Myanmar Highlights

Myanmar Highlights

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Myanmar Highlights

9 Days Starting and ending in Yangon

Visiting: Yangon, Old Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

TRSH

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Tour Overview

Discover the magic and myth of Myanmar on a nine-day journey through some of its very best sights. Bookend your adventure in beautiful Yangon, where the golden Shwedagon Pagoda glitters in the sunset, and experience the many facets of Myanmar's heart and soul in between – tranquil temples, home-cooked cuisine, grassroots culinary wizardry, floating lake islands and the local handmade industry. Many modes of transport, from plane to bike to canoe, make for a convenient, exhilarating and authentic adventure across this enchanting land, as you discover a country that embodies the South East Asia of twenty years ago.

Highlights

  • Spend an afternoon touring the temple town of Bagan by bicycle. This is a fantastic way to see the thousands of spectacular temples, stupas and pagodas.

  • Join a homegrown master of Burmese cuisine as you stock up on market ingredients, cook up a storm in a cooking class, then feast on the results – all the while supporting a community library initiative.

  • Enjoy an action-packed activity schedule in Mandalay. Visit the magnificent Mandalay Palace, tour a local village and monastery, and discover the hill-top pagodas of Sagaing.

  • Explore Inle Lake on a peaceful canoe trip, followed by a boat tour of its floating islands and local village industries.

  • Be dazzled by Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset. Myanmar's religious crown jewel comes alive in the dusk, with thousands of glittering diamonds on its golden stupa.

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Yangon

Location: Yangon

Accommodation: Hotel

Mingalaba! Welcome to Myanmar. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you have free time to explore before the meeting, we recommend stepping out onto the streets of Yangon. Why not take the Circle Line train for a 3-hour journey around town, or head over to Bogyoke Market and haggle with the locals? There’s also Sule Pagoda, a 2000-year-old golden temple, and the Gems Museum, which houses some of the world’s largest sapphire, ruby and jade pieces. After the meeting, there's an optional group dinner – a great chance to chat with fellow travellers and enjoy sumptuous Myanmar cuisine, which draws variously on Mon, Indian and Chinese flavours.

Optional Activities:
-Yangon - Bogyoke Market (Scotts Market) - Free
-Yangon - Sule Pagoda
-Yangon - Let Yangon Take You For a Ride Urban Adventure
-Yangon - Myanmar Gems Museum & Gem Market

Day 2 : Bagan

Location: Old Bagan

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Take an early morning flight to Bagan (approximately 1.5 hours). This famous archaeological site, located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, is where Theravada Buddhism was first introduced to the Kingdom. It was once the site of 10,000 temples, pagodas and monasteries – it still boasts a staggering 2000 brick and gilded ruins. After arriving this morning, your leader will take you on a half-day bicycle tour of the stunning UNESCO site. Seeing these marvels on two wheels is ideal, as the site is quite spread out and you'll get to witness the grandeur of Ananda Temple and more.

Included Activities:
-Bagan - Temple bike tour

Optional Activities:
-Bagan - Dandaree Culture Show

Day 3 : Bagan

Location: Old Bagan

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Take a cooking class with a friendly, community-minded culinary expert this morning. Visit the local market to stock up on produce, then head to the kitchen to cook up a storm. Take the opportunity to ask your host about any mysterious ingredients you might see in the marketplace – she's a wealth of knowledge. As well as a chance to cook and taste real home-cooked Myanmar cuisine, it's a good cause, with part of the proceeds going towards a local children's library initiative. Enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch, followed by a free afternoon and evening.

Included Activities:
-Bagan - Local cooking class

Optional Activities:
-Bagan - Shwezigon Paya - Free
-Bagan - Dandaree Culture Show
-Bagan - Lacquer Ware Workshop Visit - Free

Day 4 : Mandalay

Location: Mandalay

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Prepare for a long day of travel as you drive to Mandalay by private minibus (approximately 5 hours). Make sure you’re stocked up on snacks and your devices are fully charged for the journey, or perhaps take the time to get to know your fellow travellers. Though it's mostly a hub for day trips, the enchanting and evocative former royal capital of Mandalay has many lovely churches, temples and mosques to discover. Enjoy free time exploring or simply relaxing this afternoon.

Optional Activities:
-Mandalay - Moustache Brothers
-Mandalay - Mandalay Hill

Day 5 : Mandalay

Location: Mandalay

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Embark on a morning boat trip up the famous Ayeyarwady River to Mingun (approximately 1 hour each way). Here you will find a small handful of impressive pagodas and unique sites, as well as the foundations of what had the potential to be the largest temple in the world. Spend some time exploring, then return to Mandalay. This afternoon, visit the impressive Mandalay Palace and Shwenandaw Monastery before heading out of the city to witness an awesome sunset over the U Bein Bridge.

Included Activities:
-Mandalay - Shwenandaw Teak Monastery
-Mandalay - Boat trip to Mingun
-Mandalay - U Bein Bridge

Optional Activities:
-Mandalay - Gold Leaf Pounding Workshop - Free

Day 6 : Inle Lake

Location: Inle Lake

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Today is a full day of travelling by private bus to Nyaungshwe (approximately 9.5 hours). En route, stop and visit the community-based tourism village of Meiktila. Wander through the village and learn about the culture and traditions of the villagers and the inspiring work done here to improve the lives of the locals, before enjoying a hearty home-cooked lunch. This evening arrive at Nyaungshwe, your gateway to Inle Lake, and a picturesque and culturally fascinating area. Settle into your hotel, then enjoy free time to perhaps visit the bustling night market or enjoy a drink in one of the local bars.

Included Activities:
-Meikhtila Village - Community Based Tourism Visit
-Meikhtila Village - Community Based Tourism Lunch

Day 7 : Inle Lake

Location: Inle Lake

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, explore the lush waters of Inle Lake by canoe, then continue by motorised boat for a sightseeing tour. Stop by to see the local cigar makers, silk and lotus weavers, and see the unique floating gardens. This tour is a fascinating insight into local handmade traditions, even the floating gardens require considerable manual labour to landscape – local farmers collect weeds from the depths of the lake, then fashion them into gardens with the help of bamboo poles as anchors.

Included Activities:
-Inle Lake - Boat trip & village tour
-Inle Lake - Canoe tour

Optional Activities:
-Inle Lake - Bicycle hire
-Inle Lake - Red Mountain Estate Winery Tasting
-Inle Lake - Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery - Free

Day 8 : Yangon

Location: Yangon

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Catch a morning flight to Yangon. After settling into your hotel, head out to see the holiest shrine in the country, the Shwedagon Pagoda. This gilded pagoda is studded with nearly 5000 diamonds and a number of gems and is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha. It’s a particularly impressive sight at sunset when the stupa begins to shine in the fading light of the day. This evening, why not head out for a final group dinner to toast to your adventure.

Included Activities:
-Yangon - Shwedagon Pagoda and Oil Lamp Lighting

Day 9 : Yangon

Location: Yangon

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your trip comes to an end today and you are free to depart at any time.

Optional Activities:
-Yangon - Hands-on Yangon Urban Adventure
-Yangon - Yangon's Streets By Night Urban Adventure

What's Included

  • Yangon - Shwedagon Pagoda and Oil Lamp Lighting

  • Bagan - Local cooking class

  • Bagan - Temple bike tour

show more

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Included Activities

  • Bagan - Temple bike tour
  • Bagan - Local cooking class
  • Mandalay - Shwenandaw Teak Monastery
  • Mandalay - Boat trip to Mingun
  • Mandalay - U Bein Bridge
  • Meikhtila Village - Community Based Tourism Visit
  • Meikhtila Village - Community Based Tourism Lunch
  • Inle Lake - Boat trip & village tour
  • Inle Lake - Canoe tour
  • Yangon - Shwedagon Pagoda and Oil Lamp Lighting

Accommodation

  • Hotel (8 nights)

Transport

  • Bicycle , Boat , Canoe , Plane , Private minbus

Check out our Q&As

  • Are internal flights included in this tour?

    Yes,

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit for future tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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