Myanmar Explorer’s Adventure

• Day 1:

  Upon arrival at Mandalay International Airport, you're welcomed by your guide and transferred to the hotel. Time permitting, visit the beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery or Golden Palace Monastery, which is noted for its intricate wood carvings and is the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing. Next visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ‘the world’s largest book’, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Transfer to hotel with the rest of your day at leisure. Accommodation in Mandalay: (5*) Hilton Mandalay Resort (Deluxe room) (three nights)

• Day 2:

  After breakfast, set out in search of food. Take a classic Mandalay rickshaw to explore the best snacks that Mandalay has to offer. From the famous morning noodle dish, mohinga, to Myanmar pancake, samosa, Mandalay salad, Shan noodles and numerous sweet snacks, all will leave you with a firm understanding of why Myanmar people walk around with a smile on their face all day. In the afternoon, we hop on bikes for a warm up ride. Just outside of the city center lies miles of rice paddies and farms. Biking around 6 miles, you get a chance to test out the bikes but also learn about local lifestyles in the countryside. Then transfer by car/van to a nearby monastery where the monks teach free English classes to neighborhood residents before returning to the hotel.

• Day 3:

  After breakfast at the hotel, depart to Kaung Mu Daw Pagoda which is the copy of Mahaceti Pagoda in Siri Lanka and visit to Sagaing Hills and western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy river. Later, proceed to Amarapura and visit the 200-year old U Bein Teak Bridge. Visit Mahagandayone Monastery where more than a 1,000 monks live and study. Time permitting, you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Visit traditional handwoven silk workshop teak posts. Transfer back to the Mandalay jetty and take a local boat to Mingun. Visit Mingun Bell, the world largest uncracked bell, weighing 90 tons and continue to Hsinbyume, an unfinished pagoda built as one of the world's largest. After your visit, sail back to Mandalay and transfer back to the hotel.

• Day 4:

  You have an early morning transfer to the jetty to join to the local boat for Bagan (approximately a nine-hour cruise). Along the River Irrawaddy you will experience people's ways of life by boat. Enjoy a Myanmar set lunch on board. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check in. Accommodation in Bagan: (4*+) The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate (Deluxe room) (three nights)

• Day 5:

  Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to Nyaung Oo Morning Market where locals gather every day to buy and sell everything from fresh produce and meats, flowers and pottery. The journey begins with a visit to an elevated temple with spectacular views over the surrounding plains. This is the perfect introduction to the grandeur and scope of Bagan’s architecture. You will visit the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th as a religious shrine. Continue to Annada Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas and the adjacent brick monastery with the beautiful, well–preserved 18th century murals. See the Dhamayangyi Temple, the most massive and the finest brick work of all. In the afternoon, finish the day joining the Bagan Sunset Bike tour. The tour concludes with a sunset boat ride on the Irrawaddy River. Board the boat in the early evening and cruise out to the middle of the water and see a panorama of temples.

• Day 6:

  Have breakfast at hotel before your transfer to Nyaung Oo airport for departure flight to Heho (additional cost for flight). Arrive in Heho and drive to Nyaungshwe jetty at the edge of the Inle Lake, which is famous for its unique leg rower. On the way, visit "Shwe Yan Pyay" is a beautiful red-painted teak building dated back to the 19th century. Upon arrival at Naung Shwe jetty, we start a boat trip on Inle Lake - a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ - Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net. After checking in , you are free at leisure at the hotel. Accommodation in Inle Lake: (4*+) Pristine Lotus Resort Inle (Floating Cottage) (three nights)

• Day 7:

  After breakfast at hotel, we transfer to Indein village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Explore a five-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule) which offers an insight into the life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who come to these markets to sell and buy goods. Stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Visit a traditional silk-weaving workshop which uses wooden handlooms, and a blacksmith’s forge.. Pass endless floating gardens, where Intha lake dwellers grow fruit and vegetables. Lastly, visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old. Transfer back to hotel with the rest of your day at leisure.

• Day 8:

  After breakfast at the hotel, board a long-tailed boat across the lake to Indein, at the western end of Inle, for one of the most scenic trips on the lake. Passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the Lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts; enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers cultivate their land against the backdrop of the Shan Hills. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes with souvenir stallholders leads up to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th-18th century zedi. Return back to Inle lake. The rest of your day is at leisure.

• Day 9:

  In the morning, transfer to Heho airport for the flight to Yangon (additional cost for the flight). Upon your arrival, your tour begins with Yangon Colonial walking tour. There is a mixture of colonial buildings churches , mosques (including Sunni and Shia ) and Buddhist monastery and ordination hall. The beautiful buildings reflects the mix of religions in the city. Continue to one of Yangon highlights - Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a huge reclining Buddha image and the Karaweik Royal Barge (a royal floating barge on a lake for the fantastic photo view). In the afternoon, visit the Bogyoke Market with hundreds of food, clothing, handicrafts and gemstones. In the late afternoon, complete your day with an extended visit to one of the world's most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda. Its golden stupa is the 'heart' of Myanmar. The pagoda is believed to be 2,600 years old and the central stupa is surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar people praying and making offering at Pagoda. Drive back to hotel and the rest of your day is at leisure. Accommodation in Yangon: (5*) Melia Hotel (Deluxe Room) (02nights) Note: The famous Scott market will close every Monday and Gazette Holidays.

• Day 10:

  Have breakfast at hotel and then procced to the Yangon Railway station to board on a train. This ride presents a fantastic opportunity to observe commuter life in Myanmar’s largest city. Disembark at Insein and explore the interesting market in this little visited township before driving back to the city center. The rest of your day is at leisure.

• Day 11:

  After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy some free time before your transfer to the Yangon Airport for your next flight.

April 01 – September 30, 2020 (Except for public holidays)

Per Person Sharing:      $1,439

Single Supplement:       $  559

Inclusions:

• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast as mentioned or similar
• Transfer services in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees and boat fees where applicable
• Meals listed in the itinerary (if any)
• English-speaking local guide in each city
• Bottled water on coach during transfer
• Government taxes and service charges

Exclusions:

• International and domestic flights, along with airport taxes (including airport departure tax), unless otherwise mentioned
• Meals not mentioned
• Drinks and surcharge for special request on foods and meals
• Entrance fees, guide service during free time and other personal expenses
• Insurance
• Gratuities for guides and drivers
• Surcharge for public holidays and/or peak periods (if applicable)
• Any compulsory meal by the hotels (during Christmas and New Year)
• Any type of visa and fee
• All other services not stated in the program

PLEASE NOTE

Standard hotel check-in time is 14:00 and check-out time is 12:00 (Early check-in time or late check-out time is subject to availability and with additional charge.)