YANGON BAGAN MANDALAY INLE YANGON 9 DAYS

Post date: Aug 6, 2014 9:48:40 AM

Day 1 ARRIVAL YANGON [-/-/D]

Welcome by our tour guide upon arrival at Yangon International Airport. Transfer to hotel and take a few hours for refreshment. Evening tour begins with the most magnificent and spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda before the sun set and enjoy the beauty of Stupa while it changes the shining of gold in different tones according to the radiant of the setting sun. Dine at local restaurant Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2 YANGON – BAGAN [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to domestic airport for flight to Nyaung U. Sightseeing tour begins with Nyaung U Market before proceeding to Shwezigon Pagoda- the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine. Lunch at local restaurant. Visit Hilominlo Temple,Ananda Temple, Thatbyinnyu Temple- a white stucco building, the highest temple in Bagan built by King AlaungSithu in mid-12 Century; Gawdawpalin. Transfer to Hotel. Evening tour begins with Dhammanyangyi Temple, the most massive structure in Bagan, built by King Narathu (1167-70), Sulamani Temple, MyingabaGubyaukgyi Temple, Manuha Temple and Lawkananda Pagoda, enjoy the beauty of sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy river with the backdrop of TantKyi Hill. Dine at local restaurant and overnight in Bagan.

Day 3 BAGAN – POPA – MANDALAY [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar's most powerful "nats". Visit the Nat Museum with its life-sized statues of the 37 Nat Gods. Walk up the steps to the Stupas and shrines that top the hill above the museum, seeing many pilgrims along the way. The way by the roadside can see the locals climbing up the palm tree and making jaggery. Then, proceed to Mandalay. Upon arrival, check-in hotel and free at leisure. Lunch and Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 4 MANDALAY SIGHTSEENING [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Amarapura, situated about 15 km south of Mandalay, an ancient capital of Konbaung Dynasty. Visit Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study Buddhism. Continue to 229 year-old U BEIN teak bridge built in 1782. Lunch at local restaurant. Return back to Mandalay. Visit Mahamuni Pagoda with its spectacular Buddha Image covered in thick layers of gold leaves, ShwenandawKyaung or Golden Palace Monastery, famous for its wood carvings, Kuthodaw Pagoda known as the world's largest book of Buddhist Scripture. Visit Mandalay Palace and enjoy the panoramic view of the city and sunset from Mandalay Hill. Dine at local restaurant and overnight in Mandalay.

Day 5 MANDALAY-MINGUN-SAGAING-MANDALAY [B/L/D]

Breakfast at hotel. Depart from Mandalay, you will discover the charms of old Myanmar as you take a journey through two of Myanmar's ancient capitals. Drive to Kywezon jetty to watch the busy riverside activity and take a local riverboat to the ancient capital of Mingun (appr. 1 hour per way). Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of the Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell- the world’s largest ringing bell exists weighing 55555 viss), the nearby unfinished Pahtodawgyi- one of the famous buildings in the world., Myatheindan (Hsinbyume) Pagoda built by King Bagyidaw in 1816, three years before he succeeded Bodawpaya as king, constructed in memory of his senior wife the Hsinbyume princess, a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Drive back to Mandalay and lunch at local restaurant. And drive to Sagaing Hill dotted with pagodas and there are over 500 monasteries, a retreat for some 6000 monks and nuns. Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, KaungHmudaw Pagoda ( a copy of the Mahaceti Pagoda in Sri Lanka), andYwahtaung (home of the silversmiths’ guilds) are places worth visiting there. And go back to Mandalay .Overnight at Mandalay.

Day 6 MANDALAY-INLE [B/L/-]

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Heho. From Heho, a scenic one-hour scenic drive leads to NyaungShwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the teak monastery of Shweyanpyay to see the intricate artwork and craftsmanship of wood carving. Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air! Continue to PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Innpawkhoneand a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. Overnight in Inle.

Day 7 INLE SIGHTSEENING (INDEIN) [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel, we will be taking a boat trip to the southern part down side which lead into a small twist and turn creek running into the lake, then we will reach the Indein village. Indein village is small in size and located at the south western bank of the lake itself and it is popular for its ruined clusters of pagodas dated back to 16th century. The environment around the village will bring everyone centuries back. There will be a free time where all visitors can freely go around for sightseeing purpose and have a chance to get to know friendly local people. Overnight in Inle.

Day 8 INLE-YANGON [B/L/D]

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Yangon. Upon Arrival, visit Another Huge Sitting Marble Buddha Image, LawkaChantha Abaya Lahba Muni meaning Buddha blessing the whole Universe, being healthy, wealthy and free from danger. From there, a few metres away, visit the house of the three Royal White Elephants.Proceed to Kabar Aye (World peace)Pagoda and MahapasanaGuha, where the Sixth Buddhist Synod took place.After having lunch, Taw Win Centre Shopping Mall. Evening sightseeing at Kandawgyi Royal Lake, enjoying the peace and tranquil under the shading trees, listening to the singing of birds. Take photographs with the Lake with the background of the Shwedagon Pagoda as well as with the Karaweik Royal Palace Barge. Dine at local restaurant. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 9 YANGON-DEPTAURE [B/L/]

Breakfast at hotel. Visit Botataung Pagoda and sightseeing to the city centre including City Hall, MahaBandoola Park, Independence Monument.Shopping at Bogyoke Market (Scott) Market with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores.Then, transfer to International airport for departure “HOME SWEET HOME”.