Arrival in Yangon - Transfer - Sightseeing in Yangon - Visit Shwedagon Pagoda
SHWEDAGON PAGODA: the highlight of any visit to Yangon, this pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond all recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold-leaf, which is continuously being replaced.
Transfer to/from restaurant - Overnight in Yangon
DAY 02
Yangon - Bagan (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Local Restaurant
(Myanmar))
Transfer - Flight from Yangon to Bagan. - Sightseeing in Bagan
Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD. SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090. Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. The stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar.
GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe. ANANDA PAHTO: one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.
GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba: Built in 1113 by Kyanzittha son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan. MANUHA TEMPLE: The Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by King Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King Anawrahta. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by Manuha to express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan. SHWESANDAW PAYA: In 1057 King Anawrahta built this Pagoda following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the Stupa. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's magnificent sunsets. LACQUERWARE WORKSHOP: the villages around Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the workshops and learn about the painstaking process of laquerware making and decoration.
Transfer to/from restaurant - Overnight in Bagan
Day 03
Bagan - Mandalay (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Local
Restaurant (Myanmar))
Transfer - Flight from Bagan to Mandalay. - Transfer - Sightseeing in Mandalay
The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. Neighboring Sagaing is home to over sixty percent of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar. In the morning, head to MAHAMUNI PAYA. The Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image in Myanmar, covered in over 15 cm of gold leaf. Worshippers flock daily to the shrine at four in the morning to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. Enroute to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of GOLD-LEAF BEATING, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin squares. Before breaking for lunch, visit a CRAFT WORKSHOP specializing in one of the arts for which the city is famous: bronze-casting, marble-carving, wood-carving, or puppetry.
The afternoon's tour includes some of the city's most interesting temples and palaces. Begin at SHWENANDAW KYAUNG, or the Golden Teak Monastery. Built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments by King Mindon and his chief queen. Continue to KYAUKAWGYI PAYA, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble, and the elegant SANDAMANI PAYA. Finally, visit KUTHODAW PAYA, known also as the world s biggest book. Around the central stupa are miniature pavilions, each housing a slab of marble. Numbering altogether 729, these slabs are inscribed with the entire Tripitkata, or Buddhist scriptures.
Transfer to/from restaurant - Overnight in Mandalay
Day 04
Mandalay (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Local Restaurant
(Myanmar))
Excursion to Amarapura, Sagaing, and Inwa (Ava)
This day tour visits three former royal capitals, each with its own unique atmosphere. In the morning, drive to AMARAPURA, and visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY; every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Next, head to SAGAING, the spiritual center of Myanmar. Hundreds of stupas, monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found in Sagaing Hill, sometimes known as a living Bagan. Thousands of monks and nuns retreat here for meditation and contemplation. Stop at some of the most famous temples, such as TUPAYON PAYA and HSINMYASHIN PAYA (the Pagoda of Many Elephants).
Cross the river by ferry to INWA, situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Once a royal capital, Inwa is now a quiet rural oasis. Enjoy a leisurely HORSECART RIDE around the peaceful countryside, briefly visiting BAGAYA KYAUNG, a beautiful teak wood monastery, MAHA AUNGME BOZAN KYANG, and NAN MYINT TOWER. On the way, stop and observe how local artisans make the famous alms bowls out of iron. Finally, return to AMARAPURA, to end the day at U BEIN’S BRIDGE, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometer across Taungthaman Lake. At dusk, the bridge teems with monks and local people as they stroll home or linger to enjoy the colors of the sunset.
Transfer to/from restaurant - Overnight in Mandalay
Day 05
Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Inle
Lake View Resort / Restaurant)
Transfer - Flight from Mandalay to Heho. - By vehicle from Heho to Inle Lake - Excursion by boat
on Inle Lake
INLE LAKE: Inle Lake, located in Shan State, is beautiful, with very calm waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lake's shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled fisherman using their leg-rowing technique to propel themselves around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market and a Intha village around the lake (please note that no markets take place on full moon or new moon days). The day's sightseeing also includes a visit to the PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA, INN PAW KHON VILLAGE (Lotus and silk weaving) and the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY.
Overnight in Inle Lake
Day 06
Inle Lake (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Inle Lake View Resort /
Restaurant)
Excursion to Pindaya
PINDAYA CAVES: these caves are ensconced in a limestone ridge overlooking the lake. Inside the cavern there are more than 8000 Buddha images - made from alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer and cement - and are arranged in such a way as to form a labyrinth throughout the various cave chambers.
Overnight in Inle Lake
Day 07
Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon (Breakfast / Lunch: Local Restaurant (Myanmar) / Dinner: Local
Restaurant (Myanmar))
By vehicle from Inle Lake to Heho - Flight from Heho to Yangon. - Transfer - Sightseeing in Yangon - Visit
Sule Pagoda
SULE PAGODA: this 48 meter high golden dome was used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city when it was rebuilt in the 1880s. The pagoda's peculiarity is its octagonal-shaped stupa, which retains its shape as it tapers to the spire.
Visit Botataung Pagoda BOTATAUNG PAGODA: this paya was named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over 2000 years ago. This ancient monument was completely destroyed during WWII. It was then rebuilt in a very similar style to its predecessor, but the zedi is hollow and one can walk through it.
Visit Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake KANDAWGYI LAKE: also known as the Royal Lake, this natural body of water located in the city center is a good place for strolling and picnicking. The lake is attractive at sunset when the glittering Shwedagon pagoda is reflected in its calm waters.
Visit Kyaukhtatkyi Pagoda KYAUKHTATKYI PAGODA: the temple contains a gaudy, modern, 70 meter long reclining Buddha, built in 1966 and housed in an iron pavilion. The temple doubles as a monastery and a center for the study of Buddhist manuscripts.
Visit National Museum NATIONAL MUSEUM: a museum with several interesting exhibits, especially the 8 meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by King Thibaw Min, the last Burmese king, and returned to Burma in 1908 by Lord Mountbatten. The main floor contains jewellery, old black and white photos of Mandalay Palace and Yangon, royal relics, Hintha opium weights and inscribed tablets.
Visit Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market (closed on Mondays) BOGYOKE AUNG SAN MARKET: also known as Scott Market [# alert closed on public holidays] , this building contains over 2000 stalls and is the best place in Yangon to browse through the complete range of local handicrafts.
Transfer to/from restaurant - Overnight in Yangon
Day 08
Yangon (Breakfast)
Transfer - -
End of Services **Note: Itinerary subject to change due to schedules and availability
Tour Rates is per person, quoted in USD - Valid Until 30 Apr 2009
• Above rates are per person in $us currency (now 1$us = 36THB) and valid now till 30-Apr-09
• Reduction for 3rd person in triple room (where available): US$1 for Var. A; US$24 for Var. B. Single supplement will be charged where extra bed option is not available.
• The 16th person is FOC in sharing double room.
• Child reduction (sharing bed of parents): under 2 years FOC; under 12 years -30%
Hotel
Var. A
Var. B
Yangon
Inya Lake Hotel (F. Dusit Inya Lake Hotel) 4*
Superior
Parkroyal Hotel (F. Grand Plaza Parkroyal) 4-5*
Superior
Bagan
Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel 4*
Superior - Special Promotion
Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel 4*
Deluxe Garden view
Mandalay
Mandalay Hill Resort 4*
Superior Palace View (No Extra Bed)
Sedona Hotel Mandalay 4*
Superior
Inle Lake
Inle Lake View Resort 4*
Deluxe
Inle Lake View Resort 4*
Deluxe
Accommodation in hotels is subject to availability. If the listed hotel is fully booked, alternate accommodation will be offered. All hotel ratings are according to the local accreditation authority.
TOUR INCLUDES : • English-speaking guide.
• Meals according to itinerary / Breakfast box in lieu of ABF when early morning flight.
• Flight ticket(s) as mentioned in the itinerary.
Flight from Yangon to Bagan.
Flight from Bagan to Mandalay.
Flight from Mandalay to Heho.
Flight from Heho to Yangon.
• Current fuel surcharges are included, however, these are subject to change prior to tour start date.
• Boat ticket(s) according to itinerary.
• Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle (complimentary cold towels and drinking water).
• Sightseeing incl. admissions fees according to itinerary.
• Accommodation in hotels as mentioned above or equivalent.
TOUR EXCLUDES : • International airport taxes when depart from Myanmar 10$us
• Domestic airport tax.
• Visa fees, drinks, personal expenses. ** Visa Procedures: Myanmar
TERM & CONDITION : • Please make a booking at least 7 working days in advance.
• Credit cards guarantee is required for booking less than 3 working days
• No refund after tickets & tours voucher are issued
FOR INFORMATION OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT FARE : (this fare is valid for travel now till 31 Mar if others period please recheck) • Thai Airways (TG) 4,300THB taxes 2,100THB
• Bangkok airways (PG) 5,000THB taxes 1,930THB
• Air Asia (FD) 1,600THB taxes 2,300THB
Please note that general terms and conditions apply as stated in our Terms and Conditions.
CURRENCY NOTICE : Please bring ample cash in US dollars to cover all personal expenses for their entire trip, as kyat and US dollars are the only currencies accepted in Myanmar. Credit cards, ATM cards and travellers cheques may not be used in Myanmar, and there are no other ways to wire money into the country.
