Myanmar Highlights Tour
Yangon - Bagan - Mandalay - Pindaya - Inle Lake - 8 Days

Itinerary

Day 1 - Yangon

• Arrival in Yangon
• Transfer
• Overnight in Yangon

Day 2 - Yangon

• Sightseeing in Yangon
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 only in 1885, when the British completed the conquest of Upper Myanmar and Mandalay's brief period as capital of the last Burmese kingdom ended. Start the day at the SULE PAGODA, a gleaming octagonal pagoda that stands squarely at the centerpoint of the city. Afterwards, visit the NATIONAL MUSEUM to gain an insight into Myanmar. See the eight meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by the last Burmese king, and other fascinating artifacts from Burmese history and culture. Enjoy a break at BOGYOKE (SCOTT) MARKET, a pleasant covered market containing crafts from all corners of Myanmar, gems, fabrics and more. (The market is closed on Mondays and public holidays). In the afternoon, visit some of the more well known pagodas, including BOTATAUNG PAGODA, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha from Inda over 2000 years ago, and NGADATKYI PAYA, with a giant seated Buddha image. Finally, continue to the SHWEDAGON PAGODA, the highlight of any visit to Yangon. Towering over the city, this pagoda is the most sacred spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha. The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are at their most beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colors of twilight.
• Overnight in Yangon

Day 3 - Bagan

• Transfer
• Flight from Yangon to Bagan
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in Bagan
Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.
SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090. Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. The stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar.
GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe.
ANANDA PAHTO: 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 Myinkaba: Built in 1113 by Kyanzittha son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.
MANUHA TEMPLE: The Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by King Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King Anawrahta. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by Manuha to express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan.
SHWESANDAW PAYA: In 1057 King Anawrahta built this Pagoda 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. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's magnificent sunsets.
LACQUERWARE WORKSHOP: the villages around Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the workshops and learn about the painstaking process of laquerware making and decoration.
• Overnight in Bagan

Day 4 - Mandalay

• Transfer
• Flight from Bagan to Mandalay
• Transfer
• Sightseeing in Mandalay
The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. Neighboring Sagaing is home to over sixty percent of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar. In the morning, head to MAHAMUNI PAYA. The Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image in Myanmar, covered in over 15 cm of gold leaf. Worshippers flock daily to the shrine at four in the morning to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. Enroute to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of GOLD-LEAF BEATING, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin squares. Before breaking for lunch, visit a CRAFT WORKSHOP specializing in one of the arts for which the city is famous: bronze-casting, marble-carving, wood-carving, or puppetry. The afternoon's tour includes some of the city's most interesting temples and palaces. Begin at SHWENANDAW KYAUNG, or the Golden Teak Monastery. Built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments by King Mindon and his chief queen. Continue to KYAUKAWGYI PAYA, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble, and the elegant SANDAMANI PAYA. Finally, visit KUTHODAW PAYA, known also as the world s biggest book. Around the central stupa are miniature pavilions, each housing a slab of marble. Numbering altogether 729, these slabs are inscribed with the entire Tripitkata, or Buddhist scriptures.
• Visit Mandalay Hill at sunset
• Overnight in Mandalay

Day 5 - Pindaya

• Transfer Flight from Mandalay to Heho
• By vehicle from Heho to Pindaya
• Visit the Pindaya Caves
PINDAYA CAVES: these caves are ensconced in a limestone ridge overlooking the lake. Inside the cavern there are more than 8000 Buddha images - made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement - and are arranged in such a way as to form a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers.
SHWE U MIN PAYA: this is a cluster of low stupas just below the ridge near the Pindaya Caves. Beginning on the full moon of Tabaung (February/March), Pindaya hosts a colourful pagoda festival at Shwe U Min.
• Overnight in Pindaya

Day 6 - Inle Lake

• By vehicle from Pindaya to Inle Lake
• Transfer by boat
• Excursion by boat on Inle Lake
INLE LAKE: Inle Lake, located in Shan State, is beautiful, with very calm waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lake's shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled fisherman using their leg-rowing technique to propel themselves around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market and a Intha village around the lake (please note that no markets take place on full moon or new moon days). The day's sightseeing also includes a visit to the PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA and the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY
• Overnight in Inle Lake

Day 7 - Yangon

• Excursion by boat on Inle Lake to Indein and Sae Ma Village
Travel by boat to the western shore of the lake to a stairway leading to the hidden INDEIN temple complex. Located on the shore of the lake, this site consists of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and greens. Continue on foot past rice fields to the village of SAE MA, stopping to explore the village and the local school. In the afternoon meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. Return by boat to hotel.
• Transfer by boat
• By vehicle from Inle Lake to Heho
• Flight from Heho to Yangon.
• Transfer
• Overnight in Yangon.

Day 8 - Yangon

• Transfer to the airport for departure flight to onward destination.

Prices

USD p.p	1 Pax	2 Pax	3-6 Pax	SGL S/C	Booking
Var A	1,950	1,190	1,020	140
Var B	2,100	1,260	1,090	220
Var C	2,430	1,430	1,250	390

All prices are per person in USD, based on twin-sharing in double rooms in the default hotel for the listed category.
* Meal plan: ABF.
(ABF = American Breakfast, B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
** Reduction for 3rd pax in triple room Var. A:$6; Var. B:$10; Var. C:$32.
*** Child reduction (sharing bed of parents): under 2 years FOC; under 12 years -30%.

NOTE: The itinerary can slightly change according to the season, local conditions, climate, flight schedules and room availability.

Hotel	Var A	Var B	Var C
Yangon	Panorama Hotel Superior Central Hotel Yangon Superior Thamada Hotel Superior	Hotel Yangon Deluxe Summit Parkview Hotel Superior	Parkroyal Hotel Superior Chatrium Hotel Yangon Superior Sedona Hotel Yangon Superior
Bagan	Kaytumadi Dynast Standard Kumudara Hotel Superior Hotel Kaday Aung Superior	Thazin Garden Hotel Superior Aye Yar River View Hotel Superior Kumudara Hotel Junior Suite Myanmar Treasure Resort Superior	The Hotel at Tharabar Gate Superior Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel Superior
Mandalay	Emerald Land Inn Superior Mandalay View Inn Standard Treasure Hotel Superior	Emerald Land Inn Superior Mandalay City Hotel Superior Mandalay Swan Hotel Superior	Mandalay Hill Resort Superior Sedona Superior
Pindaya	Pindaya Inle Inn Superior Conqueror Hotel Orchid Villa Standard	Conqueror Hotel Orchid Villa Standard Pindaya Inle Inn Superior	Conqueror Hotel Orchid Villa Standard Pindaya Inle Inn Superior
Inle Lake	Golden Island Cottages II Standard	Hupin Hotel Inle Khaung Daing Cottage	Inle Lake View Resort Deluxe Inle Resort Deluxe Villa The Serenity Hotel Inle Serenity Cottage

For bookings of roundtrip or module packages, we will confirm one of the hotels mentioned above according to the selected category. Please note that compulsory gala dinners and peak season surcharges may apply during peak periods surrounding the public holidays of Christmas and New Year - these surcharges will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Included in the price:

Accommodation and meals as described (please note that some hotels provide only CBF).
All transfers within the journey, including pick-up at airport.
Domestic airfares as states in the itinerary in economy class.
All entrance fees.
English, French or German speaking guides (other languages available upon request).

Not included in the price:

Visa fees.
Airport taxes.
Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, souvenirs.

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Classic Packages

5D Highlights of Myanmar	8D Highlights of Myanmar	6D Myanmar Classic Tour
9D Myanmar Classic Tour	12D Myanmar Classic Tour	11D Myanmar Explorer
13D Explore Northern Myanmar	20D Myanmar Odyssey	6D A Myanmar Discovery
10D Hidden Secrets of Myanmar

Customizing Your Tour

The tour above is a typical tour. If it doesn't fit your requirements, do not hesitate to talk to us about your preferences. In most cases, we will be able to customize this tour or package to match your expectations. Please click here to tell us about your request...

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