Best of Myanmar 7 Days

• 06 nights accommodation at hotels
• English-speaking tour guide
• All airfares
  Yangon – Heho/Inle Lake 
  Heho/Inle Lake – Nyaung U/Bagan
  
• A/C private transportation in all places as indicated in the itinerary
• Two water stops for every biking day with seasonal fresh fruits and snacks
• Entry and zone fees
• Drinking water and a towel on every biking day as much as needed
• Boat excursion at Inle Lake

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Yangon Arrival – Pick up & Check in hotel – Tour

Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide who will take you to your hotel for check-in.

Visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda to see a 70-meter-long reclining Buddha statue around the size of a blue whale. Afterward, head on to Chinatown for a change of scenery and check out the dragons and incense of the colorful Khen Hock Keong Chinese temple, we will take a walk to explore and enjoy the vibrant street stalls where vendors sell all kinds of fruit, vegetables, and other goods, or simply just walk around and soak in the atmosphere of this little China in Yangon.

Ready for an amazing experience? Let’s explore the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda. The visual delights present there alone, are worth the trip. Witness the colors transform on the 100-meter chedi which is enclosed in over 40 tons of gold leaf. You will start at the eastern staircase where you will find a row of shops at the base of the temple selling various religious items. Here you will find monks’ robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense, and other unique Buddhist objects. As you browse the stalls your guide will explain the use and rituals of Myanmar’s Buddhist people. Shwedagon is largely considered to be the most important religious site for the Burmese; most visitors report that the trip is extremely memorable and still etched into their minds.

Overnight: Yangon

Meals: Breakfast

Day 2: Yangon – Fly to Heho/Inle Lake – Boat Trip

This morning return to Mandalay airport for the flight to Heho, in the heart of the Shan State.  Upon arrival at the Heho airport, you will proceed to NyaungShwe village. Along the way, you will have an opportunity to visit rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas. Then you will board a private motorboat and begin heading out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular 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 ‘’, which are built up from strips of water hyacinth, and earth and anchored to floating gardens at the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles.

Finally, proceed to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, 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.

Overnight: Yangon

Meals: Breakfast

Airfare: Yangon – Heho/Inle Lake

Day 3: Inle Lake – Indein Tour – Inle Lake

After breakfast, you’ll visit 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 the Pa-Oh village of Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. Take a stroll around the village before ascending to the top of a hill.

Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you will be greeted by 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. Upon arrival at the village, observe the daily lifestyles of the rural inhabitants.

On your boat ride back, should time allow, you’ll stop at the Inthar Heritage House to learn more about the history and culture of the lake’s indigenous people and enjoy a delicious coffee and cake (snack break not included) as an exciting day comes to a close transfer back to your hotel for some well-deserved relaxation.

Overnight: Inle Lake

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Inle Lake/Heho – Fly to Bagan – Tour

Wake up early this morning to transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Bagan. Welcome to Bagan, known to be one of the greatest architectural sites in Asia. When Bagan was the center of Myanmar from the 11th to 13th centuries the monarchs built multitudes of massive stupas and pagodas, scores of which are still present on the shores of the Irrawaddy River. The majesty of Bagan with more than 4000 red brick temples on a plain the size of Manhattan Island is one of the highlights of a Myanmar holiday that will soothe the eye of every traveler.

It’s off to the vibrant Nyaung Oo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily, from here you will have a look around the Old Bagan starting with a visit to the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by very famous King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious memorial.

Afterward, you’ll continue to Ananda Temple, which is considered to be an architectural work of art and is certainly one of Bagan’s most gorgeous temples. Constructed in an earlier “Mon” style, Ananda houses two distinctive Buddha images. Their expressions also appear to transform, according to the space from which the statue is seen. Visit Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, the gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, and of course, Sulamani Temple. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the small hill with an overview of Bagan.

Overnight: Yangon

Meals: Breakfast

Airfare: Heho/Inle Lake – Bagan

Day 5: Bagan Tour – Drive to Mandalay

OPTION: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE OVER BAGAN 

The morning will start with an exciting hot-air balloon ride above the Bagan countryside. You will observe one-of-a-kind views when the sun begins to rise over the Irrawaddy River and various stupas in the region. You’re simply not going to find many other opportunities like this on Earth. (Only available from 20 October through 10 Apr)

Drive through Bagan’s countryside to the rustic village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s less visited regions; it’s very tranquil and isolated. You will discover temples such as Payathonzu with its strange structural design, Lemyentha, and Nandamannya as well. Also, be sure to head over to Kyat Kan Cave monastery, which is an extremely important meditation retreat. There are also plenty of farming villages around Bagan if you’re interested in studying their particular way of life. Continue with a drive to Myinkaba village where you will also have the chance to examine the village itself as well as the local craftsmen. Learn more about the local culture with a visit to workshops producing Bagan’s most famous product: lacquer ware. Watch as the skilled craftsmen use techniques passed down through generations to create beautiful items.

This afternoon, we will take about a 4-hour drive from Bagan to Mandalay. Mandalay, the second largest city of Myanmar and one of the ancient royal capitals is often perceived and described in literature as Asia at its most traditional, timeless, and alluring but those who go meet a booming and vibrant city located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. However, despite the energy and thriving business, it’s where the cultural heart of Myanmar lies, and the tradition of music, dance, and drama is still alive. Arrive in Mandalay, check in hotel, and relax.

Overnight: Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Mandalay Tour

Your orientation tour of Mandalay will kick off with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, frequently dubbed as “The World’s Biggest Book” for its collection of 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Then it’s off to the Shwenandaw Monastery, the Golden Monastery which is the only enduring structure from the Royal Palace of the 19th century. This impressive structure is celebrated for its remarkable woodcarvings.

Continue with a visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda houses one of the country’s most honored Buddha images, completely covered in gold leaves that are every day applied to the statue by male devotees. Don’t miss the visit to Marble Street nearby. There are also many unique craft workshops in Mandalay and, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making gold leaf, tapestries, wood carvings, or marionettes if you are interested and if time allows.

Next drive to Amarapura, Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital. Amarapura means “City of Immortality”, though its period as capital was relatively brief. You will start Mahagandayon monastery, home to more than a thousand young monks and renowned as a center for monastic study and strict religious discipline. Continue on foot or by bus a short distance to the legendary U Bein Bridge, built in 1782 when Amarapura was the Royal center of attention. It spans 1.2 km across the shallow Taungthaman Lake and is said to be the longest teakwood bridge worldwide.

Overnight: Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast

Myanmar tour Myanmar tour Myanmar tour Myanmar tour Myanmar tour Myanmar tour Myanmar tour

Day 7: Departure – Mandalay

Free until transfer to Mandalay International Airport to take your departure flight home.

Meals: Breakfast