Clockwise round forgotten Myanmar

Flight from Europe to Yangon (arrive next morning), beginning of your 20 day's individual trip to the main sites of Myanmar (formerly Burma)

You arrive late morning not far from the capital city of Myanmar and continue straight into the hart of Yangon, famous for it's Shwedagon Paya, the most sacred Buddhist temple in the country, that you may see already on your incoming flight; take your time to relax go out in the evening for some traditional Burmese food

Your first day you will spend the morning in the city to explore the town at the Yangon River: visit Sule Paya in down town, and the lively markets or take a three hour circuit train around Yangon to get in touch with the friendly people and their daily life (an exiting trip)

Early afternoon take the overnight by car to Bagan

After a restful sleep in the morning explore some of the finest pagodas in and around Old Bagan, going round by bicycle or take a relaxing horse cart ride; enjoy sunset from one of the pagodas in Old Bagan and get a first impression of one of the true wonders of the world - countless pagodas in a huge area, gleaming in the sunset; work out your impressions on a terrace overlooking the Ayeyarwady River and take some traditional food

Welcome in Africa! On the way to Mandalay by car, the former Burmese capital, you drive through African like landscape with big savanna and umbrella acacia trees; make a stopover at the monastery-topped hill of 1250 m Mt. Popa, climb the centre for worship of the nats in Myanmar and take rest arriving in Mandalay

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Just got straight to Mandalay by bus, not visiting Mt. Popa, just enjoying natural surrounding

To

Day7

Mandaly and Mandalay region have a lot to offer. It is up to you.

Mandalay town

- Mandalay Palace (half day)
- Mandalay Hill (half day)
- Countless Pagodas (half day)
- Half day trip downtown to see:
     - bamboo leaf production 
     - gold leaf production 
     - Buddha image makers 
In the evening it is well worth visiting the Moustache Brothers and Mandalay Marionettes, two places that offer fine art of traditional dance, theatre and entertainment

 Mandalay Region and its four old cities 

- relaxing and exiting half day trip to Mingun to see the huge ruined base of Mingun Paya and the largest uncracked bell in the world 
- half day trip to Sagaing (Sagaing Hill and Ava Bridge) and Amarapura with the rickety 1,2km long U Bein's Bridge, one of the few wall painted pagodas with fine art, take a relaxing boat transfer to the Kyauktawgyi Paya 
- day trip to Monywa to see Thanboddhay Paya studded with more than 500,000 Buddha images 
- day trip to Pyin U Lwin, an old British hill station with waterfalls nearby

Arrive in Pindaya late afternoon, a really retreat in a nice landscape with a small lake; on the way from Kalaw to Pindaya you will meet Toscana like landscape; this is the day of getting really impressed by Pindaya Caves, packed with more than 8000 Buddha images, an unbelievable experience; visit the bamboo umbrella makers late afternoon and feel the warmly welcome of the local people; take a relaxing walk to see what's on in the market

Start early morning to another retreat, the large and beautiful Inle Lake, well known for its Intha leg rowers; start your full day boat cruise late morning to return with sunset; just relax, have a look at the leg rowing fisherman, visit a big pagoda, a famous temple, the floating gardens and several manufactures like black- and silversmith, cigar makers, silk- and cotton weavers and boat constructions 

A good day for relaxing and enjoying a long morning and a good breakfast; in the afternoon bike around the north west part of the lake and go back by boot through the floating flower gardens

A morning farewell boat ride to meet the fisherman in the lake; after breakfast continue to Bago, an overnight journey by by car

Arrive in Bago early morning and get some sleep; late morning take a rikshaw tour around town to visit the studying monks at the monastery and the biggest, nearly 100m long reclining Buddha in Myanmar, continue to Mon village and its cotton weavers and visit the huge Shwemawdaw Paya at sunset

Back to Yangon you will have time the whole day to shop around for souvenirs you have not bought yet

Nightlife on request

This day will top your Myanmar experience; start early morning to the Shwedagon Paya, the highlight in Yangon, first watch the gleaming stupa from the lake side and then climb up and spend as much time as you like with pilgrims and golden payas; take a home like feeling lunch at Savoy Hotel (buffet lunch only on Saturdays) and relax at the salt water swimming pool in a quiet court yard; late afternoon visit the second biggest reclining Buddha in the country with famous paintings on his feet; get the sunset at Kandawgyi Lake with a nice view on Karaweik floating restaurant where you will get a huge buffet dinner with a variety of Asian food and a traditional dance performance

Nightlife on request

Start into your deep relaxing part of your journey; take the flight to Ngapali Beach, dreamland on an unspoiled white sand beach with warm and clear water, palm trees, friendly local people and the luxury of a beach resort, stay a few days to get ready for you return to civilization ala overseas

Go back to Yangon and enjoy the evening as you like

Time to leave. Well relaxed you will be taken direct to the airport to go back to Europe  where you will arrive the same day

From the editor:

As this trip is described in a way that gives you the possibility to change the above itinerary while you are in the way, as long as single arrangements can be changed too or you are able and willing to agree on an alternative solution that may be cause some discomfort, comparing to your bookings, you will be very flexible to get your tailor-made holiday. 

Have a good time in Myanmar - time to discover some of the oldest cultures of the world and some of the most friendly people in Asia!