Beautiful Memories

Day 1: Yangon Arrival and Sightseeing                                                                                                    

Upon arrival at Yangon international airport, you will be welcomed by our experienced guide with a wealth of knowledge on Myanmar and visit famous Chauk Htat Kyi Pagoda, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha and lunch at local restaurant.   The feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gather to pay homage and pray. And then transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay at a hotel in Yangon.

Day 2:    Walking tour and take Circular Train in Yangon

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 7:30 am and drive to Myanmar Post Office from where we start our walking tour (approximately 3 hours). You will have a chance to see the old financial district, dating back to the early 20th century with such buildings with faded grandeur as The High Court (1900), invoking former colonial glory, The Old Telegram Office, The City Hall (1940), The old Jewish Office Building (1906), The old Armenian Balthazar Office Building (1907), a number of old residential buildings (early 1900), The Port authority building, The old Armenian Church, British Embassy (1900),  and the beautiful St Mary’s Cathedral, the third biggest cathedral in Asia, and the magnificent Secretariat Building. On the way, we will pass through The Oldest Hotel of Myanmar located at 1901, Strand Hotel, one of the three chain hotels by Sarkies Brothers. The three-hour walking tour will come to an end at the Secretariat Building.  We then heading to local tea shop and transfer to Yangon Railway Station for a merry-go-round on a circular train. A ride on Yangon’s Circular Railway offers a fascinating tour around the commercial capital offering a passing insight into all walks of life, including commuters, vendors and beggars. The 46-kilometre line, with 38 stops, also provides a glimpse of the daily lives of the city’s residents during a round-trip that passes through satellite towns and suburbs, some very poor, that takes about three hours. At the end of the sightseeing, transfer to hotel for a well-deserved rest.

Day 3: Yangon – Nyaung U (Flight), Bagan sightseeing                                                    

After breakfast, our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to Yangon domestic airport to fly to Bagan (approximately 1 hour 20 minute). As soon as we reach Bagan, our station guide in Bagan will welcome and take you on a  guided tour around the ancient Bagan with the highlights of historic Pagodas and temples; Shwezegon the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawyethta,  Ananda temple - a master piece of 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 definitely be amazed by the beauty of Bagan while you watch the sun slowly set behind the ancient Pagodas.  We then transfer to hotel and enjoy your night at hotel in Bagan.

Day 4: Morning horse ride and Exploring to Set Set Yo Village                                                     

Early breakfast at hotel. Our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to base camp for riding horse. Traveling by a horse is a relaxing and elegant way to enjoy the temples of Bagan. This about 2 hour riding trip explores the best of Bagan’s temples , starting early morning from our base camp (near Shwezigone Pagoda) and proceeds to Alodawpyae Pagoda , Bulaethi Pagoda, Dhammayangyi Temple, Sulamuni Temple, Htilominlo Temple and finishing again at our base camp. After the ride, we will take you on a community tour to learn about the livelihoods of Myanmar villagers. Be entertained by beautiful sceneries along the way where such seasonal crops as peanuts, sesame and soya beans line the road on both sides. After a two hour drive, arrives Set Set Yo Village, which is famous for the children’s hairstyle and called Yaung Pae Sue hairstyle (top hair is not cut but kept in a knot) in Myanmar. Children up to the age of adolescents keep this style under the supervision of the head monk of the village. Walk through this village and talk to the head master of the school and learn about village life in general. The monastery offers a chance to rest your tired limbs and treats you to a light snack. Then drive back to Bagan (approximate 2 hours). On the way, stop at a local shop to visit one of the local families who make toddy palm juice for sale from the toddy palms. Transfer to hotel for an overnight stay in Bagan. On the way, stop at a local shop to visit one of the local families who make toddy palm juice for sale from the toddy palms. Transfer to hotel for a good night rest at hotel in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan – Mandalay (Private Vehicle)                                                                                           

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and then drive to Mandalay (approximately 4 hours). On the way, you will certainly see Burmese star tortoise at Minsontaung wildlife Sanctuary, starting with 12 star tortoises which have grown to a population of 4000 tortoises and nearly 1000 have been released in a natural sanctuary. After nurturing them very carefully, they are released into their natural habitats at the age of three to five years old. After watching Burmese star tortoise, continue to Mandalay. Overnight stay in Mandalay. 

Day 6: Mingun and Mandalay Sightseeing           

After breakfast at your hotel and your guide will meet you in hotel lobby and we will go on a 1-hr boat ride to explore Mingun, which has Mingun Bell, a landmark. The bell weighs more than 87 tons and is the world’s largest intact bronze bell and we will take one min walk to Mingun Pagoda (Mingun Pathodawgyi); two large earthquakes did considerable damage to it during the 1838 earthquake  with the heads of the giant lions statue (Chinthes) becoming and rolling into the Ayeyarwaddy River. Large cracks appeared in the Paya’s structure. Then, we will proceed to Myatheindan Pagoda; a stunning white-washed structure standing out from the rest. Observe the Interesting architecture and enjoy the view from the top. Return to Mandalay by boat. Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we will proceed to Shwenandaw monastery, formerly known as  ‘Shwe Kyaung’ where you can observe the rich culture of  teak wood architecture in mid- 19th century. Then, we will enjoy cultural dish for lunch at local restaurant. Then, we proceed to  Kyauktawgyi pagoda, built by King Mindon in 1853 taking inspiration from Anada Teample in Bagan and the Buddha image was sculpted from one single stone block of Marble. Then, get to a gold leaf workshop to learn the traditional of gold leaf making and followed by a trip to Mahamuni Pagoda. The Pagoda is one of the important religious sites in Myanmar and the temple was built in 1785 by King Bodawpaya of the Konebaung dynasty. The Buddha image was captured from the Arakan Kingdom. Return to your hotel around 17:00 and enjoy your night in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay – Heho (Flight), Nyaung Shwe – Inle Lake                                        

After breakfast at hotel, your guide will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for a flight to Heho (approximately 30 min). Upon arrival in Heho, our station guide from Nyaung Shwe will meet you at the airport and drive to Nyaung Shwe (approximately 1 hour). On the way, visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which is conspicuous for its red-painted teak building built in the 19th century. Inside it is covered with carved wooden bas-reliefs decorated with colorful glass mosaics and gold paint. We then visit Red Mountain Winery for enjoying the enchanting sunset view. Afterwards, transfer to hotel and enjoy your night on Inle Lake.

Day 8: Join the cooking class and take a long tail boat for sightseeing in Inle Lake 

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and transfer to local market for shopping with local chef for cooking class in family-style (starts: 9 am, ends: at 1 pm).   During this class, you will learn how to cook Inthar dishes following step by step demonstration of the chef. Then you will enjoy the lunch you just cooked yourself. In the afternoon, an excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include sights of the famous Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, where the pagoda festival is held every year in Oct. In the pagoda festival, people place the four Buddha Images on the duplicate of Barge designed in the form of Hintha, a mythical bird. The images are then taken on a tour around Inle Lake to be revered by the faithful for several days. One image always has to remain at the Pagoda. In 1960s, when all five Buddha Images were placed on the Barge to be taken on a tour around Inle Lake, violent squalls arose kicking up enormous waves around the lake. The Barge overturned and the images dropped into the lake. The legend had it that only four images were accounted for after a dive and search mission. Miraculously though, when they went back to the pagoda, the lost fifth image was sitting at its place. So, for future processions taking images on a tour around the lake, the fifth image was left at the pagoda.

After witnessing the mysterious images of Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, we will proceed to the weaving village of Inpaw Khon, famous for its weaving workshops and products of multi-colored fabrics on looms made from bamboo poles lashed together with rope, Nampan village- famous for cheroot factories and Se-khong village where traditional blacksmith workshops produce knives and farming tools. After these places of interest, transfer to hotel and enjoy your night on Inle Lake. Dinner at a local restaurant follows.

Day 9: Heho – Yangon (Flight), Yangon Sightseeing                                                        

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in hotel lobby and return to Nyaung Shwe marina and transfer to airport for a flight back to Yangon (approximately 1 hour and 10 min). On arrival, be welcomed by our tour guide at the airport and visit to Bogyoke (Scotts) Market (closed every Monday and on public holiday), with hundreds of stores and a gem shops.  Thereafter visit Karaweik Hall, a royal floating barge for photo stops. In the evening, visit Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world’s most spectacular religious monuments. The golden stupa rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. We then transfer to hotel and enjoy your night at hotel in Yangon.

Day 10: Yangon Departure

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