Day 1. Arrival at Yangon Airport.
Day 2. Have breakfast at your hotel. Enjoy a full day excursion in the colonial city of Yangon culminating in a visit to the breathtaking Shwedagon Pagoda.
Day 3. Our air-conditioned touring car will meet you after breakfast for the drive to the ‘tentative’ world heritage site of Bago, via the WWII War Cemetery at Taukkyan. Visit sights such as the huge Shwemawdaw Pagoda, taller, at 376 feet than the more famous Shwedagon of Yangon. Continue in the afternoon to magical Mt Kyaiktiyo – The Golden Rock.
Day 4. We recommend getting up early to explore this most fascinating of Buddhist sites; dawn over the rock is sublimely beautiful. Observe the crowds paying their respects and have a local-style lunch. In the afternoon we continue North along highway One to the ancient capital of Taungoo.
Day 5. We continue North today into ‘Upper’ Myanmar. We pass the nation’s new capital, Nay Pyi Taw (Royal Capital) and then turn East into the Shan Hills to arrive at the colonial hill station of Kalaw.
Day 6. After breakfast we have time to walk around the ethnic market before heading into the hills for a short trek to one of the hill-tribe villages. After lunch, meet the car and continue by road to beautiful Inle Lake.
Day 7. A full day today to explore this ‘tentative’ world heritage site. Photograph the Intha leg-rowing fishermen, visit a 5-day market, shop in Ywama floating village and cruise past the amazing floating gardens.
Day 8. After breakfast meet up with your car again for the drive past the highland farms to Pindaya. Explore the famous caves and perhaps trek to one of the nearby villages to experience the local culture.
Day 9. Breakfast at your hotel is followed by a leisurely drive through the hills north to Mandalay. Check into your hotel and go for an evening walk along the city moat and get to know this atmospheric city.
Day 10. A full day today starts with the short drive to the banks of the mighty Ayeyarwady River for the boat ride to Mingun Pagoda. Explore the unfinished pagoda and continue to the gold-hammering workshops of Mandalay. Look around Shwenandaw Monastery and finish the day with sunset views from Mandalay Hill.
Day 11. Enjoy your breakfast then embark on a tour of the ancient cities area to the South of Mandalay. Continue in the afternoon onto Sagaing, the religious centre of Myanmar home to some 500 pagodas. Sunset photographs at the famous U Bein Bridge.
Day 12. A relaxing ride today west to the stunning historical gem that is the ruins of Bagan. Stop off along the way to visit towns and villages that see few if any tourists.
Day 13. Optional dawn champagne balloon ride over the pagodas of Bagan. Enjoy a full day tour of the archaeological zone today. We can visit such stunning monuments as Gawdawpalin and Shwesandaw Pagodas. At sunset climb one of the tallest Pagodas for one of the most amazing sunsets you’ll ever experience.
Day 14. After breakfast today your air-conditioned car will bring you out of Bagan to the less-visited monasteries of Salay. Continue on to Mt Popa, the ‘Nat’ worship centre of Myanmar; the shrine atop a volcanic tower.
Day 15. Head south today along highway two to the river city of Pyay. This area also sees few foreign visitors which makes it a wonderful place to interact with curious local people.
Day 16. Following breakfast drive to one of the country’s biggest pilgrimage sites, Shwesandaw Pagoda. Continue onto the town of Shwedaung and the famous ‘Pagoda of the Golden Spectacles’. Drive onwards to finish the day back in Yangon.
Day 17. A full day back in the commercial capital of Myanmar. Explore this fascinating city or take an excursion to Kyauktan to see the famous, mid-river Yele Pagoda. Alternatively, why not hire a boat and cruise the Twante canal and observe life in the Ayeyarwady delta.
Day 18. Depart from Yangon Airport.
Have breakfast at your hotel. There may be time for a little last-minute shopping at Scott Market before your transfer back to the airport for your onward flight. If you are departing on an evening flight we can arrange another excursion for today.
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