Magical Myanmar - 15D/14N

photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist BoardMyanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, is one of the few truly original travel experiences remaining in this much-traveled world. Decades of social and economic isolation have preserved here many of the traditional features, physical and cultural, which have been lost in other Asian countries. Myanmar is a captivating travel destination - for its diversity of sightseeing, for the wealth of cultural and scenic attractions it can offer and, above all, for the warmth and friendliness of its charming people.

YANGON - Capital and main gateway to Myanmar. Perhaps the last remaining authentic example of an Asian tropical city still true to its former colonial origins. Most famous for the unique and glittering Shwedagon Pagoda, but a wealth of other sights await visitors, including diverse temples,

markets, beautiful gardens and lakes as well as impressive colonial-era buildings.

PYIN OO LWIN - A cool hill station, over 1,000 m above sea level, founded during colonial times and a worthwhile 64km side trip from

Mandalay. Here visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery, a cool climate and nostalgic atmosphere of former days with its old buildings and botanical gardens.

MANDALAY - Second largest city and former Royal capital of Myanmar with many historical buildings and interesting sights, temples and pagodas . This is also a center for silk and cotton weaving, marble carving, bronze and silver crafts and kalaga tapestries. Excursions out of Mandalay include the monastery and pagoda covered hills of Sagaing, former ancient capitals of Amarapura and Ava, as well as the scenic trip upriver to Mingun, with its vast unfinished pagoda and world’s largest bronze bell.

photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist BoardIncluded: Accommodation in shared twin rooms or single rooms with daily breakfast. All meals as specified in the program on table d’hôte basis (breakfast only in Yangon, full board in up-country). Entrance fees. Transfers and tours with English speaking local guides or as specified. Transportation by air-conditioned van/minibus/coach Mandalay-Pyin Oo Lwin & Bagan-Kalaw. Boat fare Mandalay-Bagan. 1 Tour leader is free of charge as of a minimum of 15 full paying pax. Service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Not Included: Domestic airfare Yangon-Mandalay and Heho–Yangon (see above, quoted separately). Travel insurance. Lunch and dinner in Yangon. Visa fee for Myanmar. International Airfare. Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc. International airport tax in Yangon (US$10.- per person). Christmas and New Year’s dinner supplement (will be advised at time of booking). Services which are not mentioned above.

Accommodations
YANGON: CHATRIUM HOTEL (FORMERLY NIKKO ROYAL LAKE HOTEL) OR SIMILAR.
PYIN OO LWIN: KANDAWGYI LODGE OR SIMILAR.
MANDALAY: MANDALAY HILL RESORT OR SIMILAR.
BAGAN: MYANMAR TREASURE RESORT OR SIMILAR.
KALAW: PINE HILL RESORT OR SIMILAR.
INLE LAKE: SHWE INN THA RESORT OR SIMILAR.

photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist BoardItinerary

  • DAY 01 YANGON (No meals) - Upon arrival at YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by your Asian Trails guide and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI; and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a ‘hamsa-bird-shaped’ floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. Lunch and dinner to your own account. Overnight stay at Chatrium Hotel (Former Nikko Royal Lake Hotel) (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
  • DAY 02 YANGON - BAGO - KYAIKTIYO (B, L, D) - After breakfast, pick-up at your hotel for the drive to BAGO (84 km - 1½ hours). Sightseeing starts with the thousand year old SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA with its spire taller than the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. You will then proceed to the KIN PUN ‘base camp’ (110 km - 3 1/2 hours). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant en-route. The tour will continue to one of Myanmar’s landmarks, famous for its precarious position and religious importance, KYAIKTIYO the ‘Golden Rock’ is a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. To reach the pagoda from KIN PUN base camp a steep 11 km road leads to the upper staging point. The journey is made in open trucks, which are very crowded. The ‘upper area’ must be traveled by foot, at present, and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path ascending some 500m to the GOLDEN ROCK on top of the mountain range. If you wish to take a more comfortable approach, you can sit back and be carried in sedan chairs by four porters. This will incur an extra cost of approx. US$ 10.00 p.p. On arrival you can enjoy great views over the surrounding jungle and a beautiful sunset. Dinner and overnight stay at the Mountain Top Resort (**, Standard room) or Golden Rock Hotel (**).
  • DAY 03 KYAIKTIYO - BAGO - YANGON (B, L, -) - After breakfast you will return to YANGON (194 km - 5 hours). Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Bago and continue sightseeing with the 55-meter long reclining SHWE THA LYAUNG Buddha, which is among one of the country’s most impressive images as well as the four giant Buddha images at KYAIK PUN PAGODA. After visiting a ‘Mon’ weaving and handicraft village producing woven bamboo wares continue to Yangon. Stop en-route by an Allied War Graves cemetery near HTAUK KYAN and a “Nat” tree shrine. Dinner is to own account. Overnight stay at Chatrium Hotel (Former Nikko Royal Lake Hotel) (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.

    • photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist Board

  • DAY 04 YANGON – MANDALAY – PYIN OO LWIN (B, L, D) - After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival, a scenic drive (80km - 2 hours) will take you to the former British hill station PYIN OO LWIN (Maymyo), a delightful small town with colonial-style buildings, markets, and a botanical garden. After lunch at local restaurant, venture out to visit the PEIK KHYIN MYAUNG CAVES. Proceed to PWE KYAUK FALLS, a favorite picnic spot for local people, before retiring to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Lodge (**, ROH room) or similar in Pyin Oo Lwin.
  • DAY 05 PYIN OO LWIN - MANDALAY (B, L, D) - After breakfast, visit the local market on a horse cart (if available) before returning to Mandalay. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
  • DAY 06 MANDALAY - MINGUN (B, L, D) - After breakfast, an excursion by boat on the AYEYARWADDY RIVER will take you to MINGUN, about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit one of the world’s largest bells, the 90 ton MINGUN BELL; HSINBYUME PAYA and the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar, constructed by King Bodaw Paya. After lunch return back to Mandalay. The afternoon is at your leisure. Time for own exploration, shopping or relaxing by the pool. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
  • DAY 07 AMARAPURA - AVA – SAGAING (B, L, D) - After breakfast, excursion to AMARAPURA, 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues. After lunch at a local restaurant, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts then continue to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (****, Superior room), or similar in Mandalay.

    • photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist Board

  • DAY 08 MANDALAY - BAGAN (B, L, D) - After early breakfast, transfer to the jetty and board a Chinese-built ferry boat for your journey on the AYEYARWADDY River to BAGAN. The trip takes approx. 8 hours downriver, depending on river conditions and water level. Lunch will be provided by Asian Trails. Upon arrival to Bagan, transfer to your hotel and time permitting start Bagan sightseeing. Dinner and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Resort (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan. * Note: The boat trip on Wednesdays and Sundays takes approx. 4 hours longer as a slower ferryboat is used for the journey on these days.
  • DAY 09 BAGAN (B, L, D) - After breakfast, stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KU BYANUK GYI, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic views over Bagan’s numerous monuments, and ANANDA TEMPLE with four standing Buddha images. After lunch at a local restaurant learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Proceed to BUPAYA PAGODA or MINGALA ZEDI STUPA to watch sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Dinner at a riverside restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Resort (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
  • DAY 10 BAGAN (B, L, D) - After breakfast, embark for visits to TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for their exquisite murals of 13th century and KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. After lunch at local restaurant a colorfully decorated ox-cart (if available) will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of traveling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar. Dinner and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Resort (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.

    • photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist Board

  • DAY 11 BAGAN – MOUNT POPA - KALAW (B, L, D) - After early breakfast, a 300 km drive (8 hours) will take you to Kalaw. En-route visit MT. POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Mt. Popa is a popular pilgrimage destination for Myanmar’s. The local people travel here from far away to worship various animist spirits known as “nats”. 777 steps lead up to the shrine placed on top of the steep Popa peak. After lunch at a simple local restaurant en-route, the journey continues on a narrow, winding and bumpy road through the Shan Hills. You will reach KALAW, a fresh and delightful hill station, situated on the rim of the Shan Plateau, early evening time. Kalaw is a lively market town where many ethnic minority people of the surrounding areas buy and trade their goods. Dinner and overnight stay at Pine Hill Resort (**, Superior room) or similar in Kalaw.
  • DAY 12 KALAW – PINDAYA - NYAUNG SHWE – INLE LAKE (B, L, D) - After breakfast, proceed by road to PINDAYA (48 km - 1 ½ hours) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. After lunch in Pindaya, continue to NYAUNG SHWE (90 km – 2 ½ hours) and transfer by boat to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Shwe Inn Tha Resort (**/*, Deluxe room, built on stilts over Inle Lake) or similar.
  • DAY 13 INLE LAKE (B, L, D) - After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the lake. Visit PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA; the weaving village of INPAWKHON and to one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). In the afternoon, board your boat to and head to the western shore of the lake where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex. Visit one of the most amazing historical sights of Shan state consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and vegetation. Dinner and overnight stay at Shwe Inn Tha Resort (**/*, Deluxe room, built on stilts over Inle Lake) or similar.
  • DAY 14 INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON (B, -, -) - After breakfast, transfer by boat to NYAUNG SHWE and overland to Heho Airport (32 km – 1 hour) for a domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival at Yangon airport, transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure with time for own explorations, shopping or relaxing by the pool. Lunch and dinner are to your own account. Overnight stay at Chatrium Hotel (Former Nikko Royal Lake Hotel) (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
  • DAY 15 YANGON (B, -, -) - Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Yangon airport for your departure flight.

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    Also tagged with: Asia, Burma - Myanmar, Private Escorted Journey


    Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

    Insure My Trip We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.