14 Days Myanmar Culture Highlights Tour plus Luang Prabang Extension

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.

Novices Collect Alms and Offerings

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.

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 the 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

Today you’ll explore Bagan, where you will see its thousands of Buddhist pagodas spread in the valley of the Ancient City of Bagan. These pagodas used to own by individual families during prosperous times. You will visit the Nyaung Oo Market where locals buy and sell produce. Then you’ll visit the Shwezigon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold.

Have a rest in the hotel during the afternoon. Then you’ll enjoy a Horse Cart Ride first to the small village of Taung Phi where rests a worn teak monastery awaiting the rare tourists who are lost. You’ll continue by horse cart around temples and winding roads as the sun makes it’s a way to the sky’s edge casting curious shadows from the temples across the plain. Continue to Shesandaw Pagoda. From your vantage point, you’ll watch one of the best sunsets in Southeast Asia. Then you’ll take a horse cart ride back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 5: 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 ride, you’ll have a smooth landing.

Bagan Temples with Hot Air Balloons

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 6: Heho – Inle | Inle Lake Excursion by Long Tail Boat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Your Excursion today will be made by 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 fisherman who fishes 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 7: 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 the 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.

Kakku Pagodas

Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min

Day 8: Heho – Yangon | Leisure at Inle Lake | Flight to Yangon

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy some leisure time in the morning.

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

Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence

Day 9: Yangon | Burmese Capital Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, visit the downtown area to see the Old City Hall, and Maharbandoola Park. Then take a stroll along the old street ending at the old Strand Hotel. Next, drive to Botahtaung Pagoda which features golden decorations inside the pagoda. Continue to Bogyoke Market which sells many Burmese traditional handicrafts including stone carving, wood carving, bronze carving, painting, etc.

In the afternoon, visit Kandawgyi Park for a stroll near Chaukhtetgyi Reclining Buddha Image – one of the largest in Yangon. Continue to the highlight of Yangon: the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, which has been described as one of the wonders of the world. Shwedagon plays a very important role in the Old Burmese History and also is an important Buddhist icon. Enjoy the sunset over the pagoda.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence

Day 10: Yangon – Luang Prabang | Flight to Luang Prabang

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, board the flight to Luang Prabang with a short stopover in Bangkok. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Feel free to explore the beautiful city of Luang Prabang on your own to discover night markets selling local tapestries and souvenirs.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 11: Luang Prabang | Kuang Si Waterfalls and Laotian Monasteries

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, you’ll start with a visit to the Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village.

This then takes us to the beautiful Khouang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang. In the afternoon, your half day city tour begins with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. We then head to the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture. We also have time to visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai.

A visit to Luang Prabang would be incomplete without ascending the 329 steps to the top of Phousi Hill for a beautiful sunset view of the city and its glowing reflection on the Mekong River. The tour ends after a visit to the famous Night Market, where you can find a lovely collection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribes surrounding Luang Prabang.

Kuang Si Waterfall – 14 Days Myanmar Culture Highlights Tour Luang Prabang Extension

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 12: Luang Prabang | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to Elephant Village – an elephant sanctuary with a focus on rehabilitation and care of rescued elephants. Here you’ll meet the camp manager and receive a short briefing about the elephants. Throughout the day, you’ll take place in the following activities:

• • Riding an elephant – you’ll have the opportunity to ride directly on the neck of an elephant
  • Mahout Training – learn about the commands of how to communicate to the elephant
  • Enjoy lunch at the outdoor garden restaurant
  • Bathe your elephant – Go down to the nearby Nam Khan River to bath your elephant; perhaps the elephant will bathe you as well!

Then return to your hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 13: Luang Prabang | Boat Trip to Pak Ou Caves

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make Laos rice wine and rice whiskey. You’ll be able to try some and see the process they use to make it. Then we’ll reach the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served nearby the caves. During lunch, you’ll have the opportunity to try a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, we disembark the boat to visit a traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, which is famous for its hand weaving.

Pak Ou Cave – 14 Days Myanmar Culture Highlights Tour Luang Prabang Extension

In the evening, enjoy dinner at Hive Restaurant with “Ethnik Fashion Show” – a modern fashion show with a twist – ethnic wedding garments from over 100 ethnic groups in Laos on the show by Hmong underprivileged university students(all donations go to support their families and education).

Accommodation: Belmond La Residence Phou Vao

Day 14: Luang Prabang | 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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