Venture to Myanmar Wildlife Sanctuary

Day 1: Yangon Arrival

Mingalarbar! Welcome to Myanmar and upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, our friendly tour guide will meet you and transfer to hotel and enjoy a full-night rest at hotel in Yangon to regain energy for the adventure trip – Crocodile watching at Mainmahla Kyun.

Day 2: Yangon – Bogalay (by private vehicle) – Mainmahla Kyun/Island (by boat)

Having early breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby at 7:00 AM and go on an overland drive to Bogalay (approximately 4 hours). Arrives in Bogalay and have simple lunch at local restaurant. We then proceed to Forest Department to register for a visit to Mainmahla Kyun. On this trip, an officer of the forest department expert in Mainmahla Island will join and guide you on crocodile watching. After registration, transfer to jetty and take a 2-hour boat trip. Arrives at Freda Eco Lodge which is located on Byonemhwe Kyun near Mainmahla Kyun (approximately 5 min), check in and take a rest before taking a boat tour along the river lined with mangrove trees for the sunset ride. Back to the lodge later for dinner and an overnight stay at Freda Eco lodge.

Day 3: Crocodile Watching

After a simple breakfast at the lodge, morning visit by boat to creeks for crocodile and bird watching while passing through mangrove forests. If you are lucky, you may even spy Irrawaddy dolphins. After morning sightseeing, back to Freda Lodge for a simple lunch and a well-deserved rest. In the late afternoon, further crocodile watching tours follow scouting various rivers and creeks of the sanctuary for wildlife and an authentic tropical adventure. We then enjoy dinner at Freda Eco Lodge. After dinner, more exciting nighttime Crocodile watching – weather permitting – for adventurers who have not had enough of crocodiles during daytrips. Overnight stay at Freda Eco Lodge.

Day 4: Mainmahla Kyun – Bogalay (by boat) – Yangon (by private vehicle)

After breakfast at the lodge, take a 2-hour boat trip back to Bogalay. On arrival at Bogalay, our waiting vehicle will meet you at the jetty and drive back to Yangon (approximately 4 hours). Enjoy your night at a hotel in Yangon.

Day 5: Yangon – Heho (Flight), 2 days 1 night Kalaw – Inle Trekking

Trekking Route: Pawke – Khone Hla ‐ Pattupauk (Approximately trekking hour: 5 hours)

After breakfast at hotel, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and transfer to airport on a flight to Heho (approximately 1 ½ hours). Upon arrival in Heho, our trekking guide will meet you at the airport and drive to trekking meeting point in Lamine, a rustic Danu village (approximately 2 hours). On arrival at Lamine meeting point, walk through the village and then continue on a ½ hour downhill trek. Along the way, enjoy the soothing sight of the lush green rice terraces surrounding you. Keep a slow, steady pace and walk for  a ½  hour uphill. Immerse yourself in the spectacular Mountain View from the peak and continue for 1 hour more along the ridge and its wondrous scenery to Pawke which is a typical Pa‐O village making their living from agriculture - growing rice, chili peppers, sesame and potatoes. Stop at Pawke to enjoy a delicious lunch served at a local family home.  After lunch, continue trekking for another hour to Kone Hla, also a Danu village, and the last 2 hours of trekking for the day will take you to Pattupauk which is 1,300 m above sea level. This scenic but simple route mostly passes through paddy fields and pine trees over isolated mountains. Upon arrival at Pattupauk, take a short rest and explore the village to see the livelihoods of local people. Enjoy your dinner and feel warmth and hospitality of a local family.

Remark: The facilities at a local family home are basic.

Day 6:  Kalaw - Inle Trekking

Trekking Route: Pattupauk – Kyauk Sue – Ngute – Than Taung ‐ Inle Lake

(Approximately trekking hour: 5 hours)

Enjoy your breakfast at a local home with authentic local cooking. After breakfast, say goodbye to the family and depart from Pattupauk around 8:00 am and head for Inle Lake. Follow a small trail on a 1 hour trek to Kyauk Sue and another one and a half hour to Ngute for lunch. Meet and be welcomed by local families and lunch will be served at a local family home. After lunch, walk for two hours to Than Taung village. Our waiting vehicle (Hi-jet) will be at the meeting point and drive to Inle (approximately one hour) and check‐in at a hotel and enjoy your night on Inle Lake.

Day 7: Inle Lake Sightseeing

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you on an excursion by boat on Inle Lake. The sights include famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life. Visits are made to 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 Catamaran 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 Catamaran to be taken on a tour around Inle Lake, violent squalls arose kicking up enormous waves around the lake. The Catamaran 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.

Day 8: Heho – Yangon (Flight), Yangon Sightseeing and Street Food Tour

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you at hotel lobby and drive to airport to fly to Heho (approximately 1 ½ hour). Arrives at Yangon, begin your  exploration at the heart of Yangon, Sule Pagoda, which is one of the most recognizable 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 drive to Shwedagon Pagoda widely acclaimed to be of the wonders of the religious world. No visit to Myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500 years 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 – the bustles of devotees and monks washing the statues, offering flowers and lights, worshiping, and meditating. You can also hear the chanting and praying near the Buddha Stupa by nuns and local communities. After these places, head for Maharbandoola Park, a downtown green space presided by the Independence Monument, where we begin our exploration into Yangon's evening street food scene. Winding our way through the side alleys of downtown's historic and ethnically rich neighborhoods including Little India and China Town, we'll drop by some of our favorite stalls and family owned eateries. Introducing you to a fascinating produce market far from the tourist route, we'll finish up at our favorite 19th St BBQ joint where fish and cold beer perfectly compliment the people watching opportunities. Finally, back to your hotel to enjoy a serene night life in Yangon. Finally, transfer to hotel for enjoy your night at hotel in Yangon.

Day 9: Yangon Departure

After breakfast at hotel, our guide will meet you at hotel lobby and drop you at Yangon International airport for your departure flight to your home sweet home.

Please note: This tour program operates from Oct to Mar.