14 Days Burmese Odyssey

Welcome to the Buddhist country of Myanmar (Burma). When you arrive in Yangon, your guide will pick you up at the airport and provide you with a comfortable shuttle service. After that, begin sightseeing, including colorful downtown of Yangon, Chaukhtatkyi, a colossal reclining Buddha; a scenic photo stop on beautiful Kandawgyi Lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda are the most impressive golden stupas in the world. Overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will have an early morning drive to Kyaikhtiyo (about 5 hours), site of the famous 'Golden Rock'. It is a huge boulder, neatly balanced on the edge of a cliff near the top of the mountain, and is one of the most revered buddhist shrines. 

The sunrise at Kyaikhtiyo is an unforgettable sight. After the morning sightseeing, head back down the mountain and drive back to Yangon. On your way to Yangon, you will visit some interesting pagodas when you pass through Bago, as well as some pottery huts nearby. 

Have a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Then you will be sent to Yangon airport to fly to Heho. After arrival, you head to Pindaya, known for its vast limestone caves containing more than 8,000 Buddha statues. Look at the interesting process of single umbrella manufacturing in a family-run umbrella business. Overnight at Pindaya.

In the morning, you will drive to magical Inle Lake, located about 1000 meters above sea level. Your local guide will take you to the hotel for a rest. After lunch in a floating restaurant, you will take a boat trip on the lake. Have the opportunity to observe the legendary one-legged fisherman boating. They use one leg to control and direct the hull, and the other to provide propulsion around the baot, which is fascinating. They want to show off their skills by posing for your camera.

As the boat slowly rocks, guides will introduce the construction of a floating garden bed. Residents gather water plants from the lake floor to make fertile beds, and tomatoes, cabbages, beans and vegetables, and even fruit, are planted on stilt-mounted beds. After that, you will be sent back to your hotel and you can spend the rest of the time as you like.

Explore further the Village of Indein, enjoy the beautiful rural scenery and Indein Pagoda complex. Then visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda which is famous for five golden Buddha images made in the 12th century. Later, after your short visit to the Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, you will be sent back to the hotel. If you are interested, you can also ask your guide to take you to the handicraft weaving show, and then return to the hotel.

You will fly to Mandalay this morning. Your guide in Mandalay will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel to check in. After that, you will go to the holiest Mahamuni Pagoda to see the enormous Gold Buddha statue. Male pilgrims were allowed to place gold leaves on the upper deck of the statue. And you will have a chance to stop and watch the gold process along the way. After refreshments, exploring Bagan, visiting Shwedagon Pagoda, the Gubyaukgyi, Ananda Temple and 16th-floor observation deck for 360-degree panoramic views. Above the plain, the sunset is unforgettable. You will be taken back to your hotel later. 

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive you to Mahagandayon Monastery. It is the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar, and you can see thousands of monks here, from the young to the old. After that, you will visit the City Harbor Bridge and then visit the nunnery to learn how nuns live and study in their daily life. Then, you will go to Saggaing mountain to have a panoramic view of the beautiful city. At the end of the day, take a boat trip to visit the charming U Bein Bridge at sunset.

Today you will visit to Inwa, which was founded in 1364 and has been the royal capital for nearly 400 years, and to Sagaing, another former capital of the Shan kingdom. Then drive to Monywa, located 135 km northwest of Mandalay and situated on the Chindwin River. On the way, you will visit colorful Thanboddhay Pagoda. Overnight at Monywa. 

Hike across the Chindwin River and visit the charming Po Win Daung Caves and Shwe Ba Daung. Then in the afternoon you take a boat down the river to Bagan. Arrive late afternoon and transfer to hotel. 

Mt. Popa is the home of the Nats (Spirit Gods), known for its panoramic views of the tropical region. On your way to Mt. Popa you will visit a local farmer and see how toddy palm juice and sugar are produced. 

Today enjoy Bagan sightseeing. Highlights include visits to Nyaung U Market where the local villagers are busy with dinner shopping. After that, you will spend the rest of your time to explore Bagan’s most important and significant pagodas and temples. The pagodas and temples you will visit in turn are Shwezigon Paya, Htilominlo Pahto and Nat Taung Kyaung (also known as Mya-taung Taik). In the evening, enjoy your time at Shwesandaw Pagoda. After that, if the weather is fine, you will take a boat to enjoy the beautiful sunset. Then you will back to your hotel by driving and have a good rest tonight.

Breakfast at the hotel before transfer to Bagan airport to take the flight to Yangon.

You will be taken for a full day's exploration of the city's main attractions to help you understand the differences between its culture and its people. First, you will visit the 65-meter-long reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Paya. This is a huge statue with beautiful inscriptions on its feet. Then stop and take pictures on the peaceful lake of Kandawgyi. After that, you visit Bogyoke Market (closed on Monday) which is good opportunity to capture the natural state of the local people. Later, you will visit the Shwedagon Pagoda the most magnificent holy land, and enjoy the spectacular light and shadow show at sunset. You will be taken back to the hotel after your dinner on a hamsa-bird-shaped floating barge on Kandawgyi Lake. You will be transferred you back to the hotel.

Your journey is over today. Your driver will take you to the airport and take you home. AET hope you have had an unforgettable and enjoyable trip with us in Myanmar.