Jewel Beach of Myanmar

As soon as youarrive to Yangon, you will be picked up from the airport to your hotel for check-in. You easily realize that Yangon is more attractive due to owning a numerous renowned heritages around the city. Some about 2500-year-old architectures, quiet temples and colonial buildings against the modern vibe areas make Yangon become an unparalleled destination for tourists in Myanmar.

The first destination we offer is Chaukhtatgyi Temple which contains quite simply the largest Buddha statue in South East Asia. It is reclining statue with impressive scale and 108 symbols in feet. The number 108 relates to Buddha's life and teachings, explained in a display nearby. Then we move on to Botataung Pagoda - famous for its pavilion with the image from the Royal Palace Mandalay which was taken by the British in many years in a museum in London. Locals believe that this Pagoda, beside Shwedagon Pagoda - the third destination in our tour, is over 2500 years old. Shwedagon Pagoda is really a Golden Mystery and a symbol of Burma. You will be surprised by its huge, unique, varied, stunning and absorbing.

Stay overnight in Yangon.

We drive to Amarapura after a short flight to Mandalay. Main activities in here are visiting one of the biggest monasteries with daily lives of thousands of monks and visiting the Silk-Weaving workshop in Amarapura - the city of Immortality in Mandalay. Weaving industry is one of the main professions of Amarapura people. It is becoming a famous and interesting cottage industry and it will be a wonderful experience to have a look.About over one hundred looms are used to make complex design and beautiful silk, which is used in special and ceremonial occasions. Next, we will come back to Mandalay, visit Kuthodaw Pagoda and finally, go up to Mandalay Hill and have the view of sunset.

Overnight in Mandalay.

We have breakfast before drive to Kywe Sun Jetty, which is on the Ayeyawaddy river western bank. Here is very beautiful for photos. Tourists will be offered a walk along the bank for relaxing and taking wonderful photographs. After that, we have a trip on boat to a small village of Mingun and visit Mingun Stupa - an uncompleted construction and explained by the mysterious beliefs of its builder. Mingun Bell with the weight of 90 Metric Tons and MyaThein Dan Pagoda are two next destinations in Mingun. Siting in Oxen-drawn Carts will make a memorable Mingun, and then, we come back to Mandalay on boat.

In the afternoon, we travel to outskirts of Mandalay City for visiting the rich history Mahamuni Buddha Image, which is highly adored by Mandalay Citizens. Finally, we come to Handicrafts Workshops such as Gold Leaf Beating, Stone Carving and see that Mandalay is now a center of Myanmar Traditional Handicrafts.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Wake up, have breakfast and drive to Sagaing - a Buddhist Center today after the Royal Capital in the past. We will explore Sagaing Hill with Meditation Centers, Monasteries and Nunneries and finally, Sun OoPunyapagoda, which is on the top of hill, is a great place for our short break.

It takes about 3 hours to drive to Monywa, the second destination in this day. Monywa is the second biggest after Mandalay in the central Myanmar, which owns fertile fields yielding and many kinds of vegetation. Come there, you should not miss the Thanbude Temple with more than half million of Buddha Images. Hpo Win Daung Caves is more attractive for tourists with 492 cave temples built inside the limestone cliffs and some boldly colored murals. Walk little to the Sandstone Caves which is built from 16th to 19th century before come to the town and check in at the hotel.

Overnight in Monywa.

We start a new day with breakfast and visit Bodhi Tataung Buddha, which is famous for its a thousand Sitting Buddha Images under Bo trees. There is a giant standing Buddha statue, with the bare facts of 129 meters of height, built in 2008 and now is the second tallest statue in the world. On the way to Pakkoku, we stop at Ma U village and have an experience of local life and home industries such as Bamboo Scales making and Incense Stick. Then, a walk among Pagoda complex is offered before continue driving to Pakkoku, which is considered as a Tobacco Trade Center.

From Pakkoku, we embark the private boat and it takesabout 150 minutes to arrive the Ancient City, Bagan. In here, we have an opportunity to see the range of hundreds of Ancient Stupas, Temples, Monestaries and the Heart of Buddhism. Late afternoon, we drive to the hotel for check in.

Overnight in Bagan

The first destination is Nyaung U morning market, which is knows as Market On The Floor with a lot of locals buying and selling a variety of local products. Handicrafts and Thanakha is more favorable for tourists than others. Then, we come and explore ShweZiGon, built in 11th century by Buddhist King - Anawrahta and considered as the most sacred stupa, GuByaukGyi Temple with the mural form 12th century, the massive red-colored Htilominlo Temple and the Ananda Temple which has about a millennium in history.

In the afternoon, a visit to famous Lacquer Wares Workshop is worth for tourists to collect hand-made black products that come in a variety of household items from the smallest one of tea-cup to the Giant Sun Oak, the food container to be sent to the Buddhist monasteries in the yester years. They may be the great presents for family and friends. Finally, we enjoy sunset on boat on Ayeyarwady River.

Overnight in Bagan.

We spend all this day on going sightseeing in Bagan by horse-cart and bicycle. Bicycle tour is more appropriate for the trip to ruined temples here and there. We also climb some climbable pagodas to have different panoramic views and learn local unique culture.

After lunch, we sitting on the horse-carts and come to a small village in Baganarae. There are a dilapidated teak wood monastery and some century old temples, make an unforgettable memory if you come there when the sun is sinking on the western horizon. Enjoy peace and tranquility on the vast scope of temples, and it is wonderful for taking photographs among the tropical palm trees and white-barked acacia.

Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast, we drive Mt. Popa, where is the extinguished million-year-old volcano located.Travellers come there every year, especially at festival seasons. As the abode of Myanmar Nats, in here, there is until some superstitions, but some of them are unique customs of locals. The name Popa represents the abundance of flowers and you can see many flowers and fruits when you enter the small town at the foot of extinct volcano. A lot of tourists like feeding wild animals and it is really an interesting work. Mountainous atmosphere is the most attractive during this trek. After that, in the afternoon, we drive back to Bagan.

Overnight in Bagan.

As usual, we have breakfast after waking up to have energy for a new journey. We transfer to Nyaung U airport for a flight to Heho, Shan State. Our destination is Kalaw. On the way, we stop at Aung Ban and visit a local market for buying some typical local foods, wines, and traditional handicrafts. Tourists come here will have a chance to taste Shan Noodles, a special dish which is sold in one of the Myanmar Traditional Teashops and Shan Dried Tea, known as the best tea of Myanmar. Then, we drive to visit British Hill Station in Kalaw - a small town with ethnic minorities and colonial atmosphere. The weather is great thanks to the location at over 1300 meters above the sea level. In the afternoon, we have a half-day Trekking to Palaung village and enjoy the life of locals. The houses in there are built in the typical design. At late afternoon, we come to hotel and have a wonderful evening after a trek.

Stay overnight in Kalaw.

We start this day with breakfast, then drive to Pindaya - a small peaceful town in Shan Mountains, which is famous for its limestone caves with thousands of Buddha images. After the long trips in previous day, you can relax on the way to Pindaya from Aung Ban with the picturesque views and can make many stops for your photographs. It is really exciting when you visit Paper Umbrella. The main activity is visiting Pindaya Limestone Natural Caves - a symbol of tourism in Pindaya. About 8000 Buddha images have been consecrated for worship over the centuries, and it is a bad ideal to not take some pictures of most beautiful Shan Style Buddha.

In the afternoon, we drive to NyaungShwe, visit Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, which was built in 1882 by teak wood with colorful mosaics decorated on the interior walls before embarking on the boat to reach your hotel in Inle Lake.

Overnight at Inle Lake.

We will spend all day on going sightseeing on Inle Lake, starting with a visiting traditional "floating market". As its location in the heart of Shan Plateau, about 900 meters above sea level, the weather is great for relaxing. Locals live in the houses which are on stilts and they make the floating garden beds to plant many kinds of vegetation. The market is where people in colorful traditional dresses buy and sell their farm products. After that, we come to PhaungDawOo pagoda, which is the Holiest Religious Stupa in the area. The unique of Inle Lake is also the Silk Weaving village, the one and only place where you can see lotus fabrics weaving technique. And at the late morning, we enjoy the cat show at the monastery.

In the afternoon, we continue our travel by sitting on boat to Indein Ruined Pagoda Complex along a small river. Ruined Indein pagodas appear on the hill slope when we pass the large green Myanmar Bamboo forests on the way and provide a panoramic view to the lake.

Overnight at Inle Lake.

Leaving Inle Lake, we go on coming to Thandwe and visit Ngapali Beach. Ngapali Beach is known as the most beautiful beach in Myanmar, stretches out onto the Bay of Bengal, attract a lot of visitors due to its fresh air and clean water. Almost visitors like spend time on walking on the white sand beach under the shades of coconut trees. We stay here 3 days, and feel the unparalleled atmosphere in this destination. Enjoying the sunset at the beach closes the first day in here. It is really wonderful to view offshore red horizon and equivocal fishing boat with rolling waves.

Overnight at Ngapali Beach.

To be considered as one of the best gifts of Mother Nature, Ngapali Beach owns a place for peace and tranquility. And you will start the new day with tasting sea foods, which are the particulars in this beach, on the meal offered. After that, we ride bicycle to explore nearby fishing villages. Ngapali is a great place for explore local life. Locals collect the gifts of sea (fishes and others) and load on the oxcarts, while children play on the sand. Many huts are built under the palm tree shades, rudiment but enough to cover the sun at the noon. You may be arranged for a short-time boat trip to nearby lonely island or see creatures and underwater weeds at the nearby lagoons.

Overnight at Ngapali Beach.

Today is the last day to explore Ngapali beach and we will enjoy ourselves at the Unspoiled Bathing Rendezvous. If you want to visit some of pagodas here, we introduce that from here, it is easy to drive to Shwe Nan DawPaya with 10 minutes. This pagoda is built on top of a hill, a tranquil spot and a place of worship with statues, wooden columns and arches represent typical types of Myanmar monasteries. Nearby, there is also a golf course, valid for who like sports. You can relax on the available small beds on the beach or try Myanmar Traditional Cane-ball in the afternoon with the locals.

Overnight at Ngapali Beach.

Morning flight back to Yangon. You will have time to leisure after a long trip, and maybe, are arranged for a short trip to National Museum - the main museum of Burmese art, history and culture in Myanmar. It is really wonderful to see a collection of ancient artifacts, ornaments and works of art, inscriptions, historic memorabilia, and others which related to history, culture and civilization of Burmese people. Besides, time for shopping, walking or relaxing is in your option.

Overnight in Yangon.

Today you will have time to explore more about Yangon before transfer to the airport to take your departure flight. If the time permits, you can go to Scott market, where locals sell many Myanmar Traditional Handicrafts and other goods. Markets are always the destinations in which you can see the locals' colorful life. Or you can visit Colonial British Built Train Station and enjoy the train ride on one of City Circling train.

Finally, the flight back form Yangon International Airport closes the 16-day tour.