SPECIAL TOURS

Transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Start with a walk through "downtown" Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city centre.

Late afternoon visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz - a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this "Golden Land".

Night at Chatrium Hotel ( Deluxe)

Early morning drive to Kyaikhtiyo Upon arrival at the base camp, transfer to a special open truck for uphill toward the second base camp and take a light trekking to the Golden Rock along the twisting footpath through bamboo forest. At the summit is a small Pagoda insignificant in size but unique for its position. The rock is completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edged of the cliff. Marvel the sunset on hilltop and watch the evening activities at the shrine of the local pilgrimages before descent to your hotel.

Night at Mountain Top Hotel (Deluxe room)

After breakfast, leave your hotel to take a downhill ride by special open truck to the base camp where your private car is awaiting for you. Drive back to Yangon via Bago. Make a short visit of Bago town tour including local market; Shwetharlyaung, 55 meters long reclining Buddha Image and Shwemawdaw Pagoda, its spire is even taller than the great Shwedagon Pagoda.

Return to Yangon through rural landscape of rice fields and small villages.

Night at Chatrium Hotel ( Deluxe)

Transfer to the airport.

Flight from Yangon to Heho.

Transfer from Heho airport to Inle Lake.

We plan to spend the day visiting villages and. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens . You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State.

Night at the Sanctum Resort (Cloister Deluxe)

Continue our excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation.

The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to your hotel.

Night at the Sanctum Resort (Cloister Deluxe)

Enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya through the picturesque countryside of Shan State. Visit Pindaya’s limestone cave with its maze of chambers displaying more than 8,000 Buddha statues and local handicraft workshops producing Shan paper made from mulberry bark and traditional umbrellas made from the same paper that are used by monks all around the country.

Drive to heho airport.

Flight from Heho to Mandalay.

Transfer from the airport to Mandalay.

Night at the Mandalay Hill Resort ( Deluxe room)

After breakfast at the hotel depart for full day trip to the former capitals of Amarapua, Ava and Sagaing. The day begins with a visit to the 18th century capital, Amarapura. Attend the daily meal of over a thousand monks at the country’s largest monastery, Mahagandayon.

Proceed to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th centuries and visit by horse and carriage the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and fort.
In the afternoon cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River and continue to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Finish the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely from teak

Drive back to Mandalay.

Night at the Mandalay Hill Resort ( Deluxe room)

After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeyarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue.

Return Back to Mandalay.

Visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world’s biggest book), Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving and the impressive Kyauktawgyi Pagoda with its huge sitting Buddha. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill for panoramic view of city.

Night at the Mandalay Hill Resort ( Deluxe room)

Leave Mandalay for a 3 hour drive to Monywa, a typical Burmese town on the banks of the Chindwin River. On the way, visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, where more than 500,000 Buddha images cover every wall and archway of this huge Buddhist temple. Also visit Bodihtataung Pagoda and the largest reclining Buddha image in Myanmar, 100m long and 27m high.

Cross the Chindwin River and proceed to Po Win Daung . This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddhist statues in South-East Asia. Recently opened to foreigners, Po Win Daung with its unique, precious frescoes, some dating from the early 17th century, is a must to see for anyone with an interest in Buddhist Arts. A few hundred metres from the caves is Shwe Ba Daung, another very interesting site where monasteries and temples are carved out of narrow cliffs.

Drive back to Monywa

Night at Win Unity Hotel ( Deluxe Lake view, bungalow type)

After breakfast at the hotel, leave Monywa along the rarely visited east bank of the river passing traditional villages where farmers climb the palm trees to extract the juice from which they produce palm tree sugar. Stop in Pakkangyi to visit one of the oldest surviving wooden monasteries in Myanmar. Continue 20km south to Pakokku, a lively, typical Burmese city with a strong craft-work tradition producing colourful woven blankets, papier-mâché toys and traditional sandals. Continue across the river to arrive in Bagan at the end of the day.

Night at Aureum Palace Hotel (Deluxe)

Depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple. In the afternoon, continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan.

Night at Aureum Palace Hotel (Deluxe)

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Myinkaba village. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the countryside village of Minnanthu, the least visited temple area in Bagan.

Observe the local farmers‘ way of life together with a visit to some of the most interesting temples such as Payathonzu, with its unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence, Lemyethna and Nandamannya temples.

Flight from Bagan to Yangon.

Reception at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Night at Chatrium Hotel ( Deluxe)

Transfer to the airport.