Explore Charming Of Myanmar

Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival at the Yangon Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and driver who will take you to your hotel for check-in (note: check-in time is 14.00. Early check-in is subject to availability). 

After unpacking and a short break, we kick off  Myanmar Highlights 8 Day Tour with the first visit to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda to witness a beautiful reclining Buddha Statue in the size of a blue whale. Then we continue to visit Khen Hock Keong Chinese Temple in the center of bustling Chinatown, best known as the largest among few Chinese temples in Myanmar. Let’s come inside and feel the ancient beautiful architecture in a different way from most of the other religious sites in Myanmar. Opposite to the peace and quiet inside the temple is a vibrant street full of barbeque food stalls and fresh fruit vendors as you stroll around. Mid-afternoon we turn the way to Kandawgyi Park – a refreshing open space, especially ideal for catching glorious sunrise or sunset. While the time here, do not miss your photo opportunity at Karaweik Barge – a giant floating restaurant in the shape of two enormous golden bird ships. As the best will come last, we save Shwedagon Pagoda for last. When the sun is already set and the dark is overwhelming, we head for Shwedagon Pagoda and see it magnificently glistering at night. The colorful lights from bottom to the top of 100-meter high chedi that could be seen from anyway from the city is the very first amazing thing you could figure out the place. Getting further inside the complex, witnessing more of cultural rituals practiced daily by devoted locals while our guide gives you an interesting insight of the sophisticated architecture of the old construction. Have yourself relax in any corner of the pagoda, time seems stopped, there is only you with peaceful sounds of bells in the wind under shining high stupa under the starred sky. 

Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Yangon.

After a healthy breakfast at the hotel, you are to head to the airport for a morning flight to Bagan. Landing in Bagan, you will be welcomed and teamed up our station guide and driver here for a new expedition over the great Bagan – red land covered by 2000 old brick monuments lying between countless pleasant palm trees. What makes Bagan special maybe how magically slow it has changed from the 11th century when it was still Burma's prosperous capital till the very now. For anyone who is curious enough, let's start an exciting expedition to uncover all the mysteries. Our first selected stop will be Ananda Temple, best known as the most beautiful temple in Bagan with elegant and symmetrical structure in the picturesque white-turn-grey color just like its name sounds. It is largely said that this is one of the very first temples in Myanmar that influenced the shape of many other temples in Myanmar because of its successfully beautiful architecture. 

After lunch and a short break, we continue to visit Bagan House of lacquerware to have an interesting look upon how finest arts and various products are made from raw materials of bamboo, eggshell, etc. 

Afterward, more temple visitations are waiting as we take you to Gubyaukgyi Temple, also known as “cave temple” making itself outstanding with Indian-influenced architecture.  To conclude the fascinating first day trip in Bagan in Htilominlo Temple – a majestic 46-meter high temple richly decorated with beautiful wall mural paintings inside dating back from 13th century. When the sun is hiding behind old temples, take your time to relish the best moment of the day while temple bells are gonged from nowhere.             

Myanmar Highlights 8 Day Tour Optional activities: USD12/PAX FOR SUNSET CRUISE

When the dusk is coming, if you wish, we will transfer to river jetty and join a private riverboat for a spectacular sunset moment over the gentle-flowing Irrawaddy River. This is such an ideal way for you to relax and chill out after a strenuous but well-earned day of traveling around Bagan. Stretching out in the sun chair, looking over the sky dotted by a small group of cranes flying home after before the dark or viewing over the water on which appears some bamboo rafts of fisherman trying to catch last luck of the day are all simple lovely things for the best end.  

Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Bagan.

After early breakfast, our guide and driver will pick you up and we will soon start a joyful exploration around Bagan. The early morning is the best time to visit the market, we will head to Nyaung Oo Market and witness how local residents trade-off foods, clothes and other necessities for their daily livings. After a round trip through the colorful market, we move to Old Bagan and commence the journey to series of major religious sites with the first stop at Shwezigon Pagoda – one of the oldest and the most impressive golden pagoda in Bagan built by the founder of Bagan Empire. 

We continue to pass through dusty roads under shady trees among a sheer number of the small less known temples. Are you ready to walk? We are going to visit a small village on foot. Walk in a quiet village and feel the simple way local life is going and see how Bagan farmers live in harmony among thousands of ruined monuments. If times permits, when lunch time is coming, drop by Shwe In Bin Monastery to witness long lines of a thousand monks humbly waiting for lunch at the end of their daily almsgiving ceremony. That will be very interesting time and you will know more about the religious ritual activities. 

In the afternoon, let your journey on a horse cart – an old way to travel through in ancient time. We will pass by the tallest temple in Bagan named Thatbyinnyu and the largest temple Dhammayangyi in shape of Egypt pyramid to explore the art of construction from the very old days before. Lately, stop and savor a breath-taking sunset from the upper terrace of the elegant multi-storey  Sulamani Temple.

Myanmar Highlights 8 Day Tour Optional activities: HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE OVER BAGAN– USD285/PAX FOR STANDARD SERVICE; USD330/PAX FOR PREMIUM SERVICE

Start off your morning with a fantastic hot air balloon flight over the vast plain of Bagan. From there, that will be a great chance to witness such once-in-a-lifetime scene when the sun is on his way rising behind a jungle of red- brick ruined monuments and waking up the whole land with its glorious sunshine. (Only available from October/November through March).

Takes a short flight to Mandalay in the morning. Landing the new destination, our guide and driver have been waiting up to pick you out to join another adventure through the second largest city of Myanmar. If Bagan is well-known as a majestic ancient city, Mandalay is rather like a cultural library of Myanmar which houses hundreds of monastic schools, famous marionette theaters along with countless significant historic documents that could be seen in various kinds of representation. After about 1 hour drive, we reach the foot of Sagaing Hill in which lied hundreds of pagodas and monasteries overlooking the mighty Irrawaddy river. As we drive up to the hilltop, visit U Min Thone Pagoda, also known as Thirty-cave pagoda. The place offers such a wonderful photo opportunity with its 45 beautiful Buddha statues shining by sneaking sunlights through 30 entrance caves. Taking some further step upstair to discover Swan OoPonNya Shin Pagoda located right in the center top of the green hill. It is the oldest and the most important pagoda over Sagaing Hill dating back from the 12th century. After having the full spirit of the places, we drive down and visit a less-visited local market in the hill foot before turning to a nearby small pottery village where people still apply traditional manufactures to make out simple necessary products from clay and water.

Next agenda, we will move to Ava – a little antique town in which all sightseeing should be done by a local transportation named horse cart. Firstly we drop by Bagaya Monastery, a teakwood masterpiece featured by eight stairways made up of bricks. Don’t miss out the Nanmyint Watch Tower if you wish to grasp a panoramic view of the whole picturesque village into your eyes and camera set. We then head over to Amarapura, the city of immortality as many said, and discover its all highlights including Mahagandayon Monastery, where roughly a thousand monks live and learn religious lessons day by day. Follow the way out then to the iconic U Bein bridge, renowned as the oldest teakwood bridge in the world crossing the peaceful Taungthaman Lake. The bridge is not only one of the best symbols of Mandalay but also beloved photo stop for many photographers. Enjoy your very last time of the afternoon on the bridge, watching the life goes by and let your soul blowing with the wind under the beautiful sun setting down. 

Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Mandalay.

After breakfast, we head for Mandalay Jetty and board in a private boat for a scenic sailing upstream the Irrawaddy River to Mingun, a west bank town village located 11 km from Mandalay. Landing the town after roughly one hour boating, we start visiting Mingun Pahtodawgyi, a massive unfinished pagoda which was meant to be the world’s largest pagoda in the world (at the expected height of 150 meters), but soon left as abandoned ruins on the western banks of the Irrawaddy because the King finally found no way to complete this big dream. Even though it was never completed, the remains are still impressive enough with an awe-inspiring structure made from the biggest pile of brick in the world featuring natural cracks from the severe 1838 earthquake. Don’t miss out the chance to see the largest uncracked bell nearby which is also the pride of place. Overlooking from the top of Mingun Pagoda is Hsinbyume Pagoda, an elegant white-washed monument representing the sacred Mount Meru in Buddhism. This is also an incredible stop for stunning photos.

If time permits, before returning Mandalay, we will stay in the quiet Mingun for a bit longer walking further to visit small villages nearby and interact with some honest and friendly locals.

Getting back to Mandalay in the afternoon, we will climb up Mandalay Hill, a windy hill at the height of 240 meters above the city flat land. First, we enter to visit Kyauktawgyi Pagoda and discover the largest marble Buddha statue inside. Outside of the pagoda offering a big veranda with a wonderful chance to capture a whole panoramic view of Mandalay City into your eyesight. From the top of the hill, you can see not only the winding Irrawaddy, Royal Palace but also the lofty Shan Mountain ranges embracing the city to the east. Downing the hill, we continue to discover Kuthodaw Pagoda, a special place proudly called “The World’s Biggest Book” consisting of 729 white shrines each housing inscribed marble slabs of a Buddha teaching. Lately, we drive to Shwenandaw Monastery with impressive structure out of marvelous woodcarvings. Meditate over the sunset before heading back to your hotel for a relaxed evening the. 

Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Mandalay.

Say goodbye to Mandalay in the morning we head to Mandalay airport for a short flight to Heho, a popular gateway to access Inle Lake. Upon arrival, you will be greeted and escorted to NyaungShwe Jetty Village by our guide and driver. En-route pay a short visit to Shan paper and umbrella making the workshop and witness skillfully interesting method locals use to produce unique Shan paper out of the mulberry trees, fresh flowers, and leaves. Another good place to stop between Heho and Inle Lake is Shweyanpyay Teak Monastery with an interesting architectural structure to explore. Like no other monastery in Myanmar, it rather looks like a wooden stilt house with uncommon big oval-shape windows providing a great photo opportunity for any passionate travelers and photographers.

Presenting in Nyaung Shwe Jetty, we embark on a private motorboat to start to explore the amazing life and sceneries around the beautiful Inle Lake. On the serene water is a vibrant world including floating garden, markets, fishing canoes and villages inhabited by Intha peoples. Along the way, our guide will give you an interesting explanation of how creative local people are to cultivate such lush and greenery garden upon the water with a just thin layer of earth and bamboo pole. When it comes to dusk, on the way back to your hotel, have a memorable sunset over the peaceful lake with the iconic image of leg-rowing fishermen using their leg to control the boat and catch last fishes for a coming dinner.

Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

After a healthy breakfast, you will be transferred to visit a morning local market (close on the dark moon and full moon days). As the market will take place in a selected lakeside village in every 5 days, it is also popularly called 5-day market which is the biggest and the most expected event for all villagers and mountain hill tribe people living around the lake. This is a good chance for you to meet up indigenous minorities gathering and trading off everything from tofu, betel nuts, herbal to jewelry.

Continue our river journey to Indein Village, a western shore village of Inle Lake and homeland of Pa-Oh ethnic people. Visit the village for a while before strolling up the hill to discover the most amazing part of Indein named Shwe Indein Pagoda which is placed in between of 1054 stupas. The whole compound really looks like a jungle or a maze that you need a guide to find the way in. Some stupas are as old as 2000 years that still survive in odd but anciently beautiful look with maybe small trees growing out the cracks. Make sure you have your camera on and capture all great legacies the place has to offer. Leaving the pagoda, making your way through a bamboo forest to reach Sae Ma Village. We will take a soft walk around the village, get a closer look to local daily life, chat and laugh with genuine people who are more than open to share their ups and downs as well as how they find happiness in the hardship life. On the way back to your hotel, if time permits, drop by Inthar Heritage House, a hub full of authentic cultural and historical documents about the lake community over time. Take your time for further cultural exploration before closing the fruitful day trip. Have a relaxed evening then at your hotel.  

Lunch and dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

Myanmar Highlights 8 Day Tour will end today. You will have free time until check out your hotel, transfer to Heho Airport (roughly 1-hour boating and driving) with drop-off guide for a return flight back to Yangon. Reunite our Yangon team upon arrival before finding your way to connect departure flight home. For those who have less time for your trip you can choose another tour - Myanmar Express Tour 6 Day.