* Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Visit Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Myanmar's most sacred places
Once you arrive, Indochina Today Travel's tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. We’ll take you to your hotel and then you can relax for the rest of day. If you arrived by mid-day flight, we’ll take you for lunch. Afterwards, we’ll stroll through "downtown" Yangon, where a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture and high-rise buildings in addition to Sule Pagoda, built in 300 AD. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Myanmar's most sacred places. The massive bell-shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz . Overnight at the Hotel.
Meal: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon - Heho - Inle Lake
After breakfast we’ll fly to Heho on the Shan plateau and then drive to Inle Lake before taking a long tail boat across the lake to the hotel. In the afternoon, we’ll visit villages while discovering an array of traditional handicrafts. Discover the unique method locals use to row their boats, floating farms, gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will also visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda, which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 3: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival
This is the highlight of the trip: The Phaung Daw Oo pagoda festival. Buddha Images from Phaung-daw-oo Pagoda are carried on a royal barge around 14 villages on the Lake. There are dance shows and fun-fairs. But the most interesting event of the festival, especially for foreigners, is the boat race - due to their unique leg rowing. Spend the rest of the day exploring the Inle Lake area by boat. Spend the night in a hotel on Inle Lake.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 4: Inle Lake – Mandalay
This day 4 of the tour, after breakfast, we’ll return to the airport at Heho and fly to Mandalay. We’ll take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay, which includes Mahanumi, a life-like Buddha image. We’ll visit a gold-leaf making workshop and then continue to the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as home to the world's largest book and then Golden Palace Monastery before enjoying the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 5: Mandalay - Mingun – Mandalay
Morning, Take a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. Visit the dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world. Next is the amazing Myatheintan Pagoda. We’ll return to Mandalay. Next is a sightseeing tour of Mandalay, which includes Mahanumi, a life-like Buddha image. We’ll visit a gold-leaf making workshop and then continue to the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as home to the world's largest book and then Golden Palace Monastery before enjoying the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Day 6: Mandalay – Bagan
In the morning, we’ll catch an early morning flight to Bagan. We’ll then check into the hotel before going on a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. Our tour of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple and Htilominlo Temple. We’ll visit lacquer-ware workshops in the afternoon and then continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi-colour mural paintings. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Day 7: Bagan – Yangon
Watch the sunrise over Bagan before breakfast. Then we’ll head to Mt. Popa, known as the abode of Nats (spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits. Next is Popa Mountain Resort for our lunch. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the Popa summit. After lunch, we’ll return to Bagan. On the way back, we’ll stop at a village cottage industry to learn about local products as well as to watch locals collect juice from the palm trees and turn it into sugar. Check in at Nyaung U airport and fly back to Yangon. Arrive at Yangon and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 8: Departure Yangon
After shopping or some final sightseeing we’ll transfer to the airport for your departure.
Finish trip and see you next time with Indochina Today Travel!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: None