendar days). The market’s location rotates between the lake’s villages in a 5 day schedule and is also visited daily by the lake’s inhabitants as well as the surrounding natives who also come to sell and trade their wares. A 1-hour boat ride down a small canal will take you to Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending a rural road to the top of a hill. Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you will be greeted buy an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Here, from the peak, you will also be rewarded with mesmerizing views of the placid surroundings. The Indein Pagoda complex is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sites around the shore of the lake and it consists of hundreds of small stupas which are overrun by moss and greenery.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Inle Lake

Day 6: INLE LAKE – HEHO – FLIGHT TO MANDALAY – AVA – AMARAPURA

Stop At: Mandalay, Mandalay, Mandalay Region
Breakfast is at hotel. Transfer to airport and fly to Mandalay. We transfer 15km to AVA (INWA), the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries. We visit the Bagaya Teak Monastery, over three hundred years old yet well preserved and still in use by local monks; the Nanmyin Watch Tower, the last standing structure of the Ava dynasty palace compound also known as the “Leaning Tower of Ava”; and we continue to the Ancient Kingdom Of Sagaing, located across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. From the Sagaing Hills, we enjoy views of the hillside dotted with countless pagodas and pay a special visit to a monastery to learn about the life of Buddhist devotees. And visit the Mingun Bell, which at 87 tons is the world's largest intact bronze bell. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume (Ma Thein Tan) Paya and the unfinished, mighty Mingun Pagoda (built to be the world’s biggest). We continue to another beautiful ancient capital, Amarapura, famous for its textile industries. We close our day at Ubein Bridge, a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1,2km over TaungtamanLake, we have the option to be rowed onto the calm waters. Ubein Bridge, silhouetted by the setting sun, is a magical experience and a photographer’s dream.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotel in Mandalay

Day 7: MANDALAY DEPARTURE

Stop At: Mandalay, Mandalay, Mandalay Region
Breakfast is at hotel. Driver will come and transfer to the airport for departure flights.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.