Classic Myanmar Tour - 12 Days/ 11 Nights

Our Classic Myanmar tour is a great way for you to discover the mystique and splendors of this marvelous country. We’ve combined the best sites, excursions and journeys into this 12 day Essential Myanmar tour, to offer an introduction to the country that is sure to leave a lasting memory and entice you to return.

Day 1: Yangon
On arrival you will be welcomed by Myanmar Shalom tour guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Drive through downtown to explore the city centre and its fabulous mix of architecture and sites. The streets are filled with historical buildings many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. You’ll start at the post office – a lovely historic building- and to Sule Paya in the middle of downtown, passing by Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument along the way. Then visit Little India and Chinatown – stop to greet the vendors and let them introduce you to their wares – some familiar, some exotic.
Photo stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge.Nothing will prepare you for Shwedagon Pagoda, with its glittering gold stupa. At the pagoda, observe local pilgrims and monks offering their devotions and enjoy the amazing sunset view at Shwedagon pagoda.

Day 2: Yangon – Bagan
Early morning flight to Bagan. Begin exploration of Bagan by visiting a busy local market and gain an insight into the bustling market atmosphere in Bagan. You will spend the day exploring the architectural masterpieces of this amazing town by visit to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples. Also visit a local lacquerware workshop and watch men and women ply their craft using traditional methods.  In the late afternoon climbing to the top of the Temple for sunset views. Sit back relax and be amazed by the beauty of Bagan as you watch the sun slowly set behind the ancient Pagodas.

Day 3: Bagan – Mt. Popa  – Villages
You may continue sightseeing Temples & Pagodas and villages in the morning or take excursion trip to Mount Popa (45 km drive), an extinct volcano with spectacular views, 4981 feet above sea level. 777 steps lead up to the Buddhist shrine place on the top of the Popa peak. On the top of mountain there are monasteries, pagoda and shrines indifferent styles. In the mid afternoon back to Bagan  and you will explore Bagan from a different perspective as you explore the area by Pony cart. The cart can explore areas that cars are unable to enter giving a different feel of Bagan.

Day 4: Bagan – Pakokku – Monywa
Breakfast at hotel. Pick up from hotel. Leave Bagan in the morning and take a private local boat across the Ayeyarwaddy River to Pakkoku (approx. 3 hrs by boat), an un-spoiled small town famous as a tobacco trading centre and for its weaving shops. This river journey is interesting because you see all types of local boats along the river as well as the local river life. Arrive Pakokku and visit the local market and see genuine indigenous regional open-air market. Then continue drive (approx. 4 hrs) to Monywa. Arrival Monywa and transfer to hotel. The rest of the day at leisure.

Day 5: Monywa – Mandalay
Rise early to take the ferry to the other side of the Chindwin River where you board a pick-up to see the seldom visited 15th Pho Win Daung temple complex where more than 450,000 sandstone Buddha’s were carved in the hillsides in caves, alcoves, or tiny niches. The cave murals are still intact with indigo blues and soft pastels. Visit Shwe Ba Daung, which features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with Bubddha images. Drive back to Monywa. and visit Thanboddhay Pagoda. Inside you will see thousands of Buddha images (reportedly over 500,000) decorating every wall, archway and niche. The buildings in the compound have interesting jataka reliefs. Proceed drive to Mandalay (140 km – 4 hours). Arrival Mandalay and transfer to hotel.

Day 6: Mandalay – Amarapura
Full day sightseeing in Mandalay -  visit the second most sacred image in Myanmar next to the Shwedagon Pagoda is the Mahamuni Pagoda. Next visit Golden palace Monastery famous for its intricate woodcarvings. Continue to the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which is known as the world largest book due to the Buddhist scripture carved on 729 marble slabs. Before sunset  visit a 200-year-old teak bridge, the most photographic site in Myanmar.

Day 7: Mandalay – Mingun – Saging
Morning- breakfast at the hotel.  Following, you embark on a scenic boat cruise on the magical Irrawaddy River, watching river commerce and villages as they were centuries ago.  Mingun is about 11 km (one hour each way) upriver from Mandalay and home to the impressive Mingun Bell, the world’s largest intact bronze bell, the unfinished Mingun Paya, and lanes filled with art galleries and bullock taxis. Visit Ava and then the cross the Ayeyawaddy River over Ava Bridge and visit the Sagging Hill where there are about six hundred Monasteries. Stop at Silverware cottage industry, clay pot making and Nunnery to learn the daily life of Buddhist nuns. Watch the sunset from the top of Sagaing Hill.

Day 8: Mandalay – Heho – Kalaw
Morning flight to Heho in the Shan state. Upon arrival drive to Kalaw (appr. 1 hour), a former British colonial town. Kalaw, another hill station as well as peaceful summer resort nestled in pine-clad mountains, is 1,400 meters above sea-level. It is located 70 km west of Taunggyi. In the neighborhood lie villages of Palaung and other hill tribes who come to Kalaw market held every five days in their colorful costumes, adding to the quiet attraction of Kalaw. Overnight in Kalaw.

Day 9: Kalaw– Inle Lake
After breakfast scenic drive across the Shan Plateau to NyaungShwe pick up boat & transfer to your hotel for check in. Enjoy the full day tour by boat in Inle lake. . The five Buddha images of Phaung Daw U Pagoda are the holiest in Inle Lake.  Next, visit a unique Monastery on the Lake Nga Phe Kyaung, near Ywama village where the local Monks have trained the cats to jump through hoops, it is now affectionately known as the jumping cat Monastery. Proceed to Nampan village and see local cigar [cheroot] making and canoe carving.

Day 10: Inle Lake – Indein
Continue our sightseeing in Inle Lake, maneuvering by boat though long, scenic channnels where you can watch the farmers cultivate their produce in “floating gardens”.  You will visit the fascinating village of Indein, with it’s complex of ancient shrines and stupas and walk though exotic colonnades of stairways and shop stalls.  You’ll visit the “long neck” tribal women, and weaving and craft villages perched on stilts. See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar. It is a feast for the senses and a photographer’s dream.

Day 11: Inle – Yangon
Morning flight to Yangon. Then enjoy a visit to Scott Market, the sprawling 75-year-old Market. At the market you will find a whole variety of interesting Burmese souvenirs, from lacquer ware to gems & jewelry – bargain at the stores to fully experience the Burmese market atmosphere! Visit the over 100 year old beautiful Rangoon Synagogue. In there you will have the opportunity to meet with Trustee of the Synagogue to learn  the Jewish Life in the Pagoda Land.  Drive through the city and observe  neighborhoods that reflect Yangon’s Burmese, British, Indian, Bangladeshi and indigenous influences. Visit the Jade Buddha temple with marble statue weighs 500 tons and the largest in the world.

Day 12: Yangon – Departure
After breakfast, day at leisure until transfer to airport for International departure flight.