Highlights of Myanmar

10 Days / 9 Nights

Day 1Arrive Mandalay

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to rest up from your long flight.

Overnight at Mandalay 

Day 2Mandalay City Highlights

Explore typical local life in this bustling city with a rickshaw ride from Khaing Tan Market, one of the largest here in Mandalay city. Near the market, visit an area where people are making robes and other accessories for monks throughout the country. Then, continue to Shwe In Bin Monastary, a famous old monastery donated by U Set Shwin, a Chinese merchant in 1895. Take a break at a local tea shop and sample some local snacks. 

Continue by rickshaw to other residential areas where you can see how local people make a living. Stop by the famous Mahamuni Shrine where many pilgrims pay homage to a bronze Buddha statue cast in first century. If you are interested, you can continue to the artful quarters of Mandalay where you can see traditional handicraft skills in stone carving and bronze casting. 

Afternoon visit two historic monasteries in the city. Built in 1878 by King Thibaw Min, Shwenandaw Monastery was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura but was moved to Mandalay and is now the last remaining structure of the palace in Mandalay. This beautiful monastery is famous for its traditional Burmese architecture with teak carvings of Buddhist myths.

Kuthodaw Pagoda, also known as ‘the world’s biggest book’, this pagoda features 729 marble slabs on which the entire Tripitaka (the collection of texts which form the foundation of Theravada Buddhism) has been inscribed. Each slab is housed within its own individual stupa. Your final stop is a spectacular sunset view from Mandalay Hill before returning to your hotel.  

Overnight at Mandalay

Day 3Sagaing & Amarapura Ancient Cities

This morning journey to Sagaing, a sacred area covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries. Sagaing hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is home to about 6,000 monks and nuns with 100 meditation centers. Visit Myasetkyar Monastery, famous for its giant (and we mean huge!) standing Buddha statue. Here you will observe the monk’s lunchtime parade and ritual at 10:30am. You can also visit the Padamya Zedi that dates to 1,300 AD and Umin Thong-ze (‘Thirty Caves’) Pagoda that features a crescent-shaped colonnade of Buddha Images. This area is particularly photogenic for its landscape dotted with pagodas. Close by is Ywa Htaung village you can watch local artisans creating silverware. 

After lunch, continue to ancient capital city of Amarapura ”meaning city of immortality”. It was the capital of the Konbaung period during 1783–1821 and 1842–1859. Visit the unique 200 years old U Bein wooden bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge. 

Evening explore the busy Yadanar night market to explore the lively vendors selling beer and BBQ skewers. A great opportunity to mingle with local crowds and sample some local snacks before retiring for the evening.

Overnight at Mandalay 

Day 4Fly Bagan to Mandalay

Take a short flight to Bagan this morning. Spend the day exploring famous ancient temples that Bagan is renowned for. Depending on your interests, you can discuss with your guide on number of temples.

Your exploration starts at Kyansitha Umin (‘The Cave of Kyansitha’) with fine murals that depict scenes of ancient daily lives in Bagan and Mongolian invaders who made repeated incursions into Myanmar during late 13th century. Continue to Htilominlo, one of Bagan’s largest temples and Ananda, widely regarded to be one of the country’s most beautiful temples, as well as Shwesandaw, the very first of Bagan’s great monumental stupas. Other sights include Tharabar Gate, the last remaining ancient gate in Bagan and Nathluang Kyaung, Bagan’s only Hindu temple.

Afternoon visit villages to see some traditional crafts famous in this region. See the making of wooden clogs used by farmers and a black bean paste used as a condiment by Anya Atha people. Continue to Myingabar village, home to family-run lacquerware workshops for generations. You can visit at least a dozen workshops and storefronts are scattered around temples and stupas from the early Bagan period. Learn about the long and arduous process of making bowls and trays that often take months to complete. It is believed Japanese Buddhist pilgrims obtained the secrets of lacquering from local artisans in Bagan during ancient times, hence the common usage of lacquer ware for serving Japanese bento meals since then.

Before sundown, your guide will take you to best vantage spots for spectacular sunset photography. 

Overnight at Bagan

Day 5Sunrise Balloon Ride, Buddhist Offerings

Rise early this morning for a premium hot air balloon ride (8 people max). The flight time is around 45min to an hour depending on the wind conditions. A light breakfast with pastries and fruits will be served after landing. 

Later continue to a small local monastery in the outskirts of Bagan where you will perform a religious offering ritual. Stop first at a market to buy some seasonal fruits which you will offer to the head monk and 4 other monks. Meet friendly locals at their village home and help to prepare the fruit offerings for the monks. At around 10.30 am, you will have a chance to receive the monks’ gracious blessing of good luck and happiness for your offerings.

Rest of the afternoon is free to explore more ancient ruins or other interesting rural villages in the outskirts.  

Overnight at Bagan

Day 6Fly Bagan to Inle Lake

Take a short flight this morning to Heho before driving about 45 minutes to Inle Lake. On the lake, the Intha people have been living for many centuries in villages built entirely on stilts over the lake. Enjoy a special lunch served on a private boat on the lake before visiting various highlights including the floating gardens, a cheroot workshop where Burmese cigars are made, a lotus weaving workshop and the famous Nga Phe Chaung Monastery. 

Overnight at Inle Lake 

Day 7Hilltribe Market & Indein Ruins

Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages. On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in different villages according to a five-day rotating schedule. You will visit a colorful market frequented by Shan and Pa O people living nearby. After, cruise by motorboat to the famous ruins in Indein that are partly covered by vegetation and resemble a “pagoda forest”. Your guide will make recommendations for lunch break before cruising back to your hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the scenic views of the lake. 

Overnight at Inle Lake. 

Day 8Fly Inle Lake to Yangon

Take a flight today to the former capital city of Yangon. Explore the downtown area to see some of the most spectacular colonial era architecture left in South East Asia. Learn about the cultural and religious diversity of Myanmar while visiting several historic monuments for the Buddhist, Christian and Muslim congregated within the same area. Stop by the famous Strand Hotel built in 1901 for a refreshing lemonade at the Strand Bar, once frequented by famous writers and foreign dignitaries.

Late afternoon, visit the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda for a sunset experience. This is the most sacred temple in Myanmar and believed to be at least 2,500 years old. Here you will experience an Oil Lamp Lighting Ceremony, join local vicars and Buddhists to emblaze several small oil lamps in the dark. This is a traditional ritual practice locally to symbolize the transition from darkness to a brilliant future. 

Overnight at Yangon 

Day 9Circular Train Ride & Bogyoke Market

This morning explore a lively local market in Insein Township at the north of Yangon where vendors gather daily to sell a wide range of items, both food and dry goods. Explore the lively market before returning to Yangon by a circular train ride for about 45min, a great opportunity for people watching and a glimpse of Yangon’s rural outskirts. Arrive right behind the Bogyoke Aung San market where you can do last minute shopping on your last day. Rest of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own.  

Overnight at Yangon 

Day 10Depart Yangon

Transfer to Yangon Airport for onward journey.