16 day luxury travel in Myanmar: An adventure through Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay & Inle Lake, also, encompass lesser discovered destinations in Burma such as Pindaya and Kalaw.
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Save an acre of rainforest each time you travel
Every detail taken care of
trip highlights
- On the banks of Inle Lake, explore a lush hillside strewn with overgrown stupas and pagodas, that make up the beautiful and atmospheric ruins of Indein.
- Wander the charming hill station of Kalaw, enjoying the beautiful scenery, cool climate and the delightful colonial architecture, a legacy of Myanmar’s time as part of the British Empire.
- Enjoy a relaxing cruise down the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar’s most important waterway, to gaze over the majestic temples of Bagan at the most beautiful time of day – as the sun sets.
itinerary details
arrival in Yangon. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Head downtown to the Central Post
Office from where we will begin our tour. Encompassing the colonial highlights and more traditional architecture, stroll Strand Road and Pansodan Street. Visit the National Museum before exploring the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda whose huge golden stupa dominates the city’s skyline. The apex of the stupa is studded with hundreds of priceless gems that glint in the sunshine. This is Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist site and is alleged to have four relics of former Buddhas enshrined within.
Drive to the lively port town of Pyay. Travelling by ox cart, explore the spectacular ruins of
Sri Ksetra, the ancient Pyu Kingdom’s former capital. Later visit Hmawzar village to get a glimpse of local life.
Visit Pyay’s colourful central market where you’ll be able to see members of several of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities. Continue to the dazzling Shwe San Taw Pagoda and admire the wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Drive back to Yangon.
Fly to Mandalay and transfer to Amarapura
to visit Mahagandayon Temple, a place of monastic study and home to several thousand
young monks. Continue to the U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak wood bridge, and make your way across it, walking with the locals. Head to Sagaing and explore the
hills around the town which are dotted with temples and pagodas, before travelling to Inwa to explore the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery.
Mandalay is considered the epicentre of Burmese culture and so there is much to explore. Visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe Inbin Monastery, the Golden Palace Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book; each page inscribed in marble. Visit a traditional handloom silk workshop and a Kalaga tapestry craftman’s shop before finishing the day on Mandalay Hill.
Set sail up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun to visit one of the world’s largest bells, the Mingun Bell; and the Mingun Pagoda. Had it been completed it would have been Myanmar’s largest but it is still a monumental structure – 50 metres tall, 72 metres wide and constructed entirely of brick. Return to Mandalay and spend the afternoon at leisure.
Leave Mandalay for the Thanboddhay Pagoda, said to contain over half a million colourful images of Buddha. Continue to the Bodhi Taung where a thousand Buddha images rest at the feet of beautiful Banyan trees.
In the afternoon see the Aung Setkya Pagoda and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside. Arrive in Monywa.
This morning take a boat trip across the Chindwin River to Po Win Daung, a network of sandstone caves full of statues, carvings and murals of Buddha. Drive on to the port city of Pakokku. Visit the lively local market by traditional trishaw and observe the production process of typical Myanmar cotton blankets. Continue by boat down the Irrawaddy to Bagan, arriving in time to catch the sunset.
Visit Nyaung U Market, Ananda Temple
and Shwezigon Pagoda, which is the most important pagoda in Bagan. You’ll also visit Htilominlo Pagoda. This afternoon, head to a lacquer workshop in the village of Myinkaba before enjoying a spectacular sunset over Bagan’s temple-strewn plains.
Travel to Mount Popa and visit the temple that sits on top of a unique volcanic ‘plug’. Return to Bagan and discover more of its wonderful temples and pagodas. In the evening, travel to temples that are further afield on-board a colourful ox cart – a local method of transport.
Fly to Heho and transfer to Pindaya to visit the Shwe U Min limestone caves. The caves are a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site. Continue to a local workshop that manufactures umbrellas from mulberry paper. Arrive in Kalaw.
Drive to Nyaung Shwe and take a boat trip to Inle lake. The lake is best known for the extraordinary ‘Intha’ people, who live on and around the water, and are renowned for their unique rowing technique. Visit a local market and see the floating gardens, village life and magnificent scenery. See Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, Nga Phe Chaung Monastery and the weaving village of Inpawkhon.
Cruise on Inle Lake to the crumbling Indein Pagoda complex. Built in the 17th century, it is home to nearly 1,000 stupas and pagodas. Walk through the rice paddies to Sae Ma village, where you can visit a local primary school.
Fly to Yangon. Upon arrival browse the famous Bogyoke market, perfect for souvenirs. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before a late afternoon visit to Botataung Pagoda. This evening, stroll around Chinatown.
End of teh 16 day luxury tour of Myanmar, trasnfer to the airport, departure.
