Splendid Myanmar

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   ARRIVAL IN YANGON – CITY TOUR (D)
   Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival, we'll be welcomed by a professional guide of Threeland and transferred to the hotel. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a charming and impressive city, with both new and ancient heritages in a growing, fascinating atmosphere that symbolized to Southeast Asia, yet too well preserved. This afternoon we'll visit Sule, a 2,200-year-old Theravada Buddhist temple surrounded by local buildings rom the British colonial time. Walk from here to Mahabandoola Park and visit the Independent Monument en route, then take our car to pass the City Hall, little India and little China towns, stop for a quick look at the historic Strand hotel opposite Yangon Jetty, then go on to and intermingle with the hardwork but hospitable locals at the Fruits market nearby. Back to Bogyoke Market (closed on Mondays), the best market in town, to browse thru various selections of Myanmar crafts for your own choice in spare time. Our tour will end upon the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the religious wonders of Buddhism worldwide, biggest temple in Yangon, which just celebrated its 2,600 years, a place where we meet devoted Buddhists in meditating, praying and having volunteers' works at any time of the day. Dinner and overnight in Yangon.
2. Day 02

   YANGON – FLY TO BAGAN – TEMPLES VISIT (B)
   After breakfast and checkout, we'll be transferred to the airport for flying to Bagan. Located on the bank of  Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, Bagan is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world. Upon arrival, our local guide and driver will take us to an elevated temple for a panoramic view of Balan vast plains. Continue to visit numerous temples and shrines in the area, including Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple at Wetkyi-Inn Village which is well-known for its exquisite Jataka mural paintings, the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. Checkin hotel. This afternoon, we'll continue to visit the area, including Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece, one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built with the early Mon-style, Ananda contains unique Buddha images, whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance and directions of the viewers. From here, we visit to Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, and the massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple. End our day with an unforgettable sunset view from one of the temples. Overnight in Bagan.  Please note! Program should be flexible up to the tourguide recommendations for the best view for the sunrise, sunset or visits. 
3. Day 03

   BAGAN – MT. POPA – SALAY - BAGAN (B)
   After breakfast, we will head to the morning market at Chauk, filled with the locals in their daily purchasing activities but also a lovely place for chatting and meetings. Go on to the village of Salay, an important Buddhist centre with a big, incredible wooden monastery with intricate carvings, but furthermore the village and strange statues symbolised to balance near the monastery will really, somehow, will help us find our real balance. Afterwards, drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing on 1518m high, which plays an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since its establishment not only for religious reasons but the magnificent, strange design on the hilltop. The shrine  hereby is dedicated to worshipping 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. From the top of Mt. Popa, a great panorama at sunset can keep us much longer than expected. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Overnight in Bagan. Notes: Salay monastery will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holiday for visitors. Visit to surrounding villages and markets will be recommended instead. 
4. Day 04

   BAGAN – FLY TO HEHO – INLE LAKE (B)
   After breakfast, transfer to the airport for morning flight to Heho. Welcomed by our tourguide here and be transferred about one hour to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Stop en route at the wooden, ancient Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, with elegant oval-shaped windows and friendly talks with the monks and novices hereby, if time available. Upon arrival in Nyaung Shwe, we will visit the colorful market hereby if it is held on this day, or walk around the village to enjoy great rural view before reaching the edge of Inle Lake. Board our motorboat here and pass or stop to visit villages built on stilts upon the waves, observing strange style of leg-rowing fishermen, who make the Lake become famous for quite long time. When passing by floating gardens, the tourguide and local people will let us know about the most organic ways used here to grow vegetables, and their seasons or relevant interesting factors about agriculture of Myanmar. Stopover at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, wellknown for the 800 years old five Buddha statues, which are covered in gold leafs. Go on by our motorboat to enjoy the beauty of the lake and explore the local crafts, from weaving village of Inpawkhone to blacksmith workshop, or a cheroot factory, where 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. Checkin hotel. Overnight at Nyaung Shwe or a hotel resort on the Lake. 
5. Day 05

   INLE LAKE – INDEIN VISIT (B)
   After breakfast, we'll visit the lake’s morning market, which rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5-day rhythm and is participated by the lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribal people, who come for trading and local cultural exchanging. (Please note that the market is daily, except dark moon and full moon days). From the center of the lake, go downsouth by our motorboat to a small canal leading to Indein populated by ethnic Padaung - the tribe of long-neck women with strange customes. Walk up a shadowy alley, lined on both sides with a thousand small shrines here and continue on foot by a long-covered staircase to discover the magnificent complex of Alaung Sithu, situated in a beautiful area of ancient stupas buried in vegetation and great view of the lake. Return to the hotel for leisure in the rest of the day. Overnight at hotel. 
6. Day 06

   INLE LAKE – HEHO – FLY TO MANDALAY – MANDALAY VISIT (B)
   After breakfast and checkout, we will be transferred to the airport for flying to Mandalay, a cultural capital of Myanmar. The natural focus of the city is an abrupt but grand hill, rising above a vast moated and walled square. Upon arrival, picked up by our local guide and transferred to hotel. This afternoon we'll visit Mahamuni Paya pagoda, where a 13ft-high seating Buddha covered in gold leafs attracts not only pilgrims but numerous visitors, as one of Myanmar's most famous statues. Go on to Kuthodaw, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned the title as the "World’s Biggest Book". Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace, a grand teakwood building, known for exquisite woodcarving. Head to the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy magnificent view of the city and Irrawaddy River. Overnight in Mandalay.
7. Day 07

   MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – AVA – SAGAING - U-BEIN BRIDGE (B)
   After breakfast, we'll visit Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. First, visit Mahagandayon monastery, when over one-thousand monks reside, and visit a silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products. Continue our drive to Ava, one of ancient cities and a remarkably rural backwater of empty fields, dotted with widely spaced ruins, monastic buildings and stupas. Explore Ava by deliberate horsecarts to visit Bagaya Kyaung, a wonderful teakwood monastery, Maha AungmyeBonzan monastery that built of stucco-covered brick, and Nanmyin, a leaning watchtower of Ava. This afternoon, drive to Sagaing Hill by crossing a bridge over Irrawaddy River. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing, making this area regarded as a remarkable religious center of Myanmar. This is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers, and we'll visit pagodas such as Swan Oo, Pon Nya Shin and U Min ThoneSae. Continue to visit Sagaing’s local market, a typical Burmese market that not many tourists pay a visit. Here we can find a range of good items, including locally made pottery, silver and other handicrafts. Stop at a small pottery village to see the process of making ubiquitous water pots for any visitors, that found throughout Myanmar. After touring this tranquil site, return to Mandalay with stop at U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest, graceful 200 year-old teakwood construction. Enjoy a stroll along the bridge to the other side with fabulous view of the surrounding farms and streams, especially at the sunset. Drive back to Mandalay and relax for the rest of the day. Overnight in Mandalay.  
8. Day 08

   MANDALAY – DEPARTURE (B)
   After breakfast, at leisure until checkout hotel (appx. 12.00 as the latest) and transfer to the airport for departure flight. End of services.

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