January 4 YANGON
Tuesday
Welcome to Myanmar! Our tour guide will be awaiting our arrival. We’ll be assisted with our luggage as we go directly to the hotel and check-in. There’s some free time to relax before lunch at Manis Restaurant.

In the afternoon, our sightseeing takes us through one of the most exotic cities in SE Asia. We will explore the capital, meandering amongst colonial style buildings downtown, the bustling markets of Chinatown and the Indian quarter. Visit Sule Pagoda with its golden chedi, which makes a useful landmark in the center of downtown Yangon, dating back over 2000 years.

At sunset we will arrive at the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda, sitting high atop the sacred shrine of Singuttara Hill, housing relics of The Buddha, encased in gold and in jewels. The beauty of the architecture and design will take your breath away…a spectacular place filled with history and legend. The Pagoda, believed to be 2,500 years old, is surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues and is always filled with Myanmar people and saffron robed monks praying and making offerings. It’s a fascinating place to spend time watching the world go by. Dinner and accommodation at Savoy Hotel, Yangon. (L-D)

January 5 YANGON
Wednesday DALA
After breakfast on the hotel’s garden terrace, we will transfer to the picturesque waterfront of Yangon to cross Yangon-River by local ferry (10 min.) to Dala. Upon arrival on the other side, Trishaw drivers are waiting to drive us, over dusty and bumpy roads, through local villages and plantations. We will stop at an Orphanage where we will have the opportunity to meet the children and talk to the teachers (with help of your translating guide). For any who wish to make a voluntary donation, much needed schoolbooks, blankets, clothing etc can be purchased for us beforehand to bring to the orphanage with us. Enjoy the scenery on the way back. We will be witness to real local rural life, a contrast to urban Yangon. Cross the Yangon-River to return to Yangon. Continue to Botathaung Pagoda, located close to Yangon River with walls of glass mosaics, mazes of mediation alcoves and showcases filled with treasures of the old pagoda. Lunch at Monsoon Restaurant.

In the afternoon, we’ll meander through Bogyoke (Scott) Market, a sprawling 75-year old complex noted for it’s wealth of interesting arts and handicraft: antiques, lacquer ware, marionettes, kalagas…and more. Then, stop alongside Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake to photograph the Royal Floating Barge and the Shwedagon beyond. We will continue to Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a huge reclining Buddha image. Dinner and accommodation at Savoy Hotel, Yangon. (B-L-D)

****Savoy Hotel (Deluxe Room)

January 6 YANGON
Thursday BAGAN
We have an early direct flight from Yangon to Bagan (7:00 AM to 8:20 AM). With her 3000 temples, Bagan presents an incredible sight and is among the richest archeological sites in Asia. Upon our arrival, we’ll visit a busy local market and continue with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century, Gu Byauk Gyi, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes and Ananda Temple, one of the finest, best preserved and most beautiful of the Bagan temples with its four huge standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. Check-in at your hotel in the late morning. Lunch will be at The Beach Restaurant.

Bagan is noted for its fine laquerware and we’ll have the opportunity to visit a lacquer craftsman’s workshop in nearby Myinkaba village. Sightseeing continues with visits to Manuha Temple, built in Mon style in 1059, Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument that is said to have been the palace of King Manuha, and Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple (under the protection of UNESCO), noted for its ancient mural paintings. We’ll watch the sun set atop one of Bagan’s ancient monuments. Dinner will be accompanied with a Marionette show at Nanda Restaurant. (B-L-D)

****Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (Deluxe Garden View Room)

January 7 BAGAN
Friday

As promised, we head back to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, we visit Tayokepyay Temple in Min Nan Thu Village, Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples (noted for exquisite 13th century murals) and Kyat Kan Cave monastery, a famous meditation center in Bagan. Then, we’re off for further exploration of traditional farming villages around Bagan…by horse cart if you wish! Lunch will be at the Beach restaurant.

In the afternoon, sightseeing continues with an excursion by boat on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwaddy) River to the nostalgic Nat Htaung Kyaung, a monastery famous for its collection of woodcarvings, ancient Buddha statues and lacquer boxes, built in 1781 by a group of monks.

This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B-L-D)

January 8 BAGAN - MANDALAY
Saturday AVA • SAGAING
AMARAPURA
After breakfast this morning, we transfer to Bagan Airport for our short domestic flight (8:05 AM-8:35 AM) from Bagan to Mandalay—the country’s cultural center.
Upon arrival, drive to take the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava), located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the Myitnge Rivers. We will tour Innwa by horse cart for a revealing glimpse of village life and pass through the ancient city walls to visit a brick and stucco monastery, Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung). Continue to Nanmyin Watch Tower – the climb to the top offers lovely views over the river. See also the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. Time permitting; visit some village homes to see local handicrafts, such as silk weaving, cane mats and alms bowls. Lunch at Sagaing Hill Restaurant.

In the afternoon visit picturesque Sagaing Hill, the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Return to Amarapura via the Ava Bridge, built by British engineers. Walk over U-Bein Bridge, which is over a kilometer long and made entirely of teak—one of the most photographed sites in Myanmar. Return to Mandalay to check into our well located hotel. (B-L-D)

****Mandalay Hill Resort (Deluxe Room)

January 9 MANDALAY
Sunday MINGUN
Morning breakfast at the hotel followed by a visit to Jade Market. Following, embark on a scenic boat cruise on the Irrawaddy River. We’ll set off to Mingun, about 11 km (one hour each way), upriver from Mandalay. The boat trip is fascinating because you see all types of wooden boats and bamboo rafts, carrying goods up and down the river. Visit the Mingun Bell, weighing 87 tons and being the world’s largest intact bronze bell, the beautiful Hsinbyume Paya and the unfinished Mingun Paya (built with the intention of being the world’s biggest pagoda). Return to Mandalay by boat for lunch at Myananda Restaurant.

Our afternoon of comprehensive sightseeing in Mandalay includes Mahamuni Pagoda with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaf, and interesting shop stalls at its entrance. Visit various craftsman’s workshops to see stone carving, gold leaf making, and Kalaga tapestries being created, Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung (or Golden Palace Monastery), a superb example of a traditional wooden building, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the “world’s largest book” because it consists of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. At sunset visit Shwe Kyin Monastery and observe the evening prayers. Enjoy dinner with a cultural show “Dances from Dynasties” at Mandalay Hill Resort, which takes you through Myanmar’s dynasties with its typical costumes, headdresses and dances. (B-L-D)

****Mandalay Hill Resort (Deluxe Room)

January 10 MANDALAY
Monday HEHO • PINDAYA
INLE LAKE
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. This morning, transfer to Mandalay Airport and take a short domestic flight from Mandalay to Heho (9:30 AM to 10:05 AM). You will be greeted and assisted with your transfer from Heho airport to Pindaya. It’s an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Later we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch at the Memento Restaurant.

After lunch, visit magnificent Pindaya Caves which are set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Visit some local houses where families produce Shan paper and parasols. Afterwards, a beautifully scenic drive takes you to Inle Lake (90 km - 2 1/2 hours). Following our arrival we will transfer by boat to the hotel at the lake. (B-L-D)

***Inle Lake View Resort

January 11 INLE LAKE
Tuesday INDAING
Breakfast will be at our lovely lake-side hotel. We will explore one of the 5-day markets (on market days only). When visiting 5-day markets, you will gain insight first hand into the life-style of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants who rely on these markets to sell their goods. We then will enjoy a boat tour to Indaing at the western end of the Lake, maneuvering through a long channel where we can watch the farmers cultivate their produce. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on Lake Inle. Lunch will be served at Nampan Restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy another boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic high hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar. You will also see the floating gardens growing vegetables and flowers. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake with its ancient Buddha statues, now more than 200 years old. We finish off the day with a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. We will finely dine at the resort tonight. (B-L-D)

***Inle Lake View Resort

January 12 INLE LAKE
Wednesday
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure. (B)

***Inle Lake View Resort

January 13 INLE LAKE
Thursday HEHO • YANGON
Start the day off right with an eloquent breakfast at our fantastic resort. This morning we’ll leave by boat and drive to Heho Airport for our short domestic flight from Heho to Yangon (9:10 AM to 10:20 AM). We’ll arrive at Yangon airport, assisted with luggage as we transfer to our hotel. Lunch today will on your own account, so take advantage and broaden your palette! The rest of the day is free at your leisure to pursue individual interests. Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the Garden City on a stroll through one of the numerous beautiful gardens and parks, visit the National Museum, the Gems Museum, the numerous art galleries or the synagogue. Or do some last minute shopping. Our exquisite gourmet farewell dinner is at Le Planteur Restaurant, the finest French Indochina restaurant in town! (B-D)

****Savoy Hotel (Boutique Style)

Note: Flight schedules always subject to change.