| Day 1 | SUNDAY
YANGON
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 to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon
Overnight : Kandawgyi Palace Hotel
Meal : D |  | | Day 2 | MONDAY
YANGON
After breakfast, drive to one of Yangon’s landmarks the STRAND HOTEL; observe the busy life of Yangon river at the nearby PANSODAN JETTY. Continue by driving up PANSODAN STREET lined by some of the city's most impressive colonial buildings. Start touring by foot from MAHABANDOOLA ROAD where you have the perfect view over SULE PADOGA, CITY HALL and HIGH COURT. Cross through the greens of MAHABANDOOLA GARDEN before discovering the gold shops of SHWE BONTHA STREET. Stroll further on to KON ZAY DAN STREET and SHWEDAGON PAGODA ROAD before passing through the colorful INDIAN DISTRICT of ANAWRAHTA ROAD and its HINDU TEMPLE. Continue to the 31st STREET well known for the second hand book shops, historical shop houses and the main market of Yangon, the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET(Closed on Mondays). The complete walking time for this city walking tour is about 1 ? hours. Our transportation will wait at pre-determined locations to pick up passengers that would prefer not to walk.
In the afternoon visit a CHINESE TEMPLE in Chinatown and head to the train station for a 20 minute ride on the Yangon circular line. This short local train ride will give the guests opportunity to mix with the local people and get a feeling of Myanmar style traveling. Return transfer to hotel.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon
Overnight : Kandawgyi Palace Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 3 | TUESDAY
YANGON – BAGO – KYAIKHTIYO
After breakfast, pick-up at your hotel for the drive to BAGO (84 km - 1? hours). Visit the charming and characteristic monastery of Kya Khet Waii, an eminent teaching center for hundreds of monks from neighboring regions to study Buddhism. You will have ample time to observe the monks walk mindfully in procession for their last meal of the day. Continue drive from Bago to KIN PUN 'the Kyaiktiyo mountain base camp' (110 km - 3 1/2 hours).
Kyaikitiyo mountain and its sacred padoga is one of Myanmar's landmarks and a popular pilgrimage destination for the locals. 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 a steep 11 km road leads to the upper staging point. The journey is made sitting on benches in open trucks, which are very crowded and very uncomfortable (we recommend guests to be advised of this before they decide to join this tour). The 'upper area' must be traveled by foot, (at present), and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path which ascends some 500m to the GOLDEN ROCK. 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$ 8.00 p.p. On arrival you can enjoy the beautiful sunset. Walk downhill to your hotel (45 minutes). Luggage will be carried by porters.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner at hotel and overnight stay at Golden Rock Hotel (** Deluxe room) in Kyaikhtiyo.
Overnight : At Golden Rock Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 4 | WEDNESDAY
KYAIKHTIYO – BAGO – YANGON
After breakfast return to YANGON (194 km - 5 hours). The drive back to Yangon will be a journey back in time as we will take you through rural landscapes including visits to a farming village, small typical country side town, a pottery village as well as a Mon village that produces woven bamboo wares. We will also stop at the Allied War Graves cemetery near HTAUK KYAN and a "Nat" tree shrine. Upon arrival to Yangon, transfer to your hotel.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
Overnight : Kandawgyi Palace Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 5 | THURSDAY
YANGON - BAGAN
After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, start your day with visiting the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.
In the afternoon 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 SHWE SAN DAW to watch the sunset over the picturesque Ayeyarwaddy River.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner at a riverside restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
Overnight : Myanmar Treasure Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 6 | FRIDAY
BAGAN
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.
In the afternoon, an excursion to farming villages around Bagan will give you an insight to the rural life of the local people. Late afternoon, a colorfully decorated ox-cart 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.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner with puppet show at local restaurant and overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
Optional: Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. (Details see ‘Balloons over Bagan’)
Overnight : At Myanmar Treasure Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 7 | SATURDAY
BAGAN – MOUNT POPA - MANDALAY
After breakfast, visit the colorful local market in Nyaung U and depart for a 45 km drive (1 ? hours) to Mt. POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Popa is popular pilgrimage destination for Myanmar people. Many travel here long distances to worship various animist spirits known as “nats”. 777 steps lead up to the Buddhist shrine placed on top of the steep Popa peak. After Popa the journey continues through varied agricultural landscapes (230 km - 5 hours) to MANDALAY. Some of the roads are in rather bad condition the guests should be prepared for a long and bumpy journey.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
Overnight : At Mandalay Hill Resort
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 8 | SUNDAY
MINGUN - MANDALAY
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. Return 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.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
Overnight : At Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 9 | MONDAY
AMARAPURA – AVA – SAGAING
After breakfast, excursion to Amarapura, 15 km from Mandalay. Visit MAHAGANDAYON, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study; 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, 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 before finishing this wonderful day with sunset views from SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner at local restaurant and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
Overnight : At Mandalay Hill Resort
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 10 | TUESDAY
MANDALAY – HEHO – PINDAYA – INLE LAKE
After early breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (65 km – 1 ? hour) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. After lunch (to your own account), drive to NYAUNG SHWE (95 km – 2 ? hours) and transfer to your hotel for check-in.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Khaung Daing Village Resort (**/* built on stilts over Inle Lake, Floating Cottage room) or similar.
Overnight : At Inle Regal Resort
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 11 | WEDNESDAY
INLE LAKE
After breakfast, board your boat to and head for 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 this one of the most amazing historical sights of Shan state consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and vegetation. Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are cultivated in traditional ways. Walk easy pace following one of the many creeks passing through rice fields to SAE MA village. Visit the primary school of the village and meet the children and teachers to observe their way of learning and teaching. Step in a wooden canoe for an exciting ride down a narrow creek until you reach the PAUNG DAW OO PAGODA. Walk across to the weaving village of THA LAY. In the afternoon meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. Return by boat to hotel.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Khaung Daing Village Resort (**/* built on stilts over Inle Lake, Floating Cottage room) or similar.
Overnight : At Inle Regal Resort
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 12 | THURSDAY
INLE LAKE - HEHO – YANGON
After breakfast, excursion by boat on Inle Lake to see the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery.
In the afternoon transfer to HEHO airport (25km – 1 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Lunch to your own account.
Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Yangon.
Overnight : Kandawgyi Palace Hotel
Meal : B/D | | | | Day 13 | FRIDAY
YANGON
After breakfast, day at leisure until transfer to airport for international departure flight.
Meal : B | | | | Meal : B = Breakfast / L = lunch / D = Dinner | |
