This itinerary is ideal for tourists who want to visit the must-see scenic spots in Myanmar in a few days. Over 9 days, you will be dazzled by Myanmar's landscapes of continuous peaks and clear lakes, with ancient pagodas shining like gems on the plains. You can also learn about love stories in Myanmar's history, wander through small towns, ride in small bamboo boats on Inle Lake, and explore the surrounding village. This will be an fulfilling journey through a beautiful part of the world.
Days
9
Price
US$1905 P/P
Best For
First-Timers
Best Time
Oct. to Feb.
Tour Highlights
We have just returned from an amazing trip to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Our travel adviser Albee Ning prepared a wonderful itinerary taking us to great locations with creative activities highlighting local culture.
We traveled with Asia Highlights (Lissie was our agent) several years ago when we went to Saigon, and the experience was so positive, we automatically went to Asia Highlights again for an extensive trip to Southeast Asia.
Itinerary Details
The attractions included in this itinerary were specifically chosen by the company's designers after their on-the-spot investigation. Of course, this itinerary is only an example. You can customize the plan until it suits your tastes. This is a private tour, so you set the pace of your tour and can change it if you wish.
Myanmar is a hidden treasure with a low-key lifestyle but a rich culture and history and attractive scenic spots. Numerous tourists visit this peaceful place every year to witness its beauty. After arriving at Yangon, you will take a private car to go to the hotel and rest before your adventure.
In the morning, you will take the Yangon Circular Railway, a popular means of local transportation. The small train travels very slowly, but you will find its steady rhythm quite soothing. After getting off the train at a small station, you will make your way to the National Museum of Myanmar by a private car.
In the afternoon, after a delicious lunch of local food, your first stop will be Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, where you will be able to see a huge reclining Buddha lying lifelike on the ground. Next, you will visit Aung San Suu Kyi House (54 University Avenue). Aung San Suu Kyi, a non-violent and pro-democracy politician in Myanmar, was placed under house arrest for 15 years (across 21 years) after being elected democratically. You can visit this historical building to understand the life of this national hero and know her story.
Dusk is the best time to visit Shwedagon Pagoda also known as Great Dagon Pagoda. Against the darkened sky, its golden-yellow hue looks even more magnificent and remarkable.
In the morning, you will take a plane to Mandalay. On arrival, you will transfer to the hotel to rest for a while.
The day's activities start with the perfect lunch. Mandalay is a city significant for Buddhism. Today's first stop is an ancient wooden monastery — Shwenandaw Monastery. This teak building is very beautiful and unique, with magnificent decorations. When the weather is hot, the eaves here are cool.
Next, your guide will take you to Kuthodaw Pagoda and The World's Largest Book. There are many white towers in this complex. Each pagoda contains a marble stone tablet with a different scripture on it. It is amazing how much work has been done to create this monument. The world's largest stone sutra is here.
After the sun goes down, you will climb up Mandalay Hill to have a bird's eye view of the layout of the whole city and enjoy the sunset.
At 4 a.m., when everything is quiet, you will get up and watch the local face-washing ceremony at Mahamuni Buddha Temple. This is a local custom, where every morning, a monk will wash the Buddha's face and brush his teeth, as though he is a real person. After the ceremony, local believers will bring the towels and food offerings home.
After you have enjoyed breakfast, your guide will take you to Amarapura. Along the way, you will see many monks. The local people give these monks food and clothing.
While most tourists visit Mahagandayon Monastery in the morning, we will visit it in the afternoon, when the monks in the temple wait in line for their lunch. Visiting in the afternoon will not only result in a better experience, but will also give you the opportunity to serve food to young monks. Locals often serve food to the monks after the tourists have finished their tour at noon.
After that, your guide will lead you to an ancient city, which used to be an imperial city — Amarapura. There are many palace buildings and religious relics waiting for you to explore them.
Finally, enjoy the sunrise on a boat on the clear lake.
In the morning, you will fly to Nyaung U Airport. On arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel in our private car.
In the afternoon, we will visit Minanthu village. Though it is a simple village, it has a strong sense of history. The villagers here practice traditional ways of making a living, such as selling cattle, making iron, selling sesame oil they made themselves, and so on. The residents here have a very healthy lifestyle and treat tourists warmly. You can drink a few cups of camellia tea with them and eat some snacks.
Next, your tour guide will take you to Kyat Khayon Cave Monastery, which is very far from the city. The aim is to keep newcomers and monks away from the world and train them to pursue their religious faith.
On Day 6, you will visit the Bagan Archaeological Zone. The more than 10,000 pagodas located here provide impressive proof of the religious dedication of the Burmese people and rulers over the centuries. These temples have now become an important archaeological site. Each of the towers and pagodas has its own unique story, and there are many more that invite exploration. You can visit this magnificent archaeological area at noon by bike. Your tour guide will show you around the Ananda Temple, Dhammayangyi Temple, and Mahabodhi Temple which are representative of these architectural wonders.
At sunset, you will climb the Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch the sunrise and take in panoramic views of the archaeological area.
Of course, you can also look down at this area from a high altitude on a hot air balloon. This ride offers excellent views and an extraordinary experience. If you want to take a hot air balloon ride, please contact our consultant in advance to make a reservation.
In the morning, we will fly to Heho Airport. After deboarding, you will take a private car to Inle Lake and enjoy lunch and a good rest after checking in at the hotel.
In the afternoon, you will take a boat tour of Inle Lake. All the boats in this beautiful place are traditional small wooden boats plied by the local people who depend on this lake for their livelihood. The highlight of this trip is the old-school rowing technique, which is unique to Myanmar. One foot stabilizes the boat and the other controls the boat's progress. In fact, fishermen do this to free their hands, so that they can simultaneously cast their nets. One person can do the work of two people, thus greatly improving fishing efficiency.
On Day 7, you experienced life on the waters of Inle Lake. The next day, your tour guide will take you to a market in the lakeside village. The market there is usually called the 5-Day Market, because different villages host the market every 5 days.
After enjoying local dishes in a seafood restaurant, we will take a boat and begin our tour of the Indein Pagoda Complex. The most attractive thing there is the peaceful view of many towers reflected on the water, and you will be attracted by the ancient atmosphere when you move between the pagodas.
In the morning, you will be transferred to Yangon Airport for your flight home. We hope to serve you again on your next tour.
Price Includes
Price from: $1,995 (Tour code:gh-ah-7)
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