ESSENTIAL OF MYANMAR

Duration: 12 days

This Myanmar tour reflects the rich history and cultural heritages of Myanmar through centuries with interrupted reign, glories and development. From the modern Yangon to the north hub of Mandalay and haunted world of Bagan, the trip recalls the spirit of different kingdoms that established the famed culture of Myanmar.

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Price from: $USD 815 /person

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival
  • Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your guide who will accompany you and transfer to the hotel.
  • Yangon has been the capital of Myanmar since the British transformed it into their administrative center of future India. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating capitals of South East Asia. Welcome for each person arrival in difference time and relax at hotel.
  • Overnight in Yangon.
Day 2: Yangon city tour
  • After breakfast, it is good to start 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 center. Continue your visit to Mahabondoola Park and Myanmar Independence monument.
  • Then stop for visit to Bogyoke Aung San Market and give opportunity to do some shopping (formerly Scott’s market, closes on Monday and public holidays) with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts, and gems stores.
  • Proceed to Botahtaung Pagoda, a famous pagoda located in downtown Yangon, bank of the Yangon River. Botahtaung is a typical gilded dome that tapers gradually to the top and is capped by a symbolic fan-shape spire. This pagoda is hollow inside allowing visitors to walk through to admire what is considered the highlight of any pilgrimage – a glass case containing a sacred hair relic of the Buddha.
  • Return to hotel and overnight in Yangon.
Day 3: Yangon - Mandalay by flight
  • After breakfast, drive to Yangon Mingalardon airport for your flight to Mandalay.
  • Upon arrival at Mandalay airport, you will drive to the 18th century capital, Amarapura. Attend the daily meal of over thousand monks at the country’s largest monastery; Mahagandayon.
  • Visit a silk weaving workshop, the craft speciality of Amarapura.
  • 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 centers. Finish the day with a walk at sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely from teak.
  • Overnight in Mandalay. 
Day 4: Mandaylay - Mingun - Mandalay
  • After breakfast, transfer to the jetty and board private chartered boat for a cruise over the Irrawaddy River towards the former capital of Mingun.
  • After a 45-minute cruise, arrive in Mingun famous for its huge unfinished pagoda also home to the Mingun Bell, considered as the world’s largest uncrack ringing bell. Also visit the beautiful white Hsinbyume Pagoda. Return Mandalay for lunch (own account).
  • In the afternoon Mahamuni Pagoda, famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf.  Mandalay has long been known as a center of skilled craftsmanship and in former times supplied the Royal courts. A tour of traditional workshops includes crafts such as woodcarving, marble masonry, Kalaga tapestry and gold leaf making.
  • After lunch visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures (known as the world’s biggest book) and Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite woodcarving.
  • Head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.
  • Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 5: Mandalay - Bagan by MGRG express boat
  • In this morning, you must check out much earlier than normal days because you need to be at the wharf before 06:30 AM to get on the cruise. (Note: Hotel might arrange the breakfast boxes for you to take away).
  • Normally the cruise departs at 07:00 from Mandalay and arrive Bagan at 16:00 and here is truly a long cruise trip on the legendary Irrawaddy River, however, the benefits on this journey is to relax on deck to experience the authentic & beautiful scenes in the early morning.
  • Passengers fitting at the back of the boat in outdoor deck or staying sheltered / sleeping up front takes special chances to witness small fishing settlements on the riverside, buffalo ploughing on fields, kids playing on grounds, small huts and wooden fishing boats even women trekking with agriculture bulks balanced on their heads.
  • Upon getting to the harbor in Bagan, you’ll be welcome then escorted to your hotel for a check-in.
  • Overnight in Bagan.

Remark: Boat does not operate daily due to the lack of passengers, weather condition. Alternative will fly from Mandalay to Bagan by domestic flight. Kindly see supplement airfare in price list table.

Day 6: Bagan Temples tour
  • After breakfast, this morning sightseeing features the colourful Nyaung Oo Market where the locals come to buy and trade fresh produce and handicrafts.
  • Continue to Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi-Inn, a cave temple with exquisite jatakas murals paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.
  • In the afternoon, visit Ananda, an architectural masterpiece of the early-style temple with two original standing Buddha images show facial expression change depending on the distance the statue is viewed from. The Ananda Okkyaung is one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period and the next temple to be visited, Thatbyinnyu, is the highest in Bagan, rising to 61 meters.
  • End the day with a horse and carriage tour among the temples passing by the traditional village of Taungbi, Sulamani Temple and the massive Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork.
  • Enjoy sunset at some nice area where available places, one of the ancient temples in Bagan or at view mount area.
  • After sunset return to hotel. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 7: Bagan - Heho - Inle Lake sightseeing
  • After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Bagan (Nyaung U) airport for the flight to Heho (Shan State). From Heho, a scenic one-hour drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images.
  • Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people.
  • Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.
  • Visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air! 
  • Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.
  • Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.
  • Overnight on Inle Lake.
Day 8: Inle Lake - In Dein Pagoda - Inle Lake
  • After breakfast, visit the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. (Note: market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon day).
  • From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of In Dein. 
  • Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.
  • After enjoying your visit to In Dein, transfer to your hotel by boat and along the way we have the option to see the "Padaung women" or hill tribe "Karen long neck" at Ywama Village. There is some beautiful teaks houses built on large wooden piles driven into the lake bed.
  • You can also see the floating gardens, where the farmers mainly grow tomatoes but also harvest beans, cucumbers, flowers, gourde and where they usually use small wooden boats with flat bottom to move easily through the tiny artificial islands.
  • Overnight on Inle Lake.
Day 9: Inle Lake - Heho by flight - Ngapali beach
  • After breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Thandwe (Ngapali beach).
  • On arrival, transfer from Thandwe airport to Ngapali Beach 20 minutes away. Here, in the Bay of Bengal you will find the beautiful beach of Ngapali with its charming fishing village and coconut trees. Relax on the most famous beach form Myanmar, or for the more active, enjoy various sports such as snorkeling, surfing, golf or cycling. (Private Car & No Guide in Ngapali Beach)
  • Overnight in Ngapali beach.

Remark: Heho / Thandwe domestic flight do not operate during low season period. Alternative will fly from Heho to Yangon then Thandwe (Ngapali beach). Kindly see supplement airfare in price list table. 

Day 10: Free & Easy

Full day at your own leisure to enjoy the beach and water sports.  (Private Car & No Guide in Ngapali Beach)

Overnight in Ngapali beach.

Day 11: Ngapali beach - Thandwe/ Yangon
  • Drive to Thandwe airport for your flight back to Yangon. (Private Car & No Guide in Ngapali Beach)
  • On arrival, drive to hotel for check in and refreshment.
  • After refreshment, start visit to Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha. A visit to Chauk Htat Gyi provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha. The feet of the statue are carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray.
  • From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, the local legend states that the original structure was built 2500 years ago, and then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 99 meters tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas and your guide will show you around the massive complex, explaining why this temple is so revered.
  • Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point. After sunset return to hotel.
  • Overnight in Yangon.
Day 12: Departure
  • After breakfast at hotel, today free at leisure before transferring to the airport to take a departure flight coming back home town.
  • It is time to say goodbye, we thank you very much for you’re travelling with us and warmly welcome you to come back again. 

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

TOUR COST PER PAX IN USD

TOUR COST PER PAX IN USD (Valid from 1 Oct 2020 to 30 Apr 2021, except peak season, holiday)

Group

1pax

2pax

3* hotel

2,002

1,084

4* hotel

2,382

1,276

5* hotel

3,069

1,595

 

Supplement price for 4 Domestic flight

Yangon to Mandalay – USD 115 per way per person (estimated price only)

Bagan to Heho – USD 85 per way per person (estimated price only)

Heho to Thandwe – USD 115 per way per person (estimated price only)

Thandwe to Yangon – USD 110 per way per person (estimated price only)

SUGGESTED HOTEL OR SIMILAR

Hotel class

3* hotel

4* hotel

5* hotel

Yangon

Grand United Ahlone Hotel

Rose Garden Hotel

Sule Shangri-La Hotel

Mandalay

Hotel Magic Mandalay

Eastern Palace Hotel

Hilton Mandalay Hotel

Bagan

 Bagan Thande Hotel

Ananta Bagan Hotel (Free Mini Bar)

Aureum Palace Hotel Bagan

Inle lake

Paramount Inle Resort

Novotel Inle Lake Hotel

Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min Hotel

Ngapali beach

Pleasant View Resort

 

Amata Resort  & Spa

 

Aureum Resort-Ngapali

 

 
Inclusive
  • 11 nights’ accommodation on twin/double staying room basis with daily breakfast
  • English-speaking station guide in each different cities as per itinerary Except Ngapali
  • All transfers and excursions with private air-conditioned vehicles with drivers Except Ngapali
  • Meals other than mentioned (B = Breakfast)
  • Entrance fees for the places as mentioned in the program
  • Horse cart tour in Ava & Bagan
  • Private local boat trip from Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay  
  • Mandalay – Bagan by MGRG daily express boat
  • Private local boat for Inle Lake excursions
  • Airport transfer to & from will be arranged by hotel at complimentary basis
  • Daily water and refreshment tower
  • Porter fees at airports
  • Service charges and government tax
Exclusive
  • International ticket to/from Yangon
  • International departure Airport Tax Yangon (USD 10/pax at present)
  • 5 (Low Season) or 4 (High Season) domestic flights on Air KBZ,  Yangon Airways or Golden Myanmar Airline including insurance surcharge (Airfare: please find separately in price list table)
  • Optional tour
  • Lunch & Dinner
  • Visa arrangements for Myanmar
  • Services not mentioned in our itinerary
  • Tips and porters at the hotels
  • Expenditure of personal nature such as drinks, tips, souvenirs, laundry, etc
  • Travel insurance (cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses, including repatriation, in the event of accident or illness)
Child policy
  • Child under 12 years old sharing with 01 adult: 90% of adult fare
  • Child under 12 years old sharing with 02 adults with extra bed: 80% of adult fare
  • Child under 12 years old sharing with 02 adults without extra bed: 50% of adult fare
  • Child under 02 years old sharing with 02 adults without bed: FOC
Remarks
  • Prices quoted in USD and subject to change without prior notice.
  • Please be informed that the quotation does not imply or constitute availability.
  • In case if the hotel listed is unavailable, other similar class hotel shall be provided.
  • Compulsory Gala Dinner will be applied during Christmas Eve and New Year Eve.

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