If you love architecture, culture and artifacts in beautiful and often mysterious settings that are still off the main tourist trail, this is the trip for you. You will spend a breathtaking time exploring the hidden beauties of Burma (Myanmar) completing the tour in the ever popular and endearingly wonderful Bangkok.
- Personal attention to detail by all HGH from the time of your initial enquiry through to the end of your tour
- 24 hour support available during the tour
- Enjoy the degree of historical and cultural information throughout your tour from our local and knowledgeable tour hosts to the degree that you and your group are interested.
- We focus on sustainable tourism by creating the very best experience for you as the tourist while supporting our local environment and local people
Your arrival at Yangon International Airport marks the start of your tour. Your guide will take you to your hotel and after which, we start our sightseeing tour in Yangon. This tour features the beautiful Kandawgyi Lake, as well the Botataung Pagoda. The Pagoda is a hollowed out structure and you are able to walk through and see many ancient relics and artifacts. We will finish our tour today with a visit to the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, which towers over all of Yangon. It is perhaps the most beautiful pagoda complex in all of Asia and is one sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss.
Overnight stay in Yangon
After breakfast, we make a trip to the busy Nyaung Oo Market before heading off to see Bagan’s distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas and Wetkyi-in- Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century 'cave temple' with interesting fine frescoes.
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Today we drive 1 ½ hours to Salay which is famous for the spectacular woodcarving monastery of "Yoke-Sone-Kyaung''. We will also visit the museum of Myanmar, made famous by the writer U Pone Nya and the lacquer ware "Man" pagoda built in 1300. (closed on every Monday, Tuesday and gazette holidays).
En route back to Bagan,we make a stop at Mt. Popa which is said to have risen from the ground in a massive earthquake in 442 BC. Mt. Popa is famous as the home of the Nats (Spirit Gods) and for its panoramic view of the local tropical region. Here, you can choose to take a walk to a temple built on the ‘volcanic plug’. Along the way, you will see a local toddy palm farmer and see how they produce toddy palm juice and sugar..
Overnight stay in Bagan
After breakfast, we go to the airport to catch a flight to Mandalay. From there, we go to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura to visit the Mahagandayon monastery, a school for young monks. Nearby is the U Bein Bridge, which is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km, is the longest teakwood span in the world.
Later we visit another former royal capital, Inwa. Founded 1364, it lasted nearly 400 years as a royal capital. Highlights include the 'leaning tower of Ava', Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a brick-and-stucco monastery, and the elegant teakwood monastery called Bagaya Kyaung.
Overnight stay in Mandalay
In Mandalay, we see the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda; a gold leaf craftshop and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. The Shwenandaw Monastery is the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarvings. Head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.
Overnight stay in Mandalay
After breakast, we head to the airport to fly to Heho from where we drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, we stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which features beautiful carvings and a collection of Buddha images.
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From the middle of the lake, we will continue down a small canal that leads to the Pa-oh village of Indainn. A short walk from the Lake takes us to the village. Stroll around the village, greet the locals and visit the local school. We can also wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Here you can climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill, which is covered with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.
Overnight stay at Inle Lake
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After breakfast, we go to the aiport to get a flight back to Yangon where you connect to a second flight to Bangkok. Once settled in the Bangkok hotel, you are free to explore this large city.
Ovenight stay in Bangkok
We take a short drive to the spectacular Royal Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha Temple and Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha). As well as spectaular buildings and Buddhist artifacts, the Palace site has glorious open spaces with courtyards and sheltered walkways. We then visit the Museum of Siam (The closes on Monday) and ride on a tuk-tuk to the Flower Market.
After lunch (on your own), we meet to board a long-tail boat for a fascinating trip along the Bangkok Noi Canals (Venice of the East). Our last stop of the day is at the much-photographed Wat Trimit (Golden Buddha) before returning to the hotel.
Overnight stay in Bangkok
Day-10 takes us to Ayutthaya (the former Capital of Thailand) where we visit the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, once used as State Banquet Hall. We will continue to Wat Chai Wattanaram also known as Khmer temple. Later, see Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch & Viharn Mongkol Borphit, the former Royal Temple.
We then take a drive to Wat Chong Lom Pier for a cruise down the Chao Phraya River back to Bangkok when you have a typical Thai buffet lunch on board. The boat arrives at the River City Pier in Bangkok. Later in the day, we w take you to MBK Hall or Siam Paragon the shopping mall.
Overnight stay in Bangkok
You are have free time until you are trasferred to Suvarnabhumi International Airport for the flight back home.
