12 Days Family Trip to Burma with a Bay of Bengal Getaway

ITINERARY

Day 1: Mandalay | Arrive in Mandalay

International Flight: Excluded
Meals: Dinner
Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival in Mandalay, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

This evening enjoys a unique cultural dinner show at Kinsana Garden Theatre. The performance features traditional musical instruments and dance spanning eight periods dating back to the 11th century. While the theatrics ensue, enjoy some of the finest cuisines in Myanmar to welcome you to Burma.

Accommodation: Hilton Mandalay

Day 2: Mandalay | Amarapura Ancient Capital

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Morning: Transfer by private vehicle to Sagiang, the capital of Sagiang Division located on the Irrawaddy River. You’ll cross the Inwa Bridge, which was built by the British in 1934. Then you’ll visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery to see hundreds of monks line up for daily meals. Then visit the U Bein Bridge which is 1.2 kilometers long and is the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

Teakwood Bridge of U Bein – 12 Days Family Trip Burma Bay Bengal Getaway

Next, you’ll see Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda: a dome-shaped pagoda which rises up 46 meters. At the base of the pagoda, there are 812 stone pillars, each one with a hollow and image of a Nat inside. Continue with a visit to Sagaing Hill. The hill has a number of small pagodas with many meditation centers along with Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda – pagoda painted with gold. You can stop at monasteries and nunneries to speak with monks while enjoying hot green tea.

Lunch at a restaurant.

Then continue to visit with a visit of Amarapura,”City of Immortality”, the old capital of Myanmar. At the end of the day, visit the ancient temple of Pahtodawgyi which was built in 1820.

Return to Mandalay and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

At the end of your day, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous sunset from the top of Mandalay Hill.

Accommodation: Hilton Mandalay

Day 3: Mandalay – Bagan | Explore Mandalay Highlights | Flight to Bagan

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast

In the afternoon, you’ll go to see the Highlights of Mandalay, you’ll start off your day with an opportunity to learn about the distinct Buddhist culture unique to Burma. You’ll visit the Mahamuni Image where you’ll have an opportunity to watch locals pray and place the gold paper on the statue of Buddha for blessing. You can participate as well if you like for a small donation to the temple(only men are allowed to place the gold on the statue).

You’ll also visit a gold paper factory to see how golden leaves are made, a staple in Burmese religious practices. Then you’ll visit the 19th-century Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery) famous for its teak carvings of Buddhist mythology.

Next, you’ll see the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a Buddhist stupa that contains the world’s largest book of Buddhism.

Board an afternoon flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 4: Bagan | Bagan’s Valley of a Thousand Temples

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Take a bike tour through the pagoda area to discover more interesting sites of Bagan. With over 4,400 temples, there is not enough time to possibly visit them all. Our experienced bicycle guide will leave with you from the hotel and take you through scenic natural paths where you’ll adventure through Bagan at your own pace. Want to take a turn down this road? You choose the way if you like and your guide will give you the history of each temple and folklore of each village settlement you encounter.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 5: Bagan | Mount Popa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Your Mount Popa excursion begins after breakfast when your tour guide and driver will meet you at your hotel.

We then head east toward Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 meters high. Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion, and history since the earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits.

Learn about nats and nat worship as you climb the stairs to the top with your local guide. The view over the Myingyan Plain from the top of the volcanic peak is impressive. Transfer back to Bagan late this afternoon.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 6: Bagan – Inle | Hot Air Balloon Ride | Flight to Heho | Leisure

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Experience the unrivaled majesty of thousands of ancient temples drifting below you in style, comfort, and safety. You’ll rise early in the morning to beat dawn for a spectacular sunrise over the unique Bagan scene aloft in your hot air balloon. The captain will explain the safety procedures, and you can some coffee or tea before departure. Then the balloon will take off and you’ll be treated to an amazing view of the temples across Bagan. It is also great to see the other balloons in flight. After an hour’s ride, you’ll have a smooth landing.
Board an afternoon flight to Heho. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and continue to your resort next to scenic Inle Lake.

Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min

Day 7: Heho – Inle | Inle Lake Excursion by Long Tail Boat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Your Excursion today will be made by a private longtail boat to see the life of the In-tha tribe(name of local ethnic people live on the lake), to discover their unique floating farms and life on the water. You will also witness local fishermen who fish while using only one leg to paddle the boat. Then you’ll visit the Long Neck Ladies who were relocated from the Myanmar and Thailand border.

Rest of the day is at your leisure to relax.

Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min

Day 8: Heho – Inle | 3th-Century Kakku Temple

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, you’ll transfer to visit the 3rd-century Kakku Pagoda complex Firstly you’ll stop on the way for a visit at “ Ayetharyar Wine “ where you’ll taste Myanmar’s local wine and view the beautiful landscape of the vise yards and the hills. Then you’ll go on to Taung Gyi, the capital of Shan State, and visit Kakku Pagoda. There you’ll see a large white pagoda surrounded by 2548 pagodas set on the square in packed and closely together. You’ll be wandering through marvelous pillars and stupas of Kakku. Each stupa is intricately crafted with delicate images and sculptures that are beautiful and in detailed.

After your exploration, you’ll be escorted to a local restaurant for lunch. After taking a rest, you’ll return back to Heho and visit Pa-O village and you could stop for the photos of the countryside and see the local farm along the way back.

Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min

Day 9: Heho – Thandwe | Flight to Thandwe | Relax on the Beach

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, board a flight to Thandwe. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your resort next to the beach to check-in. Then you’re able to relax.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort

Day 10: Thandwe | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast
Today, you can relax on the beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Bay of Bengal. Or indulge your self with the hotel’s spa, pool, and other facilities.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort

Day 11: Thandwe | Relax on the Beach

Meals: Breakfast
Today, you can relax on the beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Bay of Bengal. Or indulge your self with the hotel’s spa, pool, and other facilities.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort

Day 12: Thandwe | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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