Adventure with Culture and Nature

Day 1: Yangon arrival and Sightseeing

Mingalarbar!

Upon your arrival at Yangon International Airport, our experienced guide with a wealth of knowledge on Myanmar will welcome you. On your very first day in Myanmar, begin exploring in the heart of Yangon, Sule Pagoda, which is one of the landmarks of Yangon, very close to Yangon City Hall and Immanuel Baptist Church. Sule Pagoda is also surrounded by colonial style buildings where you can also observe the daily activities of local people coming to worship before their busy schedules. After an hour, take a 30-min ride to Shwedagon Pagoda, a wonder of the religious world, noted for its size, height, artistry and colourful history. No visit to Myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and other holy relics. It forms the focus of religious as well as community activities with the bustles of devotees and monks performing rites, paying obeisance to Buddha, offering flowers and lights, worshiping, and meditating. You can also hear the chanting and praying at Stupas by nuns and local communities. After completing trips to these places, your guide will take you to your hotel to check in and enjoy a full-night rest to regain energy for the morning flight to Mandalay.

Day 2: Yangon – Mandalay (flight) and Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin (Private Vehicle) & Sightseeing

After breakfast at your hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and drive to Yangon Domestic Airport to fly to Mandalay on a morning flight (approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes). On arrival, our stationed guide from Mandalay will welcome you at Tadar Oo Airport which is 45 min drive from Mandalay City.  Then drive to Pyin-Oo-Lwin (approximately 1 ½ hours) a charming getaway founded by the British in 1896. This town was originally called Maymyo (May Town) after Colonel May of 5th Bengal Infantry, and was designed as a place to escape from the Mandalay heat and served as the summer capital for the British colonial administration. On arrival in Pyin Oo Lwin, start sightseeing to PweKauk known as B.E Waterfall, famous Botanical Garden and the Chinese Temple. And then transfer to hotel for a full-night rest to regain energy for 2 days 1 nights Hsipaw Trekking.

Day 3: Pyin Oo Lwin – Naung Pein (Train) and Hsipaw Trekking

Trekking hour: 3 hours (Mostly uphill)

Trekking level: Medium Difficulty

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer to Pyin Oo Lwin railway station (approximately 5 min) to take a train to Naung Pein (approximately 4 hours). The train passes over the famous Goitek Railway Viaduct which was constructed in 1899 by the Pennsylvania Steel Company and opened in 1900.  It is the highest bridge in Myanmar and when it was completed, the largest railway trestle in the world. The view is amazing from the rail tracks at the top of Goitek Viaduct. The train will disembark at Naung Pein station, our trekking guide will meet you. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant nearby station. We then drive to Baw Gyo Pagoda (approximately 1 ½ hours). Visit the pagoda and then transfer to starting point for 2 days 1 night Hsipaw trekking, passing some lush green crops along the way of hillside villages (approximately 30 min). Arrives at meeting point. Start trekking along uphill path (about 3 hours) through hill cultivations and reach the Palaung village,  the destination for a night break. After passing through little forests, lovely mountain ranges and hill cultivation, you will arrive in a Palaung village for an overnight stay in a villager’s home. At dinner time, interact with villagers, listen to their life stories and learn their ways of life.

Day 4:  Hsipaw Trekking

Trekking hour: 5 hours (down sloping)

Trekking level: Medium Difficulty

After breakfast at a local home, visit around the village and prepare for a mostly downhill second day trek, comparatively easier and less strenuous than the First Day. Walk down mountain slopes for several hours along hill side tea plantations, setting aside time for taking photos and refreshment along the way and enjoying the awe-inspiring, soothing sights of green mountains and lush forests, which will certainly drive the trekking-fatigue away. Stick to the path through hill crops and a hamlet which lead to Mini Natural water fall so as to enjoy a cold bath to refresh yourself. Our waiting Toke Toke (mostly used for village transportation) will take you to the meeting point, from where our waiting vehicle will take you to a local restaurant for lunch. And then visit Hsipaw Haw Nan (opens 3 to 5 pm daily but closed on full moon/new moon day) which was the residential site of the Shan ethic prince – Saw Kya Seng. The backstory to the princely residence never fails to stimulate interest of visitors. You will learn about the love story between the prince and his Australian wife in the early 1960s. Their love story was published with the title “Twilight over Burma: My life as a Shan Princess” written by the Australian-Shan princess herself. In the evening, enjoy the sunset view at Thein Daung Hill. Then back to hotel for an overnight stay in Hsipaw.

PS. The trekking itinerary may necessarily change or diverted depending upon regional restriction & weather condition.

Day 5:  Hsipaw – Pyin Oo Lwin – Mandalay (by private vehicle) and sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and drive to Mandalay (approximately 6 hours). Upon arrival in Mandalay, enjoy sightseeing to Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddha Images in Myanmar. To pay respect to the Buddha image, male devotees apply gold leaf to the image, which is called “Shwe Cha” in Burmese. As a result, the Mahamuni Buddha is covered with a thick layer of gold leaf of about 15 centimeters, which has transformed the shape and size of the image, becoming thicker in the body while the size and contour of the face curiously remains unchanged. Several old photos of the image in the temple show the difference in the outline of the image between about a century ago and now. Transfer to hotel afterwards and enjoy your night in Mandalay.

Day 6:  Mandalay – Bagan (Flight) and Sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to airport for taking a flight to Bagan (approximately 30 min). Upon arrival to Bagan, our stationed guide will meet you at Bagan airport, taking you on a guided tour to the highlights of historic Pagodas and temples dating back to 13th century, most patronized by legendary kings with colorful history; Shwezegon Pagoda - the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawratha, Ananda temple - a masterpiece patronized by King Kyansittha, Thatbyinnyu temple - the highest building in the Bagan plain, Dhamma Yangyi temple - an absolutely massive temple. After lunch, you will learn more about the local culture with a visit to two workshops producing Bagan's most famous products: lacquerware and wood crafts. Watch as the skilled craftsmen use techniques passed down through generations to create beautiful items. In the evening, watch the sunset view at Nyaung Lett Phet view mount (or) Sulamani Kan view mount and you will no doubt be amazed by the beauty of Bagan while you watch the sun slowly set behind the ancient Pagodas.  We then transfer you to the hotel to enjoy your night in Bagan.

Day 7:  Sightseeing and Bagan – Yangon (Flight)

After breakfast at the hotel, our stationed guide from Bagan will meet you in the hotel lobby and begin your exploration by visiting a busy local market which sells food, vegetables, clothes, daily household things and local products. You will gain an insight into the bustling market atmosphere in Bagan. We then explore Phwar Saw Village and then visit Phaya Thone Zu Temple. In the evening, transfer to airport for taking a flight to Yangon (approximately 1 ½ hours). Arrives in Yangon, transfer to hotel and enjoy your night in Yangon.

Day 8:  Departure  

After breakfast at hotel, our stationed guide in Yangon will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to airport for your departure flight.