Golden Myanmar Experience

AGTT 36 : 20 Days / 19 Nights
Yangon - Mawlamyine - Kyaikhtiyo - Bago - Yangon - Mandalay - Bagan - Inle

Day 1 (Thur) : Arrive Yangon (D)
Arrive in Yangon and transfer to hotel. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is still a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating and authentic capitals of South-East Asia. Transfer to hotel for check in. Free at leisure. Welcome dinner with traditional cultural show. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2 (Fri ) : Yangon City Tour. (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing starts with Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda (a huge reclining Buddha), the splendid National Museum, including the gem-studded royal regalia and the Lion Throne of King Mindon and King Thibaw, the last kings of the Myanmar Kingdom. Afternoon free shopping at Bogyoke (Scott) Market, sightseeing Karaweik Hall, a Royal floating barge on the Royal Lake for a photo stop and late in the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: Myanmar’s holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda with its golden stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf.Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 3 (Sat) : Yangon - Kyaikhtiyo - Thaton - Pha-an (270 km - approximately 8 hrs drive) (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Leave Yangon by car around 8:00 am. Stop for lunch and refreshment at Sein Le Tin Restaurant. Proceed to Pha-an via Thaton. On the way, see Bayin Nyi Lime stone cave with hot spring. Just before arriving Pha-an, if time is permitted, have a look Kawtgoopn cave decorated with 7th century artwork. Overnight in Pha-an.
 

Day 4 (Sun) : Pha-an - Mawlamyine (65 km) (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing at Pha-an including Zwekabin hill, the significant natural hill embedded with 1000 Sal trees, Kawkathaung cave in small wood, Shwe Yin Myaw Pagoda by the Thanlwin river, bustling jetty and city market. Afternoon, proceed to Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon state. Visit Khayonegu caves that enshrines numerous Buddha images, stalactites and stalagmites. In the evening leisure walking along the strand road by Thanlwin River. Overnight in Mawlamyine.

Day 5 (Mon) : Mawlamyine - Thanbyuzayat - Kyaikhami - Setse’ Beach. (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mudon to see world’s largest Buddha images. Continue to Thanbyu Zayat second world war memorial cemetery. Pay a visit to Khami Yele Pagoda enshrined with 11 hair relics of Buddha. Proceed to Set se’ Beach to relax. Return to Mawlamyine. Via visit to Win Sein World Largent Reclining Buddha. Late afternoon sightseeing to Kyaikthanlan Pagoda with view point, Maha Muni Pagoda and U Khandi. Overnight at Hotel in Mawlamyine.

Day 6 (Tue) : Mawlamyine - Kyaikhtiyo. (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Proceed to Kyaikhtiyo. Visit Kyaikhtiyo, one of Myanmar’s Landmarks which is famous for its precarious position and religious importance: KYAIKHTIYO the ‘Golden Rock’, 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 by truck. The upper area must be traveled by foot, at present, and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path and ascends some 500 m to the GOLDEN ROCK Pagoda (Golden Rock) Pagoda. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 7 (Wed) : Kyaikhtiyo - Bago - Yangon. (B)
After breakfast, return to the base-camp by open truck and head in the direction of Yangon for 110km to Bago, an ancient capital dating back to the 6th century. Sightseeing in Bago includes the beautiful 55m long reclining Buddha called Shwethalyaung and the Mon style Shwemawdaw Pagoda, one of the most venerated in Myanmar. Its spire stands 114m high and is taller even than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Also visit the old Palace of Kambozathadi and the huge four sitting Buddhas. Return by road to Yangon, visiting the Allied War Cemetery near Htaukkyan, the final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers, and a local woven bamboo factory. Transfer back to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 8 (Thur) : Yangon - Mandalay by morning flight. (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon’s Mingaladon Airport for the flight to Mandalay. On arrival, a sightseeing tour of Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital, features Mahamuni Pagoda, famous for its venerable statue of Buddha covered with gold leaf. Mandalay has long been known as a centre 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. Afternoon visit to Mandalay Palace, 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. Enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 9 (Fri ) : Mandalay - Amarapura - Ava - Sagaing - Mandalay by car. (B)
After breakfast at the hotel departure for a full day trip to the former capitals of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing. The day begins with a visit to the 18th century capital, Amarapura where the country’s largest monastery, Mahaganda Yon Monastery, is located. Continue to the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely from teak and a silk weaving workshop. 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. Lunch on the way. 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. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 10 (Sat) : Mandalay - Bagan by boat (0700/1600). (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the jetty for a boat trip to Bagan. As it sails southwards, the riverboat passes many villages offering a glimpse into the way of life along the Irrawaddy River. Arrive in Bagan late in the afternoon. On the dry plain of central Myanmar by the banks of the Irrawaddy River stands Bagan, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia. The 230 years, from 11th to 13th centuries, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, were marked by a religious fervour and building frenzy resulting in the thousands of stupas and temples many of which are still standing today. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 11 (Sun) : Bagan Sightseeing. (B)
After breakfast, morning sightseeing of Bagan features the colourful Nyaung Oo Market, the Shwezigon Pagoda and its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, 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 observe the process of traditional lacquerware, one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts and a speciality of Bagan. Visit Ananda, an architectural masterpiece of the early-style temple with four impressive standing Buddha images, Ananda Okkyaung, one of the few surviving brick monasteries from the early Bagan period and Thatbyinnyu the highest temple in Bagan rising to 61m. 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 over the site from the upper terrace of Myauk Guni Temple. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 12 (Mon) : Bagan (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Myinkaba village and observe the process of traditional lacquer ware, one of the best-known Myanmar handicraft and a specialty of Bagan. Visit the monuments of Myinkaba village, Gubyaukkhi, an early period Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence with some of the oldest mural paintings in Bagan, Manuha and Nanpaya temples. 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. Enjoy the sunset from the top of Bu Phaya (or) Shwesandaw Pagoda. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 13 (Tue) : Bagan - Mt Popa - Kalaw (B)
After breakfast at hotel, proceed to Mt. Popa. Visit Mt. Popa. Tower like volcanic plug that houses a pituresque complex of monasteries and Pagodas which can be reached by a winding 777 steps. Myanmar people adore Mt. Popa as a Nat Taung (spirits of mountaions), that means all spirits and angles gather and have a meating on that mountain peak in August. Record shows that there are 118 kinds of herbal plants, different species of birds and animals. Proceed to Kalaw by car. Overnight in Kalaw.

Day 14 (Wed) : Kalaw - Pindaya by car (2 hrs drive) (B)
Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, 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 back to Nyaung Shwe jetty where is gate way to Ine Lake. On arrival at Nyaung Shwe village, check in hotel. Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.

Day 15 (Thur ) : Inle Lake sightseeing. (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer by boat to start a sightseeing tour of Inle Lake including a chance to see the leg-rowing fishermen. Continue to see the floating gardens, built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. There are also floating villages like Ywama, the lake’s downtown, where a floating market is held every five days. The Intha people, a tribe of Mon descent, mostly inhabit the lakeshores and floating villages. In the afternoon, continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and the jumping cat monastery. Check in hotel. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 16 (Fri ) : Inle Lake - In Dein - Inle Lake (B)
After breakfast, transfer by motorboat to In Dein, an off-the-beaten-track site in the south of the lake. From Ywama, the boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal leading to a small Pa O tribe village. From the market place of 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 the lake and transfer back to hotel in the afternoon. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 17 (Sat) : Inle/ Heho - Thandwe/ Ngapali Beach by morning flight. (B)
After breakfast, transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe jetty and proceed to Heho airport for Ngapali. Upon arrival at Thandwe airport, transfer to hotel. Enjoy at beach. Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

Day 18 (Sun) : Enjoy at Beach. Overnight in Beach. (B)

Day 19 (Mon) : Enjoy at Beach. Overnight in Beach. (B)

Day 20 (Tue ) : Thandwe/ Ngapali - Yangon by morning flight.
                        Connective flight to Bangkok (B)
After breakfast at hotel, free at leisure before transferring to airport for Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon airport, transfer to International Departure lounge for your onwards flight.  

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