Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to the hotel to check in. Yangon lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the treetops. Start to discover this exciting city by visiting

the SULE PAGODA, a gleaming octagonal pagoda that stands squarely at the centre of the city. Afterwards, visit the NATIONAL MUSEUM to gain an insight into Myanmar’s history, art and culture, and fascinating artifacts. Finally, continue to the SHWEDAGON PAGODA, the highlight of any visit to Yangon. Towering over the city, this pagoda is the most sacred spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha.

The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are at their most beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colors of twilight.

Retire back to the hotel and overnight in Yangon

Continue a day filled with sightseeing and begin by visiting BOTATAUNG PAGODA, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha from India over 2000 years ago. Proceed to CHAUKHTATGYI PAYA, this reclining Buddha is almost as large as the enormous figure in Bago. Finally visit BOGYOKE AUNG SAN MARKET, also known as Scott Market, this building contains over 2000 stalls and is the best place in Yangon to browse through the

complete range of local handicrafts. Afterwards transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Mandalay.

Check in into the hotel and overnight in Mandalay

While Yangon is the economic capital of the country, Mandalay is considered the cultural and religious capital of Myanmar, with a long history stretching back to religious time being also the last capital of royal Burma. 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. En route to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin squares.

Before 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, also called the Golden Teak Monastery. 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.

Overnight in Mandalay

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 centre of Myanmar. Hundreds of stupas, monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found in Sagaing Hill, also known as a living Bagan. 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 horse-cart 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 Beins’s Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometre 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.

Overnight in Mandalay

Journey northeast, across the plains, uphill twisting roads into the hills where one can enjoy a spectacular view. Discover the fascinating town PYIN OO LWIN, home to Nepalis and Indians due to its role as British hill station during the colonial era. Visit the BOTANICAL GARDEN. Admire the PURCELL TOWER, a clock tower near the town entrance and from the top of the hill at NAUNG KAN GYL PAYA enjoy a wonderful view on the idyllic town.

Continue to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, a 100-year-old church featuring a large brick sanctuary, a bell tower with impressive vaulted wooden ceilings and a well appointed interior. Finally proceed to the PEIKCHIN CAVES, a large Hindu-Buddhist shrine cave.

Return and overnight in Mandalay

Take a trip by vehicle from Mandalay to Bagan. Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Irrawaddy 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.

Overnight in Bagan

Start a day of sightseeing by visiting SHWEZIGON PAYA, a pagoda partly build by King Anawrahta to enshrine relicts of Buddha. The stupa’s graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar.

Proceed to GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn. This Temple with its distinguished architecture was built in the early 13th century and has great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha. Continue to ANANDA PAHTO, one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period.

Continue to GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba. This temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls and has magnificent paintings considered to be among the oldest ones in Bagan.

Thereafter visit the MANUHA TEMPLE which enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha. Afterwards visit SHWESANDAW PAYA, 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. Last but not least take the opportunity to learn about the painstaking process of lacquerware making and decoration in one of the LACQUERWARE WORKSHOP by the villages around Bagan.

Overnight in Bagan

Today’s excursion leads to MOUNT POPA, a curiously cylindrical hill rising sharply from the surrounding plain and is considered to be the home of the country’s most important nats (spirits). Visitors ascend up a winding covered staircase encircling the mountain, observed by

the curious monkeys that populate the area. At the top is a monastery and temple complex, with shrines to the 37 nats and a spectacular view over the region.

Overnight in Mount Popa

Transfer by vehicle from Mount Popa to Kalaw, a popular hill station in the British days. Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslim, Bamar and Nepali.

Overnight in Kalaw

Take a train from Kalaw to Shwe Nyaung and continue by vehicle and finally reach the jetty to Inle Lake. The beautiful and calm lake, rimmed by high hills is located in Shan State and is dotted with idyllic patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. The lake’s shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people.

Overnight in Inle Lake

Discover this peaceful lake with a boat excursion.

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 market and an Intha village around the lake. The day sightseeing also includes a visit to the PHAUNG DAW

OO PAGODA, INN PAW KHON VILLAGE, known for their Lotus and silk weaving skills and the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY.

Overnight in Inle Lake

Transfer from Inle Lake to Heho to catch a flight to Yangon.

Overnight in Yangon

Transfer to airport. End of the tour.