Myanmar

In 11 Days

Tour Code: VT_02

Join us on this 11 day expedition to discover fascinating Myanmar!

Day 1

Yangon

The first day begins with picturesque Yangon.

The ancient buildings belonging to the colonial era seem

like a painting against the backdrop of the sky,

and the gargantuan statue of the reclining Buddha

at Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda is a sight to see.

What will truly rejuvenate your jet-lagged souls

is the lush greenery of the Kandawgyi Park before

we proceed to the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda.

Finally, after a sumptuous meal,

it is time to go to bed and get some rest.

Day 2

Yangon-Golden Rock

Today, we explore more of what Myanmar has to offer.

After halting at Bago on our way,

famous for its thriving cheroot industry,

we shall proceed to the Kinmon Base Camp

and take a one-hour ride to Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock),

a Buddhist pilgrimage site which is nestled on

a granite boulder embellished with leaves of gold brought in

and pasted by devotees.

The boulder appears to be the spot

where the tree of gold sheds its leaves in autumn,

creating a picture out of one’s imagination.

Elevating the ethereal aura,

the rock defies gravity

and stands as if threatening to roll down the steep hill any minute.

The splendid sunset

from the edge of the Golden Rock Pagoda wraps up this experience along

with a short stop for some souvenirs at the local shops

before going back to our hotel.

Day 3

Kyaiktiyo-Bago-Yangon

Soak in the warm rays of a spectacular sunrise

from the top of the Golden Rock mountain

before going for a leisurely walk to the Kyee Kan Pa Sat,

a significant religious site for the local tribes.

Don’t forget to stop and see some local produce in the shops along the way.

At midday, we shall retrace our steps to Yangon via Bago along rice fields

and through quaint little towns.

At Bago,

we shall visit the magisterial four seated Buddhas

and the colossal Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha

before reaching Yangon and calling it a day.

Day 4

Inle Lake

After a delicious breakfast,

it is time to transfer to the airport for a new adventure.

Take a short flight to Heho, and drive to Nyaung Shwe.

Inle Lake awaits your arrival

as you take in the mesmerizing sight of the villages

with their stilt houses, and floating gardens.

Also known as the Venice of Asia,

Inle Lake is a thriving fishing spot where fishermen

use antique techniques to bag large shoals of fish.

From here,

we move on to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

and finally, the Nga Phe Chaung Monastery

where we shall interact with the locals for a while.

Tonight, we shall reside by Inle Lake.

Day 5

Indein

Support the local villagers

by purchasing handmade craft items from the morning market

along Inle Lake before we set out to explore

the scenic Pa-Oh village in Indein.

Well-known for the 1054 stupas covering a hill,

this quaint village is ideal for exploration on foot.

Get acquainted with the locals,

visit a local school,

and walk uphill until you find a place among the weather-beaten stupas

to have a clear,

panoramic view of the lake below.

A fun boat trip on Inle Lake is also included.

Day 6

Mandalay

We bid farewell to Inle and it’s now time to explore Mandalay,

the last royal city of Burma.

We begin with Sagaing,

a place with over 600 Buddhist monasteries,

nearly each of which houses nuns and monks.

We shall also visit the U Min Thone Sae and the Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin pagodas,

among others, and move on to the local markets,

followed by quick visits to the clay pot making

and the silverware cottage industry before wrapping it up

with a trip to the Nunnery.

Here, we shall learn about the day to day lives of the Buddhist nuns.

Our next stop is Amarapura, famed as the City of Immortality,

where we shall visit the Mahagandaryone Monastery.

After that, get ready to walk across U Bein,

the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

Lastly, we will visit the beautiful bronze Mahamuni Buddha.

Day 7

Mingun

We begin with a boat ride to Mingun.

From the ruined magnificence of the Mingun Pagoda,

we shall go on to the marvelous Hsinbyume Paya

and also the Mingun Bell,

the largest intact bronze bell at present, with a weight of 87 tons.

The exploration isn’t over as we discover the beauty of the Mandalay Palace,

before proceeding to see the world’s largest book at Kuthadow Pagoda,

and the intricately detailed woodcarvings

at the Shwenandaw Monastery.

We will end this day by going to Mandalay Hill

to witness a glorious sunset and enjoy the view of the city

as it comes alive in the evening.

Day 8

Mt Popa – Bagan

Get your playlist ready because today

we will go on a 4-hour long ride to beautiful Bagan.

On our way, we shall pause to visit Mount Popa,

the birthplace of the Myanmar Nats.

This extinct volcano has some spectacular views in store for us,

with a Nat Shrine at the foot of the mountain.

This is a major pilgrimage destination, and is a repository of figures

which represents the 37 Nats (spirits). From there,

we take a detour to a local village and stop at a local palm tree plantation.

In the early hours of the evening,

we shall arrive at Bagan and call it a day.

Day 9

Bagan

Relive the rich history in the ancient city of Bagan

as we unveil the mysteries of this cultural centre.

With a whopping number of pagodas

and temples Bagan is home to shrines such as Sulamani,

Thatbyinnyu, Ananda, Dhammayangyi, and Htilominlo.

We shall also take a look at traditional workshops,

and the Nyaung U Market which has some great souvenirs

followed by a late afternoon boat tour on the Irrawaddy River.

After watching a beautiful sunset it’s time to return to the hotel for some rest.

Day 10

Bagan-Yangon

Today we shall explore more of Bagan

in a horse drawn carriage before we board our flight back to Yangon.

The evening at Yangon shall be spent shopping and taking idle walks.

Day 11

Departure

We transfer you to Yangon Airport as you bid Myanmar a heartfelt farewell.