Myanmar Highlights
Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and around
The many mysteries of Myanmar await! Spend 8 nights traveling across the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan while you explore golden pagodas, temples, markets, villages and more.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Yangon (RGN)
- All airport transfers
- 2 nights in Yangon at the Jasmine Palace Hotel, or similar
- Hidden Treasures by Circular Train Tour (with lunch)
- Visit to Botataung Pagoda
- Visit to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda
- Spirit of Myanmar Tour
- One-way, economy class flight from Yangon (RGN) to Nyaung U Airport (NYU)
- 2 nights in Bagan at the Myanmar Treasure Resort, or similar
- Full-day Bagan sightseeing tour
- Excursion to Mount Popa and Salay
- One-way, economy class flight from Nyaung U Airport (NYU) to Mandalay (MDL)
- 1 night in Mandalay at the Hotel Yadanarbon, or similar
- Full-day Mandalay sightseeing tour (with lunch)
- One-way, economy class flight from Mandalay (MDL) to Heho (HEH)
- 2 nights at Inle Lake at the Amata Garden Resort, or similar
- Boat excursion on Inle Lake
- Boat excursion to Sangkha and Thakong Pagoda
- Boat excursion to Indein and Sae Ma Village
- One-way, economy class flight from Heho (HEH) to Yangon (RGN)
- 1 night in Yangon at the Jasmine Palace Hotel, or similar
Great Ways to Explore
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Explore the spiritual heart of Myanmar at the golden-covered Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
- Ascend the top of Mount Popa outside of Bagan, an extinct volcano that can be compared with Mount Olympus in Greece!
-
Hop from one fascinating pagoda to the next in Mandalay, Myanmar's last royal capital.
-
Watch local fisherman glide gracefully across Inle Lake, then visit villages and ancient temple sites surrounding the lake.
-
Burmese cuisine is an amalgam of Indian, Thai and Chinese flavors; taste your way through the country and try the local specialties!
Burma or Myanmar? It’s both! No matter what you call it, this country of more than 50 million people is truly one of Southeast Asia’s undiscovered gems. Take the trip of a lifetime across the country’s highlights and get a taste of the local flavor every step of the way.
Begin your 8-night journey in Yangon. Myanmar’s southern metropolis hums with activity, from the motorcycles zipping past colonial mansions to the chant of Buddhist monks near the city’s holiest places. Spend your first full day touring the city by circular train, visiting an abandoned glass factory, stopping at two well-known spiritual hubs, and watching the nightly ritual offering at Shwedagon Pagoda.
From Yangon, fly to Bagan in the north and witness the stunning countryside unfold before your eyes. Nestled among Bagan’s sprawling green plains are over 2,000 temples and pagodas that remain from the Pagan Kingdom. Take a full day to visit six of the best temples and visit a lacquer-ware workshop for which this region is known. The next day, visit the extinct volcano Mount Popa and the village of Salay.
Leave Bagan and fly to Mandalay, where the city’s many temples and monasteries will surely grab your attention. From Mandalay it’s a quick trip to Inle Lake, a vast and serene freshwater lake home to Myanmar's many diverse ethnic groups. Enjoy several boat excursions out on the lake and observe the fascinating culture surrounding this natural wonder. Return to Yangon for one night before flying home.
Helpful links for travel to Myanmar:
Visa & Passport Info
Vaccines & Medications Info
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Yangon (RGN)
- All airport transfers
- 2 nights in Yangon at the Jasmine Palace Hotel, or similar
- Hidden Treasures by Circular Train Tour (with lunch)
- Visit to Botataung Pagoda
- Visit to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda
- Spirit of Myanmar Tour
- One-way, economy class flight from Yangon (RGN) to Nyaung U Airport (NYU)
- 2 nights in Bagan at the Myanmar Treasure Resort, or similar
- Full-day Bagan sightseeing tour
- Excursion to Mount Popa and Salay
- One-way, economy class flight from Nyaung U Airport (NYU) to Mandalay (MDL)
- 1 night in Mandalay at the Hotel Yadanarbon, or similar
- Full-day Mandalay sightseeing tour (with lunch)
- One-way, economy class flight from Mandalay (MDL) to Heho (HEH)
- 2 nights at Inle Lake at the Amata Garden Resort, or similar
- Boat excursion on Inle Lake
- Boat excursion to Sangkha and Thakong Pagoda
- Boat excursion to Indein and Sae Ma Village
- One-way, economy class flight from Heho (HEH) to Yangon (RGN)
- 1 night in Yangon at the Jasmine Palace Hotel, or similar
-
Explore the spiritual heart of Myanmar at the golden-covered Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
- Ascend the top of Mount Popa outside of Bagan, an extinct volcano that can be compared with Mount Olympus in Greece!
-
Hop from one fascinating pagoda to the next in Mandalay, Myanmar's last royal capital.
-
Watch local fisherman glide gracefully across Inle Lake, then visit villages and ancient temple sites surrounding the lake.
-
Burmese cuisine is an amalgam of Indian, Thai and Chinese flavors; taste your way through the country and try the local specialties!
Burma or Myanmar? It’s both! No matter what you call it, this country of more than 50 million people is truly one of Southeast Asia’s undiscovered gems. Take the trip of a lifetime across the country’s highlights and get a taste of the local flavor every step of the way.
Begin your 8-night journey in Yangon. Myanmar’s southern metropolis hums with activity, from the motorcycles zipping past colonial mansions to the chant of Buddhist monks near the city’s holiest places. Spend your first full day touring the city by circular train, visiting an abandoned glass factory, stopping at two well-known spiritual hubs, and watching the nightly ritual offering at Shwedagon Pagoda.
From Yangon, fly to Bagan in the north and witness the stunning countryside unfold before your eyes. Nestled among Bagan’s sprawling green plains are over 2,000 temples and pagodas that remain from the Pagan Kingdom. Take a full day to visit six of the best temples and visit a lacquer-ware workshop for which this region is known. The next day, visit the extinct volcano Mount Popa and the village of Salay.
Leave Bagan and fly to Mandalay, where the city’s many temples and monasteries will surely grab your attention. From Mandalay it’s a quick trip to Inle Lake, a vast and serene freshwater lake home to Myanmar's many diverse ethnic groups. Enjoy several boat excursions out on the lake and observe the fascinating culture surrounding this natural wonder. Return to Yangon for one night before flying home.
Helpful links for travel to Myanmar:
Visa & Passport Info
Vaccines & Medications Info
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Yangon!
Welcome to Myanmar! Upon clearing customs and immigration, you will meet a guide carrying an ICS Travel Group sign with your name. You'll be presented with a welcome packet including all necessary documentation, vouchers and contact information of your guides and the local offices.
Transfer to Yangon hotel
Check-in - Jasmine Palace Hotel
The Jasmine Palace Hotel is a modern property situated about 1 mile from Shwedagon Pagoda, 3 miles from Sule Pagoda and Yangon City Hall. Friendly staff is available 24 hours a day at the front desk to cater to all guests' needs. Each room is stylish, air-conditioned, and equipped with a safety deposit box, cable TV and free toiletries in the en-suite bathrooms. There is a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, and restaurant on site.
Day 2. Yangon
Today you will have a full day of tours in Yangon. Hop on a train and visit an abandoned glass factory, see two fascinating spiritual hubs, and end the night at the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda!
Hidden Treasures by Circular Train Tour (with lunch)
Hop on Yangon's circular train and discover some of the city's best kept secrets! From the colonial Yangon Railway Station, buy a circular train ticket to Hledan Station. As the train rumbles along the bumpy track, gaze out onto the passing landscape and watch food hawkers hop on and off. On arrival in Hledan, walk to the bustling local market and admire the array of fresh vegetables, flowers and other produce on sale.
From the market, travel by vehicle to the surreal ruins of the Nagar Glass Factory, torn to shreds by the Nargis Cyclone in 2008. A winding overgrown path leads you to the remains of this forgotten glass factory with piles of glittering glass scattered on the ground. Pick up what you like and hand it to the Burmese lady who will recondition the glassware for you. As the factory is no longer operational, you can be sure you have purchased a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
Then visit Seinn Lann So Pyay garden and restaurant, hidden between Inya Lake and Inya Road. Gaze upon the beauty of the lake and garden as you enjoy lunch at the restaurant before being transferred back to your hotel.
Visit to Botataung Pagoda
Walk inside the hollow interior of Botataung Pagoda, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over 2000 years ago. Completely destroyed during WWII, this ancient monument was rebuilt after the war but left completely hollow inside, allowing visitors to walk right through it. Glass containers showcase jewel-encrusted artifacts and religious relics that were rescued from the site of the previous pagoda. Once outside, observe the stands selling coconut and banana offerings meant to appease Burmese folk spirits called nats.
Visit to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda
Spirit of Myanmar Tour
Spend an evening watching the glowing colors of Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar's most famous landmark with a history stretching back over 2,500 years. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold-leaf that shimmers in the sunlight. Every evening, Yangon's residents assemble at the pagoda to meditate and pay their respects to the Buddha.
At the temple, watch the flickering lights of the candles, smell the delicate aroma of incense, and observe the saffron-clad monks passing through the temple. Join in a very special and unique ceremony with an offering of oil lamps, followed by a meeting with the Head of Board of Trustees of Shwedagon Pagoda for a personal tour of the temple and the chance to ask many in-depth questions.
Day 3. Yangon - Bagan
In the morning, transfer to Yangon airport and fly north to Bagan. Upon arrival, embark on a full-day sightseeing tour of Bagan's many beautiful temples nestled in the countryside. End the day watching the golden sunset dip under this stunning landscape!
Transfer to Yangon airport (RGN)
Fly to Bagan!
Transfer to Bagan hotel
Check-in - Myanmar Treasure Resort
Myanmar Treasure Resort is an adults only oasis with luxurious guestrooms, beautiful grounds and gardens, tranquil spa and large swimming pool. The hotel is designed with bamboo tiles, ornate columns, and detailed lacquer artwork to give the property an authentic and traditional style. It is located close to nearby attractions and temples. Guest rooms are equipped with amenities such as bathrobes, free toiletries, flat-screen TV, minibar, coffee and tea maker, safe deposit box, and free wireless internet.Â
Full-day Bagan sightseeing tour
The spectacular plain of Bagan stretches away from the Ayeyarwaddy River and is dotted with over 2,000 temple structures dating back over 800 years. Spend the day exploring and learning the fascinating history behind these imposing structures. You will also visit a lacquerware workshop to learn about the intricate process of lacquerware making and decoration. At the end of the tour, enjoy a panoramic view of the sun setting over the plain of Bagan from one of the ancient pagodas.
Temples you will visit include:- Shwezigon Paya, a beautiful golden pagoda containing relics of Buddha. The site was started by Anawrahta but not completed until the reign of Kyanzittha between 1086 and 1090. The pagoda's graceful bell shape served as a prototype for later stupas built throughout the country.
- Gubyaukhyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn, an early 13th-century temple with an Indian-style spire. The ceiling is covered with paintings depicting the previous life of Buddha.
- Ananda Pahto, one of the largest, most beautiful and best preserved of the Bagan temples. It was built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha who was inspired by Indian architecture. During the 1975 earthquake, Ananda suffered considerable damage but has been completely restored.
- Gubyaukhyi Temple at Myinkaba, a 12th-century Buddhist temple famous for its well-preserved frescoes, considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.
- Manuha Temple, which was built, according to inscriptions, by the captive Mon King Manuha in 1067. It contains three seated Buddha images along with an image of Buddha entering Nirvana.
- Shwesandaw Paya, a graceful white pyramid-style pagoda dating back to 1057. This 328-foot-high imposing structure rises high above the plains of Bagan.
Day 4. Bagan
Today you will take a day trip from Bagan to Mount Popa and the village of Salay. Begin your tour atop the volcano of Popa rising over 3,000 ft above sea level. Visit several Nat temples and relics before heading to Salay, long known as a key religious center in Myanmar.Â
A Tip For Your Trip: Please note: The Wood Carving Monastery Museum is closed on Mondays and public holidays
Excursion to Mount Popa and Salay
An extinct volcano rising sharply from the surrounding plain, Mount Popa is considered the home of Myanmar's most important nats (spirits). Ascend a winding covered staircase encircling the mountain and keep your eyes peeled for curious monkeys that populate the area. At the top you will find a monastery and temple complex with shrines to the 37 nats, plus a spectacular view over Bagan.
You will then visit the unspoiled Burmese town of Salay. See the Yoke Son Kyaung, the oldest surviving wooden monastery, with beautiful carvings of court life and scenes from the Ramayana. Continue wandering around the town and the market before stopping at Mann Paya, a modern pagoda housing a gold Buddha made of straw lacquer. As the story goes, the Buddha image was originally located near Monywa but was washed downstream during an 1888 monsoon all the way to Salay. Ask for a peek inside from the latched door out the back.
Day 5. Bagan - Mandalay
Today you will fly to Mandalay, the last royal kingdom of Myanmar and the country's second-largest city. Upon arrival, embark on a full-day sightseeing tour taking you to local markets, temples and pagodas.
Transfer to Nyaung U airport (NYU)
Fly to Mandalay!
Transfer to Mandalay hotel
Check-in - Hotel Yadanarbon
The Hotel Yadanarbon in Mandalay offers guests comfortable rooms with air conditioning, free toiletries, WiFi, television, safety box and more! Guests can eat at the on-site restaurant to enjoy local cuisine. Arguably the best part of the hotel is the rooftop infinity pool, where guests can enjoy stunning views while relaxing and swimming.
Full-day Mandalay sightseeing tour (with lunch)
The last royal capital of Myanmar, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar and a cultural and spiritual center. Neighboring city of Sagaing is home to over 60% of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar.
In the morning, visit several Mandalay markets to soak up the atmosphere and interact with the locals. Make your way to the Ayerawaddy River just in time to see the local fish market coming to life. Watch the trishaws, motorcycles and small trucks laden with rattan baskets full of silver fish push their way through the crowds to the market. Customers haggle for the best prices and best catch from the slippery piles of fresh catfish, grouper, snakehead fish and many other varieties found in the river. A visit to the colorful and fragrant flower market reveals a myriad of exquisite exotic flowers used as offerings for the pagodas and shrines. The next stop is at the vegetable market to see the locally grown produce.
Then head to Mahamuni Paya where the gold-covered Mahamuni image is perhaps the most venerated in Myanmar and worshippers flock daily at 4am to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. En route to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin squares. Before lunch, visit a craft workshop specializing in one of the arts for which the city is famous: bronze-casting, marble-carving, wood-carving, or puppetry.
The afternoon's tour includes some of the city's most interesting temples and palaces. Begin at Shwenandaw Kyaung or the Golden Teak Monastery. Built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments by King Mindon and his chief queen. Continue to Kyauktawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha carved from a single block of marble. Then visit Kuthodaw Paya, also known as "the world's biggest book." Around the central stupa are miniature pavilions, each housing 729 slabs of marble inscribed with the entire Tripitkata (Buddhist scriptures). Then see Shwe Kyin Old Monastery, an old monastery at the base of Mandalay Hill which was built during the period of King Mindon.
After sunset, head to a local restaurant and beer garden to relax over a glass of chilled beer and a delicious BBQ dinner. The evening's entertainment is provided by Mandalay Marionettes Theatre, a group of professional artists reviving the dying art of Burmese puppetry. Enjoy the incredibly life-like stringed wooden puppets as they recreate traditional tales and dances.
Day 6. Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake
Leave Mandalay and fly south to Heho, where you will begin your 2-night stay at Inle Lake. Enjoy a boat excursion on the lake as you observe the unique fishing techniques and lifestyle of the locals. See a floating garden, silk-weaving villages and several temples.
Transfer to Mandalay airport (MDL)
Fly to Heho!
Transfer to Inle Lake
Check-in - Amata Garden Resort
Enjoy a stay at Amata Garden Resort, located on the eastern bank of Inle Lake in Ingyin Gone Village. Surrounded by green forest, Shan Hills and the lake itself, this 4-star resort has the advantage of an idyllic location plus a slew of amenities. Each of the 60 deluxe rooms in the charming three-story building feature private balconies, individual air-conditioning, and panoramic views of the majestic mountains and the glistening waters of Inle Lake.
Sprawling across 18 acres of lush greenery, Amata Garden Resort has a range of facilities. Take towel and lay out by the outdoor swimming pool or enjoy a drink on the open-air terrace. Enjoy a relaxing massage at the Lotus Spa, dine at the multi-cuisine restaurant and book a tour around Inle Lake.
Boat excursion on Inle Lake
Experience the vast serenity of Inle Lake. Rolling high hills hug the lake on all sides, while the lake's shore and islands are home to 17 villages on stilts mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Take in the awe inspiring scenery and watch as local fishermen glide gracefully around the lake. Visit the enchanting floating gardens, a teeming market and an Intha village around the lake. The tour also includes visits to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Inn Paw Khon Village (a lotus and silk weaving village) and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery.
Day 7. Inle Lake
Today, hop on a boat and visit the village of Sangkha to observe the local culture and practices.Â
Boat excursion to Sangkha and Thakong Pagoda
Travel across Inle Lake by motor boat to Sangkha, a picturesque town inhabited by the Pa-O and Intha people. Explore this hillside village and observe the traditional culture and lifestyle of the different ethnic groups. Observe the local method of alcohol fermentation extracted from bran rice and witness the production of bullock cart wheels. This tour also includes a visit the market in the Shan village of Kyauk Taing with its display of earthenware pottery, and Thakong Pagoda.
Day 8. Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon
Before leaving Inle Lake, take an early morning tour of Indein temple complex with its cluster of ancient pagodas and Sae Ma village. Then transfer to Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. Spend your last night in Myanmar by trying a few Burmese delicacies like laphet thoke, or tea leaf salad.
A Tip For Your Trip: Please note this tour starts at 7:00 am
Transfer to Heho airport (HEH)
Fly to Yangon!
Transfer to Yangon hotel
Check-in - Jasmine Palace Hotel
The Jasmine Palace Hotel is a modern property situated about 1 mile from Shwedagon Pagoda, 3 miles from Sule Pagoda and Yangon City Hall. Friendly staff is available 24 hours a day at the front desk to cater to all guests' needs. Each room is stylish, air-conditioned, and equipped with a safety deposit box, cable TV and free toiletries in the en-suite bathrooms. There is a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, and restaurant on site.
Boat excursion to Indein and Sae Ma Village
Travel by boat to the western shore of Inle Lake and walk to the hidden Indein temple complex. Located on the shore of the lake, this site consists of hundreds of small stupas nestled among overgrown vegetation. Some have been restored, but most are in the crumbling state tangled with bushes. Continue on foot past rice fields and explore the village of Sae Ma. Meet village locals on the lake and travel to one of the nearby monasteries to observe its monastic activities.
Day 9. Depart Myanmar
It's time to say goodbye to Myanmar. At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for your flight home.Â