General Information
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Tour Routine: Yangon – Bagan – Mt. Popa – Pakokku – Monywa – Mandalay – Mingun – Ava – Sagaing – Pyin Oo Lwin – Yangon
Intended Travel Date: No Fixed Departure, Anytime You Wish
Start/End: Yangon/Yangon
Tour Style: Landscape, In-depth Cultural
Guides: Myanmar Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request)
Transportation: Private First-class Air-conditioned Vehicles
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Day 2: Yangon – Bagan (B)
Day 3: Bagan – Mt Popa (B)
Day 4: Bagan – Pakokku – Monywa (B)
Day 5: Monywa – Mandalay (B)
Day 6: Mandalay – Irrawaddy River – Mingun (B)
Day 7: Mandalay – Ava – Sagaing (B)
Day 8: Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin (B)
Day 9: Pyin Oo Lwin – Mandalay – PM flight to Yangon (B)
Day 10: Yangon City Tour (B)
Day 11: Yangon – Departure (B)
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar!
Today, meet your local tour guide at the airport and then transfer you directly to the downtown city for the first glimpse of Yangon city. You will first check-in at the hotel and enjoy a short break before enjoying an exhilarating half-day city tour. Passing by the Post Office, Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden, and Independence Monument. Make your first stop at Chauk Htat Gyi pagoda – home to the enormous sacred 66 meters long reclining Buddha image designed with very expressive colors. At the feet of the Buddha are carved with special Burmese symbol, is where people often gather to pay homage.
Next up, drive to the beautiful Kandawgyi Lake, the best photo stop in Yangon which overlooking at Karaweik Hall, an impressive golden barge on the lake.
In the late afternoon, remark your city tour at Shwedagon pagoda – one of the greatest Buddhist wonders in the world. Admire the symbolic beauty of the winking pagoda where the legend said that it enshrines eight of the Buddha’s hairs. Stroll around the pagoda to capture its allure and listen to your guide to know more about the history of the temple.
Day 2: Yangon – Bagan (B)
This morning, say goodbye to Yangon to take a morning flight to Bagan – the land of old-centuries stupas. Welcome by your Bagan local guide at the airport then start your Bagan trip with a visit to Nyaung U Market, the main bazaar in the region where you can capture a variety of local staples, smell the scent of foods, vegetables. Take this chance to mingle with the locals to see the shining smile on the faces covered with Thanaka makeup (a traditional make-up powder of Burmese people).
Leave the market, ready to enjoy a temple tour to unlock the hidden treasure of Bagan among its thousands of temples. You will visit the most beautiful temples in the region to learn about the history, architecture, and its devotion to the country as well as the life of people. Visit Shwezigon Pagoda, the most popular attraction to learn the Buddhist teaching and 37 Nats of Burmese (natural spirits); Htilominlo Temple, an elegant temple with intricated and strong design to help it survive after many earthquakes. Your guide will also take you to visit Ananda Temple, regarded by folklore as the most beautiful temple in Bagan; Dhammayangyi – the largest temple; Shwesandaw – the highest temple and Thatbyanu temple.
Highlight your trip today with a visit to a local lacquerware workshop after that to learn more about the handicrafts of Bagan passing by generation to generation.
In the late afternoon, enjoy a scenic drive to the sunset hill to watch the incredible sunset over the region.
Day 3: Bagan – Mt Popa (B)
The morning of day 3 gives you an opportunity to contemplate the beauty of Bagan from the peek an extinct volcano. After breakfast, our driver will take you to Mount Popa (45 km and take us 1.5 hours) to see the volcano with spectacular views and the birthplace of the Myanmar Nats or spirits.
Hike up 777 steps which lead to the Kaung Palap Monastery on the top, its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as ‘nats’. After your trip, return to Bagan and this afternoon you will spend time enjoying the fabulous view of Irrawaddy River on a boat trip. Sit back, nibble some sweet snack and behold the majestic view.
Day 4: Bagan – Pakokku – Monywa (B)
This morning, take a boat trip to transfer to Pakkoku where preserved monuments of time. This is a small quiet town well-known for its tobacco and Thanakha trading. On arrival, visit the local tobacco trading center and weaving shop. Then you continue to visit the cheroot factory, slippers workshop, and wood carving sculpture to gain more insights into the local life. End of the day, gaze out at the local market before moving to Monywa.
Day 5: Monywa – Mandalay (B)
Wake up in the sound of bird-singing this morning and power up your new day with an early visit to the market after breakfast. Stroll around the market area to observe the life and trade of the people. Leave the market, we head to Chindwin River where a ferry is waiting to take us to Pho Win Daung for a visit to the Buddhist cave complex. From there, stroll through Shwe Ba Daung, an impressive cave filled with Buddha images featured unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone.
After that, return to Monywa where your guide will lead you to Thanboddhay Pagoda where you will be intrigued by the fantastic design and thousands of stupas inside.
Day 6: Mandalay – Irrawaddy River – Mingun (B)
After breakfast this morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun, a sleeping town which is home to several unique sites. Your 45-minute boat trip will give you a fabulous view along the Irrawaddy River.
On arrival, spend your time to look for the foundation of the largest unfinished Buddhist pagoda in the world: Mingun Paya. Here your guide will tell you about the story behind the abandonment of the pagoda. From there stroll through Hsinbyume Temple – an elegant white-washed temple which resembles the shape of Mount Meru. On the way back, stop at Mingun Bell – the second largest ringing bell in the world.
As you return to Mandalay, take a half-day city tour to discover the treasure of the formal capital city. Visit Golden Palace Monastery to marvel at the fabulous wooden monastery noted for its intricated carving and architecture.
In the late afternoon, take a drive to Mandalay Hill to gain a commanding view of the city of Mandalay.
Day 7: Mandalay – Ava – Sagaing (B)
After breakfast, start the day with a visit to Ava, the ancient capital of Burmese Kingdom where is the only place that Irrawaddy River is bridged. Make your first visit to Bagaya Monastery, an intricated wooden monastery and Ava Royal Palace and Fort. Travel slowly on a horse cart and pass through small villages amid Ava’s ruins and gaze out at the countryside scenery and life of the people. From there, cross the Sagaing bridge to reach Sagaing Hill, an important religious center of Myanma studded with massive white and gold pagodas.
Head up to the top of the hill to Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae, you will see many impressive stupas and able to learn about the life of the monks in the pagods.
Next up, drive to Sagaing local market to visit a typical Burmese market in the region before completing your day at a small pottery village to see the process of making traditional pottery. To gain more local insights, why don’t you try your hands on making a pot on your own under the guidance of the villager? That would be an interesting experience!
Day 8: Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin (B)
After breakfast, take a scenic drive to Pyin Oo Lwin, a mesmerizing colonial town which is a great destination to escape from the heat to visit lovely lakes, gorgeous waterfalls, botanical gardens, and charming colonial era-buildings.
On arrival, check-in at the hotel and have a short break. After that, make your first visit to the central market in the heart of the town for a first glimpse at the life of local people. From here head to National Kandawgyi Garden, the lovely botanical garden possesses 480 species of flowers, shrub, and tree surrounding the gilded pagodas.
Finally, fulfill your day trip with a visit to Peik Chin Myaung Cave, a massive limestone cave stretch through 45 acres filled with many Buddha images and stalactites.
Day 9: Pyin Oo Lwin – Mandalay – PM Flight to Yangon (B)
After breakfast this morning, enjoy your free time to explore the charming town of Pyin Oo Lwin. You will have time to stroll along the antique street to feel the laid-back pace of life in the town.
After that, your driver will pick you up to transfer you back to Mandalay for a flight to Yangon.
Day 10: Yangon City Tour (B)
A full day for you to explore Yangon further. Start the day with a visit to Bogyoke Market, the main bazaar in Yangon to see an array of goods and products. This place is also the best place in Yangon to look for gems and jewelry. (Note: the market is closed on Mondays).
After that, pass through the street and see the influence of other cultures on the city’s shops, teahouses, and old buildings. Stop at St Mary’s Cathedral – a beautiful red-brick Catholic church. Your next visit is one of the most prominent landmarks of Yangon: the 250-year-old Sule Pagoda and the 100-year-old Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue where you will have an opportunity to meet the Trustee to learn about the Jewish life in the Pagoda.
Fulfill your interesting city tour with a visit to Chinatown and Little India to capture many colorful vendors selling exotic products.
Day 11: Yangon – Departure (B)
After breakfast, enjoy your free time until the driver comes to transfer you to the airport to take a departure flight. Thank you for traveling with Go Myanmar Tours!
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