Thadingyut Myanmar Festival

As you arrive at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our guide and driver, and then be transferred to your hotel for check-in. First, contemplate the beauty of Yangon City Hall and Independence Monument, from where you can well observe this exotic city. Next, access Chaukhtatgyi Temple which holds the biggest reclining Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Around sunset, experience the wonder of Shwedagon Pagoda, being left breathless with its vivid color and sacred atmosphere.

Stay overnight in Yangon.

After having breakfast at your hotel, leave Yangon for a flight to Heho. As you arrive to Heho, our driver will drive you to Nyaung Shwe to have a short visit to this tranquil town before transfer to your hotel in Inle Lake by boat. This fresh water lake is one of the most renowned destinations in Myanmar and also the habitat of the extraordinary one leg rower Intha people. Stay overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, we will take you to Linkin Village to see Phaungdawoo Pagoda as well as join in its annual processional festival. The pagoda is home to 5 sacred Buddha statues; in the procession, an elaborated gold gilded barge carrying 4 of them is towed by small boats controlled by hundred one-leg rowers through 14 villages of Inle Lake. Contemplate the amazing event together with locals on the lake shores; when the procession is over, participate in dance shows, fun fairs, and enjoy the one leg rowing boat race - the most exciting part in the festival.

In the afternoon, visit Nga Phe Kyaung which is much known as 'Jumping Cat Monastery' with its cats taught to jump through hoops; also, expressive Buddha images of different styles can be seen in the monastery. Next, drop by Inn Paw Khon, a silk weaving village where you can see the local way of turning lotus root into beautiful cloth. Enjoy more traditional fun fairs before get on the boat taking you back to your hotel.

Stay overnight at the hotel in Inle Lake.

After having breakfast at your hotel, let's sail across a small canal for about 40 minutes to reach Indein village located at the western bank of Inle Lake. As you arrive, walk along the corridor and follow a covered stairway leading up to see the ancient stupas as well as its surrounding settings - which is quite worthy, bringing you a tranquil and nostalgic feeling. Have lunch at a local floating restaurant.

Finish the day by enjoying the setting sun on Inle Lake, a pleasant experience. Savor dinner and stay overnight at the hotel in Inle.

After having breakfast at the hotel, let us take you to Nyaung Shwe Port by motor boat and then drive you to Taunggyi. Visit Taunggyi Market as you arrive. Afterward, we will continue to Kakku, a marvelous site with 2548 antiquated pagodas, located 42 kilometers south of Taungyi.

Stay overnight at the hotel in Taunggyi.

In the morning, after breakfast, head to Heho Airport to take a short flight to Bagan. Up on arrival Bagan, you will visit Shwezigon Pagoda, the first gold pagoda built in Burma enshrining Gautama Buddha's relics; Wetkyi-in's Gubyaukgyi Temple which was modeled after India's Mahabodhi Temple in 13th century. Afterward, visit Htilominlo Temple whose name means "blessings of the three worlds" with four Buddha images facing four directions on its first floor and Ananda Temple which is home to four Buddha standing statues - each faces one of the four cardinal directions.

In the afternoon, proceed to Dhammayangyi Temple - Bagan's largest temple consisting of two parallel corridors and two vestibules, Manuha Temple - a two-storey rectangular construction containing three sitting Buddha images and a statue of Buddha accessing Nirvana, and Myinkaba's Gubyaukgyi Temple - an Indian style pagoda built in 1113 whose exteriors are still in good condition. Around sunset, head to Shwesandaw Pagoda, the second highest pagoda in Bagan with a cylindrical bell-like stupa on top, to contemplate the magnificent scene over Ayeyarwaddy River.

While having dinner, enjoy an interesting puppet show at a local restaurant. Stay overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

After breakfast, we will take you to Bagan's port for a boat trip to explore Pakokku, a prosperous town nearby. Afterward, we will drive you to Monywa, an important Buddhism hub of Myanmar. Upon arrival, visit Phowintaung, a complex of 937 caves well decorated with numerous wall paintings, about an hour drive from Shwe Ba Hill.

Stay overnight in Monywa.

Today, after breakfast, we will visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, a spectacular edifice with over 500,000 Buddha statues, together with countless golden pillars and colorful stupas and admire the 129 meter Buddha statue Bodhi Tahtaung, world's second highest. Afterward, come to Kyaukka village which is 19 kilometers from Monywa, most known for its special black lacquer ware. Continue sightseeing and exploring the making of this traditional craft.

Drive back to your hotel in Mandalay for check-in, and night sleep.

This is the day when Elephant Dance Festival is conducted - at Kyaukse, 48 kilometer away from Mandalay. Enjoy breakfast before heading to the festive place. High light of the festival is the performance of a giant man-made elephant made from bamboo, paper and decorated with colorful foil, glitter. Inside the elephant figure, there are two men dancing around the town in rhythm. Before we drive you back to Mandalay, access Shwe Thein Taw Pagoda.

Stay overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Have an early breakfast before taking part in this day full of visitations. Firstly, head to Mahamuni Buddha Temple, the home for the gigantic gold-gilded Mahamuni statue, one of the three holiest destinations in Myanmar, and then drop by a local marble carving workshop. Afterward, transfer to Amarapura (Burma's capital in the 18th and 19th century) to sightsee U Bein Bridge - the world's most extended teak bridge built hundreds years ago and partly experience monks' life through attending their meal at Mahagandayon Monastery. Visit a silk weaving workshop.

In the afternoon, come to Mandalay Palace - the last royal construction of Burmese Kingdoms; Shwenandaw Monastery - literally means Golden Palace Monastery, famous for its delicate teak carvings; Atumashi Monastery - a Buddhist edifice originally built from teak in 1857 before destruction and then rebuilt in 1996; and Kuthodaw Pagoda, formerly Mahalawka Marazein, which contains the world's biggest book. Finally, go up to the top of the 236 meter high Mandalay Hill which gives Mandalay its name to enjoy the city's miraculous view among sunset.

Stay overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

After breakfast, we will take you to Inwa (or Ava) which is the capital of Burma from the 14th to 19th century, 30 minutes drive south of Mandalay. There, visit Maha Aung Mye Bon Zan Monastery, also known as Me Nu Oak Kyuang, built by Queen Me Nu in 1818; and Hti Laing Shin Pagoda which was named after King Kyansittha, the one who built it. Climb up Namyin Watch Tower to have a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

In the afternoon, head to Sagaing and visit Sagaing Hill, a picturesque destination about 20 kilometers away from Mandalay, a meditation center; Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, a giant stupa in egg-shaped design built in the 17th century. Drop by workshops making pottery and silver ware before coming back to Mandalay.

Stay overnight at your hotel in Mandalay.

Today after breakfast, we will drive you to the airport for a flight from Mandalay to Yangon. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Yangon for check-in. Visit Sule Pagoda which is a temple of 2,500 years old in octagonal shape before having lunch at a restaurant nearby.

After lunch, continue our exploration with Bogyoke Market (formerly Scott's Market) - you can buy various kinds of Myanmar as well as foreign goods there. As the sun is about to set, we head to the port near Yangon River for a memorable dusk contemplation.

Savor dinner at a restaurant downtown and stay overnight at your hotel in Yangon.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the departure flight. End of service.