Burma Unveiled
DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL
Meet on arrival at Yangon International Airport and transfer to hotel. Proceed on a sightseeing tour that includes the old colonial-style city center, the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years. The tour continues to Chaukhtatgyi, a huge reclining Buddha image, followed by a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge. An extended visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments, will conclude today's sightseeing tour of this picturesque Garden City. The golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Sunset near Shwedagon Pagoda is simply spectacular.
Dinner with cultural performance show at the Royal Barge Karaweik restaurant on the Kandawgyi Lake.
DAY 2: YANGON – KYAIKTIYO
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive via Bago to Kinpun "base camp" (194 km -5 hours) in Kyaiktiyo. Lunch, then continue to Kyaiktiyo (the Golden Rock), a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a sheer cliff. From Kinpun, a steep and rough 11-km dirt road leads to the upper staging point, a journey made in an open truck.
From the "upper area" travelers must walk the final stage (approximately 4 kilometers – 45 minutes) up steep paths, which ascend some 500 meters to the Golden Rock. As an easier alternative to walking (approx. 45 minutes), you can be carried in sedan chairs by four porters at an extra cost. On arrival, watch the beauty of a sunset at this important pilgrimage site.
Overnight at Mountain Top Hotel, Kyaiktiyo.
Important note: The region around Kyaiktiyo is still undeveloped for most aspects of tourism. We will endeavour to obtain the best available accommodation, transport and facilities for guests, but would ask for your understanding for any practical aspects that do not come up to expectations and for delays or changes in the itinerary. Due to road conditions, travel in this region is not recommended during the monsoon season (June - September).
DAY 3: KYAIKTIYO–BAGO–YANGON
Early Risers: A great opportunity to see the sunrise! Return to Bago (110 km - 3½ hours). Sightseeing includes the Shwemawdaw Pagoda which is over a thousand years old. Its spire is even taller than the one of Shwedagon Pagoda's in Yangon. The 55-meter-long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image is among the country's most revered. Lunch, then continue to Yangon (84 km - 1½hours). En route visit the Allied War Graves Cemetery near Htauk Kyant and a tree shrine dedicated to legendary animist spirits known as "Nat". Sunset view of Shwedagon Pagoda from Kandawgyi lake.
DAY 4: YANGON – BAGAN
Early breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the direct flight to Bagan. On arrival in Bagan, you will be met by your guide to begin the Bagan sightseeing: Shwezigon Pagoda built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; Htilominlo Temple, a large temple built by King Nantaungmya in 1218 and known to be the last Myanmar style temple built in Bagan.
Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyi-inn) close to Wetkyi-in village, from which the name of the temple was derived. This 13th-century cave-temple has an Indian-style spire like the Mahabodhi Pagoda in Bagan. Ananda Temple - it was built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha. Architecturally it is the most elegant temple in ancient Bagan. Dhamayangyi Temple built by King Narathu (1167-70), the most massive temple in Bagan and noted for its fine brick work. Masons were put to death if so much as a straw could be slipped in between two bricks. Shwesandaw Pagoda, also known as Ganesh or Mahapeine after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose images once stood at the corners of the five successive terraces, to watch sunset view from the upper level.
DAY 5: BAGAN
A unique opportunity to see the ancient city of Bagan from a different perspective. With ‘Balloons Over Bagan’ you get a magnificent bird's-eye view of thousand year-old pagodas, temples and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. The champagne flights at sunrise last just under one hour and takes off daily from October through March. The balloon is guided by gentle winds not exceeding 24 km/h. Eight passengers plus a pilot fit into the balloon’s basket. After this balloon ride we return to the hotel for breakfast.
This morning visit Min Nan Thu village area by horse-cart. Visit Tayokepyay Temple, Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples (noted for exquisite 13th century murals) and Kyat Kan Cave monastery, a famous meditation center in Bagan. Visit farming villages around Bagan.
In the afternoon, an excursion to the nostalgic Nat Htaung Kyaung, a monastery famous for woodcarvings, built in 1781 by a group of monks. Admire the monastery's collection of ancient Buddha statues and lacquer boxes. Return by boat on the Ayeyarwaddy River at sunset.
DAY 6: BAGAN – MANDALAY – INWA –SAGAING – AMARAPURA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Mandalay.
On arrival at Mandalay Airport, you will be met and driven to the former capital of Inwa (Ava), located on an island between the Ayeyarwaddy and the Myitnge Rivers. Take the local ferry to reach there and visit by horse-cart, passing through the ancient city walls to visit a brick and stucco monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung). Continue to Nan Myint Watch Tower – the climb to the top offers lovely views over the river. See also the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung.
In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living centre of Buddhist faith in Burma today. Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Return to Amarapura via the Ava Bridge, built by British engineers. Enjoy the sunset and walk over U-Bein Bridge, which is over a kilometre long constructed entirely of teakwood. Return to Mandalay.
DAY 7: MANDALAY – MINGUN
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, enjoy a boat excursion up the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun, site of the world's largest intact bronze bell, 3.7 meters high and weighing 87 tons. Also visit the huge but unfinished Mingun Paya (built with the intention of being the world's biggest pagoda) and the beautiful Hsinbyume Paya.
Afternoon visit includes Mahamuni Pagoda and its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves; Shwenandaw Kyaung (or Golden Palace Monastery), a superb example of a traditional wooden building lived in by King Mindon, the founder of Mandalay city; and Kuthodaw Pagoda (known as the world's largest book), consisting of 729 marble slabs engraved with the whole Buddhist scripture. A visit is also made to a craftsman's workshop to see Kalaga tapestries being created. Sunset from Mandalay Hill.
DAY 8: MANDALAY – HEHO – INLE LAKE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Mandalay Airport for the flight to Heho. On arrival you will be metand taken by road down into the valley to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake and board your own local boat to take you to your hotel.
In the afternoon, enjoy another boat tour to Indaing at the western end of the lake. The boat takes you through a long channel where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce on floating gardens. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on Inle Lake.
DAY 9: INLE LAKE
Breakfast at the hotel. Explore one of the markets to get an insight into the life-style of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants who come to these markets to sell their goods.
During today's excursion by boat on picturesque Inle Lake we see the famous Intha leg-rowers, the floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life. Further visits to Phaung Daw-Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in the southern Shan State. Pass lots of floating gardens, where fruits and vegetables are grown. See traditional handicrafts - silk weaving on wooden handlooms, umbrella workshop and a blacksmith shop.
Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. Resident monks teach their cats to jump hoops and somersault and would be happy to put on a performance. One can see ancient Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old.
DAY 10: INLE LAKE – HEHO
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out of hotel to transfer to Heho airport for flight back to Yangon.