Myanmar at a glance

Upon arrival, pick up by our tour guide and transfer to the hotel in the city centre. 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.  Standard check in time is 14h00, early check in upon availability. This afternoon, we transfer to visit Sule Pagoda, a 2200-year-old temple surrounded by government buildings and commercial shop. Walk from here to Mahabandoola Park and visit the Independent Monument. Continue our tour by car, passing City Hall, little india and little china, Strand road and Yangon Jetty. End our tour today at Shwedagon Pagoda, 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.

After breakfast and check out hotel, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan. 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, pick up by our local guide at the airport and transfer to an elevated temple for a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan. Continue to visit the golden Shwezigon Pagoda, first and prototype monument, which was built in Myanmar style in 1087. We then visit to Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple at 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. Transfer to check in hotel and avoid the midday heat. This afternoon, we visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop where we 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, we visit to Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, and the massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple. End the day with an unforgettable sunset view over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples. Overnight in Bagan. 

After breakfast and check out hotel, we transfer to the airport for the flight to Heho. On arrival, pick up by our guide then from Heho, a scenic one-hour drive leads us 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. We will also stop in Nyaung Shwe for a short walk around town and visit to the colorful market if it is being held that day. Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, 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 at a hotel on Inle Lake. 

After breakfast and check out hotel, we transfer to the airport for the flight 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, pick up by our local tour guide and transfer to check in hotel. This afternoon, we visit to Mahamuni Pogada, 13ft-high sated Buddha image which is one of Myanmar's most famous. We then visit 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.

After breakfast, at leisure until check out hotel and transfer to the airport for the departure flight. Standard hotel check-out time is 12h00 (late check out upon availability).