Religious Land of Myanmar

Upon your airport arrival, you will be greeted and welcomed by our guide and driver and then transferred to your hotel. After check in at your hotel and receive a brief freshening up, begin your city tour with us. As heading to Yangon's colonial part, soon you realize Yangon is a unique city, unlike any other of its size in all of Southeast Asia. It is Myanmar's commercial capital with a population of more than five millions. Take a walking tour to get a sense of Yangon's beauty with its picturesque lakes, verdant parks as well as its charming people.

Next, you are about to see the highlighted destinations of Yangon. It all starts with a visit to Chaukhtatgyi Temple which holds the biggest reclining Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Afterwards, wander around Sule Pagoda which is Myanmar's oldest pagoda of 2,500 years old. During the day, you attention might be caught by the spectacular image of Shwedagon Pagoda - patient, let's save the best for the last. When the sun sets, you will experience the wonder of this inspiring pagoda, being left breathless with its vivid color and sacred atmosphere.

After a long day, take a good night sleep at your hotel in Yangon.

After having breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the morning flight to Mandalay. After arriving at Tadaoo International Airport, take a two hour drive to Pyin Oo Lwin, formerly known as Maymyo. As up to present day Pyin Oo Lwin still owns the largest community of Myanmar, native Shan, Anglo-Burmese, Anglo-Indian, and Chinese immigrants (mostly from Yunnan), it is considered the melting pot of Myanmar.

Stop by the National Kandawgyi (Botanical) Gardens - one of the most charming parks in the country. Originally a natural forest transformed into the today 436 acre lush green garden since 1915, the complex possesses a rich flora and fauna with numerous species from inside and outside the country.

Overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Leave Pyin Oo Lwin and head back to Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city with a population of over one million, a must-visit destination. On the way to the city centre, you will go through Paleik which houses more than 300 temples and pagodas. The first stop is Shwenandaw Monastery, meaning Golden Palace Monastery, Myanmar's most well known wooden monastery. Around sunset, head to the top of the 236 meter high Mandalay Hill which gives Mandalay its name and enjoy the city's miraculous sunset view there. At the foot of the hill, you can also see Kuthodaw Pagoda which holds the world's biggest book.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Start today's routine with Zegyo Market, the most important and oldest market of Mandalay, to see locals' daily life and also different kinds of handcrafted goods. Next, visit Mahamuni Buddha Temple, the home for the gigantic gold-gilded Mahamuni statue, one of the three holiest destinations in Myanmar.

Now, let's see how Mandalay's people make handmade arts and crafts from raw materials. Start with the technique of turning gold nuggets into super thin gold leaves by hammers at local workshop - a technique still applied today. Next, stroll down the marble carving street to see how raw marble are turned into artworks. Also, figure out the manufacture of Kalaga tapestries and traditional puppets.

To finish the tour, enjoy sunset view at U Bein Bridge - the world's most extended teak bridge.

Stay overnight at your hotel in Mandalay.

At the beginning of today routine, take a three hour drive to Monywa. Along the way, visit Sagaing, a neighboring town to Mandalay on bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Considered the center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar, Sagaing includes over 600 monasteries and nunneries. Stop by Kaungmhudaw Pagoda, the unique stupa in egg-shaped design, and Zayar Theingi Nunnery with hundreds of female scholars. Before reaching Monywa, head to the top of Sagaing Hill to visit Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and enjoy misty city and river views.

Overnight in Monywa.

Located on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River, 136 kilometers northwest of Mandalay, Monywa serves as the major trade center for India and Myanmar and also an important Buddhism hub. Visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, a spectacular edifice with over 500,000 Buddha statues, together with countless golden pillars and colorful stupas. Next, access Phowintaung, a complex of 937 caves decorated with numerous wall paintings, and Shwe Ba Hill whose caves and temples are full of antiquated Buddha statues and are carved from the volcanic rocks around. Also, shopping at local markets and trying out foods at local restaurants are parts of the routine as these are the easiest way to discover local culture.

Stay overnight at your hotel.

Say farewell to Monywa and head to Bagan through Pakokku town. Along the way, drop by a few sites such like Thiho Shin Pagoda which holds one of the most revered Buddha images in Myanmar, cheroot making workshop - a part of what makes Pakokku famous, and local market. As the drive is done, you will be transferred to the private boat to Bagan, the major Buddhism hub of Myanmar - the city of millions pagodas.

Stay overnight at your selected hotel in Bagan.

In the morning, come to the most well known temples of Bagan: Shwezigon Pagoda - the first gold pagoda built in Burma enshrining Gautama Buddha's relics; Ananda Temple which is home to four Buddha standing statues - each faces one of the four cardinal directions; Htilominlo Temple whose name means "blessings of the three worlds" with also four Buddha images facing four directions on its first floor; Gubyaukgyi Temple - the oldest pagoda in Bagan whose exteriors are still in good condition; and Sulamani Temple, a Buddhist edifice rebuilt in 1994 from which Htilominlo Temple was built after.

In the evening, enjoy a cruise on Ayeyarwaddy River - the source of Myanmar life with excellent views of local people in their daily lives as well as the archeological sites nearby, among the dim sunset lights.

Overnight in Bagan.

After having an early breakfast, reach Bagan Viewing Tower to enjoy the rising sun before taking a biking trip around the city. Catch into eyes Bagan's beautiful temples, little villages, drop by Myinkaba village and get to know local people as well as how they live their life. Also, join in and shop at local market to understand the sense of Asian ones. Next, head to Mya Zedi whose name means 'Jade Pagoda' in Burmese language - from there, two identical pillars were found.

In the late afternoon, you will be taken to the top of Thatbyinnyu Temple, Bagan's highest pagoda to contemplate the view of thousands temples dotting Bagan in sunset - a magnificent and tranquil moment that gives you goose bumps.

Stay overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

In the early morning, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Heho, the primary air gateway to Inle Lake. It takes one hour to drive from Heho to Inle; along the way, soothe yourself with cool weather and peaceful settings. Drop by a Shan paper umbrella workshop to how skillful locals are to create these amazing handcrafts. Also, visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which was constructed completely from teak painted red.

Now you are at Inle Lake, one of the most renowned destinations of Myanmar. Take a boat to reach your hotel and check in. Discover how amazingly beautiful the lake through a boat trip, catching into sight the scenic settings of floating gardens, villages, and pagodas nearby.

After having breakfast, start your full day of sightseeing at the local market where various goods made by Shan State’s hill tribe people can be found. Continue Inle Lake exploration by observing Intha people's one-of-a-kind talent of rowing by only one leg. Take a closer approach to local fishermen, finding out how they catch fish. Next, visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda, one of the principal shrines in Myanmar, presenting the most extraordinary Buddha images. Plus, stop at local workshops which make silk, cotton, lotus weaving, and cigarette to get the honest sense of local life. Finish the day by enjoying the setting sun, a pleasant experience.

Overnight at hotel in Inle.

Say farewell to Inle Lake and take a flight to comeback to Yangon. After your hotel check-in, buy goods from all part of Myanmar at Bogyoke market and then walk around Chinese Town to experience the city in a new, fresh way. Take a stroll at the riverbank to end the day.

Spend your day as you wish before the departure flight from Yangon.