Trekking Myanmar

Day 1 : Yangon

Meet with our guide on arrival at the Yangon international Airport and transfer to the hotel. Today's sightseeing tour includes the old colonial style city center, the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years. Then proceed to ChaukHtatGyi, a huge reclining Buddha image, followed by a photo stop at Karaweik Hall royal floating barge. An extended visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments will conclude the tour of this picturesque Garden City. The golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Accommodation at the hotel, in Yangon.

Day 2 : Yangon - Bagan (Flight, Car)

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to Bagan. As soon as you arrive, you will start your day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan. Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; Kubyaukkyi, noted for its panoramic view of the area's numerous monuments and Ananda Temple, with four standing Buddha images. In the afternoon you will visit one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts, a lacquer ware craftsmen's workshop in the nearby Myinkaba village. You will continue to Manuha temple, built in the Mon style in 1059. Next you will explore the Myinkabargubyaukkyi temple, a temple noteworthy for its mural paintings under the protection of UNESCO. After this, you will continue to Shwesandaw to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Accommodation at the hotel, in Bagan.

Day 3 : Bagan – Mandalay – Amarapura – Ava - Sagaing – Mandalay (Flight, Car)

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Nyaung U Airport for a domestic flight to Mandalay. As soon as you arrive at Mandalay Airport you will proceed directly to Amarapura. You will visit Mahagandayon, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study. Then the visit will continue to the 150 years old U Bein teak bridge, built in 1851 at the time when Amarapura was the royal capital. Then you will proceed to Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, to enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding area. You will then go to Inn Wa and visit Bagayar monastery with 247 teak wood pillars built in 19 century, Nan Myint watch tower and Menu Okkaung. Back to Mandalay.Accommodation at the hotel, in Mandalay.

Day 4 : Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay (Boat, Car)

After breakfast excursion by boat on the Ayeyarwady river to Mingun about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. You will visit the magnificent 90 ton weighing Mingun Bell, Settawya Pagoda, Hsinbyume pagoda and the unfinished Mingun Pagoda, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar during the reign of King BodawPaya. Then, after the visit return Mandalay and visit Mahamuni Pagoda, Golden Palace Monastery: a superb example of a traditional wood work and KuthodawPagoda (UNESCO Memory of the World), made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. You will visit a Kalaga tapestry craftsmen's shop to see the Kalaga tapestries being created. Finally enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill for sunset viewing. Accommodation at the hotel, in Mandalay.

Day 5 : Mandalay – Heho - Kalaw (Flight, Car)

After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to Heho. As soon as you arrive you will proceed by road to Kalaw. It is situated in the western part of the Shan Plateau, very popular in British times for its fantastic hill station. You can still see the colonial influence in the beautiful Tudor Style houses that remain. Kalaw weather is very cool because of its altitude, 1320 meters above sea level. Visit Kalaw Market, Shwe U Min cave and TheinDaung Monastery. Accommodation at the hotel, in Kalaw.

Day 6 : Kalaw (Taryaw Trekking)

After breakfast trekking to Taryaw village. It takes approximately 2 ½ hours from the starting point near Kalaw for one way. This village is situated about 9 km north east of Kalaw and, Palaung people live in this village. In this village you can see the Palaung ladies with their traditional costumes, tea leaf plantations and the making of cheroot raping using cordial leaves baking them on the oven. The best part of this village is to see the Palaung traditional Long Houses where 6 to 7 families are living together. After trekking come back to your Hotel. Accommodation at the hotel, in Kalaw.

Day 7 : Kalaw - MywayDaw Trekking

After breakfast start trekking to MyayDaw village (about 11 kilometers, about 7 hours trekking). On the way you can see Thale cave with Buddha images and TaungYotribes villages. Overnight in monastery.

Day 8 : MyayDaw - Yazagyi Trekking

After breakfast we begin Trekking to Ye-ni village to enjoy the culture and nature of the Danu tribes takes an hour approximately, and we then continue for another hour and a half to See-kya-in. This is also a Danu tribes village. Then continue to Ya-za-gyi village where Palaung tribes live and this route also takes an hour. For the people who are not tired, they can continue to the top of Ya-za-ghimountain (8000 ft). Overnight in the Monastery.

Day 9 : Yazagyi - Pindaya Trekking

After breakfast, we begin trekking for one hour to Lin-lay-in village .We then continue one and a half hours to Taunbawgyi village where the Danu tribes live. We then continue for two hours to Pindaya. Accommodation at the hotel, in Pindaya.

Day 10 : Pindaya – Inle (Car, Boat)

After an early breakfast visit the Shwe U Min cave with 8094 Buddha images and umbrella workshop. Then you will continue to NyaungShwe and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Accommodation at the hotel, in Inle.

Day 11 : Inle (Boat)

After breakfast, you will visit the PhaungDawOo Pagoda, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NgaPheChaung Monastery, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks; the weaving village of Inpawkhon and one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). Accommodation at the hotel, in Inle.

Day 12 : Inle – Inndein - Inle (Boat)

After breakfast depending on the water level, you will board a boat to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden Inn Dein pagoda complex. Visit some more villages to see their way of life. Accommodation at the hotel, in Inle.

Day 13 : Inle – Nyaung Shwe Trekking

After breakfast, take the boat to Nyaung Shwe. On arrival Nyaung Shwe start walking to the natural cave (about an hour and a half away) and the village of Pa O local tribe (from the cave it is about 45 minutes walk). Picnic lunch. Then return to Nyaung Shwe enjoy the beautiful scenery on your way back (about two hours walk). Return to hotel and accommodation at the hotel, in Inle.

Day 14 : Inle – Heho - Yangon (Flight, Car, Boat)

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast transfer to airport to take domestic flight to Yangon. Arrival Yangon where you will visit Bogyoke market, formerly known as Bogyoke (Scott's) Market (closed on Public Holidays & Mondays) and china town to enjoy a colorful vegetable market. Accommodation at the hotel, in Yangon.

Day 15 : Yangon - Kyaikhtiyo (Car)

Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast drive to Bago (84 km – approximately 2 hours). En route, visit the Allied War Graves cemetery near HtaukKyan, a tree shrine dedicated to the legendary animist spirits known as "Nats". Then continue to Kin Pun "base camp" (110 km - approximately 3½ hours) and onward to Kyaiktiyo (the "Golden Rock"), a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. From Kin Pun take a local truck up a bumpy track (45 minutes drive) to arrive to the Golden Rock. On arrival, watch the beauty of a sunset at this important pilgrimage site.
Accommodation at the hotel near Kyaikhtiyo.

Note: If the weather is too worse, the local truck cannot be permitted to Golden Rock and can be stopped at Yathaytaung. From Yathaytaung travelers must walk the final stage (about 4 kilometers – 45 minutes) up steep paths, which ascend some 500 meters to the Golden Rock.

Day 16 : Kyaikhtiyo – Bago - Yangon (Car)

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to Bago (110 km - approximately 3½ hours). Sightseeing includes the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which is over a thousand years old. Its spire is even taller than the one of Yangon's the Shwedagon Pagoda and the 55-meter-long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image and Bago Market. Continue to Yangon (84 km – approximately 2 hours). Accommodation at the hotel, in Yangon.

Day 17 : Yangon Departure

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the Yangon International Airport for your departure flight.

End of Programme