Day 1
Upon arrival at the airport, meet with the guide and transfer your hotel. Yangon downtown is unique with much of its colonial-era architecture still standing. You find one of Asia's most impressive collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth- century buildings, religious and secular. This evening enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Yangon, Clover City Centre Hotel or similar
Day 2
Yangon is a sprawling city with a relatively small downtown area including several markets, colonial buildings, the Yangon River and a very green area with tree-lined streets and several lakes. During this full day tour we show you the different faces of Yangon. During the day you visit the Sule Pagoda, colonial downtown, the harbour, 'The Strand' for a drink, and one of the colourful local markets. Shwedagon Pagoda will be visited just before taking a tasteful lunch of typical dishes from tribes from all over the country such as Kachin, Shan and Rakhine. A local market will lead us to a small station where we take the famous circular train to bring us to Bogyoke Aung San. Overnight: Yangon, Clover Hotel City Centre or similar
Day 3
A full day tour by car, with an experienced guide through Bagan will show you the best known temples of the area. We start the day climbing a pagoda to get a first impressive view over the whole area. From here the guide plans his way to some of the other amazing temples that have been here for hundreds of years. Places like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu will certainly impress you.
Bagan curries from the dry zone served at a monastery
The dry zone (as the area around Bagan is called) is not known for its fertile lands as the main crops grown are rice, peanuts, sesame seeds and tamarind. The food created from it is delicious though and we will serve you some beautiful food in a traditional monastery.
Around 4pm we continue the tour by horse cart to Pyathagyi pagoda for sunset with some refreshing drinks served! Oh we forgot to mention the best part of this tour; whenever you see a temple you like, just ask you guide to stop to have a look at it simply pick your own favourite temple.
Overnight at Bawga Theiddhi Hotel or similar
Day 4
Minnanthu is probably the favourite temple area amongst frequent Bagan visitors and you know why? It's quiet, it's a beautiful area and the temples here are often completely deserted. The guide brings you by car to this forgotten part of Bagan and will spread out a blanket and serve you a great picnic lunch in this historical setting before or after visiting 2 or 3 ancient temples ruins in this area.
The rest of the day the car and guide are available for additional visits of the temples till 6 pm if wanted.
Overnight at Bawga Theiddhi Hotel or similar
Day 5
Mount Popa is one of the places to be visited in the surroundings of Bagan as it is the birth place of the 37 "nats" of Myanmar which are the protective spirits. We will steer you away from the normal trodden paths and visit today also the country side including a temple in Minnanthu area, rural village life in Shwe Si Tine village as well as the fruit and flower market and plantations near Popa. Lunch will be taken at Popa Mountain Resort. Return back to Bagan at the end of the day in time to catch a beautiful sunset.
Overnight at Bawga Theiddhi Hotel or similar
Day 6
Upon arrival at the airport, meet with the guide and transfer to Inle Lake by car and boat.
Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages. On the lake itself the Intha people have been living for many centuries in villages built entirely on stilts. Today you ride a private motorboat around the lake. Discover its natural beauty, visit the floating gardens, see some of the famous leg rowers, and have a cup of tea at a local family's house. On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule. Today we take you to visit one of these colourful markets frequented by Shan and PaO people.
Inle Lake area Intha food in the middle of the lake
While the Shan and the Pa O people live around the lake, the Intha people traditionally live ON the lake, literally in houses built on stilts on the lake. A home-cooked Intha style lunch including noodles, salads, soup and exotic looking food wrapped in banana leaves is prepared for you in a pop-up restaurant created to support the Intha community.
We also visit a local cheroot factory (where the Burmese cigars are made), floating tomato gardens, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda - and if wanted, we visit a weaving factory.
Overnight at Paramount Inle Resort or similar
Day 7
In the south of the lake the ruins of Indein are certainly worth a visit. Partly covered by vegetation the area looks like a pagoda forest. We walk about 1 hour to enjoy a fantastic view over the lake. A homemade cooked lunch is served by a local family in their house. We continue towards the Nam Pan village for a very interesting trip going local with a small can. Whenever you are tired peddling yourself we continue by motorboat back to your hotel.
Overnight at Paramount Inle Resort or similar
Day 8
This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to to Thandwe. Upon arrival, transfer to your Ngapali Beach hotel. Overnight: Ngapali Beach, Yoma Cherry Lodge or similar
Day 9
Day free to enjoy Ngapali Beach, Myanmar's premier beach getaway. Overnight: Ngapali Beach, Yoma Cherry Lodge or similar
Day 10
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the airport for the flight to Yangon.
Please note that due to airline schedules from Thandwe (Ngapali Beach) to Yangon, clients are advised not to book any onward international flights until after 15:00 local time.