14 DAYS MYANMAR ITINERARY

To be able to offer also a river cruise on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy river from Mandalay to Bagan, with a visit to Yandabo, a typical river village specialized in Pot-Making, we have tailor made a new program specially for small groups.

In 14 days you will visit the former capital of Yangon (Rangon), with its colonial atmosphere and the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, walk with thousands of pilgrims up to the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock), visit Inle Lake famous for its unique one-leg rowers and typical floating gardens, drive to Pindaya, a charming village with its paper umbrella cottage industry, continue by bus to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar King’s and travel by private boat on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy river to Bagan, where thousands of decaying pagodas rises majestically from the plain to create a timeless scene, saluting a glorious past.

YANGON – KYAIKHTIYO – BAGO – YANGON – HEHO – NYAUNG SHWE – INLE LAKE – NYAUNG SHWE – PINDAYA - MANDALAY – MINGUN – MANDALAY - AMARAPURA –SAGAING - MANDALAY – BAGAN - YANGON

Available: from 01st October 2009 till 30th of April 2010
Departure:
Private tour: Departure daily
Seat-in tour: 11.10.09 – 24.10.09 / 08.11.09 – 21.11.09 / 13.12.09 – 26.12.09 / 27.12.09 – 09.01.10 / 24.01.10 – 06.02.10 / 07.02.10 – 20.02.10 / 21.02.10 – 06.03.10 / 14.03.10 – 27.03.10 / 04.04.10 – 17.04.10
Price based on 6 persons/per person:
11.10.09 – 31.10.09: From US$ 1.670,-- up
01.11.09 – 06.03.10: From US$ 1.740,-- up
07.03.10 – 30.04.10: From US$ 1.670,-- up

DAY 01 YANGON / arrival day (D) Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport welcome by our local tour guide and transfer to Kandawgyi Palace Hotel for check-in. In the afternoon drive to Mawtin Jetty and take a rickshaws for a short trip along the Yangon River, enjoy “High Tea” at the Strand Hotel built in 1896, once described as the "leading hotel of the East" and proceed to Botataung Pagoda, where sacred hair relic of Lord Buddha is enshrined in it. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel.
DAY 02 YANGON - KYAIKHTIYO (Golden Rock) (B,D) Early morning drive via Bago to Kyaikhto passing the World War II War Cemetery, dedicated to the 27,000 Commonwealth Forces who died in Burma and the Sittaung Bridge, an area humming with riverside activity, with small markets at the water’s edge, and small riverboats, coming and going with passengers and cargo. Carts drawn by water buffalo amble along the highway. At Kyaikhtiyo Township, transfer from your car to a special open truck for your ascent to Kinmon Base Camp (appr. 45 minutes drive). From here continue the journey up to the Golden Rock on foot. (This trail is sometimes steep, but is smooth, and there are covered shelters every 50-100 meters to rest, and have a cold drink. Porters will be available to assist anyone who wishes help, and a "sedan chair" conveyance is available for those who do not wish to walk.) Along the way, will be many pilgrims who have walked from the very base of the mountain. At the shrine, is a small stupa placed atop the Golden Rock, a massive granite boulder. Covered with gold leaf, and precariously balanced over the edge of the mountain, it is purported to be held in place, "balanced on hairs of the Buddha". Enjoy the late afternoon activities at the shrine, before returning back to Mountain Top Hotel for dinner and overnight
DAY 03 KYAIKHTIYO – BAGO – YANGON (B,D) After breakfast continue the journey by air-con car to the small village of Kyaikhto. On the way visit the cashew nut plantation and the nearby Buddhist boys orphanage and also a rubber tree plantation. In Bago visit to the interesting Bago Market with varieties of vegetables, flower and commodity goods, the Shwetharhlaung Pagoda, with its giant reclining Buddha, having a history over 1000 years old; the nearby Monastic Education Center; the Mon Village, with its array of cotton weavers; the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, with 114 metres the highest pagoda in Myanmar and walk from there to the Hintha Gon Pagoda, the place where Bago was founded. Late afternoon drive back to Yangon and transfer to Kandawgyi Palace Hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel.
DAY 04 YANGON - HEHO – NYAUNG SHWE – INLE LAKE (B,D) Morning flight to Heho in Shan State. Upon arrival drive to Kaung Dine at the north-western shore of Inle Lake. From here take a boat for the excursion on Inle Lake (25 km) famous for its unique one-leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life and the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda housing five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images, contorted because of the quantity of applied gold leaf, gifts from the believers. The Buddha images are purported to have come here in the 12th Century. In the afternoon, proceed to the silk weaving village of In Phaw Khon and visit Nga Phe Chaung (the biggest and oldest monastery around Inle Lake). Dinner and overnight at Paradise Inle Resort.
DAY 05 INLE LAKE (B,D) Morning excursion to Indein (appr. 1 hour drive) to see the ancient Bagan + Shan style pagodas, built during Bagan Period, passing the beautiful scenery with tall grasses and little water steps. The ruin pagodas, hide in the bushes will give you an impression of you were in the 12th - 13th Centuries ago. Afternoon free at your own leisure. Dinner and overnight at Paradise Inle Resort.
DAY 06 INLE LAKE – NYAUNG SHWE – PINDAYA (B,D) After breakfast drive by boat to Nyaung Shwe and continue by bus to Pindaya (appr. 3 ½ hours drive), a charming village with its paper umbrella cottage industry. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel for check-in. In the afternoon visit the Pindaya cave, famous for its thousands of Buddha images and the paper umbrella cottage industry. Dinner and overnight at Inle Inn in Pindaya.
DAY 07 PINDAYA – MANDALAY (B,L,D) After breakfast drive to Mandalay (appr. 6 hrs). Upon arrival visit Mahamuni Pagoda, originally built by King Bodawpaya in 1784, hosting the revered Mahamuni image, cast in the 1st Century and now covered in thick gold leaves and arts and crafts center (bronze casting; stone carving, etc.). Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Mandalay Swan Hotel.
DAY 08 MANDALAY - MINGUN  - MANDALAY (B,L,D) After breakfast drive to Kywezon jetty to watch the busy riverside activity and take a local riverboat to the ancient capital of Mingun (appr. 1 hour per way). Visit the Settawya Pagoda, with a footprint of the Buddha, walk to the huge Mingun Bell, see the nearby unfinished Mingun Pagoda, built to be the world’s biggest pagoda and visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a reproduction of the mythological Mt. Meru. Lunch on the way back to Mandalay. In the afternoon visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, Atumashi Monastery, the "Incomparable Monastery", the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world's Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures and sunset on Mandalay Hill, a vantage-point for panoramic view of the city. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Mandalay Swan Hotel.
DAY 09 MANDALAY - AMARAPURA – SAGAING - MANDALAY (B,D) After breakfast drive to Amarapura the “City of Immortals” and visit the 150 year old Mahagandayon monastery, and famous Buddhist learning center. It is home to a thousand monks, who will form a procession as they go to take their noon and final meal of the day. Apart from Pagodas that have survived, the ancient art of silk and cotton weaving, using handlooms, is very much alive and visit U Bein wooden bridge, over 150 years old, which is still in use. After lunch drive over Ava bridge to Sagaing, 21 km southwest of Mandalay and visit the Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees with numerous Pagodas, monasteries and nunneries. Visit the village of Sagaing, at the foot of Sagaing Hill with markets, shops and restaurants; one of the monasteries on the hillside; the Tilawkaguru cave temple, with mural paintings; Umin Thounzeh caves, containing 45 Buddha images and Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda built in 1312. The view of Sagaing from here is outstanding. Late afternoon come back to Mandalay. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Mandalay Swan Hotel.
DAY 10 MANDALAY – BAGAN (B,L,D) After breakfast you are transferred to the Shwe Kyat Yet Jetty and board the Malikha Beauty for an unforgettable river cruise to Bagan. On the way stop in Yandabo a rarely visited small village with no road access to the world. Dependant on the riverine economy this village is famous for the production of terracotta pottery made from river bank mud. See the pottery making process at various stages. You are invited into people’s homes and visit the local monastery. Lunch on board. After a day river cruise on the mighty river of Ayeyarwaddy you reach Bagan. Thousands of decaying pagodas rises majestically from the plain to create a timeless scene, saluting a glorious past. Upon arrival transfer to Thande Hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight at Thande Hotel in Old Bagan.
DAY 11 BAGAN (B,D) After breakfast drive by horse-card to Myinkaba, two km south of Bagan. This village is well known for its lacquerware workshops and has also a number of interesting temples, as Nanphaya Temple, said to have once been the residence of King Manuha and Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, which has very nice frescoes inside. In the afternoon visit Abeyadana Temple, with very interesting paintings, showing a Mahayana influence; the Nagayon Temple, an elegant and well-preserved temple, built by King Kyanzittha; the Ashe & Anauk Pagoda, with hundreds of unglazed terracotta tiles illustrating scenes from the jatakas and Lowkananda Pagoda, built in 1059 by King Anawrahta. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Thande Hotel in Old Bagan.
DAY 12 BAGAN (B,D) After breakfast drive to Nyaung Oo and visit the lively market and the down town area and continue sightseeing of Bagan with a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples, such as Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; the Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes; the Ananda Temple, with four huge standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures in niches around the galleried interior and the Shwe Gu Gyi Temple, noted for its fine stucco carvings and panoramic views of the area’s many monuments. Afternoon free at your own leisure. Dinner and overnight at Thande Hotel in Old Bagan.
DAY 13 BAGAN - YANGON (B,D) After breakfast transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Yangon. Upon arrival visit Sule Pagoda , dating back over 2000 years, the Mahabandoola Park with it's Independence Monument and walk around the downtown area. Wide streets, orderly town planning and neglected public buildings revive visions of British rule, while busy streets scenes and shimmering pagodas, bursting through a leafy canopy, hint at the rich local culture. Skyscrapers and glaring neon billboards have yet to overtake the capital. Late in the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: "The Shwedagon rose superb, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city." This massive bell-shaped stupa rises nearly 100 meters above its hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel.
DAY 14 YANGON / departure (B) Free at your own leisure till transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.

PRICE IN US$ PER PERSON VALID FROM 11.10.2009 - 31.10.2009

PRICE IN US$ PER PERSON VALID FROM 01.11.2009 - 06.03.2010

PRICE IN US$ PER PERSON VALID FROM 07.03.2010 - 30.04.2010

HOTELS:

SERVICE:
- Bed & breakfast in double sharing room
- Lunch (L) and dinner (D) as indicated in our itinerary
- High Tea at Strand Hotel
- Local guide throughout the tour
- Domestic flights by Air Bagan, Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways
- Air-con minibus/bus throughout the tour (not on day 5 for the full day sightseeing on Inle Lake)
- Open truck for Kyaikhtiyo
- Private boat from Mandalay to Bagan
- Entrance fees as indicated in our itinerary
- All boat excursions as mentioned in our itinerary
- Porter fees at the airports and jetties
- Drinking water and refreshment tissues during the sightseeing
 

NOT INCLUDED:
- International air fare to/from Yangon
- Visa fees
- Intl. airport tax of US$ 10 per person
- Lunch & dinners not indicated in our itinerary
- Beverage
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Personal expenses such as camera fees, tips, laundry service, ect
- Porter fees at the hotels

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