Day 1. Arrival at Muse Border Checkpoint.
Your guide will meet you at border immigration and help you with the land border-crossing formalities. Drive into Muse and spend the afternoon exploring this interesting Chinese influenced trading town.
Day 2. After breakfast depart for the drive along the historic Lashio Road to the Shan town of Hsipaw, via the town of Lashio. After checking into your hotel, spend the afternoon walking the streets of this relaxed and unspoilt country town.
Day 3. A full day today to explore the landscape around Hsipaw. Depending on the time of year you can trek, bike or boat in the surrounding countryside and visit local ethnic villages.
Day 4. Today take the narrow gauge railway through the Shan Hills to the colonial hill-station of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) over the famous, 318 feet high Gokteik Viaduct. We will meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 5. A full day to explore Pyin Oo Lwin, a classic British-Era hill-station. Wander around the market, gaze at the beautiful colonial-era mansions and relax and admire the famous botanical gardens. In the late afternoon continue by car along the last, twisting stretch of the Lashio Road to Mandalay.
Day 6. After breakfast drive to the banks of the mighty Ayeyarwady River for the one hour boat ride to Mingun, home of the huge and famous unfinished Pagoda. Return to the city via Kuthodaw Pagoda, ‘the world’s largest book’ and enjoy the panoramic sunset views over the city from Mandalay Hill.
Day 7. 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 8. Breakfast is followed by a transfer to the airport for the short flight to Bagan. After checking into your hotel, continue into the archaeological zone for an afternoon of exploration in this ‘tentative’ world heritage site. Sunset views from one of the tallest pagodas.
Day 9. Optional dawn champagne balloon ride over the pagodas of Bagan. After breakfast enjoy another full day exploration of the Bagan area including such famous temples as Ananda Pagoda. We can also tailor your tour to include a visit to a local village or lacquer ware factory. Sunset from a different pagoda.
Day 10. 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 11. After your breakfast transfer to the airport for the short flight to Heho. On arrival your car will meet you for the scenic drive to Kalaw, the British-era colonial hill station. Spend the afternoon browsing the market and enjoying the cool hill breezes.
Day 12. Enjoy breakfast and meet your car for the drive to Inle Lake, another ‘tentative’ world heritage site beautifully located in a bowl of bluish hills in Southern Shan State. In the afternoon set off by boat to explore the lake and photograph the Intha fishermen. Meet the local tribal people and observe the fascinating local cottage industries. Visit the now famous ‘jumping cat’ monastery and Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda with its five sacred gold-covered Buddha images.
Day 13. After breakfast board your boat for a trip across the lake to an ethnic 5-day market. Continue onto the ‘floating’ village and market of Ywama. Explore the stilted villages and floating gardens before crossing the lake to Nyaungshwe town. Drive to Heho for your afternoon flight to Yangon. Transfer on arrival to your chosen hotel.
Day 14. Depart from Yangon Airport.
|
 |
