Jewels of Myanmar 10 days 9 nights

Today you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Upon arrival we will enjoy a walk through downtown Yangon where most of the colonial buildings such as city hall, Mahabandoola Park, high court and telegraphic office are holding an elegant beauty of Yangon. Make a stop at the Strand Hotel and feel the warmth and atmosphere of British era. Continue visit to Pansoedan jetty serving locals living across the Yangon River. In the evening visit to the magnificent 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 set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”. Transfer to your hotel for overnight. Overnight in Yangon

Transfer to Yangon Airport for domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival, transfer from Heho airport down into the valley to Nyaungshwe on the edge of Inle Lake and board your own local boat to take you to your hotel. Continue from your hotel and travel by long-tailed boat across the lake to Indaing, at the western end of Inle, for one of the most scenic trips on the Lake.   Passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the Lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts; enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers  cultivate their land against the backdrop of the Shan Hills. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes through Indaing village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak.  Many pagodas here remain charmingly unrenovated, with plants and even small trees growing out of them, making the area very atmospheric. A covered walkway popular with souvenir stallholders leads up to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th - 18th century zedi; some newly reconstructed. Returning to the river you have the possibility of walking along a lovely shady path for 30 minutes to the Intha village of Sema. From here continue by boat downstream past Yethar village, watching local life on the banks and birds in the trees until rejoining the Lake near Phaung Daw Oo Paya.
Accommodation at hotel in Inle Lake

Explore a 5-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule) which offers an insight into the life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who come to these markets to sell and buy goods. Enjoy a full day boat trip on Inle Lake - a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ - Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net. Stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Visit a traditional silk-weaving workshop which uses wooden handlooms, and a blacksmith’s forge. Pass endless floating gardens, where Intha lake dwellers grow fruit and vegetables. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old.  Return to your hotel by boat as the sun lowers and the light softens over the lake.
Accommodation at the hotel in Inle Lake

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your early morning flight to Mandalay. On your arrival, visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, to admire the perhaps most venerated image in Myanmar, which is covered in over 15 cm thick gold leaves. Every day at 4:00 AM, many worshippers come here to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. On your way, make a stop to contemplate the laborious process of Gold-Leaf Beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin squares.
After lunch and a short rest, you continue your trip to the Mandalay Palace & Fort, which contains the best portrays of the old golden days of Mandalay Kingdom. In this afternoon, your excursion in Mandalay brings you to the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures received the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Your next destination will be the Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the Royal Palace of the 19th century, known for its exquisite woodcarving. Overnight in Mandalay

After breakfast, transfer to the jetty to take a ferry boat up the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun. After taking one hour boat ride, start our exploration with a visit to the huge but unfinished Mingun Pagoda which was said to be the biggest pile of brick in the world. Continue to the beautiful Hsinbyume pagoda, Settawya pagoda and Myatheindan pagoda with seven concentric terraces at the base. Then stream down to Mandalay by downstream river and transfer to the hotel in Mandalay. In the evening, go to Mandalay Hill, a vantage point for panoramic view of the city. Overnight stay at hotel in Mandalay

After breakfast we will cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing. And then visit Ywahtaung village, Kaungmudaw Pagoda; an enormous solid dome-shaped Pagoda and picturesque Sagaing Hills, the religious center of Myanmar. Continue to Amarapura, an ancient capital of Myanmar, where we can observe the life of over 1000 monks at Mahagandayon. Later visit the traditional handicraft workshops such as, marble carving, gold leaves beating. To round off the day, enjoy the beautiful sunset over the 200 years-old U Bein Wooden Bridge, which the shallow Taungthman Lake is crossed by a long and rickety teak bridge, curved to withstand the wind and waves. During the dry season, the bridge crosses mostly dry land. Overnight stay at the hotel in Mandalay

Transfer to Mandalay airport for flight to Bagan. Upon arrival at Nyaung U Airport, start your tour at the busy local market and continue to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples in Bagan. These include Shwezigon Pagoda, a huge gilded zedi built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century, Gu ByaukGyi, a 13th century temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes, and the immediately recognizable Ananda Temple; one of the finest and largest temples with its 170 ft shimmering gold spire and four huge standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. We then proceed to a lacquer craftsman's workshop in nearby Myingaba village. Sightseeing continues with visits to Manuha Temple, built in Mon style in 1059, Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument that is said to have been the palace of King Manuha and Myingaba Gu Byuk Kyi Temple (under the protection of UNESCO), noted for its ancient mural paintings. Enjoy sunset at one of the monuments along Ayeyarwady River. Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast, today, drive out of Bagan to visit Mt.Popa (46km- 1hour), home to Myanmar's intriguing 'nats' (spirits). The 777 steps and path climb steeply up Mount Popa – an energetic climb rewarded by fabulous views from the top. On the way back to Bagan, we stop to see the local people producing sugar from the toddy palm trees. This afternoon back to Bagan, rent a bicycle or hire a horse cart and lose yourself amidst the crumbling spires in this fabulous place. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan
 

Today experience the unrivalled majesty of thousands of ancient temples drifting below you in your style, comfort and safety by “Balloons Over Bagan” (optional tour) and return to your hotel for breakfast. There are over 2000 religious monuments in Bagan. Obviously, one can’t finish seeing all. You may see more/less temples at your own pace. Feel free to adjust with your guide/driver as today is reserved all for you. And you then may wish to relax by the pool at the hotel or visit more famous temples among the lot. This afternoon, we will visit Phwarsaw village to learn the simple life style of people. There you will see traditional ways of hand loom weaving and daily life of the people. In the evening we transfer to Nyaung U airport and fly back to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Yangon

You have free time at your own pleasure to explore the town before transferring to the airport for your flight home. End of Asia King Travel’s service