14 Days Myanmar, including hot air balloon festival in Taunggyi (Festival Dates: 23.11.20 – 29.11.20)

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 will 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 stations. At the halfway point, depart the train and visit the Mae Lamu Pagoda, popular for all of its Buddha images, and a much more "folk oriented" feeling than other Pagodas, and the National Museum, with the Lion Throne, which belonged to the last king of Myanmar, and royal regalia from the Burmese kingdom of the 19th century. In the afternoon, you will take a stroll through the Bahan market and then climb up the steps to the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda, which Somerset Maugham described as follows: “The Shwedagon rose superb, 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 its hilltop surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, temples and Buddha images and observe religious and secular visitors from all over the world. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the pagoda. You will spend the night in Yangon.

Day 03 YANGON – KYAIKHTIYO (Golden Rock) (B)

Early morning travel to Bago (approx. 2 hours). In Bago, visit the Kyaik Pun Pagoda, with its four giant Buddha statues and the interesting market with various types of vegetables, flowers and merchandise. Then travel on to Kyaikhtiyo (approx. 3½ hours). At Kinpun base camp you change from the car to a special open truck which takes you further to the Yet Thet middle station (ca. 45 minutes). The newly opened cable car gives you a wonderful view across the valley. From the cable car station, it is just a short walk (approx. 10 minutes) to the Golden Rock. At the shrine, there is a small stupa tower on top of a massive granite boulder known as the Golden Rock. Covered in golden leaves, it is precariously balanced on the edge of a cliff, and is reputedly “held in place by a single strand of Buddha’s hair”. In the late afternoon, you will enjoy the activities around the shrine, before returning to your hotel for overnight.

Day 04 KYAIKHTIYO – BAGO – YANGON (B)

Those who are up early should definitely enjoy the sunrise at the cliffs. After breakfast you return back to the valley with the truck. Then you travel on to Bago (approx. 2½ hours). In Bago, visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which, at a height of 114 metres, is Myanmar’s tallest pagoda, the Pyay May Pyay Pagoda, where visitors marvel at the large python and the Shwetharhlaung Pagoda, with its huge reclining Buddha which is more than 1000 years old. In the afternoon you change your means of transport again and take the train to Yangon. The two-hour journey takes you along isolated stretches of land, until you reach the outskirts of the city of Yangon. From now on, you can take a close look at the hustle and bustle of daily life. Upon arrival in Yangon transfer to your hotel for check-in and overnight stay.
Please note: if the train is cancelled, you will be driven to Yangon by car.

Day 05 YANGON – HEHO – TAUNGGYI (B)

Morning flight to Heho, Shan State. Upon arrival, travel to Taunggyi (around two hours), which is the capital of the southern Shan State and situated 1430 metres above sea level. In the afternoon, you will have enough time to take part in the Taunggyi Hot Air Balloon Festival. The hot air balloon festival is celebrated once a year as the second festival of lights after the Buddhist fasting period and runs for seven days. The festival is traditionally used by local people to pay homage to the Sulamani Temple by flying decorated hot air balloons in the sky. The paper balloons are between four, five and six metres tall and decorated on the outside with colourful cellophane lanterns. The lanterns have lights attached to them, which give each balloon a different pattern. A flame is used to heat the air inside the balloon and the hot air balloon rises rapidly - a one- to three-metre-long tail with various (constantly exploding) fireworks trailing along behind it. You will also see how the small children’s balloons are made, as well as the competition between the various groups, who compete for the honour of having the most beautifully decorated and highest-flying balloon. Overnight stay in Taunggyi.

Day 06 TAUNGGYI – KEKKU – INLE-SEE (B)

After breakfast, travel to Kekku (approx. two hours). Located here, deep in the Pa-oh territory around 42 kilometres south of Taunggyi, are more than 2,000 stupas in a single location, packed together in close ranks and covering an area of approximately one square kilometre. The Kekku area is littered with Pa-oh villages, especially along the main road leading from north to south. In the afternoon travel by car to Nampan (approx. 2 hours), at the eastern shore of Inle Lake. From there, transfer by boat to the hotel to check in and stay overnight.

Day 07 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 08 INLE LAKE – NYAUNG SHWE – HEHO – MANDALAY (B)

Transfer to Heho Airport and flight to Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma. In the afternoon, take a walk through the city centre, go for a stroll around the vast Zegyo Market, and visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, which was originally built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya, as well as 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 evening, visit the Marionette Theatre from Daw Ma Ma Naing, where the internationally renowned puppet masters will give you a glimpse of the noble art of Burmese puppetry with an hour-long performance. You will spend the night in Mandalay.

day 09 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 10 MANDALAY – SAGAING – AMARAPURA – MANDALAY (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 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 – BAGAN (by express boat) (B, L)

Early morning, transfer to Gaw Wein Jetty and take the express boat to Bagan (Departure: 07:00 / Arrival: 16:00). After a day cruise on the mighty river of Ayeyarwady you reach Bagan. Thousands of decaying pagodas rises majestically from the plain to create a timeless spectacle that recalls their glorious past. Upon arrival at the jetty in Bagan, transfer to hotel, check-in and overnight stay.

Day 12 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 13 BAGAN – YANGON (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. Late afternoon transfer to airport and return flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel, check-in and overnight stay.

Day 14 YANGON / Departure (B)

You will have the morning 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. Afternoon transfer to airport for your return flight.