Day 1. Arrival at Yangon Airport.
Your representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to your transfer car. Check in to your chosen hotel. If you have arrived on a morning flight embark on your half day orientation tour of Yangon.
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. An early start today to transfer to the airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival check into your chosen hotel before continuing by car to 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 4. 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 5. Your car will pick you up for a full day visit to the colonial hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin, formerly known as Maymyo. Wander around the market, gaze at the beautiful colonial-era mansions and relax and admire the famous botanical gardens. Return via the winding Lashio road to Mandalay at dusk.
Day 6. Relax today and watch the rural heartland of the ‘Dry Zone’ of central Myanmar slowly drift by on the Ayeyarwady River boat journey to Bagan. We will pick you up and check you in to your hotel on arrival.
Day 7. Optional dawn champagne balloon ride over the pagodas of Bagan. After breakfast enjoy a full days exploration of the Bagan archaeological zone including highlights such as Shwesandaw and Gawdawpalin. Spend some time observing the work at a lacquer ware factory and watch the sunset from one of the tallest pagodas.
Day 8. 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 9. 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 10. Enjoy breakfast and meet your car for the drive past Danu and Pa O hill-tribe villages to Pindaya. Spend a few hours exploring the town and the famous caves on a ridge above Pone Ta Loke Lake. Continue in the afternoon onto Inle Lake and your chosen hotel.
Day 11. After breakfast set off for a full day’s exploration of the Inle Lake area. Photograph the Intha fishermen’s leg-rowing technique, 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 12. After breakfast board your boat for a trip the length of the lake to the hidden town of Sankar. This is a beautiful three hour boat journey and you will be accompanied by an ethnic Pa O guide so that you can communicate with the villagers in this remote area.
Day 13. Enjoy your breakfast and then meet your car for the transfer to the airport and the short flight to Ngapali Beach. A short and scenic transfer on arrival will bring you to your chosen hotel for an idyllic and relaxing beach stay.
Day 14 – 16. Kick back and relax on the beach after your tour of the highlights of Myanmar. Enjoy the renowned local seafood, maybe take in a round of Golf or visit the local teak-built town of Thandwe.
Day 17. A final day of relaxation before your afternoon flight to Yangon. We’ll pick you up on arrival and transfer you to your hotel in the city.
Day 18. We are back on the water today for a trip by chartered inshore boat to the delta town of Twante. Visit the 1,000 year old Shwesandaw Pagoda and the Oh-Bo pottery sheds before cruising back to the city along the scenic Twante canal.
Day 19. Breakfast is followed by a transfer to the airport for your flight to Kawthoung, the most southerly point in Myanmar on the Thai border. Transfer on arrival to the jetty for your speedboat transfer to the Myanmar Andaman Resort on Macleod (Fork) Island. Relax on the beach and enjoy the gorgeous scenery at this isolated resort set on a deep bay.
Days 20 – 23. Enjoy the world-class diving of the Myeik Archipelago. Famous dive sites that can be visited include the Burma Banks, Western Rocky Island, Shark cave and the North and South Twins. There is much coral to be seen and the reefs are in much better condition than the over-dived reefs of Thailand. The rich marine life includes reef and whale sharks, mantas, devil rays, pipefish, barracuda, moray eels and many colourful reef fish. The island home of the Andaman resort also boasts unspoilt forest for hiking and birdwatching.
Day 24. Depart from Kawthoung to Ranong, Thailand.
Enjoy a final breakfast at the resort before boarding the boat for Kawthoung. On arrival, transfer to the immigration post and cross the river to Ranong, Thailand.
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