Best of Myanmar Small Group
8 Days Starting and ending in Yangon
Visiting: Yangon, Mandalay, Inn Wa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Min Kun, Mount Popa, Popa, Old Bagan, Bagan, He Hoe, Inle Lake
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MY1SG
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Physical rating:
Low
Age range:
18 - 59 years
Trip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Travelling with a group of no more than 12 people, our new Small Group trips provide you with more space for your comfort and pleasure. Dive straight into a land of untouched natural beauty, captivating stories from recent history, welcoming locals, and an abundance of awe-inspiring temples! This 8-day circular route through Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – ticks off the unmissable villages, countryside, ancient ruins, and charming cities through a unique style of grassroots tourism. Walk the iconic wooden pathway of the winding U Bein Bridge as monks, workers, and vendors pick their way through the local crowds. Explore the world’s largest and densest concentration of Buddist monuments in Bagan and enjoy an optional Hot Air Balloon ride at sunset. Trek through lush forest to mountain resorts with unparalleled views across the horizon. Travel by horse and carriage through ancient city ruins and, immerse yourself in the unique way of life as you discover the floating markets of Inle Lake. If you’re looking for an extraordinary adventure that’s definitely off the well-worn path, Myanmar is calling!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Yangon
Location: Yangon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Rose Garden Hotel – 5 Star
Meals Included: No Meals
Welcome to Myanmar - a country quite unlike any other before it! Meet your guide and new tour mates in the hotel lobby at 6.00pm for an informal welcome meeting. Afterwards, get amongst the hustle of Yangon for an optional tour group dinner or explore the night markets and busy streets as they come to life after dark!
Included Activities
Welcome Meeting
Optional Activities
Group Dinner
Day 2 : Yangon, Flight To Mandalay, Ava, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mandalay
Location: Yangon, Mandalay, Inn Wa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mandalay
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Rupar Mandalar – 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we'll take to the skies with a domestic flight from Yangon to Mandalay! On arrival, visit the neighbouring 18th-century capital of Amarapura to explore the country's largest monastery; Mahagandayon and witness the daily meal of over one thousand monks. Then, attend a silk weaving workshop to learn of Amarapura's craft specialty before a short ferry across the river towards Ava! This former capital of the 14th to 18th century is a great introduction to local life in the Burmese countryside. Ava is is best explored on horse and carriage, so hop on board and keep your eyes peeled for the old wooden Bagaya Monastery, ruins of the Royal Palace, and many small villages amid ruins. In the afternoon, head towards Sagaing to see the 600 white pagodas and monasteries surrounding Sagaing Hill. This place is widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar with over 3,000 monks calling Sagaing home! Visit the Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae pagodas before heading back to Amparapura to take a wander along the picturesque U Bein Bridge. The iconic bridge surrounded by lush countryside has to be up there with Myanmar's most photographed sites. After a big day exploring, rest up in the evening back at your hotel in Mandalay.
Included Activities
Mahagandayon Monastery
Silk Weaving Workshop visit
Sagaing Hill
U Bein Bridge
Day 3 : Mandalay, Mingun, Mandalay City Tour
Location: Mandalay, Min Kun, Mandalay
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Rupar Mandalar - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fill up on breakfast before a big day exploring Mingun and Mandalay! First up, head across the river to Mingun - home to sereval unique sites, as well as the foundations for what could have been the largest temple in the world! Then check out the picture-perfect Myatheindan Pagoda - famous for its distinctively white arches and architectural charm. In the afternoon, return to Mandalay for a half-day city tour to the unmissable spots across the city including Mahamuni Pagoda, a gold-leaf making workshop, the Old Palace grounds, Kuthodaw Pagoda, and Golden Palace Monastery. Finish up the day with an easy climb to the nearby Mandalay Hill. Soak up the views as sunset falls across the city below or even chat with a young monk as they practice their English!
Included Activities
Mingun Visit
Mandalay City Tour
Entrance Fees
Mingun & Mandalay - 15 USD
Day 4 : Mandalay, Mt Popa
Location: Mandalay, Mount Popa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Popa Mountain Resort - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day at the Jade Markets in Mandalay where you'll find a mass of traders handling, hawking and polishing their prized Jade stones. You don't have to want or even like the stone to appreciate the timelessness of these markets that echo trading from another era. Then, we'll hit the road for Mt Popa with a visit to villages along the way. On arrival in Mt Popa, check out the Toddy Palm Groves, Jaggery Cottage Industry, Kyaukapaduang Market, Popa Village, and the famous Popa Taung Kalat - a tower-like volcanic plug lying on the south-western slope of Mt. Popa. This fascinating volcano last erupted some 250,000 years ago! Tonight, you'll stay in the exclusive Popa Mountain Resort. This naturally-designed resort lays a short 25-minute walk deep within the lush forest of Mt Popa and showcases blinding views across the horizon and valleys below. Not to mention, the infinity pool and spar are nothing short of spectacular! Time to rest up, relax, and take in the epic mountain scenery.
Included Activities
Jade Markets
Mt Popa Sightseeing
Day 5 : Popa, Bagan
Location: Popa, Old Bagan
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Ananta Bagan Hotel - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Load up on breakfast in the mountains before making tracks to Bagan! Often compared to Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat in terms of scale and significance, The Bagan Archaeological Zone was the first Burmese kingdom and is home to more than 2,500 Buddhist stupas, temples, and monasteries - making it the largest and densest concentration of Buddist monuments in the world! We'll explore the Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, Kyansittha Umin, Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple, Htilominlo Temple and plenty more. In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue on to the Manuha Temple and Ananda Temple with your guide, before ending the day with a horse and carriage tour of the traditional Taungbi village. Complete a jam-packed day with an optional Hot Air Balloon ride over the majestic stupas and Irrawaddy river as dusk falls over Bagan (available October to March). This is truly an unforgettable and unique experience!
Included Activities
Bagan Sightseeing
Traditional Taungbi Village
Optional Activities
Hot-air Ballooning at sunset over Bagan - 305 USD
Entrance Fees
Bagan Archaeological Zone - 25 USD
Day 6 : Bagan, Flight To Heho, Inle Lake
Location: Bagan, He Hoe, Inle Lake
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Novotel Inle Lake Hotel - 4 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take an included flight from Bagan to Heho as we get set to explore the glorious Inle Lake! The most popular way to experience Inle Lake is by boat - we'll take a private motorboat through Inle Lake's unique watery world - passing wooden homes perched above the water on ticket stilts and watch on as the kicak fisherman row their canoes with one leg. In the afternoon, visit the local villages and wander through the markets filled with a spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. Check out the famed Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, home to dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ who jump through hoops in the air! Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.
Included Activities
Inle Lake Boat Ride
Local Village Visit
Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery
Entrance Fees
Inle Lake Zone - 10 USD
Day 7 : Inle Lake, Indein Boat Trip, Heho, Flight To Yangon
Location: Inle Lake, He Hoe, Yangon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Rose Garden Hotel - 5 Star
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a visit the Inle Lake's local morning market! The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5-day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. (Note: the market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon day). From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of In Dein. Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below. In the late afternoon transfer to Heho airport for a domestic flight back to Yangon.
Included Activities
Inle Lake Morning Market Visit
Boat Ride to In Dein
Alaung Sitthou Sightseeing
Day 8 : Yangon
Location: Yangon
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is our last day together in magical Myanmar! Let's make the most of it with an included city tour to Yangon's most impressive sights. First up, Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha. A visit to Chauk Htat Gyi provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha. The feet of the statue is carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray. Then, visit Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar's most sacred places. The massive bell-shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is intricately decorated with diamonds and rubies, sapphires, and topaz - a stunning sight as the sunsets for our final days in this unique country! Savour those final moments with your new travel mates before we bid our farewells and head to the airport via included transfer. We would recommend to arrange your departure flight later than 2pm.
Included Activities
Yangon City Tour
Entrance Fees
Shwedagon Pagoda - 10 USD
What's Included
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Accommodation
5 & 4 Star Hotels
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Meals
7 Breakfasts | Daily Water
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Domestic Flight
Domestic Flights between Yangon & Mandalay, Bagan & Heho, Heho & Yangon
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Guide
Services of experienced Travel Talk local guides licenced by the Ministry of Tourism
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Transportation
Private Air-Conditioned Vehicles, Horse Cart, Local Boat, Domestic Flights.
What's Not Included
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Any flights
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Travel insurance
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Meals not stated in the itinerary
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Items of a personal nature
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Visa fees
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Optional activities
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Entrance Fees
For sights and museums
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Other services not stated in the itinerary
Add Ons
Local Payment: £
Check out our Q&As
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
5 & 4 Star
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No passenger under age 18.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
Yes, Domestic Flights between Yangon & Mandalay, Bagan & Heho, Heho & Yangon
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
There are always single travellers on our tours. If you don't mind being roomed with another single traveller of the same gender, then you do not need to pay a single supplement, however, this excludes all of our North American tours where the sharing option for a solo traveller is not available, and the single supplement must be applied if you are travelling alone. The single supplement is for travellers who would like to stay in a private room for the duration of the tour. PLEASE NOTE: The single private option is not always available, especially for sailing tours and camping.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Our tours are suitable for any traveller above 18 years old. The majority of Travel Talkers are from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada or Europe, however we always have travellers from all over the world. What brings them together is a passion for travel, discovering authentic cultures and experiencing unique adventures with like-minded travellers.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Travel Talk, we believe that travel is a force for good and show our support through various initiatives and charity organizations, as well as keeping the principals of responsible and sustainable travel at the core of our ethos. These values are engrained in our business culture and the design of our trips just the same. Together with our guests, we strive to make a positive impact on local p
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Over 20 years
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Travel Talk Tours allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 61 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Travel Talk Tours requires a minimum deposit of 100 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of travel talk tours charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 85% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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