Day 1: Arrival Yangon
Arrival by the evening flight to Yangon International Airport. Welcome by our tour guide and transfer to Hotel. Stay overnight at the Hotel.
Day 2: Yangon
After breakfast at the hotel, visit Lawkachantha Abaya Labamuni Buddha Image being curved from a Superlative Monolithic marble stone, Kaba Aye Mahapathana Cave (World Peace) Pagoda, walk into the Great Cave (man – made cave), which was built to hold sixth synod of Buddhist monks in order to revise the Buddhist scriptures. Then transfer to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing commence from Chauhtatgyi Pagoda – a huge reclining Buddha, Kandaw Gyi Royal Lake, visit and watch the sunset at the Glorious Shwedagon Pagoda – over 2500 years old and one of the world’s most spectacular religious monuments. Dinner at Karaweik Royal Berge with cultural show. Stay overnight at hotel in Yangon.
Day 3: Yangon – Kyaikhtiyoe (Golden Rock)
After breakfast, transfer to Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) ‘base camp’ <approx. 194km – 5 hrs>. From Kinpun, a steep and dirt 11km mountain road leads to the upper camp by open truck. From that upper camp, walk to the final stage about 45 minutes, up steep paths to the Kyaikhtiyo <Golden Rock> Pagoda, a small stupa sits on top of a huge boulder covered in gold leaf, which balances on the edge of a cliff at the top of Kyaikhto Mountain. Legend has it that the boulder balances on the cliff thanks to the hair of the Buddha, which is preserved inside the stupa. As an easier alternative to walking, travelers can be carried in sedan chairs by four porters. A spectacular view will be waiting at the top, especially at sun rise or sunset. Dinner and overnight at the hotel, Kyaikhtiyo.
Day 4: Kyaikhtiyoe – Bago - Yangon
Drive back to Yangon. On the way visit Bago sightseeing includes Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda, over a thousand years old which is even taller than the Shwedagon Pagoda of Yangon, ShweTha Lyaung Reclining Buddha Image, 55 meters long and one of the country’s most revered. Proceed to Kalyani Sima (Ordination Hall) to study a stone inscription of historical interest. Continue to Maha Cedi Pagoda, from which upper most terraces, magnificent panoramic view of the Bago Plains can be seen. Also, make visits to a cheroot factory in Bago and Kyaik Pon Buddha Images, built in 1476 by King Dhammazedi. Four huge sitting Buddhas placed back to back around a huge square pillar and 30m high four Buddha images represent the four Buddhas already enlightened in this world. Stay overnight at hotel, Yangon.
Day 5: Yangon - Bagan
After breakfast, transfer to Bagan by morning flight. Bagan full day sightseeing includes Shwezigon Pagoda – built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century, Thatbyinnyu Temple, the highest white stucco building, Htilominlo Temple – the largest temples of Bagan and Ananda Temple, which has four huge Buddha Images in standing position and relieves depicting the Buddha from his birth to his Enlighten men. Continuing visit to lacquer – ware making home cottage, Dhamayangyi, Bagan’s most massive temple, Manuha Temple – built in the Mon Style from the 1059, Nanpaya Temple – said to be the place of King Manuha’s palace site, Myinkaba Gubyaukgyi – known for its mural painting depicting scenes from Jakata. Also visit to Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River. Stay overnight at hotel in Bagan.
Day 6: Bagan – Mt. Popa – Sale
After breakfast, visit Nyaung Oo Local Market. And then proceed to Mount Popa about 50 miles (80km) southeast of Bagan. On the way, can study palm tree climbing, palm sugar making and grinding cooking oil. Climb up the 730 meters high conic flattop (Named as Popa Taung Kalat) by 777 steep steps. It is the home of Myanmar’s legendary 37 Nats or Spirits. You can see the panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes from the top of the Popa Taung Kalat. After lunch, drive to Kyaukpadaung and proceed to Sa Le. Visit Yoke Sone Monastery, which is the oldest existing monastery built entirely with teak wood. It has 154 teak posts and decorated with beautiful wood carvings. Continue to Man Paya – a largest Lac Buddha image, 6 meter high, dated from the 13th century. Return to Bagan through Chauk, where you will see old Burma Oil installations (‘nodding donkeys’) along the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Stay overnight at hotel, Bagan.
Day 7: Bagan – Mandalay
After breakfast, transfer to jetty; board on to public ferry boat to Mandalay sail along the Ayeyarwaddy River. The trip normally takes a full day, with stops at about half a dozen small towns where local people join or leave the boat. Transfer to hotel and overnight.
Day 8: Mandalay
Sightseeing commence from Mahagandayon Monastery to see the daily life of the Buddhist monks, 200 – year – old U Pein teak bridge, built in 1782 spanning the Taung Tha Man Lake, Manhamuni Pagoda, home to Mandalay’s holiest Buddha statue, 12.5ft high – seated image, which is heavily overlaid with gold, workshops of tapestries and silk weaving, Shwenandaw Kyaung <Golden Palace Monastery> noted for its exquisite wood carvings, Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda to see large Buddha statue, carved out of a single marble block and Kuthodaw Pagoda, to study the world’s biggest book in – scripted on the marble slabs Then drive to Mandalay Hill, 230 meters in elevation, for a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding areas at sunset. Stay overnight at hotel, Mandalay.
Day 9: Mandalay - Mingun
After breakfast, a boat – trip on the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun about 11Km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit to Mingun Bell, claimed to be the largest ringing bell in the world; Mya TheinTan Pagoda, in memorial to the late Queen Sin Byu Me and the unfinished Mingun Temple, which could be the world’s largest brick Pagoda if it was finished. Back to Mandalay and visit other interesting places in Mandalay. Stay overnight at hotel, Mandalay.
Day 10: Inwa - Sagaing
Visit Inwa (Ava) across the Myitnge River, Tour Highlights: Ava’s city walls can still be seen and Nan Myint tower and Maha Aung Mye Bonzan Monastery. Then visit Sagaing and lunch. After lunch visit Sagaing Hills, Ywahtaung village (home of the silversmiths’ guilds) and Kaunghmudaw Pagoda. Drive back to Mandalay and overnight at hotel, Mandalay.
Day 11: Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin
After breakfast, take a scenic drive (80 km – 2 hrs) to Pyin Oo Lwin, a beautiful hill – station and popular as a summer resort. On the way to Pyin Oo Lwin, see the Datawkyaik water – fall which gives exciting trekking. Proceed to Pyin Oo Lwin and stay overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Pyin Oo Lwin
Pyin Oo Lwin sightseeing includes Botanical Garden and Kandawgyi lake, the Candacraig Hotel of Victorian Architecture, colorful Chinese Buddhist Temple, Anisakan Waterfalls (10 km south of Pyin Oo Lwin), though not spectacular, are a pleasant place for a swim and picnic and Market with stalls of all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Stay overnight at hotel, Pyin Oo Lwin.
Day 13: Pyin Oo Lwin - Monywa
After breakfast, drive to Monywa (about 5 hours’ drive). Monywa sightseeing includes Shwe Gu Ni Paya, one of the most important pilgrimage spots in Upper Myanmar and also famous for its wish – fulfilling powers, lacquer – ware work shop at Kyaukkar village, Thanboddhay Pagoda, unique for its more than 580,000 Buddha images covering every wall and archway, Bodditataung Pagoda (1000 Buddhas), a grove of banyan trees each with a Buddha at its foot, 90 m long Reclining Buddha, with a very small (and free) museum on the inside containing 9000 Buddha images, Laykyun Setkyar, the world biggest standing Buddha image, Alantayar Pagoda, which is good for sunset. Stay overnight at hotel, Monywa.
Day 14: Monywa
Transfer to the jetty to take a short ferry ride across the Chindwin River to Nyaungbingyi village. Then take a car to Poe Win Taung Caves (about 27 km), quite impressive sandstone caves with over 400,000 Buddha images in these and other nearby caves. Proceed to Shwebataung Paya, just beyond Poe Win Taung, features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with plain Buddha images. Back to Monywa and stay overnight at hotel, Monywa.
Day 15: Monywa – Mandalay - Heho
After breakfast drive to Mandalay takes 4 hours’ drive from Monywa. Transfer to the airport for Heho (Inle) by evening flight. Proceed to Kalaw and overnight at hotel in Kalaw.
Day 16: Kalaw – Pindaya - Inle
Kalaw trekking tour to mountain villages where minority Palaung tribes lived. Enjoy the traditional meals together with the villagers. Transfer to Pindaya, a small quiet town, famous for its Pindaya Caves (Shwe – Umin or Golden Cave), formed many years ago. The caves themselves are stocked full of Buddha images (apparently 8,094 in total) many covered with gold and carved by the locals at the end of the 17th century in a variety of styles. One can also study bamboo umbrella making, paper – making, Pindaya Lake and the aged thousand years old trees. Then proceed to Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake) and overnight at the hotel.
Day 17: Inle Lake Sightseeing
Inle Lake sightseeing by boat includes Floating Market (can be able to see on the market days only which holds on every five days), Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, it houses 5 extraordinary Buddha images scarcely recognizable as they have been disfigured by layers of gold which people stick on both for good luck and as an art of piety, Ngaphechaung Monastery – the modest collection of Buddha images in Shan, Tibetan, Bagan and Inwa styles, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and other sights. Stay overnight at hotel in Inle.
Day 18: Indein – Heho - Yangon
After breakfast, cruise to Indein on the narrow Indein creek. Indein Pagoda is an ancient one located on the hill lock at the western bank of the Inlay Lake. You can observe a cluster of ancient stupas some are ruined. To reach the pagoda it has to walk up hill along the covered way. It has quite interesting scenes while cruising along the narrow creek. Back to Nyaung Shwe and transfer to the airport for departure to Yangon by evening flight. Stay overnight at hotel, Yangon.
Day 19: Departure
After breakfast, shopping at Bogyoke Aung San Market before called Scott’s Market, where one can buy many items in one place. This Market was built in British colonial times and has a colonial shape. Transfer to the airport for departure by evening flight.
Surcharge for compulsory Christmas and New Year Dinner will be subject to confirm at time of booking.
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