Truly Myanmar

Welcome to Yangon - the biggest and most bustling city in Myanmar, a unique city in Southeast Asia with all nostalgic colors of time and culture reserved over centuries. If you are interested in colonial era architecture, a stroll down Yangon's colonial buildings will definitely blow you away by well-reserved images from the 20th century, with decaying facades filled with old paint and small trees squeezing through those little cracks. Moreover, proud of rich cultural tradition, Yangon will amaze you with plenty of spiritual relics where you can experience the importance of Buddhism to the Burmese’s lives: tranquil Chaukhtatgyi Temple containing an over-200-feet-long reclining Buddha, the octagonal-shaped 2500 year old pagoda Sule Pagoda located in the heart of the city, and especially the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda - the massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon. And don’t miss chance to meditate in pagoda’s mystical atmosphere beautifully lit up after dark.

Being known as one of the successful empire over Myanmar history, Bagan is like a miniature representing ancient prosperity and power of Burma with over 2,000 well-preserved stupas, pagodas and temple. Entering the land and visiting main attractions, exquisite and graceful architecture offerred by aging monuments along with interesting stories behind will amaze any passionate travellers. Afternoon trip to Bagan lacquerware house is another worthwhile stop to see how finest lacquerware products are made all by hands and get to know why Bagan is the famous centre of thriving lacquerware industry in Burma.       

Drive to the banks of the Irrawaddy River and board in a private wooden motorboat on Aye Yar Jetty for upriver sailing to Kyauk Gu U Min, a remote temple located in quieter side of Bagan. The unique beauty of the temple appreciated by floral designed entrance, exquisite stone carvings depicting religious figures, inner-wall Buddha statues and the notable feature of light wells. There is also a cave found at the back of the temple since it was built against the site of precipitous cliff near the bank of mighty Irrawaddy river. Learn of the legend story behind this temple cave which was largely believed to be a shelter from the invading Mongols. While travelling slowly along the river, take your chance to capture fabulous views of riverside villages, fishermen and local boats passing by. 

Minanthu village, to the east of Bagan, is the place which gives you an excellent insight into the traditional daily life of local people. Taking a walk in the village and you will see people in their daily work: collecting water from well, harvesting sesame seeds, weaving cloth, spinning cotton, making cheroot & silver jewelry, etc.  Don't hesitate to say "Mingalabar" (which means "Hello" in Burmese) and the friendly villagers will always be very happy to share you their ways of living through inside stories. It is also nice to visit the nearby temple Lay Myat Hnar monastic complex. The shining white exterior with old paintings coverring interior walls will surely leave you a great lasting impression.

Mt. Popa - a solitary peak topped by gold stupas, is well-known as the birth place of Myanmar’s ‘nats’ or spirits. (50 kilometers southeast from central Bagan ~ 1.5 hours to get there by car). To reach the top, you need to remove shoes and socks and climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak.  Along the way, there are a multitude of cunning monkeys expecting treats. Sometimes, these mischivous hosts can get a little aggressive so it's recommended to take well care of your possessions. Enjoy your reward once conquering the climb with glistening gold stupas of Taungkalat Monastery and nothing-can-beat views from the top. 

Far away from the hustle of Mandalay, there lies a forgetten ancient capital of Ava where you could enjoy a bumpy but delightful ride on a horse cart (a popular local transport) and discover quaint rural landscape dotted with ruined temples, brick monasteries or the well-preserved remains of the outer city walls or pleasant view of farmers working on their private land. This is a great opportunity to gather some unique impressions off the beaten track. 

Welcome to Mandalay – the city of culture located in the right heart of Myanmar. Unlike other lively tours in modern cities, your excursion in Mandalay will take you to the outlying areas with fantastic mixture of nature and culture: Riverside hills dotted by gold stupas and pagodas named Sagaing, incredible view over Manday across Ayeyarwaddy River from the hill top, brilliant U Min Thonze Cave Temple and Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, amazing golden Buddha statue at Mahamuni Buddha Temple. Moreover, a stop at Mahagandayon Monastery is truly worth your time in Mandalay, impressing you by the calm atmosphere when humble monks in red robes lining up silently for lunch ceremony. After all, a stunning sunset over the iconic U Bein Bridge will definitly blow you away after a long day tour. 

Danu is a beautiful hillside village which offers unlikely trails for any trekking lovers through terrace- farm plantations where hill villagers cultivate oranges, damsons, potatoes, tea and various more. Along the way, you will be warmly welcomed by smiling villagers while passing scattered traditional houses. Trekking at your own pace and pause at anywhere you like to make random chat with locals and understand more their unique culture and daily activities.

Upward the western of Shan state is the picturesque Inle Lake –  the Venice of Myanmar. Stepping off Nyaung Shwe marina, you will take a motorized boat to navigate through stilt villages and floating garderns, and meet locals who spend their entire lives on the water. Passing Ywa Ma village and Kay Lar Village where Intha people built their unique houses with long straight wooden poles stretching into the lake bed, it is your tranquil time in relaxed atmostphere of thelocally significant Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and get to unfold the interesting story of the five Buddhas inside. As the dawn is coming and the warm light turns the still surface of the lake a golden colour, just pause for a while and cherish true value of unforgetable moment.

Indein is a small village West of Inle Lake which is renowned for the floating market and impressive ancient stupas with Banyan trees growing out of them. From Inle Lake, by just a scenic 8-kilometer boat ride through a long narrow canal, you soon reach the lively floating ‘5-day market’ rotated every five days around five different villages in Inle. This is a beautiful opportunity to experience the diversity of Inle ethnic, witness their day-to-day life and make their unique fair on the water trading all local products. A drop-in visit to local workshops will excite your curiosity about lotus weaving, cheroot cigarettes making in various size and flavours and diligent hand crafted silver work. Lastly, don’t forget to discover old ruined pagodas dated back to the 13th century and admire their incredible beauty even in bad condition. The impressive image of stupas after stupas decaying due to constant exposure to humidity still pose irresistible charm will leave you with nothing but thrills.