Colourful Myanmar

Yangon-Mandalay-Bagan-Taunggyi-Yangon

14 Days/ 13 Nights

Day 1: Yangon Arrive at Yangon Airport, transfer to hotel.

Special evening visit to the massive Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the wonders of the world.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon-Mandalay Morning sightseeing includes Chaukhtatkyi, a colossal reclining Buddha; Meditation Centre; Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda; Naha Pasang Guha Cave, where the Sixth Buddhist Synod took place; and the Buddhist Art Museum.

After lunch, visit the sacred Sule Pagoda in the city centre; National Museum; Holy Trinity Cathedral, where the `Burma Roll of Honour,' a record book containing the names of Allied soldiers who fell in World War II, is kept; and shopping at Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market). Evening transfer to Yangon Railway Station to take the overnight train to Mandalay, a 14 hour journey.

Overnight on the train.

Day 3: Mandalay Arrive at Mandalay railway station and transfer to a restaurant for breakfast and refreshments.

Morning visit to the venerable Mahamuni Pagoda; Mandalay museum; and shopping at Zaycho Market.

Afternoon sightseeing in Mandalay. Highlights include: Mandalay Royal Palace; silk-weaving industry; Shwenandaw (Golden Palace) Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Atumashi (Incomparable) Monastery; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world's Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scripture; Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, a large Buddha image carved out of a single block of marble; and Mandalay Hill, a vantage point for panoramic views of the city.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 4: Mandalay-Pyin U Lwin Drive to Pyin U Lwin (Maymyo), a hill-station 69 kilometres east of Mandalay and over 1,100 metres above sea level.

Afternoon visit the Forest Museum; Pwekauk Waterfalls and the Botanical Gardens.

Overnight in Pyin U Lwin.

Day 5: Pyin U Lwin-Mandalay Morning visit the local market. Return to your hotel in Mandalay.

Afternoon visit to Amarapura, an ancient capital of Myanmar, founded in the 18th century. Tour highlights: Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images, 1.2 kilometre long U Pein Wooden Bridge; traditional handicraft workshops offering marble work and silk weaving. Then drive over Inwa (Ava) Bridge across the Ayeyarwady river to Sagaing to visit: Ywatung village; Kaungmhudaw, an enormous solid dome-shaped Pagoda; picturesque Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees with numerous pagodas and monasteries.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 6: Mandalay-Bagan Morning transfer to Bagan by coach, 279 kilometres southwest of Mandalay, a six hour drive by car. Cruise to Bagan by ferry.

In the evening, watch the breathtaking sunset from Bupaya, on the brink of the majestic Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 7: Bagan Morning sightseeing begins with the visit to Nyaung Oo Market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin, a tunnel with an interesting feature of paintings; Wetkyiin Gubyaukkyi Temple, with fine mural paintings of jataka scene; Htilominlo Temple, noted for its plaster carvings; Khay Min Ga Temple and Tharaba Gate.

Afternoon sightseeing includes lacquerware industries; Seinnyet Nyima/ Ahma Temple; Soe Mingyi Okkyaung; Nagayone Temple; Apeyadana Temple, famous for its mural paintings of Mahayana Buddhism; Manuha Temple with gigantic Buddha image, a captive King's impression of life in prison; Nanpaya, an early style temple with the finest stone carvings; Mingalazedi; Myingaba Gubyauk-Kyi Temple and a visit to witness the village life at Myinkaba village.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 8: Bagan Morning visit to Lawkahteikpan Temple, a temple with mural and ink inscriptions; Shwe Sandaw Pagoda; Shinpin Thalyaung Pagoda; Dhammayangyi, a massive temple with the finest brick work; Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek Cross; Ananda Okkyaung, a brick monastery with mural paintings; Thatbyinnyu Temple, the highest of Bagan temples; and the Archaeological Museum.

Afternoon visit to Sulamuni Temple; Sinbyushin Pagoda; Minnanthu Okkyaung; Lemyethnar Pagoda; Payathonezu Pagoda; Thambula Pagoda; and Anandapyinnya Pagoda.

Overnight in Bagan

Day 9: Bagan-Mt.Popa-Meiktila Morning transfer to Meiktila via Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano, known as the abode of legendary Nats or spirit of Gods. Highlights include: jaggery cottage industry; Kyaukpadaung Market; Mt. Popa; village life at Popa.

Overnight in Meiktila.

Day 10: Meiktila-Pindaya In the morning make a seven hour drive to Kalaw, 254 kilometres from Bagan.

After lunch, proceed to Pindaya, a small quiet town, 48 kilometres north of Kalaw, to visit Pindaya Lake and Pindaya Caves, well known for its countless Buddha images. Enjoy the great scenic beauty of the countryside along the road.

Overnight in Pindaya.

Day 11: Pinadaya-Inle Lake-Taunggyi Morning excursion to Inle Lake, famous for its unique leg-rowers and scenic beauty. Tour highlights include: Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda; wonderful floating gardens; floating markets; watching the native method of fishing; traditional weaving industry; and village life on the lake.

In the afternoon proceed to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, through a picturesque landscape. On the way visit a cheroot- making factory and Hsu-Taung-Pyay (Wish-fulfilling) Pagoda.

Overnight in Taunggyi.

Day 12: Taunggyi-Thazi-Yangon Morning visit to colourful Taunggyi Market, where one can see people of several hill tribes shopping for fresh vegetables and all sorts of regional products. Then a six hour drive back to Thaz, a junction town, to join the overnight train to Yangon, a 12 hour journey.

Overnight on the train.

Day 13: Yangon Arrive at Yangon Railway Station in the morning and transfer to a nearby restaurant for breakfast and refreshments.

In the afternoon, visit Myanmar gems shop, where famous Myanmar gens set in jewellery are available with a guarantee of export.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 14: Yangon Morning shopping. Afternoon transfer to Yangon Airport for departing flight.
Number Hotel One Person Two or more Single
Of Days Standard travelling alone travelling together Supplement
14 First Class Hotels $3,090 $2,060 $430
Standard Hotels $2,820 $1,810 $270

Copyright © 1996 Adventure Travel Ltd
Most recent revision 6 April, 1996

Ref: MDY7