11 Day Spiritual Myanmar Yangon Mandalay Inle Lake Bagan Heho Time to get excited FROM $2,999 PER PERSON, TWIN SHARE It’s time to discover the beauty, mystique and spiritual traditions of Myanmar, a fascinating country that’s finally opening up to tourists. From bustling Yangon to the historic royal capitals of Mandalay and Bagan, you’ll see the temples, sacred sites and natural beauty of this land. Book Now TOUR ITINERARY The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be affected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 1 TOUR ITINERARY DAY 1 Destination Home Yangon Meals included Hotel 4 Rose Garden Hotel, or similar Welcome to Myanmar! You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Feel free to relax or explore this historic city. The former capital of Myanmar, Yangon is a bustling city – the commercial centre of a country steeped in mystique and rooted in tradition. Relatively unexplored by tourists, this magical country is now opening up, offering a truly unique opportunity to discover a culture that is a world away from our own. The city features an interesting mix of British colonial architecture and modern buildings, ancient pagodas and street markets. It’s a lively city but it’s also incredibly green – there are many lakes, parks and tropical trees. Please note: Some flights may depart the day before. Check in: Passengers will be arriving at various times throughout the day from as early as 6am through to late evening. If arriving prior to standard check-in time, which is generally 3pm local time, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available, as there are generally no scheduled activities on Day 1 of the itinerary. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotels discretion. DAY 2 Destination Yangon Meals included Breakfast, Lunch Hotel 4 Rose Garden Hotel, or similar After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour around the city centre, home to various historic and colonial buildings. We’ll stop at Sule Pagoda, 44 metres tall and more than 2600 years old, surrounded by government buildings. Then we’ll head to Mahabandoola Park, to see the Independent Monument. We’ll pass City Hall – a Yangon City Heritage site – on the way to the Botahtaung Pagoda, located downtown beside the Yangon River. Next, see the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to the enormous, revered, reclining Buddha stretching nearly 70 metres long. The feet of the statue are carved with sacred Buddhist symbols and many locals gather here to pay homage and pray. The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be affected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 2 TOUR ITINERARY Enjoy the stop at Kandawgyi Lake, where you’ll see panoramic views from the lake overlooking the Shwedagon Pagoda. The tour will conclude with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments. More than 2600 years old, the Shwedagon Pagoda is a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. At nearly one hundred metres tall, it’s gold plated with an enormous – 76 carat – diamond top. Legend states that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. It’s an icon, surely the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in this country. DAY 3 Destination Yangon Bagan Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Amata Garden Resort, or similar Today, you’ll be met in the hotel lobby by your guide and transferred to the airport for your flight to Bagan. This ancient city was the former capital of the Pagan kingdom between the ninth and 13th centuries. This was one of the most powerful dynasties in Southeast Asia and the many temples, pagodas and monasteries built here were testament to this power. At its height, they numbered over 10,000 and over 2,200 still remain. It’s a fascinating archaeological site. Upon arrival, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, begin your journey into the ancient kingdoms of Bagan. We’ll start with a visit to the golden stupa of the glimmering, gold-plated Shwezigon Pagoda, built at the end of the 11th century and believed to enshrine a hair relic of the Buddha. Then, we’ll visit nearby Gubuyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite Jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. In the afternoon, we’ll visit a lacquerware workshop to discover how this specialty craft is produced. We’ll continue to Ananda Temple, known as the finest temple in Bagan in terms of ancient architecture. It was built in AD 1105 by King Kyan Sit Thar, a great king of the Bagan dynasty. Explore the high standard of Bagan craftsmanship including niches with statues, glazed plaques, the standing Buddha statues and murals. Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed. From here, we’ll travel by horse and cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, and massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork. It’s the widest and largest temple in Bagan. The story The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be affected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 3 TOUR ITINERARY behind its construction is interesting; it was built during the reign of King Narathu (1167-1170), who came to the throne by assassinating his father and brother. It’s said he built this grand temple to atone for his sins. At Sulamani Temple, take in an unforgettable sunset over the plains from one of the upper terraces of the temple’s viewpoints. DAY 4 Destination Bagan Mount Popa Bagan Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Amata Garden Resort, or similar After breakfast, it’s nearly a two-hour drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano. After paying our respects to the Nat Shrine at the foot of Mount Popa, climb the 777 steps to reach this mountaintop monastery, where powerful spirits are said to live. On the way back to Bagan, we’ll stop by a rural village to learn how palm juice is collected for the making of toddy wine and palm candies. Chat to the locals and sit down for a green tea and traditional snacks, like tea leaf salad. On our return to Bagan, we’ll finish the day with a sunset cruise along the incredible Irrawaddy River. Enjoy magnificent views of the temples of Bagan as the sun begins to set. Sit back, relax and sip a refreshing cocktail as the boat makes its way past the pagoda-filled landscapes and scenes of life on the water. The boat has a covered seating area and an open deck. We’ll pass by small riverside villages, fishermen and local boats, for a glimpse of traditional Burmese life. The information provided in this document is subject to change and may be affected by unforeseen events outside the control of Inspiring Vacations. Where changes to your itinerary or bookings occur, appropriate advice or instructions will be sent to your email address. Call 1300 88 66 88 Email [email protected] www.inspiringvacations.com Page 4 TOUR ITINERARY OPTIONAL TOUR - OPTIONAL TOUR – SUNRISE HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT (MYSTIC & SPIRITUAL MYANMAR) Imagine floating over thousand year old pagodas and the mighty Irrawaddy River, as the sun rises slowly from the horizon over the misty fields and temples. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors to Myanmar for centuries. One of the most remarkable sights in Asia, where ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on wind and air currents and other local factors. You’ll be picked up from your hotel (between 5-5.30am) and transferred to the launch site. After a briefing session, set off for the spectacular flight. Upon landing, enjoy a glass of champagne and light snack before returning to the hotel. This tour operates daily between 15th October to 10th April. Starts: approx: Departs between 5:00am-5:30am Duration: approx. 3 hours (45 minute flight) Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have. DAY 5 Destination Bagan Mandalay Meals included Breakfast Hotel 4 Eastern Palace Hotel, or similar This morning, you’ll be met in the hotel lobby and transferred to the airport for your flight to the ancient capital of Mandalay, on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Now a big, busy, modern Burmese city, it’s rich in culture and history. It’s the religious centre of Burmese culture and home to thousands of young monks.