ROMANTIC JOURNEY IN MYANMAR

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   ARRIVE IN YANGON – CITY VISIT IN THE AFTERNOON Upon arriva...
   ARRIVE IN YANGON – CITY VISIT IN THE AFTERNOON Upon arrival, you'll greet by your guide who will accompany and transfer you to your hotel. (Early check-in subjected to room availability) Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.   On the way, we’ll visit Kaba Aye Pagoda (World Peace Pagoda) built for memorial of the 1954-56 sixth Buddhist Synod, is located on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road, Mayangon Township. And then proceed to Mahapasana Guha: "Great Cave", built close to the Kaba Aye Pagoda.  From Here, end your day at Shwedagon Pagoda which is one of the wonders of the world. It was built 2500 years ago and enshrined with hair relics of Buddha and a place where to meet devoted Buddhists meditating and praying. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.  Overnight in Yangon.  
2. Day 02

   YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN – TEMPLES VISIT (B)
   This morning, you'll transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan (NyaungOo). Bagan, located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.  On arrival, your journey begins with a visit an elevated temple from where you will have a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan. Continue with a visit to the golden Shwezigon Pagoda,first and prototype monument, which was built in Myanmar style in 1087. Then, visit to Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple @ Wetkyi-Inn Village which is well-known for its exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.  This afternoon begin with a visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop where you can observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed.                                               From here, you will visit to Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples. Overnight in Bagan.   
3. Day 03

   BAGAN – MT. POPA – SALAY – BAGAN (B)
   OPTION: Balloons OverBagan - Start your morning with an incredible hot-air balloon flight over Bagan’s temple-studded plains. This is a truly unforgettable and unique experience. (Note: available only from late- October to late-March; all flights weather permitting) [Supplement]          After breakfast, we’ll take a break from temple touring in Bagan to visit Mount Popa and Salay. Start with a drive to Chauk to visit the fabulous morning market, filled with locals buying and selling their goods. Continue on to the village of Salay, an important Buddhist centre, and visit its famed wooden monastery with intricate carvings. (Note: Salay monastery museum closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and public holidays) This afternoon we’ll arrive at Mt Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. (Climb is optional!) In the late afternoon, we’ll drive back to Bagan and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Bagan.   
4. Day 04

   BAGAN – FLY TO MANDALAY – CITY TOUR – AMARAPURA (B)
   This morning fly north to Mandalay. Mandalay is Myanmar's cultural capital. The nature focus of the city is an abrupt hill, rising above a vast moated and walled square.  On arrival, we’ll drive to Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. First visit a silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products and then visit Mahagandayon monastery, when over one-thousand monks reside.  In the afternoon, we'll first visit to Mahamuni Pogoda, 13ft-high sated Buddha image which is one of Myanmar's most famous. Continue your tour of Mandalay with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving.  Head to the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.  Overnight in Mandalay.  
5. Day 05

   MANDALAY – SAGAING – INWA (AVA)
   – MANDALAY (B)After breakfast, we'll  drive to Ava which is one of the ancient cities and a remarkably rural backwater of empty fields sparsely dotted with widely spaced ruins, monastic buildings and stupas. Explore Ava by plodding horse cart to visit BagayaKyaung (a wonderful teak monastery), MahaAungmyeBonzan monastery (built of stucco-covered brick, royal monastery temple) and Nanmyin (a leaning watchtower of Ava)  Return to dry land by boat and take a drive to Sagaing by crossing a bridge over the Irrawaddy River. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing. Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar.  It is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers and you will visit pagodas such as Swan OoPon Nya Shin and U Min ThoneSae. We’ll also visit Sagaing’s local market, a typical Burmese market that few tourists visit. Here you will find a range of items for sale includinglocally made pottery, silver and other handicrafts. We will also stop at a small pottery village to see the process of making the ubiquitous water pots found throughout Myanmar. After touring this tranquil site, continue to U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest and 200 year-old teak bridge. Enjoy a stroll along the bridge and the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.  Overnight in Mandalay.
6. Day 06

   MANDALAY – MINGUN – MANDALAY (B)
   Today we'll explore the historic sites around Mandalay. Visiting to iconic attractions include Mingun's gigantic stupa stub. This morning we'll take a short river journey to visit Mingun Pagoda. Then, continue your visit to the world's largest uncracked bell called Mingun Bell. Across the road, you can visit a Buddish nursing home for family-less elderly folk which is always glad of donations. (donation is own account). Mingun’s other highlight is the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a white-washed temple built to resemble Mount Meru. Throughout Mingun there are small neighborhoods crafting traditional basketry and other artistic items and there is plenty of time to stop and interact with the craftsmen and friendly locals. Return by boat late this afternoon, as the sun begins to set. From the jetty transfer back to your hotel. Overnight at hotel in Mandalay. 
7. Day 07

   MANDALAY – FLY TO HEHO – PINDAYA – INLE LAKE (B)
   After breakfast, transfer to Mandalay Airport for a flight to Heho.  From Heho, we'll take 2.5 hour drive to Pindaya. Along the way, you'll pass patchwork of fields and hedges, buffalo carts and group of toiling farmers in black Danu tunics and checked Pa-O headcarves. When in Pindaya, we'll first visit to famous Shwe Oo Min Natural Cave Pagoda, a massive limestone cavern filled with thousands of gilded Buddha statues. Afterwards, we'll head to the north to visit Kan Tau monastery, a fine teak monastery, with a large collection of antique Buddha images on ornate plinths. Then, continue your tour with a visit to workshop which produce umbrellas and souvenirs made with Shan recycle papers. From Pindaya, a scenic drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which is an elegant ancient monastery with its oval-shaped windows. Stay overnight at hotel in Inle Lake.   
8. Day 08

   INLE LAKE SIGHTSEEING (B)
   After breakfast, you will board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, famous for the 800 years old Five Buddha statues which are covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.  Overnight on Inle Lake.
9. Day 09

   INLE LAKE - INDEIN VISIT (B)
   After breakfast, visit the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. (Note: market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon day).  From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to Indein populated by ethnic Padaung (“long neck women”). You’ll walk on a covered alley lined on both sides with a thousand pagodas. Continue on foot by a long covered staircase to discover the magnificent complex of Alaung Sithu in a beautiful scenery of ancient stupas buried in vegetation with a panoramic view of the lake.  This afternoon is your leisure at hotel. Overnight on Inle Lake.  
10. Day 10

    INLE LAKE – HEHO – FLY TO YANGON – SHOPPING (B)
    After breakfast, drive to the Heho Airport for the flight to Yangon and upon arrival, we'll take a tour around the city center which is filled various historical and colonial buildings partly by car or partly on foot. We’ll first visit to Sule Pagoda which is a 2200-year-old temple surrounded by government buildings and commercial shop. Then, you'll pass along the way to Mahabandoola Park where Independent Monument exists. Continue your tour by passing City Hall, a little india and a little china. Continue to Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, where you can browse through the wide selection of Myanmar handicrafts and other goods (Note: closed on Mondays and public holidays).  We'll visit Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, one of Myanmar's more beautiful reclining buddhas which is topped by a crown encrusted with diamonds and other precious stones. The feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray.  In the evening, visit “Garden City of East” is to take your pictures at tranquil Kandawgyi Lake and the Karaweik Hall – a royal floating barge. Overnight in Yangon.  
11. Day 11

    YANGON DEPARTURE (B)
    Today is your leisure at hotel before transfer to airport for your departure flight. End of Services!

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