13-DAY CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS OF MYANMAR DAY DETAILED ITINERARY MEALS 1 ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION TOUR IN YANGON X/L/D 02/13/16 Upon arrival by a morning flight transfer to (Sat) the hotel for rest room use (check-in time is 2 p.m) and then set out on orientation tour including Chaukhtetgyi Reclining Buddha, one of the largest in the country, a downtown walk with a backdrop of old colonial buildings and to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Yangon; a photo- stop at Karaweik Garden which affords a fantastic view of the city scape; a visit to an English class to interact with local students and sample local tea at one of the omnipresent teashops where locals gather and exchange news and gossips. Lunch will be served at Feel local restaurant which serves renowned dishes from across the country and dinner at the hotel. Overnight at Panorama Hotel in Yangon. 3* 2 YANGON CITY TOUR B/X/D 02/14/16 After breakfast at the hotel, drive to a local market selling mainly (Sun) groceries and a stroll through the local neighbourhood, where you will get to see the way that the some middleclass people live, to the train station. Have a taste of Myanmar train (about half an hour) to popular Scott’s Market (closed on Mondays and Gazette Holidays) where hundreds of stalls sell a huge array of souvenir items as well as gemstones and jewelry. This market is well- known for its colonial style architecture with inner cobblestone streets built in 1926. Ample time will be given to browse this sprawling market and also to have lunch on your own before heading for the National Museum which can provide a good understanding of Myanmar culture, history and its complex ethnicity. After a short ride by bus you will get awestruck by famous Shwedagon Pagoda shining like a mountain of gold enhanced by the rays of setting sun! We will have an extensive visit to take in the wonderful atmosphere and also to observe the locals performing their rituals. After admiring the fascinating and beautiful complex, transfer to Karaweik Palace for dinner with a splendid cultural show. Overnight at Panorama Hotel in Yangon. 3* 3 YANGON – Flight – HEHO – Bus – PINDAYA – Bus - B/L/D 02/15/16 TAUNGGYI (Mon) Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Heho (boxed breakfast may be taken). Upon arrival at Heho, drive a beautiful drive over rolling hills covered with crops of different colors looking like a patch work of art, to Pindaya ( approx. 2.5 hours) famous for Pindaya Caves enshrined with 1000s of Buddha images, oldest ones dating back to the 16th Century. A visit will also be paid to a local craftsman’s workshop to observe how he makes parasols and umbrellas. After lunch served at a local restaurant depart Pindaya for Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State where we will have a dinner party with a host of locals representing various tribes who inhabit Shan State. It will be a colourful affair as they will dressed in their traditional colourful dresses. Overnight at Taunggyi Hotel or similar in Taunggyi. 3* 4 TAUNGGYI – bus – NYAUNG SHWE B/L/X 02/16/16 After breakfast at the hotel, check out and (Tue) drive to pay a visit to the Central Market before heading for a visit to Kakku Pagoda complex (approx. 2 hours by bus). It will be another beautiful drive on the Shan Plateau. A simple lunch will be served at a local restaurant near the pagoda complex. After the visit back track the same beautiful road (though a bit bumpy) to Taunggyi where we will pay a visit to an orphanage run by an old lady. You may wish to bring some presents for the kids and donations in cash will also be appreciated as it receives little support from the government. Next we will drive Nyaung Shwe (approx. 1 hour), the gateway to the famous Inle Lake. Dinner will be on your own account. Overnight at Paradise Hotel in Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake. 3* 5 INLE LAKE by boat B/L/X 02/17/16 After breakfast today we will explore (Wed) Inle Lake by boat (long tail out- motored), cruise through its villages with their houses on stilts, observe the Innthar people working on their floating gardens, learn about lotus clothes weaving as well as tension looms used by the long-necked ladies to weave their wares, admire a superb collection of ancient Buddha images at Ngaphechaung Monastery, the picturesque pagoda Complex of Indein and also its famed Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which draws thousands of devotees from all over the country especially during its annual festival held in October. Overnight at Paradise Hotel in Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake. 3* 6 INLE LAKE – Bus – BAGAN B/L/D 02/18/16 We will have an early start today and (Thu) leave Inle Lake by bus driving over Shan Plateau and down to dry and arid central Myanmar. In spite of long drive (approx. 10 hrs with stops en route) tt will be interesting to the changes in landscapes, natural vegetation and also weather. A simple lunch will be served en route and in the afternoon you will be treated to the stunning views from Mt. Popa Resort with coffee/ tea. Mt. Popa has been the pantheon of all- powerful spirits of Myanmar since ancient time. After the tea/ coffee break we will leave by bus and about half an hour later arrive at a typical central Myanmar village where we learn about their life and interact with the villagers. Next will be a stop at a toddy famer to learn about the amazing toddy palm trees. And then we will head for Bagan. Dinner will be served at the hotel and overnight at Floral Breeze Hotel in Bagan. 3* 7 BAGAN SIGHTSEEING B/L/X 02/19/16 (Fri) After breakfast we will start exploring the city of temples by bus. Visits include important and popular temples and stupas such as Shwezigon Pagoda, claimed to be the prototype for all later Myanmar stupas; Buleithee Stupa, commanding a great view over Bagan; Ananda Temple, which locals call the finest in Bagan; a lacquer wares workshop to observe the amazing process of production; Nanpaya Temple, said to be the site of a captive king from Mon Kingdom; and Manuha Temple dedicated by the captive king himself. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and dinner will be on your own account. Overnight at Floral Breeze Hotel in Bagan. 3* 8 BAGAN AT LEISURE B/X/D 02/20/16 All day today is at (Sat) your leisure. You may rent a bike for your own further exploration of this amazing archeological site or just rest at the hotel. In the evening we will have dinner at a local home with local people of Bagan totally unrelated to tourism business. Overnight at Floral Breeze Hotel in Bagan. 3* (For those who want to enjoy breathtaking views of Bagan Balloon Over Bagan is available for additional USD300 per person.) 9 BAGAN – Flight – MANDALAY B/L/X 02/21/16 After breakfast transfer to the airport. A short flight to Mandalay. (Sun) Upon arrival at Mandalay International airport you will be transferred to Ava (Innwa), one of the ancient capitals of Myanmar (approx 45 minutes drive) which is to be reached by crossing a small river on a make- shift ferry. Exploration of Ava by horse-carts include Bargayar Monastery, one of the oldest teak monasteries in Myanmar; Nanmyint Watch Tower, one of the few remaining structures of the old palace; Maha Aung Myay Bon Zan” built of bricks but still following the traditional wooden architectural style. Return to the ferry and head by bus to visit to Swon Oo PonNya Shin Pagoda on Sagaing Hill to enjoy marvelous views from there. Next we will visit a nunnery learn about their lives and perhaps a short session of meditation. Then proceed by bus to famous U Bein Bridge, a very popular attraction not only with international tourists but also with locals. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and dinner will be on your own account. Overnight at Dingar Hotel in Mandalay. 3* 10 MANDALAY CITY TOUR B/L/X 02/22/16 Today we will start early again and (Mon) skip the breakfast at the hotel. We will drive to a staging point to see monks in procession around Buddhist neighbourhoods to receive food from awaiting merit-makers. We will also donate some. Next we will head for a popular teashop in the city and have local breakfast as locals do before they start their day. After breakfast we will go up legendary Mandalay Hill for a view over the city and then come down to read the world’s biggest book known as Kuthodaw Pagoda! After a short stroll from there we will get to the superb Shwenandaw Monastery to marvel at splendid wood works. After that we will drive to incredible gold-leaf beaters hammering packets of gold for hours. Next we will go and Mahamuni, the most venerated Buddha image of the Buddhist world. From there we will go on sightseeing to see stone carvers and embroidery makers. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and dinner will be on your own account. Overnight at Dingar Hotel in Mandalay. 3* 11 MANDALAY – MINGON – MANDALAY B/X/X 02/23/16 After breakfast at the hotel, you will be (Tue) transferred to the jetty where you will board a private boat to go upstream (11 km per hour).