Myanmar Express 9 Days, 8 Nights

Today you will take a city tour to explore quiet and charming Yangon city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.
The first stop is the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most famous attraction of Yangon. The professional English speaking local guide will show you around of the hidden messages of the Pagoda and tell you more about the history. Please note that you need to take off your shoes if you enter the pagoda and walk around.

Lunch at local restaurant. Then continue to the central area of Yangon, where most of the colonial buildings are standing. Walk around this area to explore Yangon City Hall, Independence Monument, former High Court Buildings, Telegraph Office and along the way you will see some street book stalls that sell the oldest books here.

You will visit Nanthida Jetty, where you can watch the busy life on the Yangon river and to see the daily communication of people from the suburbs of Yangon.

The last stop of the tour is a visit to Saint Mary’s Cathedral, an old Colonial building built in 1899. You will be transported back to your hotel safely after the tour.

Take an early flight from Yangon to Mandalay today. Upon arrival, begin a sightseeing tour of Mandalay with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda is home to one of the country’s most revered Buddha images which, over the years, has been covered with so much gold leaf by revelers that it has attained a unique and iconic ‘lumpy’ texture. Get a good look at this famous Buddha image and walk around the temple grounds for a feel of its unique spiritual vibes.

Lunch at local restaurant. Followed by Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda, known for its impressive large Buddha image carved out of a single block of marble.

Continue to the Shwenandaw Monastery, or Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings—an amazing photo opportunity. See Kuthodaw Pagoda, home of the world’s largest book and stone slabs with Buddhist scriptures, before viewing Mandalay Palace. Watch the sunset from Mandalay Hill, 787 feet (240 m) tall, and admire a panoramic view of the city and the Irrawaddy River.

The whole day is free to relax or explore the city on your own.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan (Nyaung Oo).

On arrival, the journey begins with a visit to an elevated temple with panoramic views of the magnificent plains of Bagan. Take some photos here and then continue on the way to the colourful Nyaung Oo Market where locals come to buy and sell fresh produce and other goods before. Then visit the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction into Bagan’s rich history. Afterwards, visit the nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

In the afternoon, visit a traditional lacquer ware workshop where and observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples. Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which they are viewed.
From here, travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple.

Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from one of the upper-terrace of one of the temples elevated viewpoint. Return to your hotel to take a rest.

The whole day is free to relax or explore the city on your own.

After breakfast, transfer to Nyaung U Airport for a flight to Heho. From Heho, a scenic one-hour drive leads to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images.

Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat and head out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by local Intha people. Observe the famous 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. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.

Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.

If time permits, take a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.

Today is a leisure day. Explore the peaceful surroundings of the lake or take some time to relax.

After breakfast in the morning, transfer to Heho Airport for a flight to Yangon. Connect to the onward international flight home.