Prepare for an experience of a lifetime on this twelve day eleven night tip. Start by arriving in the capital city of Yangon. First stop after Yangon is Myamyo where you can see the beautiful National Garden and have a chat with the locals. We then head to the culturally rich city of Mandalay to learn some past traditions. Board a boat in Mandalay for a river cruise to Bagan which hosts the world’s largest area of temples and pagodas. We then head to the untouched Inle Lake which is one of the most fascinating places in all of Myanmar. Finish up the trip in back in Yangon before your departure flight.

Day 1  ARRIVE YANGON

Welcome to Myanmar!
Upon arrival at the airport and after you clear customs, you will be greeted by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Along the way you will quickly realize that Yangon is like no other city of its size in all of Southeast Asia. Yangon is the commercial capital of Myanmar and has a population of over five million. After check in at your hotel and a brief freshening up we will begin your tour of the city. As we ride to the colonial part of downtown for a walking tour you will get a sense of the city and its people. The lush green park, picturesque lakes, and the charming people give Yangon a great reputation of beauty. After a tour of downtown we will begin to see the highlights of the city. We will start off by visiting the Chaukhtatgyi Temple which houses the biggest reclining Buddha image in Southeast Asia. At first sight you will just say “wow” and it will leave a lifelong impression. Afterwards we will head to the National Museum where you can wander around and see precious artifacts as well as learn about the culture and lifestyle of the country. The giant Shwedagon Pagoda may have caught your attention at some point during the day, and we has saved the best site for last. This evening you will get the chance to experience this awe inspiring pagoda during sunset. The richness of the colors and surrounding atmosphere will leave you breathless. After a long day you will be transferred to your hotel for a good nights sleep.
Overnight at Yangon.

DAY 2 YANGON – MANDALAY – MAYMYO
Breakfast at hotel.
This morning after breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay Tadaoo international airport. On the way to the Maymyo you will go through Paleik which is home to hundreds of temples and pagodas. Then take the interesting two hours drive to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) which was originally a Shan-Danu village; in 1896 it became a hill station that served as a retreat for European civil servants stationed in Mandalay. It is also considered the melting pot of Burma as it still has the largest community of Anglo-Burmese, Anglo-Indian, native Shan, Myanmar and Chinese immigrants especially from Yunnan. During your visit you can take a trip to the colorful market or go for an easy stroll in the centre of the town to see the Purcell tower which was a gift from the Queen of England. You will notice that the main street is a mix of colonial-era buildings and modern Chinese buildings, making Maymyo a great cultural treat. You can also take a unique horse drawn carriage to the National Botanical gardens. In 1915 this natural forest was transformed into a lush green botanical garden. The 436 acre garden includes many species of local and foreign flora and fauna. The beautifully manicured lawns and alluring landscape design makes this park one of the most charming in the country. The garden also includes a rainforest display as well as a 4 acre orchid garden.
Overnight in Maymyo. (Breakfast)

Day 3  MAYMYO – MANDALAY

Breakfast at hotel.
Little BuddhaThis morning we will head back to Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar. With a population of over one million, this city holds great importance to the county. The city gets its name from Mandalay Hill, which is a 246m high knoll to the northeast of Mandalay Fort, which can’t be missed. At the foot of the hill you will find the “Buddhists Bible” or as many know it as the world’s biggest book. Kuthodaw Pagoda has over 700 marble slabs inscribed with the words of Buddha, and each slab is housed in its own white stupa. The city is filled with conservative culture and traditional art which will give you a good a representation of a Buddhist city, and nearly 60% of all the monks in Myanmar reside within the Mandalay area.In the afternoon we will visit the Golden Palace Monastery. This is the most well known wooden monastery in the country. Around sunset we will head to the top of Mandalay Hill so you can enjoy the miraculous sunset views of the city.
Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast)

DAY 4 MANDALAY – CRUISE

Breakfast at hotel.
Mandalay is the home of handmade arts and crafts and today we will enjoy seeing how the local people take raw material and transform it into marvelous art. We will start at the gold leaf workshop, where 24k gold is transformed into super thin gold leaves using only precise hammer blows. This ancient technique is still used today and cannot be rivaled by the most sophisticated equipment. You will also enjoy a stroll down the marble carving street; here you will see raw marble transformed into various pieces of art. You will also get to see how the traditional puppets and Kalaga tapestries are made. After your visit to the workshops head to the river to board your cruise.
Overnight on cruise. (Breakfast)

DAY 5 CRUISE ON THE AYERAWADDY RIVER

Breakfast on cruise.
Today you can relax and take it easy as we glide down the picturesque Ayeyarwaddy River. You will get an up close view of the remote villages and their people, and we will even stop at a few of the rural villages to get a taste of their lifestyle. These villages are rather unique because they cannot be reached by road. You will surely get a first hand experience of a lifetime.
Overnight on cruise. (Breakfast)

DAY 6 BAGAN

Breakfast on cruise.
Mid morning we will arrive in Bagan which has the largest area of temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the entire world. Bagan is one of the most culturally historic places in Myanmar as well as a main hub for Buddhist studies. Its deep rooted culture and sites makes it one of the holiest cities in all of Asia and it can be compared with that of the Jerusalem.
You will quickly realize why Bagan used to be called “the city of four million pagodas.” After checking in at your hotel we will begin the tour of the city. There are too many temples to visit in one trip, but Grand Lotus assures insider access to the most astounding temples which are Shwezigon pagoda, Ananda, Gubyaukgyi Htilominlo and Sulamani temple. Your provided guide will be sure to give you all the different aspects, architectural styles, and history of each temple visited, so visiting multiple temples in one day will never get old. This evening you can enjoy a cruise on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. This will provide you with excellent views of the amazing archaeological sites as well as the local people going about their daily lives before the sun goes down.
Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast)

DAY 7      BAGAN

Breakfast at hotel.
Today you will have your choice of travel arrangements. You can take a pony cart ride that will which will guide you up and down the small dirt roads where you can get a different viewpoint of the ancient sites, or for those feeling a little more active we can arrange for you to hire bikes to get a real feel of the desert landscape. Your final choice which most prefer is a private air-con equipped car with driver. No matter which way you choose to see this city, we assure you won’t be let down. For those wishing to get a birds eye view of the temples, be sure to book a hot air balloon ride. We promise you won’t be disappointed.
This evening we will take you to the top of one of the highest temples where you can observe the magical sunset. You’re sure to get goose bumps from the astonishing view of the thousands of temples that dot landscape, and we assure that you can’t get this experience anywhere else in the world. Let your imagination take you back in time as you relax and watch the temples vanish before your eyes.
Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast)

DAY 8 BAGAN – HEHO – PINDAYA

Breakfast at hotel.
This morning you’ll be transferred to the airport for the flight to, Heho, the gateway of the Southern Shan State. The elevation is over 3000 feet. After touchdown we will start our two and a half hour drive to Pindaya. From the airport you’ll go through the scenic countryside of the Shan Hills. Pindaya is a small beautiful town in the Southern Shan State, and is home to Danu, Taungyo, Palaung and Shan people. This city is filled with enormous banyan trees, peaceful lakes, and simple friendly people. The most fascinating destination is the limestone cave of Pindaya. Here you will find over 8000 Buddha images made from various mediums such as: alabaster, teak, marble, brick, lacquer, and cement. We assure you that a trip to these caves will give you a better understanding of the power of the Buddhist culture. After the caves we will make a visit to a local Shan umbrella and paper making workshop. Here you will see the transformation of mulberry bark, bamboo, and other local materials into fascinating and useful works of art.
Overnight in Pindaya. (Breakfast)

DAY 9 PINDAYA – INLE

Breakfast at hotel.
Today we will embark on a three and a half hour scenic drive to Nyaung Shwe with a stop at Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery. This monastery is over 100 years old and it was build with traditional Shan style teak. Upon arrival at Inle Lake you will be taken by boat where you can check into your hotel. After check in you will be chauffeured via long tail boat around this spectacular 22k fresh water lake that is fed by hundreds of mountain streams. You will get to see the amazing beauty of this lake that is filled with a way of life like nowhere else. From floating gardens and villages to lakeside pagodas, Inle Lake is sure to be the destination in Myanmar that you treasure the most.
Overnight in Inle. (Breakfast)

DAY 10 INLE Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast you will start your full day of sightseeing around the lake. We will begin at the local market where you can witness the local hill tribe people coming down the mountain to sell their handmade goods. We will then continue to explore the lake and you will get to witness the wondrous balancing act of the leg-rowing Inthas. It is something that you must see to be able to describe. You will also get up close to the local fishermen who use traditional and unique methods to catch fish. Inle Lake is the home of the holiest Phaungdawoo Pagoda, and you are sure to see some of the most extraordinary images of Buddah. Finish up the day on the lake with a pleasant sunset surrounded by mountains.
Overnight in Inle. (Breakfast)

DAY 11 INLE – YANGON Breakfast at hotel.
Say goodbye to the marvelous Inle Lake as you head back to the airport for your flight to Yangon. After you check into your hotel, be sure to visit the famous Bogyoke market where you can shop for treasures from all around Myanmar. If that does not fancy you than head to Chinatown and walk around to get a different feel of the city. To end the day head down to the river where you can take a stroll and see the busy waterfront.
Overnight in Yangon. (Breakfast)

DAY 12 DEPART YANGON Breakfast at hotel.
Today you’ll be transferred for your departure flight from Yangon International Airport. Be sure to say goodbye to Myanmar, but not forever because were sure you will be back for more. (Breakfast)

Remarks

1. Please contact us for a quote.

2. Extension stay available with visit to Sagain and Monywa – search for 14D13N The Golden Land Experience.