Myanmar Classic Tour 8 days 7 nights  (#2002)

Day 1: Yangon  arrival (no meals)

Arrive at Yangon Airport, you will be welcome by our local guide and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, sightseeing of Yangon starts with Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2000 years and have an afternoon tour of City Hall and other colonial buildings. From City Hall, walk to General Post office. On the way you will pass Pansodan Street with its old colonial buildings such as the beautiful building of Port Authority, which was the head office building of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in their golden colonial days. Enjoy a walk among the faded pastel shutters of colonial buildings in downtown Yangon. After that, drive to Mawtin Jetty to have a short Burmese style trickshaw ride. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon – fly to Bagan (B)

Early morning flight to Bagan. Today enjoy the whole day at the most extensive archeological site in Asia. Bagan has over 2,000 temples and pagodas of various sizes in varying states of repair and spread across the plain. Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; Gubyaukgyi, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes and Ananda Temple with four huge standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures and niches around the galleried interior. In the afternoon visit lacquer ware home industry; Manuha Temple built in Mon style from 1059 and Nanphaya Temple, said to have once been the residence of King Manuha. Enjoy sunset over terraces of the Shwesandaw Pagoda. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 3: Bagan – Popa – Bagan (B)

After breakfast drive to Mt. Popa and visit the great extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, the solitary volcanic crag of Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar’s most powerful “nats”. Visit the Nat Museum with its life-sized statues of the 37 Nat Gods. Walk up the steps to the stupas and shrines that top the hill above the museum, seeing many pilgrims along the way. In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan (appr. 1 hr). On the way visit some villages and watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion into palm sugar. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4: Bagan – fly to Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura – Mandalay (B)

Take a flight to Mandalay. On arrival, drive to Sagaing, 21 km southwest of Mandalay. Visit Kaunghmudaw, an enormous dome shape Pagoda and after a short visit to the silversmith home industry proceed to Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees with numerous Pagodas, monasteries and nunneries. In the afternoon, continue to Amarapura the “City of Immortals”. Amarapura was the capital of upper Burma until 1850. As was the custom, most of the important wooden palaces and monasteries were taken down and transported to the new capital in Mandalay. On the way, visit Bagayar monastery, in which a variety of Buddha images from 16th to 20th century are displayed. Visit the library, where old palm leaf books with Buddha scriptures are displayed. Have a short stop at a private house where silk and cotton textiles are woven. Amarapura’s silk has a very unique pattern and some patterns even take 3 months to end up as a longhy in one of Myanmar’s colourful markets. Have a leisurely walk on the U Bein teak wood bridge, which is over 150 years old. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 5: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay (B)

After breakfast, drive up to Mandalay Hill, a vantage-point for panoramic view of the city. One famous song in Myanmar said “if you want to live long, you have to go Mandalay Hill”. Then visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, Atumashi Monastery, the “Incomparable Monastery”, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures. Then proceed to the Mahamuni Pagoda, with its spectacular Buddha image covered in thick layers of gold leavwa. In the afternoon, drive to Kywezon jetty to watch the busy riverside activity and take a local riverboat to the ancient capital of Mingun (appr. 1 hour per way). Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of Lord Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell, see the nearby unfinished Mingun Pagoda, built to be the world’s biggest pagoda and visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Then return to Mandalay. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 6: Mandalay – fly to Heho – Inle Lake (B)

Take a morning flight to Heho. On arrival drive to Nyaung Shwe, a town at the north of Inle Lake. From there take a motorized longtail boat on Inle Lake (25 km) famous for its unique one-leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda housing five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images, contorted because of the quantity of applied gold leaf, gifts from the believers. The Buddha images are reported to have come here in the 12th Century. In the afternoon, proceed to the silk weaving village of In Phaw Khon and visit Nga Phe Chaung (the biggest and oldest monastery around Inle Lake). Overnight at Inle Lake or in Nyaungshwe.

Day 7: Inle Lake – Heho – fly to Yangon (B)

After breakfast, drive to Nyaung Shwe and visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, which is more than 150 years old. This monastery is a favourite spot for photographers because of its unusual oval shaped windows. You should also not miss the Shwe Yan Pyay Pagoda just beside the monastery. Then drive to Heho and take a flight to Yangon. Afternoon sightseeing starts with Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda (a huge reclining Buddha), Karaweik Hall, a Royal floating barge on the Royal Lake for a photo stop. Late in the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: “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 nearly 100 meters above its hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 8: Yangon – Departure (B)

After breakfast continue sightseeing of Yangon: the splendid National Museum, including the gem-studded royal regalia and the Lion Throne of King Mindon and King Thibaw, the last kings of the Myanmar Kingdom. In the afternoon you have enough time to wander around the sprawling Bogyoke Market through fascinating local neighborhoods. Transfer to the Yangon International Airport for the departure flight.
Ends of trip!

Prices until 31.12.2024

Price is nett per person in US$, twin shared basis, tax, service charge included in the party of

Please note:

• Prices are a guide line only. Please kindly contact us to get the best price as due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate as well as hotels might be already fully booked on your requested date (we then have to switch to a similar hotel category) the rates vary. Best is to get your travel period and your specific travel requirements.
• Also, during Christmas and New Year time some hotels charge compulsory Christmas and New Year Eve Dinners. Some hotels only announce these shortly before the Christmas holidays. Please contact us for further information.
• Interested in other class of hotels or customizing this tour as per your wish? Please email us for details

Price inclusive

• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a double/twin room.
• Domestic flights with with Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Asian Wings, Yangon Air or Air Kanbawza
• Boat to Mingun and on Inle Lake
• Air-con car/van/bus throughout the tour
• English speaking guide throughout the tour (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests’ return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.
• Entrance fees as indicated in the itinerary
• Porter fees at the airports and jetties..

Price exclusive

• International flight tickets and airport tax from/to Yangon
• Visas fees
• Early check-in and late check-out
• Porter fees at the hotels
• Camera fees (if any)
• Travel insurance
• Dinners, except as specified above
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses, bank handling fees, balloon over Bagan, etc…

Hotels used for Superior class

Hotels used for First class