Myanmar Explorer with the Golden Rock

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Yangon

  Welcome to Yangon! Upon your arrival at Yangon International Airport, your guide will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. After a short break, you’ll start the journey at the holy Sule Pagoda where a hair of a Buddha is said to be enshrined. Located in the heart of downtown, it has become an excellent landmark of the city. Later, head to the 66-meter-long Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple and see its 108 lattices under the feet which represent 108 reincarnations of people. Next, you can enjoy a leisure time at Kandawgyi Lake by a royal floating barge.

  After lunch, take a tour to the most sacred Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines legacies of four Buddhists, and view the fabulous sunset over the pagoda.

  • Yangon

• Day 2: Yangon - Bago - Kinpun Village

  In the morning, take a ride to Bago (about 1.5 hours). Upon arrival, stroll around at a local market and then get to the reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha which is an imitation of the half-lying Sakyamuni Buddha according to local legend. Followed is an exploration to Kyaikpun Pagoda which is famous for four giant Buddha Statues sitting back to back against a huge pink pillar at the centre.

  In the afternoon, you’ll head to Kinpun Village by car (about 3.5 hours’ drive) to visit the Kyaithiyo Pagoda (also named as the Golden Rock). It takes certain efforts to reach the top on foot (4-5km to walk), but it’s worthwhile to get an amazing sight of the precariously balanced rock on the edge of the cliff and enjoy a spectacular sunset.

  • B
  • Golden Rock

• Day 3: The Golden Rock - Yangon

  In the morning, take some photos of the Golden Rock before backing to Yangon (about 5.5 hours’ drive). In the middle of the way, stop at the Taukkyan War Cemetery which was built to commemorate over 6,374 Allied soldiers who died in Burma during World War II. Upon arrival, you’re free at your own leisure.

  • B L
  • Yangon

• Day 4: Yangon - Heho - Inle Lake

  In the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Heho and get to NyaungShwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to see one of Myanmar's most spectacular sights.

  You’ll first visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery where houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.

  In the afternoon, explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at Inpawkhone Village and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, you can enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.

  • B L
  • Inle Lake

• Day 5: Inle Lake - Indein - Inle Lake

  In the morning, start the day at Indein Village for sightseeing. Take a boat traveling through a long channel where you can have a glimpse of floating villagers' vivid life which is viewed as one of the most scenic boat tours on Inle Lake.

  In the afternoon, visit a boat-making place, local blacksmiths workshops and fascinating floating gardens in the village.

  • B L
  • Inle Lake

• Day 6: Inle Lake - Heho - Mandalay

  In the morning, get to Nyaung Shwe Jetty by boat and transfer to Heho for the flight to Mandalay. Upon your arrival, your guide will greet you and escort you to the hotel.

  In the afternoon, admire the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a large marble tablet complex inscribed with text from the Tipitaka, which is regarded as the world’s largest book. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, one of the wonderful teak wooden buildings of the Mandalay Royal Palace. Lastly, enjoy the incredible sunset at Mandalay Hill.

  • B L
  • Mandalay

• Day 7: Mandalay, Monastery Sightseeing

  In the morning, get to Amarapura, the ancient capital city of Myanmar in the 18th century, and join in the daily meal of over 1,000 monks at Mahagandayon Monastery. After that, head to Ava, which was once the capital city from 14th to 18th centuries, and have a glimpse of the long-standing wooden Bagaya Monastery, the Maha Aung Mye Bonzan Monastery, and Htihlaing Shin Paya Pagoda.

  In the afternoon, walk across the bridge over the Irrawaddy River to get to Sagaing Hill, over 600 pagodas and monasteries are scattered over the hill, and end your day with an incredible sunset view on the 200-year old U Bein Bridge.

  • B L
  • Mandalay

• Day 8: Mandalay - Bagan

  In the morning, admire the Mahamuni Buddha Temple, a major pilgrimage site covered with over 15 cm thicknesses of gold leaf, and watch the laborious process of gold leaf beating on the way. In the afternoon, view the Mandalay Palace and Fort to have a look at the beauty of the golden era of the Mandalay Kingdom. Later, your guide will take you to the airport flying to Bagan. On arrival, your guide will welcome you and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

  • B L
  • Bagan

• Day 9: Bagan

  In the morning, stroll around the lively Nyaung U Market and head to the Shwezigon Pagoda to know Bagan's rich history. Next, have a glimpse of beautiful plaster carvings at Htilominlo Temple and visit Thatbyinnyu Temple, the highest temple in Bagan, where you can get a glorious view of the Bagan landscape. Continue to the Ananda Temple, which houses four standing Buddhists and each one of them facing four cardinal directions.

  In the afternoon, go to a lacquer-ware workshop and then take a tour to Manuha Temple and Nanpaya Temple. After that, visit the GuByaukgyi Temple, an Indian-style temple, its interior walls and ceilings are decorated with ancient mural paintings that depict scenes of Jataka. Next, transfer to the pyramid-like Dhammayangyi Temple, and watch the sunset at one of the viewing mounds.

  • B L
  • Bagan

• Day 10: Bagan

  Today is free for you to have a good rest. If you want to explore more about Bagan, you can visit the palaces you are interested in.

  • B
  • Bagan

• Day 11: Bagan - Yangon

  Take a tour at Minnanthu Village, an agricultural village that specializes in the production of sesame and peanut oil. Later, you’ll respectively pass through Payathonzu Temple, Lemyentha Temple and Nandamannya Pahto Temple.

  After that, explore the Nandamannya Cave Grotto (Kyat Kan Monastery), which has the reputation from the mural "The temptation of Mura" in which a group of nude females vainly attempted to attract the Buddha’s attention. In the afternoon, you’ll fly back to Yangon.

  Optional: Riding a hot air balloon to overlook the world-famous archaeological site in the morning is an optional activity highly recommended for you (Seasonal activity available only from October to March).

  • B L
  • Yangon

• Day 12: Yangon, Departure

  In the morning, before taking your return flight, you can wander around Bogyoke Aung San Market (formerly Scott’s Market) for a souvenir hunting, which has a whole of Myanmar handicrafts, local goods, and clothing.

  Note: The market is closed on Mondays and public holidays.

  • B