Mystical Myanmar

Welcome to Yangon !

Upon clearing Customs and Immigration, your guide will present you with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation and vouchers and all contact information of your guide and local offices. Transfer to hotel by air conditioned vehicle.

Yangon lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the treetops. The city became the capital in 1885, when the British completed the conquest of Upper Myanmar – ending Mandalay’s brief period as capital of the last Burmese kingdom. It served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006.

In the evening, visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda.

The highlight of any visit to Yangon, the Shwedagon Pagoda dates back about 2.600 years and was built to house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond all recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold-leaf, which is continuously being replaced.

Overnight in Yangon. 

Start your exploration of colonial Yangon in the heart of the city, where you will see Sule Pagoda, the City Hall with amazing architecture of Myanmar, the Emmanuel Baptist Church, the High Court (formerly known as the Parliament for Justice) and the Mahabandoola Park. Continue to the Secretariat Building, a Victorian building, which housed the parliament from 1948-1962. It was the place where General Aung San, the father of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was assassinated in 1947. Afterwards, walk down to the Strand Road, on the way you will explore the Gandhi Hall, where the National League for Democracy drafted the Gandhi Hall Declaration, issued on July 29, 1990. Explore the Post Office, the legendary Strand Hotel, the Port Authority building and the Accountant General’s Office. Then, as a final stop, walk to the office of the Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT), a non-profit organization that works to preserve and protect the city’s rich urban heritage and displays the past and present photos of Yangon.

Explore the Bogyoke Aung San Market, also known as Scott Market, which contains over 2000 stalls and is the best place in Yangon to browse through the complete range of local handicrafts. (Closed on Mondays and public holidays.)

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple is the most well-known Buddhist temple in Yangon. It houses one of the most revered reclining Buddha images in the country. The Buddha image is 66 metres long, and one of the largest in Burma.

The Botataung Pagoda was named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over 2000 years ago. This ancient monument was completely destroyed during WWII. It was then rebuilt in a very similar style to its predecessor, however this particular iteration is hollow and one can walk through it.

Overnight in Yangon

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Nyaung U (Bagan). Bagan is a true bucket-list destination! Thousands of crumbling temples, pagodas and stupas rise from the ancient desert plain. These beautiful, other-worldly structures were built by the kings of Bagan in the 11th and 12th centuries. Words don’t do this incredible landscape justice! The Shwezigon Pagoda’s graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas all-over Myanmar, and the pagoda originally marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. Ananda is one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the early Bagan period and the beginning of the middle period.

Gubyaukgyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn was built in the early 13th century and repaired in 1468. The vivid colourful paintings and the impressive architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be confused with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkaba. The temples primary point of interest is most certainly the fine and detailed frescoes depicting scenes from the jatakas, Buddha’s numerous past lives.

Shwesandaw Pagoda was built in 1057 by King Anawrahta following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the Stupa.

Thatbyuinnyu Temple, the highest in the area with more than 60 meters high. At the end of the visit to the temples we will stop at a traditional lacquer workshop, typical of the Bagan area, where we can learn about this curious process. In the afternoon, we will take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the ruins until we reach one where we will climb to the top to witness the fabulous view and contemplate the sunset. Return to the hotel.

Overnight in Bagan

Hot Air Balloon Ride during the sunrise : USD 350 per person

What better way to see the thousands of temples and stupas that litter the plains of Bagan than from high in the sky? Climb into your own private compartment in the basket and get ready for lift off! As you rise into the sky Bagan will slowly unveil its secrets as hundreds of crumbling pagodas appear through the morning mist. Gently drift along with the wind over the dusty plain and the winding Irrawaddy River.

In the morning sightseeing in Bagan by Electric Scooter. The busy colorful market in Nyaung U is a very lively affair each morning when people from all around town come to buy and sell vegetables, crafts, spices, meat and other goods. Walk around the market to observe the daily activities of local people.

Enjoy the freedom of a regular bicycle, but without the effort, on this fun tour of the ancient city of Bagan. Hop on your eco-friendly electric scooter and take a relaxing ride through Bagan stopping every now and then to explore the temples, take pictures, and hear the relevant history and stories behind the ancient ruins. Pass through the magnificent Tharabar Gate and visit the 201-foot-tall Thet Bi Nyu Temple; and Dhamayangyi Pahto, the largest temple in Bagan. Cycle to the beautifully preserved Ananda Temple. The combination of standing Buddha images, stone sculptures, sandstone reliefs, exquisite terracotta tiles and teak wood carvings make this one of the finest and most revered of the Bagan temples.

Afternoon at leisure in Bagan

Overnight in Bagan

Today after breakfast and check out from the hotel, drive to Bagan, it takes about 6 hours. On they way visit Mt. Popa. Today is all about spirits – fiery but drinkable spirits and a temple-topped volcano dedicated to the ‘nat’ spirits. The day starts in a local village where we enjoy Burmese tea in a local toddy palm hut. The locals will demonstrate how they climb the palm trees and use the sap to make palm sugar and fiery liquor. We continue our tour to Mount Popa, an extinct sheer-sided volcano that rises out of the plain. Topped by golden stupas, it is a famous pilgrimage site for locals who come to worship at the ‘nat’ (spirit) temples.

Once arrive to Mandalay, drive to the hotel and get some refreshment. Then we’ll visit Mahamuni Paya, famous for its seated Buddha covered in gold leaf then visit leaf craft workshop. After this drive to the Kuthodaw Pagoda with its 729 marble slabs on which are inscribed the teachings of Buddha and the Golden Palace Monastery with its excellent teak carving. Finally, we will enjoy the spectacular views and sunset on Mandalay Hill. Transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Today, you will be taken to the other side of the Irrawaddy River for a trip to Mingun by local ferry boat. Among others

you will visit the Mingun Paya. Work on this gigantic structure begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790 and halted in 1819 when he died. If the work had been finished, Mingun might now have the world’s largest pagoda. The stupa base sustained heavy damage in the earthquake of 1838, which left a deep crack scarring its façade. It is now 50 m high, a third of the projected height of 150m.

Mingun Bell – in 1808 the King had a gigantic (90 tones) bell cast for the Mingun Paya. It is supposedly the largest uncracked bell in the world. You will also visit Hsinbyume Paya: built in 1816 By Bagyidaw, before he became king, in memory of his senior wife, princess Hsinbyume. It is a nice white round shaped zedi, with one nicely decorated stairway guiding up to the top terrace. After Mingun, your guide will bring you back to Mandalay. In the evening, visit Amarapura, home to U Bein Bridge which extends over one kilometre across Taungthaman Lake, making it the longest teak bridge in the world. We’ll visit artisanal workshops and learn tons of history about the old kings of Myanmar.

Overnight in Mandalay

Free leisure until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight from Myanmar. Transfer to the airport by air-conditioned vehicle.