VM04 Best Of Myanmar ( 9 days / 8 nights )

Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Amarapura – Pindaya - Inle Lake - Yangon

Day 1 Yangon

Arrive in Yangon and transfer to hotel with the afternoon at leisure. In the evening visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda.

Overnight in Yangon

Day 2 Yangon – Bagan

Transfer to the airport for early morning flight to Bagan. On arrival, start to tour in Bagan including the colourful Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi (a cave temple with exquisite jatakas mural paintings), the elegant Htilominlo Temple (noted for its plaster carvings) and the Tharaba Gate. Explorations of Bagan continue in the afternoon including visits to Ananda (an architectural masterpiece of early-style temple), Ananda Okkyaung (one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period), Thatbyinnyu Temple (the highest in Bagan, rising to 61 m) and Dhammayangyi Temple (noted for its remarkable brickwork). Enjoy a fantastic sunset view at one of the famous temples.

Overnight in Bagan [Breakfast]

Day 3 Bagan

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Myinkaba village and observe the process of creating traditional lacquer ware, one of the best-known Myanmar handicrafts and a speciality of Bagan. Visit Myinkaba Gubyaukkyi (an early period Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence). Next, stop at the Manuha and Nanpaya temples. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the countryside village of Minnanthu. Visit to some of the interesting temples if time permits, such as Payathonzu, Lemyethnar, Sinbyushin, Nandaminnya and Minnanthu monastery. Enjoy sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River at Bupaya.

Overnight in Bagan [Breakfast]

Day 4 Bagan – Mandalay

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay. On the way to the city, visit the Maha Gandayone monastery (home to more than 1000 monks) in Amarapura and the Mahamuni Pagoda (famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf). Afternoon sightseeing includes the Shwenandaw Monastery (noted for its exquisite woodcarving), Atumashi Monastery and the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world’s biggest book). Enjoy a panoramic view of Mandalay City from the Mandalay Hill.

Overnight in Mandalay [Breakfast] 

Day 5 Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay

Transfer to the jetty and travel by boat up the Ayeyarwady River to Mingun. Tour highlights include Pahto-taw-gyi, the unfinished Mingun Pagoda, Mingun Bell (considered the largest ringing bell in the world), the unusual architecture of Myantheintan Pagoda and the delightful views of the Ayeyarwady River and its environs. In the afternoon, drive to visit the Shwe Inn Bin monastery and the U Bein Bridge (the world’s longest Teakwood Bridge -1208 meters long) with stops at the local workshops specializing in bronze casting, gold leaf, wood and marble carving. 

Overnight in Mandalay [Breakfast]

Day 6 Mandalay – Heho – Pindaya - Inle Lake

In the morning, transfer to the airport for flight to Heho in Shan State. On arrival, continue by car and enjoy a scenic drive to the small quiet town Pindaya, 48 km north of Kalaw, to visit Pindaya Lake and Pindaya Cave, well-known for its thousands of Buddha images.  Enjoy the scenic beauty of the countryside along the road to Pindaya through picturesque landscapes.  Visit bamboo umbrella workshop as well.

Drive to Nyaung Shwe for a transfer to your hotel.

Overnight at Inle Lake [Breakfast]

Day 7 Inle Lake

Take a full day tour of Inle Lake by private boat with chances to see villages, the unique leg-rowers fishermen and the floating gardens, built up from the strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored with bamboo poles. The tour also includes visits to the silver smith factory, the silk weaving village, the Cheroot making factory, the boat making workshop, the jumping cat monastery and the most famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda where the Buddha images have been covered in so much gold that they look like balls of solid gold.

Overnight at Inle Lake [Breakfast]

Day 8 Inle Lake – Heho – Yangon

In the morning transfer to Nyaung Shwe jetty by private boat and enjoy a scenic drive to Heho Airport for the flight to Yangon. On arrival, transfer to hotel. Take an afternoon shopping excursion to Bogyok Aung San (Scott) Market, the city’s busiest and most lively bazaar. Afterwards visit the Botataung Pagoda, Chinatown and the fruit market.

Overnight in Yangon [Breakfast]

Day 9 Yangon

Take a morning excursion and visit to Chaukhtatkyi Reclining Buddha and Karaweik Royal Barge (a floating barge on the Kandawgyi Royal Lake). Transfer to Yangon Airport for departure. 

[Breakfast]