Myanmar Classic Tour - 8D/7N

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.

BAGAN - One of the richest archaeological sites in Asia, a huge area containing literally thousands of pagodas, stupas and temples, all set in a vast dusty plain beside the Ayeyarwaddy River. Memorable for its tranquility, as well as for its majesty.

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.

INLE LAKE - A True highlight of the Myanmar travel experience. Here the emphasis is on lovely lake scenery, hazy distant mountains and the interesting local society. The vast lake is studded with floating gardens and is renowned for its unique leg-rowers and characterful local markets.

NOTE: This tour is operated as either PRIVATE or SEAT-IN-COACH.

photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist BoardINCLUDED: Accommodation in shared twin rooms with daily breakfast. Half board (Breakfast & Dinner) - meals as specified in the program on table d’hôte basis. All entrance fees. Transfers and tours with English speaking local guides (or as specified). 1 Tour leader is free of charge as of a minimum of 15 full paying pax. Transportation by air-conditioned van/minibus/coach. Service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

NOT INCLUDED: Travel insurance. Visa fee for Myanmar. International Airfare. Lunches for the whole trip. 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. Services, which are not mentioned in above. Domestic airfares Yangon-Bagan-Mandalay-Heho-Yangon and domestic flight security tax (as above, separately quoted).

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Yangon - Inya Lake Resort
Bagan - Thazin Garden Hotel
Mandalay - Mandalay City Hotel
Inle Lake - Paradise Hotel

DEPARTURES: Private tour departs daily with English speaking guide.
SIB Tour departs: on Set dates.

photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist BoardITINERARY

  • DAY 01 Friday: YANGON (-, -, D) - Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by your German speaking 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 and the magnificent reclining Buddha at CHAUK HTAT GYI. After a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a ‘hamsa-bird-shaped’ floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with an extended visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. Lunch will be to your own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Inya Lake Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
  • DAY 02 SATURDAY: YANGON - BAGAN (B, -, D) - After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, start your day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan. SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KU BYANUK GYI, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images. In the afternoon visit one of Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts, a lacquerware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. You will continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in the Mon style in 1059. Next you will explore the MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple noteworthy for its mural paintings under the protection of UNESCO. Proceed to SHWE SAN DAW PAGODA to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Lunch will be to your own account. Dinner at Riverview restaurant and overnight stay at Thazin Garden Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
  • DAY 03 Sunday: BAGAN – MANDALAY (B, -, D) - After breakfast, transfer to the airport for domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Thereafter experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay. The SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; the GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wooden building and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book made of marble. Visit also one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the MAHAMUNI PAGODA. Mandalay is also a major crafts center; visit a Kalaga tapestries craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset. Lunch will be to your own account. Dinner at “A little bit of Mandalay” restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay City Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.

    • photo courtesy of Myanmar Tourist Board

  • DAY 04 Monday: MINGUN – MANDALAY - AMARAPURA (B, -, 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 will start with the MINGUN BELL, a magnificent sight of the world’s largest un-cracked bell weighing 90 tons. Visit SETTAWYA PAGODA and continue to HSINBYUME PAYA as well as the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, built as one of the world’s largest chedis by King Bodaw Paya. Return by boat to Mandalay and proceed by car or bus Amarapura, 15 km from Mandalay. Visit BAGAYA MONASTERY, an interesting collection of Buddha statues, and observe the beautiful sunset at the 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the Royal capital before returning to Mandalay. Lunch will be to your own account. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay City Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
  • DAY 05 Tuesday: MANDALAY – HEHO – PINDAYA – NYAUNG SHWE (B, -, D) - After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (59 km – 2 hours) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries. After lunch (to own account), drive to NYAUNG SHWE (90 km – 2 ½ hours) and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Hotel (**, Superior room) or similar in Nyaung Shwe.
  • DAY 06 Wednesday: INLE LAKE (B, -, D) - After breakfast you will enjoy a full day excursion by boat on Inle Lake. The visit will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Visits are made to PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA; the weaving village of INPAWKHON and to one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Paradise Hotel (**, Superior room) or similar in Nyaung Shwe.
  • DAY 07 Thursday: INLE LAKE - HEHO – YANGON (B, -, D) - After breakfast, time at leisure until transfer to HEHO airport (32km – 1 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to your hotel. Lunch to own account. Dinner and overnight stay at Inya Lake Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
  • DAY 08 Friday: YANGON (B, -, -) - Breakfast at hotel. Full day at leisure until transfer to airport for your international departure flight or proceed for your beach extensions.

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    Also tagged with: Escorted Journeys, Asia, Burma - Myanmar, Cultural, Art / Architecture, Religion, 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.