16-Day Grand Myanmar Tour

Home , Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda, Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Shwezigon Pagoda

Downloaded on: 4 Oct 2021

Tour code: PKMCGMTB Tour type

( Private )

Tour Level: Relaxed / Easy Tour Comfort: Standard Tour Period: 16 Days

Spanish,Russian,English,French,German Yangon, Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock), Bago, Yangon, Bagan, Pakokku, Monywa, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Ngapali, Yangon highlights tour details

Yangon sightseeing and visit the world's wonder Shwedagon Commencing your tour in Yangon, you'll begin with visits to the Pagoda Karaweik Hall, Bogyoke Market, Sule Pagoda and the Shwedagon Drive to Golden Rock and enjoy the magnificent views on the way Pagoda before you make your way to Bago. Here you'll visit the Bago sightseeing on the way back to Yangon Shwemawdaw Pagoda, whose tip is even taller than Yangon's Ancient Bagan temples sightseeing and bicycle or horse cart tour Shwedagon Pagoda! From here you'll continue to Bagan, a city filled Monywa and Pakkoku sightseeing and discover the small local with beautiful temples such as the Shwezigon Pagoda. Other points of industries interest in Bagan include the Kyansittha cave temple and Mingalazedi, Boat trip to Mingun, Exploring Ava and Sagaing the last of the large pagodas built in the 13th Century. Upon arrival in Inle Lake and Indaing sightseeing by long tailed boat Mingun, you'll see the amazing Mingun Bell and Mingun Pagoda. Your Relaxing stay at the unspoilt sandy beach next stop is Innwa, Myanmar's ancient capital and home to the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery. You'll make your final stop at Heho to see the Indaing and Ywama villages before making your way back to Yangon. why choose this tour?

An excellent opportunity to explore the most outstanding must-see destinations in Myanmar with its finest architectures, traditions and cultures Visit to the most pilgrimaged site of Myanmar, the magnificent Golden Rock pagoda A perfect relaxing add-on to any Myanmar tour, the gorgeous Ngapali beach

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

tour description

Day 1 : YANGON ARRIVAL (-/-/-)

Arrival Yangon International Airport, you will meet your tour guide and transfer to hotel (check in time is 14:00 hours). In the afternoon, start you half day introductory tour takes which takes visitors to the colonial-historical centre of Yangon, a photo stop to the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge; and the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years. Proceed to Bogyoke (Scott) Market (closed on Mondays and Public Holidays) followed by an extended visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments. The golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 metres above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Return to hotel. Accommodation at Ibis Style Yangon Stadium Hotel (Superior Room) or similar, Yangon.

Day 2 : YANGON - GOLDEN ROCK (KYAIKHTIYO) (B/L/-)

You are picked up at your Yangon hotel and driven to Bago (84 km, 1'bd hours). En route visit a tree shrine dedicated to legendary animist spirits known as 'nats'. Then visit the impressive and moving Allied War Graves cemetery near Htauk Kyant. A stop is made in the handicraft village that produces woven bamboo wares. Lunch at Khaing Khaing Kyaw Restaurant. Continue to Kin Pun (110 km, 3'bd hours) where you start in the trucks and on foot for Kyaikhtiyo (the 'Golden Rock'). On arrival, watch the beauty of a sunset at this important pilgrimage site. Accommodation at Mountain Top Hotel (Deluxe Room) or similar, near Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 3 : KYAIKHTIYO - BAGO - YANGON (B/L/-)

After breakfast, walk or go by sedan chair 4 Km downhill where you continue in an open truck to Kin Pun, and rejoin your car and driver. Drive to Bago. Here you visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, whose tip is even taller than Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. Continue to the 55-metre-long reclining Shwe Thalyaung Buddha image, one of the country's most revered objects. Lunch at Royal Taste Restaurant. Visit the Maha Kalayani Sima (ordination hall) and Mahazedi (Great Stupa), offering panoramic views. Lastly, continue to Yangon, with a brief stop at Kyaik Pun Pagoda, famous for its four giant Buddha figures. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at Ibis Style Yangon Stadium Hotel (Superior Room) or similar, Yangon.

Day 4 : YANGON - BAGAN (B/L/-)

Transfer to Yangon Airport for domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, proceed on a sightseeing tour, starting with the local market and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century. See 13th Century frescoes adorning the corridors of Kyansittha 'Cave' Temple. Continue to Gubyaukgyi, another 'cave' temple with fine frescoes of the 'Jataka Tales'. Next stop is Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan. Visit the Taungphi village to see old monasteries, which have beautiful Khone Baung dynasty frescoes. Lunch at Sunset Garden Restaurant. In the afternoon, continue visit to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas. Make a photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61 meters - Thatbyinnyu known as 'temple of omniscience'. Continue to Mingalazedi, the last of the large Pagodas built in the 13th Century. Enjoy sunset at one of the monuments along Ayeyarwady River. Accommodation at Villa Bagan (Superior Room Without View) or similar, Bagan.

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

Day 5 : BAGAN (B/L/-)

Optional: There is no better or more spectacular view of the ancient kingdom of Bagan than from a hot air balloon. This world-famous archaeological site of more than a thousand Buddhist temples scattered over a plain is at its best when seen from a bird's eye vantage, as the sun comes up gently over the Ayeyarwady River. You will be collected from your hotel and provided with a light breakfast and safety briefing while the balloons inflate, before enjoying a dawn flight lasting just under one hour. Flights operate daily from October through March.

This morning we have time to explore the Myinkaba village area either by bicycle or by horse cart. First we visit Gubyaukgyi Temple, continue to Nanpaya temple, built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings. See the four Buddha images in Manuha Pagoda and later stop at Myazedi stupa to see Myanmar's "Rosetta Stone", bearing inscriptions written in four languages. Lunch at Ayeyarwaddy River Terrace Restaurant. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy own activities or relax at hotel and enjoy the SPA. Accommodation at Villa Bagan (Superior Room Without View) or similar, Bagan.

Day 6 : BAGAN - PAKKOKU - MONYWA (B/L/-)

Pick up from your hotel and drive to Pakkoku, an unspoilt small town famous for its tobacco trade and weaving workshops. Visit a local market and a cheroot makers. Stop at a small Thanaka market and a workshop where traditional slippers and incredible wood carvings are made. Lunch at local restaurant. Drive to Monywa (approximately 4 hours). On the way visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, about 20 Km from Monywa. The richly decorated central stupa has no less than 845 smaller stupas around it. Inside the pagoda compound are thousands of Buddha images (reportedly over 500,000) decorating every wall, archway and niche. Also see beautiful wooden carvings of the 'Jataka Tales' (stories from the Buddha's life) and a huge Reclining Buddha nearby. Arrive Monywa and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation in Win Unity Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Bungalow) or similar, Monywa.

Day 7 : MONYWA - MANDALAY (B/L/-)

Drive across the bridge over Chindwin River to visit a sandstone cave system in the Po Win Hills, named after a famous 'zawgyi' (alchemist) who once lived here. The Caves of Po Win Daung. Nearby, visit Shwe Ba Daung which features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with Buddha images. Also visit a village whose main business is the extraction of copper. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon drive to Mandalay (150 Km, about 4hours). Arrive Mandalay in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Accommodation at Hotel Sakura Princess (Superior Room) or similar, Mandalay.

Day 8 : MANDALAY (B/L/-)

This morning, start your sightseeing tour with a visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda. Stop at local workshops to see marble being carved into Buddha images, and gold leaf being beaten into paper-thin pieces. Next visit beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery, the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, where the Theravada Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 729 marble slabs. Lunch at Daung Lan Gyi Restaurant. Visit Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda to see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Atop Mandalay Hill lie glittering glass-studded temple walls which reflect the evening glow as you watch the sunset. Accommodation at Hotel Sakura Princess (Superior Room) or similar, Mandalay.

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

Day 9 : MANDALAY - MINGUN - MANDALAY (B/L/-)

Board your boat and travel upstream on the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay to Mingun (11 Km, about one hour). Visit the Mingun Bell, which at 87 tons is the world's largest intact bronze bell. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume (Ma Thein Tan) Paya and the unfinished, mighty Mingun Pagoda (built to be the worlds biggest) before returning downriver to Mandalay for lunch at 62 Mandalay Restaurant. Afternoon sightseeing includes a visit to Zegyo market (if open) and some of Mandalay's cottage industries, such as weaving and Kalaga tapestry-making, stone carving and bronze casting. Accommodation at Hotel Sakura Princess (Superior Room) or similar, Mandalay.

Day 10 : MANDALAY - AVA - SAGAING - AMARAPURA - MANDALAY (B/L/-)

In the morning, visit the former royal capital of Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the Myitnge Rivers. A local ferry carries you to the island where your horse cart and driver await you - no cars are allowed here. Pass through the ancient city walls to visit the brick and stucco monastery of Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung) before continuing to the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. If time permits, visit some village homes to see local handicrafts such as silk weaving, cane mats and alms bowls. Lunch at Small River Restaurant. In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living centre of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. The hills here are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding area. Continue to Amarapura via the Ava Bridge, built by British engineers. Walk over U Bein Bridge, which at over a kilometre in span is believed to be the longest teak bridge in the world. It was reportedly built by local headman U Bein of teak salvaged from the former Royal palace after the capital moved to Mandalay in 1859. Whilst the bridge has been repaired from time to time, the pillars are still original. After relaxing in the last light of the day, drive back to Mandalay and check into your hotel. Accommodation at Hotel Sakura Princess (Superior Room) or similar, Mandalay.

Day 11 : MANDALAY - HEHO - INLE LAKE - INDAING (B/L/-)

In the morning, transfer to Mandalay airport for the domestic flight to Heho. Transfer from Heho airport by private vehicle down into the valley to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake, and board your private local boat to take you to your hotel. Inle Lake is simply magical. At 1000 metres elevation, the temperatures are pleasant, and the calm waters are dotted with Intha stilt house villages, floating vegetable gardens and fishing canoes, set against the back drop of the beautiful Shan hills. Motorised boats are the means of transport across the lake, although the Intha people get around in traditional flat bottomed boats using a unique and skilful form of leg rowing. Lunch at Golden Kite Indaing Restaurant. In the afternoon, we enjoy a boat tour to Indaing, at the western end of the lake. Pass through the busy village of Ywama, the largest, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts; and enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers cultivate their land. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes through Indaing village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Many pagodas here remain charmingly unrenovated, with plants and even small trees growing out of them, making the area very atmospheric. A covered walkway popular with souvenir stallholders leads up to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th - 18th century zedi; some newly reconstructed. Return to the boat jetty with a leisurely 'nature walk' through the trees, and travel back across the lake to your hotel. Accommodation at Inle Resort (Garden Cottage - Private Pond / Garden View) or similar, Inle Lake.

Day 12 : INLE LAKE (B/L/-)

If it coincides with your visit you will explore one of the 5-day rotating markets in the area - a fascinating insight into the life-style of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who visit these markets to buy and sell. During today's excursion by boat on Inle Lake we see the

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

famous leg rowers and the typical floating gardens where fruit and vegetables are grown, and learn about local methods of fishing and village life. A highlight may be a visit to the traditional village of Paukpar, with neat rows of bamboo houses. If possible we will stop and visit a family for Shan tea. Lunch at Green Chilli Restaurant. In the afternoon we visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, home to five gold leaf-covered Buddha figures, and the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. We also visit the boat construction workshop at Nampan village and stop to see some traditional handicrafts - silk weaving on wooden handlooms in Inpawkhon village, a cheroot-maker's workshop and a blacksmith's forge. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old. Return to your hotel by boat as the sun lowers and the light softens over the lake. Accommodation at Inle Resort (Garden Cottage - Private Pond / Garden View) or similar, Inle Lake.

Day 13 : HEHO - NGAPALI (B/-/-)

In the morning, transfer by boat from your hotel at Inle Lake to Heho airport for your flight from Heho to Ngapali. Arrive Ngapali and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation at Thande Beach Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room) or similar, Ngapali.

Day 14 : NGAPALI (B/-/-)

Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation at Thande Beach Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room) or similar, Ngapali.

Day 15 : NGAPALI (B/-/-)

Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation at Thande Beach Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room) or similar, Ngapali.

Day 16 : NGAPALI - YANGON - DEPARTURE (B/-/-)

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your flight from Ngapali to Yangon. Car and guide at disposal until your international departure. customise the tour

Combine with Yangon excursions Take a cable ride from Yathetaung to earn a panoramic view of hazy mountain ranges Opportunity to shop souvenirs at local markets and workshops Unlimited photo opportunities throughout the trip includes excludes

All sightseeing tour and transfer services with private air Domestic airfare (Yangon-Bagan, Mandalay-Heho-Thandwe- conditioned car/coach as detailed in our itinerary Yangon)

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

Join-in transfer on open truck from the base camp to the upper Myanmar visa fee camp Surcharges for throughout guides (English and other languages) Meals as specified in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L=Lunch) Optional Balloons flight All entrance fees for the places as mentioned in the programme The use of a sedan chair to go up or down the mountain Transfers and tours with English-speaking locally-stationed Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, guides (no guide service in Ngapali) camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc. Service charges, room tax and baggage handling Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme Accommodation at hotels as above mentioned or similar The use of a sedan chair to go up or down the mountain Filtered drinking water and wet towels during the tour Drinks with meals Compulsory gala dinners during festive seasons and peak season surcharges which will be advised at the time of booking (Peak season in general is between 15 December to 15 January and 13-17 April) Early check-in and late check-out at hotels, if not mentioned in the programme Travel insurance (cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses, including repatriation, in the event of accident or illness)

notes

Hotel prices for packages are quoted bases on hotels as mentioned or similar. Higher or lower categories can be requested and the price will be adjusted. The hotels featured in the package tour are subject to availabilities at the time of booking. Meals at respective hotels are also included in the hotel prices if the itineraries mention lunch or dinner at hotel. Additional charges during Festive Season: Christmas, New Year and the Water festival period may apply. Supplements for compulsory Gala Dinners will be advised at the time of booking. All hotels have special booking and deposit conditions and will be indicated at the time of booking. Nonrefundable deposits may be required. Domestic airfares are quoted separately and subject to change in case of increases imposed by the airlines (ie. taxes, fuel costs, etc.). There are 8 different airlines operating on the domestic route in Myanmar. Each company has slight different airfares and this pricelist is based on average airfare. Diethelm Travel will book the most convenient and direct routing. The final price can be confirmed once the tickets are booked and issued depending on available booking class and seat availability.

Important Notes for Golden Rock: The road from the base camp up to the Golden Rock has to be done by special dedicated trucks. You are not allowed to drive up there with your own vehicle. These open trucks are equipped with narrow benches on the back. During the raining season, the platform around the Pagoda can be slippery due to rain or mist. It is advisable to carry a torch light as there are frequent power cuts. You are advised to only carry a light duffle bag or hand carry as your big luggage will stay in the car/bus at the base camp. The Golden Rock Pagoda does regular gilding in a three year cycle. During this time, the rock will be covered in bamboo scaffolding. Prior notice is not given and exact schedule for the work are not really available. Accommodation: The Mountain Top Hotel is located on the top of the mountain, whereas the Golden Rock Hotel is located near the upper camp (5 minutes' walk from the truck stop). More hotels are located near the base camp on in/near the village of Kyaiktiyo.

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com

Depending on where you stay, the program will need to be adjusted in terms of driving up and down the hill. Sunsets and sunrises on the platform can only be seen if you stay at the Mountain Top Hotel. A footpath goes up from the Golden Rock hotel to the top. The walk uphill takes around 45 minutes whereas downhill will take around 30 minutes. This path during the rainy season can be slippery.

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com