Myanmar at a Glance, Private Tour

Arrive at Yangon International Airport. Upon arrival, a representative will be waiting to greet you at the airport and accompany you on the private transfer directly to your hotel. The best arrival time is before 9:00 in the morning. Please set your travel arrangements accordingly or book our optional pre-night stay in Yangon. After check-in, head out to the busy streets of Yangon and together with your guide go for Yangon city tour, starting at the Sule Pagoda, a gleaming octagonal pagoda that stands squarely at the centre and walk alongside the colonial-style buildings, the City Hall and the Independence Monument. Then we´ll continue to Bogyoke Aung San Market, the largest market in Yangon. There will be plenty of time to browse the hundreds of stalls for souvenirs and bargains. To wrap up our first day of Myanmar we´ll visit the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, Shwedagon Pagoda, the 99-metre tall structure that is covered in gold leaf and surrounded by 64 other smaller stupas. Walk around the complex with your guide and discover why this sanctuary is so well loved, while observing the magical colours reflecting on the pagoda's walls during the sunset. You will be back in the hotel in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will meet you in reception to drive you off to Bago, the ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom, 80 km northeast of Yangon. En-route we´ll stop to visit Htauk Kyan Allied War Cemetery where the allied soldiers who died in the Myanmar Campaign during WWII are buried, and once in Bago, we begin our sightseeing in the Kya Khat Wai Monastery. Here we’ll have the chance to observe a slice of Buddhist monastic life in one of the three largest monasteries in the country. Watch as thousands of monks have their last meal of the day at 10:30 am in total silence. Later on, visit the magnificent Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda, huge reclining Buddha which is more than 2,000 years old and is believed by locals to represent Buddha resting after attaining nirvana. We´ll continue our drive to Kyaikhtiyo, where the Golden Rock awaits. The Golden Rock, or Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, is a colossal rock topped with a pagoda, precariously perched on the edge of the hillside and covered in gold leaf. It is one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar and legend says that the rock itself is perched on a strand of the Buddha’s hair. You will check in to your hotel in the late afternoon and you´ll have the rest of the day at leisure enjoying the essence of this magical place. 

Overnight in Kyaikhtiyo.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel, check out and head off to see Bago. Visit Hinthar Gone, the legendary hill with 37 Nats’ shrines and then continue to Kyaik Pun Paya to see four huge seated Buddhas. Climb up the stairs that lead up the outside of the stupa to get amazing views over the surrounding area. After Bago experience we´ll continue driving back to Yangon for overnight. 

Overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast at the hotel, prepare for a pick-up at reception and transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Bagan. Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. On the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, the city is famous for the Bagan Archaeological Area, where over 2,000 Buddhist landmarks overshadow its green plains. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to the hotel for check-in and for breakfast, that will be followed by the Bagan sightseeing tour. Start by contemplating the views of the magnificent plains of Bagan on the way to the golden stupa of the Shwezigon Pagoda, where you’ll receive a crash course in Bagan’s rich history. Then, visit the nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, continue to the Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful houses of worship. Manuha Temple that hides three seated Buddha images along with an image of Buddha entering Nirvana, will wrap up our Bagan discoveries while enjoying the sunset over the spiritual place. 

Overnight in Bagan.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel, that are followed by the excursion to Mount Popa, the spiritual headquarter to Myanmar’s infamous ‘37 nat’ (spirits). Ascend the mountain via a winding covered staircase watched by the curious monkeys that populate the area. At the top there is a monastery and temple complex with shrines to the 37 nats where you can admire spectacular views over the landscape. Once back in Bagan we´ll continue with the remaining architectural sites and when you´ll be back in the hotel in the late afternoon, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, during which you can further explore Bagan’s mystical atmosphere.

Overnight in Bagan.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel, then leave Bagan for a domestic flight to Heho and Inle Lake. Upon arrival in Heho Airport, enjoy the scenic one-hour drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. Today’s excursion starts with a private longtail boat drive that will take you to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar's most fabulous sights. Sail across this vast, serene lake, past Buddhist temples and the stilt houses of the Intha community. Watch the local fishermen propelling their boats with their unique leg rowing techniques. Admire the beautiful floating gardens developed from clumps of water hyacinth secured in position by bamboo poles. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the primary Buddhist site on the lake containing five gilded images of Buddha. Discover Inle Lake’s local artwork at a silversmith workshop, the traditional weaving town of Inpawkhone and a cheroot processing plant where stogies are made by hand, and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. At the end of the tour, enjoy the rest of the evening relaxing and soaking up the magical atmosphere of this unique location.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and get ready for your boat excursion around the vast, serene Inle Lake. Float down to the western shore of the lake to a stairway and walk to the hidden Indein temple. Explore temple´s hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and greens. Continue by foot to the village of Sae Ma, walking along the rice fields, and stop to visit the village and the local school. In the afternoon meet the village locals on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by the check out and transfer to Heho Airport to take a flight to the following destination, Mandalay. Meet and greet our representative, once you land at the Mandalay airport, who will assist you with the transfer to your hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to spend at leisure, stroll down the streets of this former royal capital in northern Myanmar, perhaps walk along the Ayeyarwady River that surrounds the town or get an insight of the local gastronomy at one of the city restaurants or street stalls. 

Overnight in Mandalay.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then visit the holiest shrine in Mandalay and home of Myanmar’s most revered Buddha image, Mahamuni Pagoda. The 4-metre-tall seated Buddha has been covered with so much gold leaf by visitors over the years that is has acquired an unusual lumpy texture. Enter the temple for a close up look at the Mahamuni Buddha image and then spend some time walking around the temple grounds soaking up the spiritual atmosphere of the surroundings. After the temple tour, we´ll learn about the bronze-casting, marble-carving, wood-carving, and puppetry at the Craft Workshop. After the lunch (own expenses) we´ll enrich our exploration of Mandalay about the most spiritual sites, starting in Shwenandaw Kyaung, the Golden Teak Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings, following to Kyauktawgyi Paya and Kuthodaw Paya famous for housing the world’s biggest book. To wrap up our sightseeing we´ll head up to the Mandalay Hill to see the Shwe Kyin Old Monastery and romantic sunset over this sacred scenery. Once back in the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Wake up to the breakfast at the hotel and get yourself ready for a full day sightseeing over the Mandalay´s besides spots. We´ll begin in Amarapura, an ancient capital built on the advice of astrologers and then we´ll go to see Mahagandayon Monastery to get a wind of monks and novices routines while taking alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Afterwards, we´ll continue to Sagaing, the spiritual center of Myanmar and we´ll visit Sagain hill that is popular for thousands monks and nuns, as a spiritual retreat for meditation and contemplation. Later then we´ll board the ferry to Ava (Inwa), the ultimate royal capital, now tranquil scenic oasis, sparsely dotted with ruins, monastic buildings and stupas. Enjoy a leisurely horse cart ride around this peaceful countryside, visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful teak wood monastery, Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Kyaung, and Nan Myint Tower. On the way, observe the local artisans making the famous alms bowls out of iron. While returning back to Mandalay, we´ll stop at U Bein'S Bridge, a picturesque passage that spans the Taungthaman Lake near to Amarapura. You will be back in the hotel in the late afternoon. 

Overnight in Mandalay.

Wake up to breakfast at your hotel. Then prepare to check out of your room at the scheduled time and transfer to the airport for your onward or return flight.