Shwedagon Pagoda

After breakfast we start our tour in Myanmar with the most important attractions in Yangon. 

Visit the 3rd-century Sule Pagoda, now part of the city’s economy, the City Hall, the High court, the St. Immanuel Baptist Church, and the Independence Monument at Mahabandoola Park.

We continue with a scenic walk among the magnificent colonial buildings and the new skyscrapers, a symbol of the recent economic progress of the country. Afterwards we continue to Merchant Street visit the Armenian Church and the St. John Baptist Church.

We visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market, or “Scott Market” one of the largest bazaars in Yangon, where over 2000 traders sell souvenirs, clothing, precious stones and traditional handicrafts. 

In the afternoon we visit the Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha Temple, known for its 72 meters long reclining Buddha statue, one of the largest in Myanmar. 

The day ends with the visit to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred in Myanmar. The massive bell of the stupa is gold-plated while the very top is tipped with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topazes. An absolute must-see and the best spot to start the journey in Myanmar. 

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation 

Trekking

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Loikaw. 

On arrival, car transfer to the starting point of the trek. During today’s hike (about 3-4 hours) we visit some local villages.

Upon arrival at Pan Pet village, we enjoy a traditional Kayan State lunch.

In the afternoon we continue our visits to the surrounding villages before returning to Loikaw for an overnight stay.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, lunch, tour guide, domestic flight and private transportation 

After breakfast we start our bike ride to Ta Aung Pyay cave (about 40 minutes).

Afterwards, we continue to the villages of Daw Saw Bee, PaO, Kayah and the Ghost Cave. 

Return to Loikaw after lunch.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide and bicycle

Sakar Temple Complex

We reach Phekkon by car in the morning and continue by private boat on Inle Lake. 

During the transfer we visit Sakar, or Sawbwa, the thriving 15th century town on the southern side of the lake. Today it appears to us as a quiet and charming village with ancient monasteries and pagodas that retain the yesteryear charm. 

Afterwards transfer to the hotel in Nyaung Shwe on Inle Lake.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets, private transportation

Indein Temple Complex

After breakfast, canoe trip to Inle Lake to visit the ethnic and craft villages: an exciting experience to see up close the iconic ‘one-legged paddling‘ fishermen and villages including Heya Ywama (Pataung ethnic village) known for its ‘long-necked’ inhabitants.

We visit the Phaung Daw U Pagoda which houses the 5 most venerated Buddha images in the Shan state, and the weaving and cigar-making workshops. Afterwards we visit the Inn Paw Khone village and the Khit Sunn Yin Lotus centre to observe the traditional style of silk weaving.

In the afternoon we continue the boat excursion on the south side of the lake to Indein, the village known for the incredible and impressive Shwe Indein Temple Complex which houses hundreds of ancient Buddhist pagodas dating back to the 14th-18th centuries, now half hidden by the lush vegetation.

At the end we visit the gardens and floating islands to learn about this unique system of cultivation on water.

Sailing towards the centre of the lake we end the day with a magical sunset over Inle Lake.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets, private transportation 

Kakku Complex

After breakfast transfer to Taunggyi (approx. 2h30′) to visit the Kakku archaeological site, one of the largest in Asia, with over 2400 stupas built over many centuries.

Legend has it that the site was built in the 12th century during the reign of King Alaungsithu, while some researchers, despite the absence of written records, date the primary buildings to between the 16th and 18th centuries. However, some structures are certainly much older.

On the way, visit the Htan Pya Ya Village.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation

Young monk at the monastery

After breakfast, boat transfer to Indein to start our trek towards the villages of Tha Pyay Pin, Than Taung and Taungkyar.

We reach Nguh village. Depending on availability we spend the night either in a local house or in a Buddhist monastery.

The hike takes about 4 hours including several stops along the way.

Included : Local house/Monastery, breakfast, lunch, dinner, trekking permit, tour guide and private transportation 

After breakfast we continue the hike to the villages of Kyauk Su, Htee Tain and Pat You Pauk, in the latter we stop for lunch. 

We visit the villages of Khon Hla, Baw and Kae Nang Aww in the afternoon. 

We end the hike at Lamine village and we get back to Kalaw to spend the night. 

The hike takes about 7-8 hours including several stops along the way.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, lunch, trekking permit, tour guide and private transportation 

Keng Tung

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Keng Tung, in the heart of the Gloden Triangle, located in a valley of the mountainous area between the Mekong and Salween River, a few dozen kilometres from the Chinese and Thai borders. 

Upon arrival, we visit the main surrounding highlights such as the Standing Buddha Image, the Long Hill Tree a 250-year-old tree, the Zawmmoon Matyan Monastery, Naung Tong Lake, the craft workshop of lacquers, the Wat Zom Kham Pagoda and the beautiful Watin Monastery.

Nearby, the remains of the ancient wall, the old city gate Pa Len and some colonial buildings are still visible.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets, domestic flight and private transportation

After breakfast, we start the trek to get to Loi Mwe, known also as “Misty Mountain”, an old hill station during the British colony located on a plateau at an altitude of 1600 meters about 30 km from Keng Tung. This place is particularly welcoming due to the pleasant temperate climate.

While hiking we have the chance to admire the marvellous scenery, the terraced rice fileds and several decaying buildings that take us back to the colonial period. We also meet ethnic minorities such as Akha Shan, Lahu and Wa.

The hike takes about 2-3 hours including several stops along the way.

Return to the hotel in Keng Tung to spend the night.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, lunch, trekking permit, tour guide and private transportation 

After breakfast we carry on hiking to Pin Tauk, a popular trekking area in the Keng Tung province.

It is a gentle trek, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the local community of these remote areas and meet the tribes of Akha, Ann (at Pan Lea villages) and Lahu.

Once finished, we return to the hotel in Keng Tung for an overnight stay. Along the way we visit a workshop known for making rice wine.

The hike takes about 3-4 hours with several stops in between. 

Included : Hotel, breakfast, lunch, trekking permit, tour guide and private transportation 

After breakfast we drive to Kar Bar Aye to visit some tribal villages.

Following this, transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Mandalay, the ancient capital of Myanmar, the best place to appreciate the Burmese art and traditions.

We visit the Ku-Tho-Daw Pagoda – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – containing the world’s largest book in the form of 729 marble slabs on which are inscribed the Buddhist scriptures. We then visit the Shwe Nandaw Monastery or “Golden Palace Monastery” known for its teak carvings

The day ends with an exciting sunset from Mandalay Hill.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation 

U Bein bridge

In the morning transfer to Amarapura, the ‘city of immortality’, twice capital of Myanmar in the 18th and 19th centuries, known today for its fine silk and cotton production. 

Visit Mahar Gandar Yon Monastery to deepen your understanding of the Buddhist religion and learn about the daily life of the monks. 

Crossing a tributary of the river by ferry, we reach Ava (Inwa) and we get on a horse-drawn cart to visit he 27 mt high Inwa Watch Tower, Nan Myint, Me Nu Oak Kaung known as the Maha Aung Myay Bonzan Brick Monastery, as well as Bagaya Monastery, built with 276 teak wood columns, and Yandanar Semi Pagoda Complex.

In the afternoon we visit Sagaing Hill, home to over 700 monasteries. We continue to the Kaung Mu Daw Pagoda, and to the U Minh Tone See Caves, home to numerous images of Buddha.

We end the day with a memorable sunset at the famous U-Bein Bridge over Lake Taungtaman. Built in 1850, its remarkable length of 1200 metres makes it the longest wooden bridge in the world. 

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation

Htilo Minlo – Bagan

Early morning transfer to the airport for the domestic flight to Bagan, the ancient capital Arimaddanapura of the Pagan Kingdom between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Bagan was for many decades the centre of religious studies since the time of the Khmer Kingdom. Of the estimated 10,000 temples constructed, the remains of about 2,200 temples have survived over 700 years of history.

We visit the colourful and crowded local market: a unique opportunity to see the local folklore and to learn about the Burmese daily lifestyle. We carry on with the visit to the Shwezigon Pagoda, a prototype of the stupas later built in Myanmar, to get an insight into the rich historical heritage of Bagan’s archaeological complex.

Afterwards we visit the Wetkyi-In Gu-Byauk-Gyi temple, known for its wall paintings telling the story of the Jataka (previous births of Buddha), then on to the two-storey temple Htilo-Minlo, known for its plaster sculptures.

After lunch we continue to the Ananda temple, one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of Bagan, built in the early Mon-Myanmar style. 

Next, we go to the That-Byin-Nyu temple built in the 12th century and the tallest in Bagan, then to the Dhamma Yangy temple known for its unique brick construction and to the Gawdawpalin temple. 

We end the day with a romantic sunset from Nyaung The het Hill.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation

Lady at Minnanthu village

After breakfast we head to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of the few places where you can observe the picking and processing of cotton.

Next, we continue to the Laymyathnar monastic complex, the Phaya Thone Tzu temple and the Nandamannya temple, the latter being particularly famous for its mural depicting ‘The Temptation of Mara’ dating from the 13th century.

In the afternoon we visit Myinkabar village to observe the traditional production of the Burmese lacquer. We proceed to Manuha Temple, Nan-Paya Temple and Gu-Byauk-Kyi (Myinkaba) Temple, known for its Jataka murals depicting the previous lives of Buddha.

Afterwards transfer to airport in time for the domestic flight to Yangon.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets and private transportation  

Circular train Yangon

We end our Myanmar trip with a panoramic view of Yangon aboard the famous ‘circular train‘, the 50-kilometre-long railway line built during the British colonial period that runs round the city’s metropolitan area following a circular route with 39 stops.

This low-cost transportation is widely used by commuters and locals alike and offers us an accurate insight into the everyday life of Yangon.

Afterwards we visit the Kalaywa Tawya Monastery and the Kaba Aye Pagoda, built in preparation for the sixth Buddhist council.

We end the day at Kandawgyi Park where we enjoy the beautiful view of the Karaweik Barge, the sumptuous palace built in the 1970s on a royal barge, and the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Transfer to the airport in time for your departure flight.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, tour guide, tickets, private transportation