Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar
Central & southern Myanmar

Central & southern Myanmar


From central to southern Myanmar, this journey will take you from the mountain to the beach with the unforgettable experiences.
14 days 13 nights
Myanmar
Attractions
Duration
14 days 13 nights
Code
MCT10

Overview

Overview
From central to southern Myanmar, this journey will take you from the mountain to the beach with the unforgettable experiences. Start from the garden city of East of Yangon then pass thru endless paddy fields, coconut plantations and small village to reach Thaton, Hpa An, Mawlamyine, Thanbyuzayat, Ye to discover the ancient temples and majestic caves. Continue to Dewai where you will have chance enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with sandy beach. You also pay a visit to fish market in Myeik to learn more about local daily life.
 
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore the garden city of the East of Yangon
  • Visit beautiful temples and bustle market in Thaton, Hpa An, Mawlamyine
  • Discover the famous Golden Rock temple on Kyaiktiyo mountain
  • Admire endless paddy fields, coconut plantations and small village on the way
  • Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with sandy beach in Dewai
  • Pay a visit to fish market in Myeik to learn more about local daily life.

 

Itinerary

Yangon Arrival
Warmly welcome you on arrival at Yangon International Airport. We will pick you up with a comfortable vehicle to the center of Yangon to check-in your hotel, then and take your time to have a rest after a long flight.
In the evening, we will pick you up to visit and have dinner at Karaweik Hall, (or Karaweik Palace) is a concrete structure that looks like two giant golden birds with roofs built in the shape of Pyatthat. It was built in the image of Karaweik, a bird in Burmese mythology. We will have dinner while enjoy leisure activities such as elephant dance, Burmese puppets and traditional Myanmar dances with traditional dancers in Burma. There is also an exhibition of traditional Myanmar handicrafts, Burmese art and traditional Burmese costumes and Karaweik costumes.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Yangon
Meal:                  Dinner

Yangon City Tour (B)
Today, we spend the whole day on visiting some sites of Yangon capital. Start with Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda, which was built in 1907 with the famous huge reclining Buddha statue carved in 1966. The head of the statue turns east and the face turns south. The costs of building the temple are donated by people around the area. The porcelain face of the statue was separated by large eyes (made of special imported Japanese glass), vermillion lips and light blue eyes. Even the nails are painted red. Buddha statues are decorated with 108 sacred Buddhist symbols. All of these make the pagoda impressive.
We continue to visit Shwedagon Pagoda. Magnificently golden plated and decorated with diamond and gemstone, Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most beautiful and sacred Buddhist constructions in Myanmar. Archaeologists considered that the pagoda was built in the 6th century. The temple holds four treasures for the followers of the Buddha: the stick of the Buddha, the water filter of the Buddha's Na, the piece of the Buddha's Lettuce, and the eight hair of Shakyamuni Buddha. Being built on the sacred Singuttara hill with the highest chedi is 99m, you can see the pagoda from wherever of Yangon.
Keep going to visit Bogyoke Market built in 1926, consisting of more than 1.600 stalls selling everything from handicrafts, food, clothing, jewelry, fashion and consumer goods. Bogyoke Market is also the place holding Thingyan festival, known as Zay Thingyan meaning water festival, usually held on the 11th or 12th of April. Children from all over the city come dressed in festive outfits. The shops serve traditional dishes free of charge such as Monte Lone Yay Paw. Thargu. And Shwe Yin Aye.
It seems that no matter which way in the city you go, it still leads to Sule Pagoda. According to legend, this sacred pagoda has a rather long life about 2.500 years, where one of the 8 hairs of the Buddha was preserved, which he donated to two Myanmar merchants. Sule Pagoda has an octagonal structure up to the top of the tower and is characterized by the Mon ethnic. The interior details at the temple are sophisticatedly sculptured, that visitors to this place must be surprised by its beauty.
The last destination today is Kalaywa Tawya Monastery. This monastery seems to be the Buddhist University where thousands of Buddhist monks dwell and learn Buddhist Scripture. Orphans from all over Myanmar are also brought here to be cared for.
Return to the hotel and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Yangon
Meal:                  Breakfast
 

Yangon – Bago - Kyaikto (B)
After breakfast, we will drive about 1.5 hour to reach Bago.
Upon arrival to Bago, we visit the pagoda called Kyaik Pun. This pagoda has the name coming from the language of Mon people. “Kyaik” means Buddha, “Pun” means four. The pagoda has four Buddha statues leaning back on each other, so it is called Kyaik Pun. This is also the feature that attracts visitors. Statue of 27m height, bearing the four Buddha face in four directions: Kakusandha, Konagamana, Kassapa, Gautama. Previously, in the 15th century, the statue was improved by King Dhammazedi.
Nearby Kyaik Pun is Shwemawdaw Pagoda. Being built in the 10th century by the Mon King to enshrine two hair relics of the Buddha. with the height 114m, Shwemawdaw Pagoda is the highest pagoda in Myanmar. It is one of Burma’s most sacred sites, because it enshrines several relics of the Buddha. The annual festival of the pagoda is a 10-day event taking place in the traditional calendar of the Burmese.
Have lunch then we visit Shwethalyaung Pagoda, famous for the reclining Buddha statue 55m long and 16m high, which is the second largest Buddhha statue in the world. It is considered that the statue was created in 994 under the reign of King Migjithepa. This statue was lost in 1757 when Pegu was plundered. During the British rule of Burma in 1880, Shwethalyaung Buddha was re-discovered and restored in 1881.
Transfer to Kyaikto, checking-in the hotel and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Yangon
Meal:                  Breakfast

Kyaikto – Thaton - Hpa An (B)
This morning we transfer to Kinpun base camp, and from here there is a steep and rough 11km road leads to the upper staging point, a journey made in opened trucks. We start the light trekking about 45 minutes to reach Golden Rock Pagoda (Kyaikto Pagoda), one of the oldest and most famous pagodas in Myanmar. It is also the World’s Heritage Site. The pagoda is famous for its huge rock lying on the mountainside over 2.500 years. The contact surface between the stone and the ground is only 78 cm². The rock is covered with gold leaf, carrying a legend in it. Being close to the edge of the mountain, the rock has a tower with 7.3m high on the top.
Have lunch near Kinpun base camp, then we start a 2.5 hours driving to Hpa An. We enjoy a brief stop in Thahton, former capital of the Mon Kingdom. And drive along endless paddy fields, coconut plantations, and small farm villages to reach closer to Hpa An. Upon arrival in Hpa-An, we transfer to hotel for check-in.
Checking-in the hotel in Hpa An and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Hpa An
Meal:                  Breakfast

Hpa An (B)
In the morning after breakfast, we visit Kawgun Cave. Generally believed that the cave temple was given to a Mon queen in the 7th century, it is a sacred place for Mon people to come here and worship. In spite of the ancient construction, thousands of Buddha statues in Kawgun Cave are still in excellent condition with various ages, shapes, expressions and postures. There are many small Buddha statues carved extremely delicate on the wall and ceiling. The Kawgun Cave has great value for history, religion, culture and architecture to study the old Burmese.
Continue to visit Shweyinhmyaw Temple. Being constructed on rocks surrounded by the streams of Than Lwin river or Salween, the temple includes a number of platforms connecting to each other by staircases and walkways, an old pagoda tree as well as some sightseeing points. The temple buildings contain huge golden stupas and the huge frog statue. Although it’s interesting, its location really is the view that makes this the town’s top tourist site.
Have lunch then we continue explore Sadan Cave, the great cave with 2260 feet length and many stalactites/stalagmites and the must at the end of the cave a place where daydream can grow: a natural lake at the end of the cave.
At sunset, we will have an opportunity to visit a beautiful site of Kyauk Kalat Pagoda - a stunning stupa-topped limestone pinnacle pagoda, set on a tiny isle dotted with monastic buildings with white egrets and surrounded by paddy. The isle is reached by a wooden footbridge and visitors are permitted to reach as high as a shrine halfway up the outcrop. This pagoda is such a great view at sunset with the Mount Zwegabin in the background. Here you can take the beautiful pictures and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Return to Hpa An and you are free to enjoy the fresh air there.

Accommodation: At the hotel Hpa An
Meal:                  Breakfast

Hpa An – Mawlamyine (B)
This morning, we leave Hpa An for proceeding to Mawlamyine, which is the capital of the Mon State in the Union of Myanmar. It is also the third largest city in the country after Yangon and Mandalay. On the way, visit to U Na Aung’s Monastery which is a bit forbidden place and to enjoy fine wall painting and mirror arts.
Upon arrival to Mawlamyine, we pay a visit to Kyaikthanlan Pagoda. This is the highest construction in Mawlamyine, 150 feet high on the mountain side overlooking the town center. It can be seen for miles, especially at night, where its brilliance dominates the horizon. From the top of the temple grounds, a fantastic 360 degree panoramic view of the entire city can be seen. The temple was built in 875 AD and kept the Tripitaka manuscript as well as a relic from the Buddha. The perimeter at its base is 450 feet and is surrounded by 34 small Zediyan temples.
Have a lunch and we continue with Mahayatmuni Paya - the largest and most beautiful temple complex in Mawlamyine. It was built in a typical Mon style with a brick walkway connecting the various temples. The highlight is the temple, a shimmering jewelry box with mirrors, rubies and diamonds, and is a replica of an ancient pagoda in Mandalay. Seidon Mibaya-gyi, queen of Mindon from Mandalay, came to live in Mawlamyin. She and other members of the royal family of Myanmar in Mawlamyine.
The last destination today is Zeigyi Market. The market stood in front of a large fire that extinguished the area in December 2008, destroying every booth in the area. The fire was so intense that it continued to burn all night and was eventually extinguished the next day. Many booth owners were injured when they tried to save their goods in the fire and were admitted to the local hospital.  At the end of January 2009, the work to rebuild the southern end of the Zeigyi Lower market began and some of the stalls ran back normal dry sales that were originally marketed. The north end was cleared for the development of a new, two-storey market.
Checking-in the hotel in Mawlamyine and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel Mawlamyine
Meal:                  Breakfast
 

Mawlamyine – Thanbyuzayat – Ye (B)
Having a breakfast and we transfer to see Win Sein Taw Ya, the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world, and at 30 meters high and 180 meters in length can be seen for miles. Located opposite of the Buddhist shrine of Kyauktalon Taung, the reclining Buddha is filled with rooms that showcase dioramas of the teachings of Buddha and a shrine. After almost 15 years of construction, the reclining Buddha is still not complete.  
We continue visiting Seidon Mibaya Kyaung, which has the huge reclining Buddha statue in the pagoda that you can go inside it.
At the end of today’s morning, we go to the first Baptist church in Mawlamyine, built in 1827 by Adoniram Judson, an American missionary spending 40 years in Myanmar. Besides this place of worship, Judson was also the first to translate the Bible into Burmese. As a result of the work, Myanmar today has the third highest Baptist population in the world, after the United States and India.
Have lunch then we proceed to Thanyuzayat to visit Death Railway Museum. Thanbyuzayat is the end of the famous Burma - Siam railway linking Thailand with Myanmar during the Japanese occupation of World War II. It is called the Death Railway since there are about 100.000 people died in the construction of the 415-kilometer long railroad for the Imperial Japanese Army, including prisoners of war in Australia, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as workers from Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The museum contains a ramp from the original dead railway found by former Australian Ambassador to Myanmar. On the campus of the museum, a memorial was set up complete with railroad tracks, a plaque and one of the first locomotives donated by the Japanese government from a museum in Yokohama.
We continue transfer to Ye, chcking-in the hotel there and then you are free to relax.
Return to the hotel and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Ye
Meal:                  Breakfast

: Ye – Dawei (B)
Today we start the journey with Banana Mountain (or Ko Yin La). These are the standard temple complex, though they are rather elaborate with multiple shrines and Buddha statues. You may also hear piped Pali prayer chanting. The highlight of the temple is four huge seated Buddha images facing towards the cardinal points and backing on to a square central tower. The interior has nine floors full of rather gaudy Buddhist imagery and scenes from religious mythology. Climbing up to the top of the temple, you have the perfect view to Ye valley above.
We will have a opportunity to visit a local brick factory and learn the way bricks are made. The locals will show you how hard they work and willing to take photos with you.
Have lunch then we proceed the Dawei, taking about nearly 3-hour driving. Checking-in the hotel in Dawei and you are free to relax.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Dawei
Meal:                  Breakfast

Dawei (B)
This morning, we visit Dawei’s Paya Gyi museum and Shwe Taung Sar pagoda, the classical Burmese pagoda and monastery comes with all the golden stupas, green roofs and red and gold paintings you would expect plus a large sitting Buddha statue. This is not the most spectacular of the area for ordinary visitors and is built on flat land so no view but it is a very pleasant and quiet place to stroll.
Have lunch then the afternoon is scheduled for you to wander around Dawei’s river front, digging in the pace of daily life of the local people.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Dawei
Meal:                  Breakfast

Dawei (B)
Today, we will spend time on discovering Dawei’s daily activities and its famous sights. We will drop by a local family running cashew nut business and get help from them to peel a nut. Later on, we head straight to San Maria Bay. Enjoy the beach. And then proceed to Maung Ma Gan beach for having relaxing time, enjoying sunset and standard dinner.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Dawei
Meal:                  Breakfast

Dawei – Palaw – Myeik (B)
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. After breakfast and in the morning we will proceed for an adventurous overland drive about 155 miles (8 hours) to Myeik. This journey takes you on a narrow and winding and bumpy road through the Southern plateau for us to be able to reach Palaw and Myeik. Once we reach Palaw, we are halfway to Myeik and we will make a rest stop. Palaw is the small town of ethnic people of Dawei and they are famous for local fisheries products and other local handicrafts that originate in this particular area. After our rest stop in Palaw, we will continue the driving to Myeik, crossing over the rolling hills of the Southern part of Myanmar, that includes breathtaking sights of the spectacular landscape and the pure nature that the area can offer. You will have the possibility of short stops on the way to explorer the serene scenery of paddy fields, hidden small towns, rural villages and daily local lifestyle along the way. Arrival in Myeik in the evening and we will proceed directly to your hotel for check in and refreshments.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Myeik
Meal:                  Breakfast

Myeik (B)
Today’s exploration will be to visit the fish market which host one of largest fish markets in Myanmar. After visiting the fish market, we will drive to the riverside wharf where many wooden fishing boats are parked on the muddy riverbanks. From the jetty, we take a small wooden boat to Pahtaw Island (10mins trip), visit the reclining Buddha which is located on the island. It is possible to walk up the stairs to the top of the hill to see the panoramic views of both Myeik city and the outer islands. Then we proceed to the dockyard where you will see local people, building and maintaining wooden fishing boats. Heading back to Myeik and visit the Thain Taw Gyi Road which is full of old monasteries with separate compounds and these monasteries are as beautiful as the monasteries in Sagaing. Afterwards we will proceed to a main pagoda, to enjoy the panoramic views and the breathtaking sunset over the islands in the Andaman Sea.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Myeik
Meal:                  Breakfast
 

Myeik – Boat trip to Kawthaung (B)
Have a breakfast then we transfer to jetty and take your speedboat to Kawthaung. The trip will take at least 5 hours. You will get some beautiful views of the islands as you pass by and get a better view of the islands and local fishing boats while you are onboard. You will arrive Kawthaung at 3pm. Kawthaung is the home to the Barma, Thai and other ethnic minorities like Shan and Karen… so this place is also a great stop for visitors those want to experience the culture and customs of the locals.
Checking-in the hotel in Kawthaung and you can take your time to refresh.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Kawthaung
Meal:                  Breakfast

Kawthaung – Flight to Yangon - Departure (B)
The time is on your own until we transfer you to the airport, taking a flight to Yangon, connects with your international flight to your hometown.

Accommodation: Not available
Meal:                  Breakfast
 

Trip notes

Tour includes:

  • Accommodation in a double or twin share room with daily breakfast
  • Private air-conditioned vehicle during all tours and transfers.
  • Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
  • Experienced English speaking guide during all tours and transfers
  • Lunch or dinner as specified in the itinerary
  • Water & cool towels
  • Government taxes & service charge

Tour excludes:

  • Myanmar Visa stamp fee 
  • International airfare and departure taxes
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Early check in/ late check out
  • Domestic flights and domestic airport taxes
  • Compulsory Gala dinner on 24th and 31st December
  • Surcharged for Public holidays
  • Drinks and meal not mentioned
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone, drinks … etc.
  • Personal travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance).
  • Gratuities/ Tipping
  • All other services not specified in the itinerary

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