Explore the Cultural and Natural Delights of Myanmar
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  Duration: 10 DAYS/9 NIGHTS STYLE: Classic Travel

Explore the Cultural and Natural Delights of Myanmar

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In a country of incomparable beauty, there are many cultural and natural delights to enthrall you during this exciting 10 day tour.

You start your adventure in the capital of Myanmar, Yangon. A developing city, Yangon boasts many sites to delight the modern traveler into the awe inspiring Pagoda complex of Schwedagon, arguably the most beautiful Pagoda in the whole of Asia. On your third day, you will take a flight to Bagan where you will visit the busy Nyaung Oo Market. You will also explore the Bagan’s most distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas. From Bagan, you will drive to Salay to explore the incredible and unique woodcarvings at Yoke-Sone-Kyang before heading back to Bagan to settle into the prime spot on Mt Popa to watch  a spectacular panoramic sunset view over the temples.

Day 4 takes you back to the airport for a flight to the exotic sounding Mandalay. Mandalay is a perfect base to visit two ancient cities, the previous capital city of Amarapura and the royal capital of Inwa, which your guide will take you to and show you to and tell you about the history as you visit the various sites at both cities. And of course Mandalay also holds its own treasures including the 'Worlds Biggest Book' which consists of 729 stone slabs of Buddhist writings.

A flight to Pindaya takes you to more rural settings where you will see open countryside and travel through villages of some of the ethnic minority peoples of Myanmar. You can also visit the limestone caves where thousands of Buddhist images are situated. Arriving at Inle Lake, you will board a private motorboat and venture out into the lake, where you will be introduced to a different cultural experience. Here you will see less of the splendid buildings of Pagodas and Palaces and more the cultural secrets of local indigenous people living in narural surroundings. You will see the stilt houses and be able to watch the locals making their living from fishing on the lake. A short walk from the lake will take you to the village of the Indainn people. At here you will see and experience first hand the lives of local people and be able to learn about their culture and way of life.  

After Inle and the Indainn village, it is time for you to head back to Yangon and to connect with your flight to your next destination. Whether  this is your first time to Myanmar or one trip of many, this tour will provide a comfortable, exciting and varied experience!

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WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK THIS TOUR WITH US?
  • Personal attention to detail by all HGH from the time of your initial enquiry through to the end of your tour
  • 24 hour support available during the tour
  • Enjoy the degree of historical and cultural information throughout your tour from our local and knowledgeable tour hosts to the degree that you and your group are interested
  • We focus on sustainable tourism by creating the very best experience for you as the tourist while supporting our local environment and local people
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Yangon

You tour starts at the airport where you will be met by your guide and taken into Yangon to book into your hotel.  Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia. Dinner at hotel.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon

After breakfast, we start our sightseeing tour in Yangon. The main places to visit here in Yangon include the beautiful Kandawgyi Lake and the  Botataung Pagoda, which is hollow and through which you can walk and see many ancient relics and artifacts. 

Afternoon sightseeing includes colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda. We finish today's tour with a visit to the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, which towers over all of Yangon. It is perhaps the most beautiful pagoda complex in all of Asia and is one sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in Yangon

Day 4: Yangon - Bagan - Salay - Mt Popa - Bagan

After an early breakfast, we drive to Salay, about 1 and half hours. Salay famous for the spectacular woodcarvings monastery "Yoke-Sone-Kyaung'' built in AD 1882, museum (it is closed on every Monday, Tuesday and gazette holidays) of Myanmar famous writer U Pone Nya and lacquer ware "Man" pagoda built in AD 1300.

Back in our transport, we head towards Bagan stopping en route to visit Mt. Popa, which is said to have risen from the ground in a massive earthquake in 442 BC. Mt. Popa is famous as the abode of the Nats (Spirit Gods) and for its panoramic view of the local tropical region. There is a volcanic plug with a temple on top that you can climb up to if you like. Along the way, you will see a local toddy palm farmer and see how toddy palm juice and sugar are produced. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan - Mandalay - Amrapura - Inwa - Bagan

Today we head back to the airport for a Mandalay where we go to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura. Here we will visit Mahagandayon Monastery, which is a school for young monks, and the nearby U Bein bridge. The bridge is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km is the longest teakwood span in the world.

Later we will visit another former royal capital of Inwa which was founded in 1364 and which lasted nearly 400 years as a royal capital. Highlights include the ' leaning tower of Ava', Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a brick-and-stucco monastery, and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung. Then we will return back to your hotel. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight in Mandalay

Day 6: Mandalay

Today, we pay a visit with highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda, a gold leaf hammering craft shop. Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’ before continue to explore the Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving. Head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay - Heho - Pindaya

Today we take another flight to Heho airport and then there is a drive to Pindaya. Pindaya is noted for its extensive limestone caves filled with Buddha images.  Driving there we will be passing through the PaO and Danu villages of Pwehla and Ji Chanzi and endless fields of dry cultivated mountain rice and potato. Inside the Pindaya Caves are nearly 8,000 Buddha images that have been placed there over the centuries as a form of merit making. Made of various materials and of different sizes, the statues are situated in every nook and cranny throughout the many cave chambers. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant

Overnight in Pindaya

Day 8: Pindaya - Inle Lake

For a change of scenery, today we drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to the beautiful and intriguing Inle Lake. Along the way, we make a stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images.

At Inle Lake, we board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular places to see. We will pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people and observe the unique style of the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.

On the lake is the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.

After the religious aspect of the say, you can then explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. Lunch at local restaurant and dinner at hotel.

Overnight at Inle lake.

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Day 9: Inle Lake - Indainn - Inle Lake

From the middle of the lake, we continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of Indainn. We leave the boat and take a short walk to the village where you can walk around, visit the local farmers and their families and see the local school. You can also wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area and  can climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill which is covered with picturesque ancient stupas and offers magnificent views of the lake below. Lunch at local restaurant and dinner at hotel.

Overnight at Inle lake.

Day 10: Heho - Yangon - Departure

Breakfast at the hotel before transfer time to the airport and fly back to Yangon. On arrival, you will connect with your departure flight.

Note: The itinerary described above may be subject to change depending on domestic flight time and weather conditions.

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