Wa Ale Island

After breakfast transfer to the airport in time for the domestic flight to Kawthaung in southern Myanmar. 

On arrival we head to the port and embark on the speedboat to Wa Ale Island in Lampi Marine National Park (approx. 2h), Myanmar’s only national marine park which includes 20 of the 800 islands of the Mergui Archipelago spread along 600 kilometres of coastline overlooking the Andaman Sea.

The Park is home to a wide range of habitats including evergreen forests, mangroves, beaches and dune forests, coral reefs, seaweed and a rich biodiversity of over 1000 recorded species. 

Accommodation at Wa Ale Island Resort, located on Turtle Beach, a protected nesting site for sea turtles that lay their eggs throughout the year.

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

Wa Ale Island

Free day on the island.

Wa Ale Island is perfect for snorkelling to explore the archipelago’s beautiful coral reefs and caves, kayaking through mangrove forests and exploring the incredible marine life.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, dinner 

Moken village on Wa Ale Island

Free day on the island.

On Wa Ale Island you can go jungle trekking to explore the flora and fauna and visit Moken villages to observe traditional fishing and survival methods.

Included : Hotel, breakfast, dinner 

Free day on the island.

Transfer by speedboat to Kawthaung airport for the domestic flight to Yangon.

Included : Hotel, breakfast and domestic flight

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, domestic flight 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 Manuha Temple, Nan-Paya Temple and Gu-Byauk-Kyi (Myinkaba) Temple, known for its Jataka murals depicting the previous lives of Buddha. 

We end the day with a slow cruise on the Irrawaddy River to enjoy the romantic sunset while observing the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples and villages on the shore.

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

Pindaya Mountains

After breakfast transfer by domestic flight to Heho.

Upon arrival we drive to Pindaya (approx. 2h) following a route through the beautiful landscapes of the Shan Mountain range where we can observe the daily lifestyle of the inhabitants.

In the afternoon we visit the impressive Pindaya Caves, known for over 8,000 Buddha images of different sizes in teak wood, marble, alabaster and concrete.

Afterwards we continue to the district known to produce traditional coloured paper umbrellas.

Following this, transfer to Nyaung Shwe on Inle Lake.

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

One leg rower – Inle Lake

In the morning we transfer to Nyaung Shwe pier to board on a private boat and we explore Inle Lake where we find ethnic and handicraft villages: a thrilling experience to see up close the iconic ‘one-legged paddling’ fishermen, farms, floating gardens and the islets in the lake.

We visit the villages of Heya Ywana and Phaung Daw OoPhaya where we meet the ‘long-necked women‘ of the Padaung ethnic group.

We continue to Phaung Daw Oo-Phaya Pagoda, the most sacred in the state Shan, then to the Inpawkhon weaving workshop and to one of the markets on Inle Lake (they change according to the day of the week).

In the afternoon we continue the visit to the southern part of Inle Lake. 

We delve into the narrow canals of the lake, surrounded by a stunning natural environment and we head to the impressive ruins of the Indein Pagoda Complex, the astounding archaeological site housing hundreds of Buddhist Pagodas hidden under vegetation and dating back to the 14th-18th centuries. The main stupa, located on the top of the hill, offers a breath-taking view of the surrounding mountains.

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

U Bein bridge

After breakfast transfer by domestic flight to Mandalay, former capital of Myanmar and the best place to appreciate the Burmese art and traditions.

Upon arrival visit to the 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, as well as Bagaya Monastery, built with 276 teak wood columns.

In the afternoon we visit Sagaing Hill, home to over 700 monasteries, and continue 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. 

Afterwards we proceed to 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, domestic flight and private transportation 

Boat trip to Mingun

In the morning we travel aboard a private boat to Mingun, 12 km from Mandalay.

We visit the Pon Daw Paya, Set Taw Ya Paya, the vaulted shrine housing a sacred footprint of the Buddha, the unfinished Mingun Pa Hto Taw Phaya Pagoda built with bricks, the famous Mingun Bell, weighing a considerable 90 tonnes, is the second largest bell in the world, and the Hsin Byu Me Phaya Pagoda. At the end we return to Mandalay.

In the afternoon visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, a major pilgrimage site, known for its revered images depicting the life of Buddha. 

We continue to 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, and the Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda known for the large statue of Buddha carved in a single block of marble.

The day ends with an exciting sunset from Mandalay Hill.

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

Free time at disposal until the private transfer to the airport in time for the domestic flight to Yangon.

Included : Breakfast, private transportation