17 Day Myanmar, including a journey along the legendary "Old Burma Road"

Day 01 YANGON / Arrival

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport: welcome by our local tour guide and transfer to hotel. On your first walk through the city centre of Yangon and to the riverbank, you will see many notable sites from the colonial and religious past of this garden city. Old Rangoon was built based on designs by Dr William Montgomerie. He was a senior military physician who learnt about construction planning from Sir Stanford Raffles in Singapore. All culturally significant buildings in Yangon are listed as historic monuments. You’ll then enjoy ‘high tea’ at the Strand Hotel which was built in 1896 and was formerly known as the ‘the finest hostelry East of Suez’. Afterwards, you’ll go to the Botataung Pagoda where a sacred hair relic of Buddha is kept. You will spend the night in Yangon.

Day 02 YANGON (B)

After breakfast, you’ll travel through rural areas on the City Circular Train, with the opportunity to see cigarette sellers, betel nut traders, fortune tellers and much more at the various stops. Back in the city, you’ll visit the National Museum with the Lion Throne, which belonged to the last king of Myanmar, and the royal regalia from the Burmese kingdom of the 19th century. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda which features a 70-metre long reclining Buddha, the Kandawgyi Lake and its royal barge (with an opportunity to take pictures), and in the late afternoon, the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda which Somerset Maugham described as follows: ‘The Shwedagon rises majestically, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city’. This massive, bell-shaped stupa rises 100 metres above the surrounding mountains. You’ll wander through this magnificent building and its courtyards, stupas, bells, temples and statues of Buddha, and observe religious and secular visitors from all over the world. Shwedagon is the symbol of Myanmar. You can enjoy the sunset over the pagoda. You will spend the night in Yangon.

Day 03 YANGON – HEHO – KALAW (B)

Transfer to airport for your morning flight to Heho, in Shan State. A one-hour journey brings you to Kalaw, a small former British colonial town. Kalaw, another hill station and peaceful summer holiday destination, lies approximately 1,400 metres above sea level among pine-covered mountains. It is situated 70 kilometres west of Taunggyi. Many Tudor-style buildings and English gardens still remain from colonial times. Every five days, people in bright traditional costumes come from the Palaung villages and other mountain communities to the market at Kalaw, further adding to the attractiveness of this peaceful town. You will stay overnight in Kalaw.

Day 04 KALAW – PINDAYA – NYAUNG SHWE – INLE LAKE (F)

After breakfast, travel to Pindaya (approx. two hours), a charming village with its paper umbrella cottage industry. Visit the Pindaya cave, famous for its thousands of Buddha images and the paper umbrella cottage industry. In the afternoon, travel onwards to Nyaung Shwe (around 3½ hours), a small town located at the northern end of Inle Lake. From there, take a boat to the hotel to check in. You will spend the night on Inle Lake.

Day 05 INLE LAKE (B)

Boat trip along Inle Lake (25 kilometres in length), which is known for its unique one-leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life out on the water. Today, you will also learn why the famous Shan crackers are so popular with the Burmese people. You will visit a small Intha village to help a family make the popular Shan crackers, which will then be offered for sale at the market. In the afternoon, take a canoe trip through the floating gardens. The floating flowerbeds are tied together in shallow water, which is mostly only around three metres deep, and produce abundant fruits which can be harvested several times a year. Overnight stay on Inle Lake.

Day 06 INLE LAKE – NYAUNG SHWE – HEHO – LASHIO – HSIPAW (F)

After breakfast: transfer to Heho Airport for your flight to Lashio. Upon arrival, visit the town centre and go for a stroll around the market. Then continue to Hsipaw (approx. 3 hours). Upon arrival, transfer to hotel, check-in and overnight stay.

Day 07 HSIPAW (B, L)

After breakfast, enjoy a private boat trip along the Duhtawaddy River. The scenery along the river is beautiful. After a one-hour journey, continue on foot through pineapple, lemon, orange and teakwood plantations. You can also go for a swim at the place where the Dohtawady and Namtu rivers meet. At a nearby Shan village you will have real traditional Shan noodles for lunch. After lunch, return to Hispaw. In the afternoon, visit the ancient Shan palace, which was built by the reigning crown prince Saw Onhkya. Afterwards, take a stroll through the village centre. You will stay overnight in Hsipaw.

Day 08 HSIPAW – PYIN OO LWIN (B)

Transfer to train station in Hsipaw and train journey to Pyin Oo Lwin on the 132DN (Departure: 09:40 / Arrival: 16:05). On the way, you will cross the Gokteik Viaduct, which was constructed by the Pennsylvania Steel Co. more than 100 years ago. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel, check-in and overnight stay.

Day 09 PYIN OO LWIN (B)

Over 1000 meters above sea-level, Pyin Oo Lwin is a popular hill station about 69km away from Mandalay. It is well known for its colonial style houses with large compound and pine trees, eucalyptus and silver-oak abound in town. It is delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year round.
The town was established by Myanmar official Maung Dwe in 1851 and later named as May Myo by British Colonel May in 1896. The 142-hecter well laid-out Botanical Garden, scenic Pwe-kauk Waterfalls, Chinese Temple in addition to British built colonial buildings are places worth visiting. You will spend the night in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Day 10 PYIN OO LWIN – MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – MANDALAY (B)

After breakfast, travel to Mandalay (approx. 2½ hours). Upon arrival, visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, which was originally built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya; its gilded Mahamuni Buddha, the oldest Buddhist statue in Myanmar; and some of the famous craft workshops (wood carvings, marble workshops or gold leaf production). In the afternoon, travel to Amarapura: the ‘City of Immortality’. Along with the surviving pagodas, the ancient silk- and cotton-weaving tradition using handlooms is very much alive there. You will visit a mill where weaving is still performed using handlooms, take a rowing boat across Taungthaman Lake to the picturesque village of Taungthaman, and return at sunset to Amarapura via the U Bein bridge, which, at 1,200 metres in length, is one of the world’s longest teakwood bridges. You will spend the night in Mandalay.

Day 11 MANDALAY – MINGUN – MANDALAY (B, L)

After an early breakfast, climb the 1,729 steps up Mandalay Hill, a vantage point providing breathtaking panoramic views of the city and visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, famous for its exquisite wooden carvings; the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which, owing to its stone tablets with Buddhist inscriptions, is famous for containing the world’s largest book; and the Kusinara Pagoda, with a small museum where the monks will be happy to show you the Peshawar Relics. Then set off on your half-day excursion to Mingun. At the jetty, you will have enough time to observe the lively riverside goings-on and take a riverboat trip to the ancient capital city of Mingun (approx. one hour each way). Lunch on board. Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with its Buddha footprint, and the Mingun Bell, the largest ringing bell in the world; view the nearby unfinished Mingun Pagoda, built to be the world’s biggest pagoda and visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a replica of the mythological Mount Meru. In the late afternoon, return to Mandalay by boat. Overnight stay in Mandalay.

Day 12 MANDALAY – SAGAING – MONYWA (B, L)

After breakfast, cross the Ava Bridge towards Sagaing, located 21 kilometres south-west of Mandalay, and visit the Sagaing Hills, a place of refuge for devout Buddhists, with its various pagodas, monasteries and convents. Visit the village of Sagaing at the foot of Sagaing Hill, with its markets, shops and restaurants; the Tilawkaguru Cave Monastery, with its murals; the Umin Thounzeh cave complex, with its 45 Buddha statues; and the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, which was built in 1312. This location offers outstanding views of Sagaing. Lunch with the monks or nuns, who will provide you with a glimpse of everyday life within a monastery. In the afternoon, travel onwards to Monywa, a typical Burmese town on the banks of the Chindwin River. Upon arrival, visit the Thanboddhay Pagoda--an impressive complex which, with its over 500,000 small Buddha images, is particularly worth seeing, as are the cotton blanket weavers and makers of traditional lacquerware in the village of Kyauk Kar. You will be just in time to see the sunset over the Alantaya Pagoda, which is home to the largest reclining Buddha in Southeast Asia. It is over 90 metres in length. You will stay overnight in Monywa.

Day 13 MONYWA – PHO WIN DAUNG – PAKOKKU – BAGAN (B)

After breakfast, cross the Chindwin River and drive to the rarely visited Pho Win Daung temple complex, dating back to the 15th century, where more than 450,000 Buddha statues are carved into the mountain’s caves, alcoves and tiny niches. The cave paintings, in indigo blue and soft pastel tones, are still intact. Many of the Buddhas can also be viewed without entering the caves or niches. As long as they don’t enter the sanctuaries, visitors can keep their shoes on. A stunning Buddha not to be missed is the reclining Buddha resting on a rectangular stone mosaic that shimmers like a crystal glass.” Then travel onwards to Pakokku. En route stop in some villages to get a glimpse of the everyday lives of the people in this rural area. Upon arrival in Pakokku, a bustling tobacco trading centre, travel by private boat along the mighty Ayeyarwady River towards Bagan (approx. two hours). You will stay overnight in Bagan.

Day 14 BAGAN (B)

Today explore Bagan by bike or horse-drawn carriage--a city whose foundations were laid in the 2nd century AD and which was the Burmese royal capital until the 14th century. Here you will find the greatest historical buildings and richest ruins in Southeast Asia, which many view as surpassing even the temples of Angkor in Cambodia in size and presence. Nowadays, Bagan is a village that exudes an endless sense of tranquillity. The local inhabitants mostly make their living from agriculture and the production of lacquerware. You will constantly have wonderful views of the Bagan plains; countless pagodas and temples line the riverbanks. Overnight stay in Bagan.

Day 15 BAGAN (B)

After breakfast, you will have enough time to go for a stroll around the picturesque market at Nyaung Oo. Then take a boat ride up the Ayeyarwady and visit the Kyauk Gu U Min Temple, a so-called ‘rock cave tunnel’ with interesting stone reliefs. On the way back down the river, the boat stops off at the Bupaya Pagoda, which, due to its cylindrical shape, is considered to be one of Bagan’s oldest pagodas. From there, it is just a short walk to the Mahabodhi Temple. Afternoon free at your own leisure. Overnight stay in Bagan.

Day 16 BAGAN – YANGON (B)

Transfer to airport for your flight to Yangon. Transfer to hotel upon arrival. You will have the rest of the day free. Explore the Burmese metropolis on your own! If you’re feeling in the mood and want to experience the Burmese culture up close, then just take a trip on the public ferry across the Yangon River to Dala or a leisurely stroll through the Bogyoke market (closed Mondays and public holidays) for some last-minute shopping. There is a wide range of items for sale, including: wooden carvings, bronze statues, lacquer, mother-of-pearl cutlery, longyis and much more. Overnight stay in Yangon.

Day 17 YANGON / Departure (B)

Transfer to airport for your return flight.