Arrival at Yangon
On your arrival, our driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Yangon tour
After breakfast, you will start your exploration with the great reclining Buddha of Chauk Htat Gyi, right next to Shwedagon, which is also a very important worship point.
You will then drive to Bogyoke Aung San Market (also Scott Market, closed on Mondays and holidays), a vast complex built in 1926 and famous for its wide variety of handicrafts and other typical items from all over the world.
Then, visit downtown Yangon. You can walk around Pansodan Street with its beautiful colonial-era buildings. It is also interesting to observe small markets of all kinds on the sidewalks, especially the posts that sell books, materials, food or other.
Before sunset, you can visit Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most beautiful pagoda jewels in Asia and especially the most revered monument in the country.
Yangon - Golden Rock
In the morning you will be driven to Kyaiktiyo (about 3:00 am), the site of the famous 'Golden Rock', one of the most important mausoleums of Buddhism. The rock is located on the edge of the precipice, it is said that the latter remains in balance thanks to a strand of Buddha's hair.
The last 15 minutes of the ascent are on foot, you can enjoy the sunset as well as a privileged view of the whole state Mon, mountainous region.
Note: To climb to Rocher d'Or, you will only need to take a small bag with your essentials (laptops, passports, etc.) and the necessary clothes for a day and night visit. Your driver will stay at the foot of the mountain and will keep your luggage for 24 hours because once you arrive you will have to take a small van, the only means of transport authorized to take you to this sacred place. Onboard there is not enough space for luggage.
Departure for Hpa An
You will witness an absolutely magical sunrise on Mount Kyaiktiyo before descending the mountains and being transferred to Hpa An (about 2 hours). On arrival, transfer to your hotel to rest.
Exploring the caves of Hpa An
After breakfast, you will visit Mount Zwekabin, 20 minutes from Hpa An, one of the most sacred mountains of the region which includes a beautiful pagoda at the top, about 2 hours of climbing stairs (intermediate level of difficulty) ). The surroundings are surrounded by gigantic mountains populated by forests, a journey that is well worth it. At the very beginning of the hike you will pass through the 1,080 hand-carved Buddha images, then once at the top you will be able to admire Hpa An and its surroundings which form a breathtaking landscape.
You will continue your day in 30 minutes by car to kyauk Kalap, a timeless place set in the middle of the water on an artificial lake. From the top of the little rock where the pagoda is, there is a privileged view of Mount Zwegabin that you can admire. The locals often go there for prayer and visit the monks of the surrounding monasteries.
You will then visit the caves of Bayintnyi, a small group of religious buildings where a large number of locals go daily. The architecture is not monumental, but the whole is charming and the landscape very attractive.
You will also visit the Kaw Gun Caves, considered a hidden gem where hundreds of clay buddhas cover the walls of the Great Cave.
If time permits, you will visit the Shwe Yin Myaw pagoda to enjoy the sunset.
Departure for Mawlamyine and return to Yangon
Today, you will be driven to the city of Mawlamyine, one of the most beautiful in Myanmar. The city is dominated by a wide hillside and marked by the confluence of the great rivers Salween and Gyaing.
You will also appreciate the numerous colonial houses of the city as well as the local markets, in a full day of visits by car, boat and foot.
You will visit Kyaik Thalan Pagoda before returning to Yangon.
Fly to Nyaung U
Today, transfer to Yangon airport for the flight to Nyaung U. Upon arrival, you can explore Bagan, one of the most impressive archeological sites in Asia with more than 2,200 pagodas that roam the plains all along the legendary Ayeyarwaddy River.
Once there you will leave for a first archaeological contact, you will explore the oldest and most important temples of Bagan. For example, the Shwezigon, a prototype of the first stupas of Burma, the temple of Htilo Minlo and later, you can visit the Shwesandaw pagoda, an idyllic place for its panoramic views as well as the temple Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi, a temple from the 13th century with fine murals.
In the afternoon, you can visit the Sulamani Temple, built by King Narapatisithu; then the temple Dhammayangyi Pahto, a temple of the last period with one of the most beautiful masonry of Bagan, then the pagoda of Shwesandaw, an idyllic place for its panoramic views.
Finally, enjoy the famous Bagan sunset on a hill chosen by our guide or our private driver to enjoy the best views.
Night in Bagan.
Visit Mount Popa and villages around Bagan
Today, you will have the opportunity to visit Mount Popa which is an extinct volcano known as the home of the Nats (The spirits gods). If you climb the 777 steps to the top, there is a small temple called Taung Kalat from which you will have a panoramic view of the area. En route, you will stop at the village of Sin Luu, where you will take a short walk to observe real life in the countryside and discover its inhabitants, always accomplices to share with you the moments of their daily lives.
In the afternoon, you will pass through the village of Pwar Saw and the village of Minnanthu where there are some temples and pagodas of interest, such as Tayok Pye or Minnanthu, before returning to Bagan.
Overnight in Bagan.
Bagan - Monywa
Today, you will be driven to Monywa, the largest agricultural trade center in the Chindwin Valley.
En route you can visit the fascinating caves of Po Win Taung, a large complex of sand and rock caves containing Buddha images and wall paintings, which date from the 14th to the 18th century as well as Shwe Ba Taung.
Upon arrival, you can visit very colorful Thanbuddhay pagoda, similar to Borobudur Indonesia but smaller.
Enjoy the end of the day at the hotel.
Overnight in Monywa.
Monywa - Mandalay, Inwa tours
In the morning you will visit Hlaungdawmu Buddha, the second largest reclining Buddha in the country before driving to Mandalay.
In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit Inwa which was founded in 1364 and was the imperial capital for 400 years (although with interruptions). Inwa is reachable by a short boat transfer, there are no cars on the island, so you travel by horse drawn carriage between the ruins and the great monuments, some of them are still half buried .
You can admire, among other ruins and religious monuments, the old walls of the palace; the leaning tower of Ava; the Maha Aungmye Bonzan which is an extraordinary monastery of brick and stucco; and the elegant Bagaya Kyaung monastery, one of the only teak monasteries in Burma where young apprentices are still studying today.
Mandalay - relics and ancient capital
We will drive you to Mandalay Pier, where you will start a short and pleasant cruise to the unfinished Mingun Pagoda (11 km, 1 hour). Here is the site of what would have been the biggest stupa in the world if it had been completed. However, all work was stopped in 1819 after the death of King Bodipaya, then an earthquake followed in 1838, which greatly deteriorated the monument. Nevertheless, the base of this 50-meter stupa still remains very impressive when you approach it from the river by boat.
Nearby, you can also visit the Mingun Bell, which is believed to hang from the top of Mingun Pagoda, but now hangs in a new shrine. It is said that it is one of the largest hanging bells in the world. It remains in a very good state of conservation.
Return by boat to Mandalay and continue visits to Mandalay. Visits to Mandalay's main points of interest include the venerated Mahamuni Pagoda and its Buddha covered with tons of gold and other ancient relics of Theravada Buddhism. There is a great Buddhist heritage in Mandalay, including some extraordinary monasteries often hidden or closed (unless our guide asks the monks to show it to you). Also, most famous, the fantastic teakwood monastery, Shwenandaw, where the extraordinary Kuthodaw pagoda, and its hundreds of stupas containing the world's largest open book, carved on marble.
Finish the day with a beautiful sunset at the famous U-Bein Bridge (built around 1850), the longest in the world built in teak, stretches for 1.2 km on Lake Taungthaman.
Fly to Heho, visit Pindaya and transfer to Inle Lake
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to your hotel for your flight to Heho. On arrival, you will be driven to Pindaya, a small village mostly agricultural and much less tourist compared to the rest of the points of interest of the Shan State. Its small lake, its mountains, its enormous tamarinds, its inhabitants, its stupas, its monasteries and in particular its two markets (the daily and the market of 5 days), deserve a stop of at least one night.
Famous by its caves with nearly 8000 Buddha images that have been placed there over the centuries, elaborated with various materials and different sizes, the statues fill every corner of the numerous cavities. In addition, people from the area usually attend to pray, being an important place of worship for Burmese.
Finally, transfer to Inle Lake.
Night in Inle.
Exploration of Inle Lake in private pirogue
You will start your day visiting Inle Lake, UNESCO World Heritage Site. This abundant lake is 900 meters below sea level, spreading over 20 km long and 10 km wide. The trips on the lake are realized by traversing the various villages and floating gardens, you will be able to admire the ability of the locals with their banks as well as to understand their way of life.
Points of interest include Phaung Daw O Pagoda, the four revered Buddha images as well as the Ngaphe Chaung Monastery (surrounded by floating cultures) or the Nan Pan Village where you will witness the development of traditional-style boats. (Everything is handmade !). On the way your riverbank will make many stops and you will approach the charming floating gardens of Inle, also passing through small villages and more remote. The main objective is to avoid tourist catches, such as the Inle Lake souvenir markets (such as some "5-day" markets) or souvenir shops, (to be avoided unless requested).
There are interesting and unique craftspeople such as Inpawkhone where, among other things, you will visit traditional silk weaving workshops and attend the treatment of lotus flowers to make tissues. However, many stores in this area are dedicated to selling souvenirs.
To end your day, you will walk to Thaleoo, a small farming village on the lake where you can see real scenes of local life. Farmers grow a lot of different products depending on the season. It is surely one of the most charming villages on Inle Lake. The peasants are particularly smiling and kind to the walkers.
At sunset, the colors of the lake change as villagers return to their homes after a day of intense work. This is a particularly special moment to sail near the floating villages to make a last beautiful photo before returning to the hotel.
Night in Inle.
Visits to the village of Indein and return to Yangon
Today you will sail to Indiain's 17th century pagodas crossing some of the small streams and abundant floating gardens to reach more remote places of the lake. About 1 hour of navigation.
Here you can enjoy a pleasant walk starting from the small village of Indein. From the old pier and walking 30 minutes among the houses of this village of the minority PaO, you will arrive on the ruins of Indein, including many old stupas and small temples covered by vegetation, all coming mainly of the XVII century. You will return by discreetly passing through the local houses and passing through the beautiful bamboo forest crossed by a river.
After the tours, you will be driven to Heho Airport for the return to Yangon.
On arrival, transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Overnight in Yangon.
Departure from Yangon
Transfer to Yangon Airport for your international connection. Thank you very much for your visit.
