The Grand Tour

Proposed itinerary (Actual itinerary can be changed depending on the available flight time)

Day 01 Arrival Yangon (by morning/ midday flight)/City tour ( – / – / – ) 

Arrive Yangon in morning/ midday by flight. You will be welcome by your tour guide and transfer to the hotel. Have a rest at the hotel until the late afternoon sightseeing starts.

Late afternoon, we will visit the Chaukhtatgyi – the colossal reclining Buddha; the Shwedagon Pagoda – an inspiring golden stupa and view the sunset from there.

Overnight at Yangon.

Remark: Normal check in time is at 14:00. Early Check-in is not available and if early check-in requires, then it should leave on request and NO GUARANTEE for early check-in will be provided. Therefore, we will go sightseeing first in Yangon and transfer to hotel in the afternoon.

Day 02 Yangon sightseeing / Yangon-Mandalay (Flight)       ( B / – / – )

Breakfast at the hotel. The half day tour of Yangon commences with a visit to city center, colonial style buildings and Sule Pagoda – a landmark in downtown Yangon, followed by the visit to Kandawgyi Lake for taking photographs of the panoramic view of the lake overlooking the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Mandalay. Fly to Mandalay. Arrival transfer to the hotel and check-in. Overnight at Mandalay.

Day 03 Mandalay and Amarapura sightseeing ( B / – / – )       

Breakfast at the hotel. First to view the town from Mandalay Hill – regarded a natural watch tower, Mandalay Palace – a well planned palace located at the heart of today’s Mandalay city. Afternoon lead to Mahamuni Buddha Image – believed to be cast in bronze in front of Buddha himself and nowadays gilded with thick gold leaf; gold leaf hammering, U Bein bridge – the world’s longest teak wood bridge across the Taungthaman lake–an ideal place to view the sunset also; and silk weaving factory.

Overnight at Mandalay.

Day 04 (Sunday) Mandalay-Bagan RV Paukan / Visit Mingun ( B / L / D )           

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the jetty to embark RV Paukan. Enjoy the whole day revering trip visiting Mingun as arranged by the cruise.

Lunch and dinner on board.

Overnight on board.

Day 05 On board RV Paukan – Visit Sagaing  ( B / L / D )

Breakfast on board. Visit Sagaing. Continue cruising along the Irrawaddy River. Lunch and dinner on board.

Overnight on board.

Day 06 Arrival Bagan and visit full day city tour Bagan ( B / – / – )

Breakfast on board. Arrival Bagan and disembark. Transfer to the hotel and check-in. Bagan, one of the Asia’s most popular archaeological destinations and one out of two most pre-eminent religious old cities in South East Asia. The sightseeing starts with a visit to Nyaung Oo market – a typical local market; followed by visits to most distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon Pagoda – the holiest one believed to be enshrined with Buddha tooth and hair; Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyiinn village) – the 13^th century ‘cave temple’ with fine frescoes of scenes from Jakatas; Anada Temple – one of the masterpieces surviving and remaining in Bagan and considered to be in the Mon architecture style.

Afternoon, we will visit a lacquer ware factory followed by a visit to local village. Before the sundown, we would take a boat ride along the Ayeyarwaddy River to view the sunset and relax. Overnight at Bagan.

Day 07 Full day city tour Bagan  ( B / – / – )        

Breakfast at the hotel. The second day sightseeing at Asia’s best kept archaeological destination includes a visit to Dhamayangyi Temple – the most massive and significant monument in Bagan with finest mortar-less brickwork; Sulamani Temple – close to the Dhamayangyi temple with more sophisticated style of later Bagan temple; another Gubyaukgyi Temple at Myinkaba village – believed to be built for Rajakumar on the death of his father, King Kyansitta, and famous nowadays for its well preserved wall paintings; Manuha Temple – built by detained Mon King Manuha; Ngagayon Temple – similar to the plan of Anada Temple and the main attraction is that the twice life size Buddha Image shelters under the hood of the naga or serpent inside the temple. Overnight at Bagan.

 Day 08 Bagan/Heho (flight) / Visit Pindaya and Kalaw ( B / – / – )

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Heho. Arrival Heho and drive to Pindaya.

Pindaya is a historic town situated about three hours drive from Inle Lake. The sightseeing highlights include: Pindaya caves – natural lime stone caves not only with numerous stalactites and stalagmites but also filled with about 8000 various sizes of Buddha images believed to be there since 11^th century; and famous Botoloke Lake. Ethnic groups like Shan, PaO and Danu are living environs of Pindaya. The place nowadays is also famous for traditional Shan paper making and Shan umbrella making. Then, proceed to Kalaw. Arrival Kalaw and check-in hotel. Overnight at Kalaw.

 Day 09 Visit Kalaw/ Excursion on Inle Lake by boat ( B / – / – )

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit Kalaw, an old British hill resort stands at the altitude of 1,315 meters, is also known as Pine Land because of its abundant in pine trees. The sightseeing includes: Shweumin natural caves; taking along the up-down meandering roads of Kalaw to have the panoramic view of Kalaw; old colonial style buildings from a hillock opposite of Kalaw. Then, proceed to Inle Lake.

Inle Lake, one of the magical lakes in Myanmar located 900 meters above sea level surrounded by beautiful mountains of Shan plateau, is the home land of the Inthar tribe. If by chance today coincides with the market day, we will visit the regional market which is held on a 5 days rotation basis in different areas of the Lake. We will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda – famous for its richly gilded five small Buddha images; Ngaphechaung monastery (also known as jumping cat monastery) was built more than one and a half century ago and features a number of interesting old Buddha Images. Other attractions include: unique leg-rowing style and fishing method of the Inthar, floating gardens used as vegetable plantations, silk and cotton weaving cottages and black smith.  Overnight at Inle Lake.

 Day 10 Visit Indein/ Heho-Yangon (flight)( B / – / – )

Breakfast at the hotel. We explore the southern part of the Lake by boat sailing through small twisting and turning creeks to reach Indein village. This small village located on the southwestern bank of the lake is famous for its ruined clusters of pagodas dated back to 16^th century. The tranquil peaceful ambience and the ruins overgrown with bushes will bring you centuries back. Afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight back to Yangon. Arrival transfer and check-in hotel.

Overnight at Yangon.

Day 11 Depart Yangon( B / – / – )  

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the international flight to another destination. Depart Yangon.

*** End of Itinerary ***