Travelpack

Highlights: Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Nyaung Shwe/Lake Inle

Other departures: Manchester - £2409, Birmingham - £2335, Glasgow - £2355, Edinburgh - £2275, Belfast City - £2645, Southampton - £2555, Newcastle - £2335

Hotels:
Yangon - Eastern Hotel or similar 3* (Superior Room)
Bagan - Villa Bagan or similar 3* (Superior Room)
Mandalay - Hotel Sakura Princess or similar 3* (Superior Room)
Nyaung Shwe/Lake Inle - Nyaung Shwe City Hotel or similar 3.5* (Deluxe Room)

Itinerary:

Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Meet on arrival at Yangon International Airport and transfer to hotel. (Your room might not be ready for check-in; international check-in time is 14:00 hours). Rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation at hotel, Yangon
Meal included: None

Day 2: Yangon – Bagan
Transfer to Yangon Airport for domestic flight to Bagan. (approximately 06:20/07:40_direct) Upon arrival in Bagan, proceed on a sightseeing tour, starting with the busy local market and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century. See 13th Century frescoes adorning the corridors of Kyansittha Cave Temple. Continue to Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi In village), another cave temple with fine frescoes of the 'Jataka Tales'. Next stop is Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes. Visit the Taungphi village to see old monasteries, which have beautiful Khone Baung dynasty frescoes.

In the afternoon, continue visit to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery from the early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. Make a photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61-metres - Thatbyinnyu known as 'temple of omniscience' and dating from 1144. Continue to Mingalazedi, the last of the large Pagodas built in the 13th Century, representing the pinnacle of Bamar pagoda architecture. Enjoy sunset at one of the monuments along Ayeyarwady River.

Accommodation at hotel, Bagan
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at Ayeyarwaddy River Terrace Restaurant

Day 3: Bagan – Mandalay
Transfer to Bagan Airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. (approximately 08:15/08:45_direct) Enjoy a comprehensive tour of Mandalay, a highlight of which is the Mahamuni Pagoda, home to a spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Near the river lies visit Shwe-im-bin, a wooden monastery over 100-years old which is known for its lovely carving. Stop at local workshops to see kalaga tapestries being made, gold leaf being beaten into paper-thin pieces, and Burmese sweets being made.

Mid-afternoon, you’ll drive to Kuthodaw Pagoda, where the Theravada Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 729 marble slabs, giving rise to its nickname 'the world’s largest book'. Next visit beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery, the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing. At Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda you’ll see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Atop Mandalay Hill lies glittering glass-studded temple walls which reflect the evening glow as you watch the sunset. Afterwards, visit Shwe Kyin Monastery to observe student monks start their evening prayers.

Accommodation at Hotel, Mandalay
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at Unique Restaurant

Day 4: Mandalay – Mingun – Amarapura
Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the jetty. En route, stop at the Zeycho vegetable market. Board your boat and travel upstream on the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay to Mingun (11 km, about one hour). The river is always busy – small long-tailed boats, bamboo rafts and ferries carry goods up and down the river. Visit the Mingun Bell, which at 87 tons is the world’s largest intact bronze bell. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume (Ma Thein Tan) Paya and the unfinished, mighty Mingun Pagoda (built to be the world’s biggest) before returning downriver to Mandalay.

From Mandalay, drive towards to the third former capital, Amarapura. Proceed to the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. Take a sunset stroll on U Bein Bridge, which at over a kilometre is believed to be the longest teak bridge in the world. Return to your hotel in Mandalay.

Accommodation at Hotel, Mandalay
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at The Garden Restaurant in Mingun

Day 5: Mandalay – Heho – Pindaya – Inle lake
Transfer to Mandalay Airport for flight to Heho (approximately 08:20 hours / 08:50 hours). Transfer from Heho Airport to Pindaya (approximately 1-hour drive). It is an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Visit magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Visit some local houses where families produce Shan paper and parasols. Then, drive down to the valley to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake (approx. 2 hours), en route stop at Shweyanpyay wooden monastery, then then board the local boat to take you to your hotel.

Accommodation at hotel, Inle Lake
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at Green Tea Restaurant

Day 6: Inle lake
Explore a 5-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule) which offers an insight into the life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who come to these markets to sell and buy goods. Enjoy a full day boat trip on Inle Lake - a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ - Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net. Stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State.

Visit Mya Set Kyar traditional silk-weaving workshop which uses wooden handlooms, and a blacksmith’s forge. Pass endless floating gardens, where Intha lake dwellers grow fruit and vegetables. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old. Return to your hotel by boat for the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Accommodation at hotel, Inle Lake
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at Mr Toe’s Restaurant

Day 7: Inle lake – Heho – Yangon
In the morning, transfer to Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon, start your sightseeing with a drive to the famous Strand Road and visit the bustling Yangon harbour, where ferries leave for Pathein in the Delta and upcountry towns along the Ayeyarwady River. You then drive through the colonial-historical district, Chinatown, and the Indian quarter. Make a photo stop at the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years, and a landmark in central Yangon.

In the afternoon, visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a huge reclining Buddha image. Stop alongside Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake to take photographs over the lake towards Karaweik Hall and Shwedagon. Enjoy the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide - its golden stupa is the 'heart' of Buddhist Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. It is always full of people praying and making offerings, and is a fascinating place to spend time watching the world go by. Return to your hotel.

Accommodation at hotel, Yangon
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch at Padonmar Restaurant

Day 8: Yangon Departure
Day at leisure until departure to the airport. Transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.

Meal included:
- Breakfast

Offer Includes

Meal Plans