Myanmar Treasures

15 Days / 14 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. 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 3Mingun Boat Ride & Amarapura

Take a boat excursion to Mingun village on the banks of the Ayarwaddy River. Visit the Mingun Pagoda with its big crack caused by an earthquake and the world’s largest ringing bronze bell. Return to Mandalay on a one-hour boat ride while drinks and snacks are being served.   

Afternoon explore the ancient capital city of Amarapura ”meaning city of immortality”. It was the capital of the Konbaung period during 1783–1821 and 1842–1859. Take a stroll along the unique 200 years old U Bein wooden bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge.   

Evening head to 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 4Drive to Monywa via Sagaing

This morning head to Sagaing, a sacred area covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries. Sagaing hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar as home to about 6,000 monks and nuns with 100 meditation centers. Visit Myasetkyar Monastery, famous for its giant standing Buddha statue. Observe the monk’s lunchtime parade and ritual at 10:30am. Visit 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.

From here it’s about 2 hours’ drive to Monywa, a small town along the banks of the Chindwin River. 

Overnight at Monywa 

Day 5Monywa Historic Highlights

This morning drive about an hour to Powin Taung crossing Chindwin River. Stop along the way to admire the stone-cut pavilions of Shwe Ba Taung, resembling a mini “Petra of Jordan”. Then continue to the “Hill of the Alchemists”, Powin Taung Hill boasts several Buddhist cave sites from as early as the 16th century. Numerous Buddha images were carved along the stone walls of these caves, creating a gallery of different images. Throughout the centuries, mural paintings were added, creating what some archaeologists call the richest mural painting collection in Southeast Asia.

Afternoon visit Thanbodday Zedi temple complex which is beautifully decorated with the most beautiful stucco work and Boditataung Pagoda, both known for their extensive Buddha statuary. Then continue to Alantayar Pagoda, site of the largest reclining Buddha image in all of South East Asia at over 600 feet in length.

Overnight at Monywa 

Day 6Drive to Bagan via Pakkoku

This morning drive about 2.5 hours to Pakkoku, a small provincial town famous for its handicrafts including hand woven colorful blankets, handmade slippers, incense and bamboo scales. Explore a fascinating local fresh produce market that is also the biggest Thanakha market in Myanmar. Thanakha is a cosmetic paste made from ground bark and is an ancient beauty treatment in Myanmar, said to treat wrinkles and prevent sun damage. You will sample various local snacks while taking a short break at a small tea shop.

Continue to Anauk Chauk Kan Village to experience rural life and see their traditional weaving workshop. A simple local lunch will be served at a local home before driving another hour to Bagan. 

Overnight at Bagan  

Day 7Balloon Ride & Ancient Temples

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.  

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.

At sundown, your guide will recommend the best location for spectacular sunset views of the temples.  

Overnight at Bagan 

Day 8Artisan Villages, Sunset River Cruise

Today you will visit two villages to learn more about rural life just a short distance outside of the tourist zones. Starting at Taungbe Village, a community of horse-drawn cart drivers. Visit a small morning market to see local fresh produce before meeting a local family to hear about their livelihood. Stop by a 150-year-old wooden monastery that hardly any tourists go.

The next village is Myingabar, home to family-run lacquer 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.

Late afternoon enjoy a relaxing sunset boat ride to enjoy beautiful views over the Ayeyarwady River. 

Overnight at Bagan

Day 9Fly 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 10Hilltribe Market, Shan Cooking Class, Village Visit

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. This morning, cruise by local motorboat to visit a colorful market frequented by Shan and Pa O people living nearby.

Later, meet your friendly local host to learn about local fresh ingredients used in traditional Shan cuisine around Inle Lake. Then return together to a traditional stilt house by the lake for a cooking class on Shan specialties. Enjoy your creations for lunch before bidding your host farewell.

Afternoon visit Pauk Par Village by canoe, an excellent opportunity to chat with friendly villagers over tea. You can take your time to explore the village for photography and short hikes. 

Overnight at Inle Lake 

Day 11Fly to Ngapali Beach

Take a short flight to Thandwe, gateway to the pristine beaches of Ngapali. Rest of your stay here is free to relax at your beachfront resort. 

Overnight at Ngapali Beach 

Day 12Ngapali Beach

Free day at leisure.

Overnight at Ngapali Beach 

Day 13Ngapali Beach

Free day at leisure.

Overnight at Ngapali Beach 

Day 14Fly Ngapali to Yangon

Take a short flight to Yangon, the former capital city. Today, you will explore the downtown area to see some of the most spectacular colonial era architecture left in South East Asia and learn about the religious diversity of Myanmar. Starting at a market in the Indian Quarter, stroll pass large and turreted mosques. Visit the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue, the only synagogue in the country. Continue to Mahabandoola Park to see City Hall, the Immanuel Baptist Church, and the building that once held the department store Rowe & Co., described as the ‘Harrods of the East’. Take a break at a classic Burmese teashop, a popular location where locals gather for all sorts of discussions.   

Stroll along the magnificent Pansodan Street and into the office of the Yangon Heritage Trust to look at old pictures from the city’s past and optimistic ideas for its future. Walk past the famous Strand Hotel built in 1901, once frequented by famous writers and foreign dignitaries. Final stop is the Secretariat where the country’s independence hero, General Aung San, was assassinated.

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. Transfer back to your hotel after the experience. 

Overnight at Yangon 

Day 15Depart Yangon

Transfer to airport for onward journey.