On arrival at Yangon International Airport, our tour guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. We begin the orientation tour of Yangon after a brief refreshment at the hotel. Explore Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital and largest city, with a population of over 5 million people. Yangon’s tree-lined wide avenues, shady green parks, and beautiful lakes have earned it the reputation of being one of Asia’s most charming and lively cities.
The orientation tour of Yangon includes the Sule Pagoda, which is unique in that its octagonal shape extends up to the bell and inverted bowl, the City Hall and Colonial buildings, Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda – which houses a spectacular reclining Buddha, a photo stop at the distinctive Karaweik Hall, and a Royal Barge on Kandawgyi Royal Lake. Visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset, the gleaming golden stupa that towers over the capital and is considered the spiritual center of the country.
Overnight in Mandalay

Begin your journey to the “Golden Rock” after breakfast at your hotel. After 1.5 hours, you will arrive in Bago, where you will study Buddha’s teachings with the monks of Kyakhatwaing monastery, which houses over 1000 Buddhist monks. Then, drive for another 2 hours to Mountain View Restaurant for a lunch break near Kin Pun Base Camp, you should board an open truck to be transferred to “Yathetaung Camp,” as other vehicles are not permitted to drive up the steep road.
Begin your 45-minute light trek to the famous “Golden Rock Pagoda”, this miraculous pagoda is located in Mon State and is considered one of the most sacred pagodas, along with Shwedagon in Yangon and Maha Muni in Mandalay, it is also believed that the Buddha’s hair relic was enshrined in the massive rock that hangs and balances on the edge of the cliff. Enjoy and overlook the breathtaking view of the surrounding area during your overnight stay in Kyaikhtiyo.
Overnight in Kyaikhtiyo

After breakfast, observe the morning activities of the local pilgrims before walking back to the “Yathetaung Camp” and being transferred by the open trunk to the base camp before driving back to Yangon. On the way back, have lunch in Bago and then visit the famous “Shwemawdaw Pagoda” which is 144 meters high, Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha (55 meters long), 28 meters high huge Buddha Image of Kyaikpun Pagoda with its four huge Buddha Images facing the cardinal points, and Kanbawzathardi Palace. After that, return to Yangon.
Overnight in Yangon

We transfer to Yangon International Airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival at Heho airport, a scenic one-hour drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the major gateway to Inle Lake. On the way to Nyaung Shwe, you are to visit the Shwe Yan Pyay Wooden Monastery, which dates back over 140 years.
Then proceed to Nyaung Shawe’s boat stand and board a private vessel motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights, passing villages on silts above the lake and inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe unique leg-rowing fishermen and their floating gardens made of water hyacinth, bottomed lake weed, marsh, and mud anchored to the bottom of the lake with a bamboo pole. Take a break for lunch at a restaurant in Inle Lake.
Afternoon sightseeing will visit the weaving village of Inpawkhone and the Cherrot factory, where traditional Burmese hand-rolled cigars are made. Then proceed to Pahang Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf, followed by a visit to Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha images but is also known as the “Jumping Cats” monastery. After that, take a boat ride around the floating garden areas of Inle Lake, where seasonal vegetables are grown. Then transfer to a hotel.
Overnight in Inle Lake

After breakfast, take a 45-minute drive along the narrow creek from your hotel jetty to Inn Dein village, then embark and walk through the bamboo groove to the Shwe Inn Thein pagoda complex, where there are ruined Shan-style stupas that have been abandoned and forgotten for decades, and the relics and images have been stolen, ruined, or destroyed. Indein for a lunch break. After lunch, transfer to the jetty and then to Heho airport to catch a flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be transferred to a hotel.
Overnight in Bagan

The Bagan archaeological zone is one of Asia’s richest historical sites and Myanmar’s main tourist attraction, it is regarded as one of Asia’s holiest cities, alongside Varanasi in India and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, by archaeologists, historians, and photographers alike, because it houses the world’s largest collection of Buddhist sculptures, lavishly decorated monuments: temples and pagodas decorated with mural paintings and plaster carvings from the 11th to 13th centuries. Bagan was known as “the City of Four Million Pagodas” during its Golden Age in the 12th century. While Kublai Khan and several massive earthquakes have significantly reduced that number, what remains is quite incredible.
Upon arrival in Bagan this morning, we will first visit Nyaung Oo Market, followed by Shwezigon Pagoda, the first monument built in pure Myanmar style, this prototype for later pagodas is one of the oldest and loveliest temples and remains an important place of devotion for the Burmese; and Ananda Temple, a masterpiece of early style temple architecture, the gilded and whitewashed Ananda temple, built in 1066, is one of the most elegant temples, with delicate decorations in glazed tiles along its base and terraces, Bagan is also known as the center of Myanmar’s thriving lacquerware industry.
This tour also includes a stop at a local lacquerware workshop to observe the skilled artisans at work on the various stages of production and continue to see the highlights of Bagan, including Damyangyi Temple, Sularmuni Temple, and the sunset from Pyathatgyi Temple.
Overnight in Bagan

After breakfast, drive some 50km southeast of Bagan to Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano (1,500m). On the way, stop at a palm plantation and palm sugar candy workshop in Kyaukpadaung village. Mt. Popa, the Burmese “Mt. Olympus” is a legendary home of the “Mahagiri Nats” (Powerful national spirits) and an important pilgrimage site.
After arrival at Mt Popa an optional climb to the summit for an amazing panorama view and visit a Nat shrine and monasteries on top of the volcano, everything about the place is dramatic: the lush vegetation on the mountain’s slopes, the petrified forest along the road, the complex of monasteries and shrines perched on the rocky crag and endless views of the plains below, the Mt Popa area has been designated as a National Park. Back to Bagan, rent a bicycle or hire a horse cart, and experience yourself amidst the crumbling spires of this fabulous place.
Overnight in Bagan

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and travel to Monywa via Pakokku (approximately 130 km and 3 hours drive), where we will visit the local market and cigar factory. Then, on the way, stop by one of the authentic villages known as “Ma Ahu Ale Ywa,” also known as “Little Bagan,” where you can see a cluster of ancient pagodas dating back 1000 years, as well as visit the village’s Incense Stick Making Factory and enjoy lunch in Monywa.
In the afternoon, depart for the magnificent Phowintaung temple caves, a Buddhist cave complex located on the western bank of the Chindwin River, about 25 kilometers west of Monywa. The complex’s name translates as “Mountain of Isolated Solitary Meditation”, the complex contains 947 richly decorated caves, both small and large. First, you will be transferred to a jetty where you will cross the Chindwin River by small ferry boat and then take a car for 40 minutes to Mystery Poe Win Taung Cave, which contains an abundance of Buddha images and some fine mural paintings (some dating back to the 15th century). After you tour the cave, return to Monywa.
Overnight in Monywa

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and travel by coach to Monywa, one of Myanmar’s important trade centers, located 136 kilometers from Mandalay on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River (3 hours approximately).
In Monywa, we will finish the remaining highlights of Monywa, including the famous Thamboddhay temple (Known as half a million Buddha images) and Bawdi tasting, reclining and standing Buddha at the site, before continuing to Sagaing “The holy place of Myanmar dotted with thousands of Buddhist Monasteries and nunneries over the hillock of Sagaing.” Stop en route to see the KaungMudaw Pagoda, with its massive white dome and 800 stone pillars at the base. After lunch, visit a Buddhist nunnery in Sagaing and then drive to the top of Sagaing Hill to watch the sunset over Sagaing Hill. Then return to Mandalay.
Overnight in Mandalay

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the jetty to board a ferry boat to Mingun, located 11 kilometers upriver from Mandalay on the western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. After a one-hour boat ride, you can walk to the Mingun Pagoda, an unfinished pagoda said to be the world’s largest pile of bricks, the Mingun bell, the world’s largest ringing bell, and the Myatheindan Pagoda. Then, by the downstream river, stream down to Mandalay. Lunch at a good local restaurant with a view of the river.
In the afternoon, visit Amarapura, the ancient capital of Burmese Kings, some highlights to be a must-see on the way to Amarapura include Mahamuni Pagoda and its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaf and a street of stone sculptors for carving Buddha images in different sizes out of Marble and alabaster, then proceed to U Being bridge and enjoy the sunset and walk over U-Bein Bridge, which is 1.2 kilometers in length and made of Return to your Mandalay hotel.
Overnight in Mandalay

This morning, we will visit the Old Palace grounds, Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine, and Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, and then drive straight to Mandalay International Airport for your onward flight.