Includes internal flights, twin shared accommodation, English speaking guides, private cars, sightseeing and meals listed. Excludes visa and travel documents, travel insurance, international flights, local tipping, etc.
This itinerary is to give you a flavor of what is possible. We can tailor this trip to suit your specific needs and expectations. You may alter any aspect of the itinerary from excursions to accommodation.
Welcome to Burma(Myanmar)! Upon arrival in Mandalay, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in.
Accommodation: Hillton Mandalay
Day 2: Mandalay | Leisure Day to Relax
Meals: Breakfast Today is at your leisure to enjoy the resort facilities or explore the city on your own.
Accommodation: Hillton Mandalay
Day 3: Mandalay | Explore Mandalay Highlights
Meals: Breakfast In the morning, explore the reconstructed Mandalay Palace for a taste of the royal Burmese architecture in historic times. The compound is spread out over 413 hectares surrounded by a moat and wall.
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 a 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. King Mindon commissioned large tablets inscribed with the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism – a key Buddhist text.
At the end of your day, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous sunset from the top of Mandalay Hill.
Accommodation: Hillton Mandalay
Day 4: Mandalay | Old Capital of Amarapura
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.
Teak Wood Bridge
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.
Accommodation: Hillton Mandalay
Day 5: Mandalay – Bagan | Flight to Bagan | Leisure
Internal Flight:Included Meals: Breakfast Board a morning flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check in. Relax at your hotel with a view of the thousand temples.
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel
Day 6: 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.
Bagan’s Valley of a Thousand Temples
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel
Day 7: Bagan | Hot Air Balloon Ride | Leisure
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 and then return to the hotel for leisure time.
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel
Day 8: Bagan – Heho | Flight to Heho | Continue to Inle Lake and Highlights
Internal Flight:Included Meals:Breakfast, Lunch In the morning, take a flight to Heho. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
Your excursion today will be made by private longtail boat to see the life of the Intha tribe(the name of locals who live on the lake), to discover their unique floating farms and life on the water. Witness local fisherman who catches their prey while using only one leg to paddle the boat. Then you’ll visit the Long Neck Karen Women who come down from their homes in the Shan Highlands to sell their handicrafts to visitors.
Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min
Day 9: Heho – Inle | 3rd Century Kakku Temple
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch Continue to the 3rd century Kakku Pagodas complex, a lesser-known wonder which has been featured on National Geographic. Stop on the way for a visit to the Ayetharyar Vineyard where you’ll taste Myanmar’s local wine and view a beautiful landscape of the surrounding hills and countryside. Then visit Taung Gyi, the capital of the Shan State. Next stop is the Kakku Pagodas. 2,548 large white pagodas are set on a square – packed in 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 in beautiful detail.
Kakku Pagodas
Enjoy lunch. Then visit a Pa-O village on the way. Continue to Inle Lake for check in and overnight.
Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min
Day 10: Heho – Inle | Leisure Day
Meals: Breakfast Spend this full day at your resort. The scenic Inle Lake is in view.
Accommodation: Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min
Day 11: Heho – Yangon | Flight to Yangon | Royal Style Dinner
Internal Flight:Included Meals:Breakfast, Dinner Morning is at your leisure to relax with the view of Inle Lake.
In the afternoon, board a flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
In the evening, have a Myanmar royal style dinner on a floating marble boat. Enjoy a fine cuisine while you chat and reflect the fond memories you’ve collected over a week. Return to the hotel when you’re ready.
Day 12: Yangon | Burma’s Capital City
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.
Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence
Day 13: Yangon – Hanoi | Leisure | Flight to Hanoi
Internal Flight:Included Meals: Breakfast In the morning, board a flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.
After check-in, enjoy a stroll on your own around Hoan Kiem Lake outside your hotel. Feel free to also pick up a souvenir at the night markets or at one of the many trinket shops in the alleys and small roads of this historic part of town.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 14: Hanoi | Best of Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast Morning is at your leisure to relax.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda – a pagoda situated on a pillar made of a single stone, in the middle of a lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as a divine inspiration to recreate the structure in the vision. You’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before visiting the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius teachings.
Next, you’ll take a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top. In the late afternoon, transfer to Tran Quoc Pagoda set on West Lake. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten tiers surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. Then return to your hotel for the evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 15: Hanoi – Halong Bay | Voyage to Emerald Halong Bay
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Enjoy a short plane ride by seaplane to Tuan Chau pier, a scenic way to take in the beauty of the Red River Delta region. Around noon, embark on a private charter cruise with your own crew to cater for whatever you need. Enjoy a personalized lunch while sailing through emerald covered isles between Cat Ba Island and Halong Bay. Anchor at Lom Bo Island for a private guided tour of Me Cung Cave. Continue to a pearl farm where you can kayak through the village and see how they harvest pearls. Continue to the overnight point as you enjoy sunset tapas. Then enjoy a fabulous dinner under the stars. If seasonal conditions allow, you can join the staff for some squid fishing as bioluminescent sea life provide an entertaining view.
Junk boat at Halong Bay
Accommodation: L’Azalée Private Premium Cruise
Day 16: Hanoi | Sunrise Halong Bay | Scenic Seaplane
Meals:Breakfast, Lunch Rise early for a gorgeous sunset over the bay. Breakfast is served. Then continue to Ti Tov Island where you can swim at the beach or climb the steps to the top lookout point. After your exploration, return back to the pier for disembarkation. After disembarkation, you’ll enjoy a 15-minute scenic flight by seaplane over Halong Bay to get a stunning bird’s eye view. Then continue back to Hanoi and enjoy some leisure time for the rest of the day.
Accommodation: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 17: Hanoi | Farewell!
Meals: Breakfast Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your onward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!
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It's easier than ever to get going! Request a quote today!
One of our Travel Experts will reach out to you and assist you with an itinerary and quote. Also, feel free to leave your phone number and we will give you a quick call just to say hello and clarify any questions we have about your inquiry.
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