U Bein’s Bridge at Amarapura
Day 01 Yangon arrival (based on morning flight)
Transfer to the hotel and sightseeing including colorful downtown Yangon, Chaukhtatkyi pagoda, a colossal reclining Buddha; a scenic photo stop on beautiful Kandawgyi Lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world’s most impressive golden stupas. O/N Yangon
Day 02 Yangon – Bagan (flight)
Morning flight to Bagan. Highlights of our visit include many of Bagan’s distinctive pagodas. At sunset enjoy a marvelous panoramic view of the pagodas. O/N Bagan
Day 03 Bagan, Salay & Mt. Popa excursion
Morning private boat ride downriver to Salay, a small quiet town with interesting monasteries and pagodas. Then drive to nearby Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano renowned as the home of the ‘nats’ (or spirits). Return to Bagan in the afternoon stopping to see a local toddy palm farm on the way. O/N Bagan
Day 04 Bagan–Mandalay (flight), Amarapura & Inwa
Visit the former royal capital of Amrapura highlighted by U Bein’s Bridge, the world’s longest teakwood bridge. Then visit Inwa, another former royal capital and travel by pony cart down tree-lined paths to see old palace walls, wooden monasteries and the ‘leaning tower of Ava’. O/N Mandalay
Day 05 Mingun excursion & Mandalay sightseeing
In the morning travel by private riverboat upriver to the massive ruins of the Mingun pagoda and see the huge Mingun Bell. Sightseeing in Mandalay includes Mahamuni Pagoda, gold leaf hammering, Shwe Inbin Monastery, and Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings. O/N Mandalay
Day 06 Mandalay – Heho (flight), Pindaya
Fly to the Shan state and drive to Pindaya. Visit the fascinating Pindaya caves with their more than 8,000 Buddha images and a Shan umbrella making cottage industry. O/N Pindaya
Day 07 Pindaya – Inle Lake (car)
Morning drive to beautiful Inle Lake and sightseeing highlights include the boatmen with their ‘one-legged’ rowing style, the floating gardens, the ‘jumping cats’ monastery and more. O/N Inle Lake
Day 08 Inle Lake
Continue Inle Lake sightseeing today with a memorable visit to Indain village with its idyllic 17th century pagodas. We can also visit a local silk weaving ‘factory’ which sits on stilts on the lake. O/N Inle Lake
Day 09 Heho – Yangon (flight), Yangon sightseeing
Fly to Yangon and afternoon sightseeing including Botahtaung Pagoda and the sprawling 80 year old Scott market with its large collection of local handicrafts and other items. O/N Yangon
Day 10 Yangon
At leisure until departure transfer.
