Nature & Wildlife Myanmar (II) [14 Days / 13 Nights]

Destinations : Yangon, Bagan, Kanpatlet, Mindat, Chin Tribe Villages, Pindaya, Kalaw, Elephant Camp, Inle Lake, Indein

Day 01, Arrival Yangon (By AM Flight) Excursion Yangon (By Car)

Welcome to the garden city, Yangon, Myanmar !

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are welcomed by our esteem guide with your name board and transfer to the hotel for check in. After a short refreshment, visit Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda which is 72 meters long reclining Buddha image. Then proceed to City Hall, one of the most beautiful examples of mixed British colonial and traditional Burmese architecture. Sule Pagoda, over 2000 years old ancient shrine, the High Court, colonial-era Indo-Saracenic Architecture, including its clock tower and its red-bricked exterior and then visit Mahabandoola Park with its independence monument. Thereafter, visit Bogyoke Market - a shopping market with more than 2000 shops selling all kinds of products but of special mention is the beautiful exotic “Shan Bag '' velvet slippers, lacquer ware, Gems shops and all sorts of handicraft.,. [Bogyoke market is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.] 

Then visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda  located on top of Singuttara Hill, where many locals and Buddhists come to worship. The over 2500 years old pagoda was renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15 century. All Buddhist people believe that the relics of four enlightened Buddha were enshrined in the Shwedagon pagoda.[Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

(Yangon has a population of over five million people, Yangon is the bustling former capital of Myanmar. The city boasts verdant parks, beautiful colonial buildings and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Yangon was declared the capital of Myanmar in the late 19th Century by the British. They rebuilt the town after a fire destroyed it in 1841, hence the colonial influences in the architecture. The British renamed the city Rangoo, however it has been restored to its original Burmese name of Yangon since 1989 when the country was also renamed Myanmar (replacing the British name of Burma.)

Day 02, Yangon – Bagan , Excursion Bagan (By Car) [Evening Horse card + Sunset boat]

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and start your fully excursion like, Nyaung-U to see the local market and Bagan’s most important reliquary shrine, the Shwezigon Pagoda; a sacred Buddha religious place, is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha and the simple Kyansittha Cave Temple with interesting 12th century frescoes. We continue to the Manuha Temple to see the gigantic Buddhas housed inside and the sandstone carvings of the nearby Nanpaya Temple; it was built using mud mortar, stone, and brick, and was used as the residence of Manuha, Ananda Temple; a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing gold-leaf Buddhas. Then stop for a photo opportunity at the towering Thatbyinnyu Temple, the tallest temple in old Bagan city. At a local lacquer workshop, we witness how local craftsmen skillfully prepare Bagan’s most famous handicraft. In the late afternoon, you will be transferred by horse cart to the jetty where we embark for the sunset boat. Sit back and relax aboard a traditional teak boat for the perfect way to end a day exploring Bagan’s temples. Then drive back to the hotel. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

(Bagan with the advent of the 11th century and till the end of the 13th century, kings, generals and dignitaries spared no effort to have brick put upon brick, to build temples and pagodas one after the other with the solitary aim of favorably influencing their re-incarnation. It is believed as many as 12,000 temples and stupas once stood in the area; however, invasions, war and natural disasters have reduced most of these to rubble. Despite this, Bagan is home to more than 2,200 standing ancient temples today and as such, is Myanmar’s greatest architectural site. As there are more than 2000 temples & stupas. Indeed, it is difficult to cover all temples within a limited time. Therefore, we have carefully selected only some major temples for you in order to avoid hectic tourism. But if you want to see more temples, just let your guide or driver know. They can show you as many temples as possible within your stay.)

Day 03, Yangon – Bagan , Excursion Bagan [Horse-cart riding & Sunset boat] 

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and ahead to second day ancient city excursion. Today's visit includes: Lawkananda pagoda; an important Buddha-tooth replica, was erected on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River house, an important Buddha-tooth replica. Apyeyardana Temple; with its beautiful view over the river, Lemethna Temple; topped by an Indian-style spire similar to Ananda. , Damayangyi Temple; is the most massive structure in Bagan  Sulamani Temple; one of Bagan's great two-storied Bamar style temple which has 4 seated Buddha images, Then, the three shrines of Payathonzu; which are connected by passages adorned with Mahayanist or Tantric mural paintings, Nandamanya Temple; with fine frescoes and an unexpectedly erotic mural, Nagayon; an elegant structure belonging to the earlier type attributed to Mon workmanship Temple.  In the late afternoon, enjoy your horse-cart riding among the ruins of ancient city and transfer to Bu Phaya Jetty where you take a private wooden boat trip over the Irrawaddy River. The sun gets lower towards the horizon and sets peacefully over the river. Drink and light Burmese snacks will be served on board. Then, drive back to the hotel.  [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 04, Bagan – Kanpalat (By Car)

After early breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and ahead to Chauk. On arrival visit the Chauk local market and then continue Kanpelet; a small mountainside village in Chin State, set on a mountain ridge with deep valleys on both sides. Enjoy the picturesque sunset from a hill station.   [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 05, Trekking to Mt. Victoria (Nat Ma Taung)

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and drive for about an hour to the base camp of Mt. Victoria; with a height of 3,053 meters above sea level and one of the ultra-prominent peaks of Southeast Asia. It Takes approximately 3 hours to hike to the top of the mountain. On the way towards the top will pass pine trees, oaks, colorful Rhododendrons flowers (Taungzalat), cherry trees, many wild orchids, several species of wildflowers and colorful butterflies. Then return to base camp and drive back to Kanpelet. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 06, Kanpelet – Mindat (By Car)

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and take an approximately 3 hour drive north to Mindat; steep in places but the scenery en route is truly spectacular. In the late afternoon you will have a chance to look around and see some of the local tribal people. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 7, Excursion Mindat (By Car), Hiking to tribe villages

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and start visiting around Mindat and observe the different lifestyles of the Chin, Makaan, Dai, and the Muun tribes in villages such as Num Htuang and Pan Au. We will have the pleasure to experience a performance on the nose-flute by the Chin women. The sightseeing around the villages will take about 1 to 1½ hour. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at a village house and then continue to visit a small museum where we will learn more about Chin culture and traditions. Stay overnight at a hotel in Mindat. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 8, Excursion Mindat (By Car), Hiking to tribe villages

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and drive for an hour to Chi Creek. On arrival, we start our trek by crossing a string-bridge. We will hike for about 2 hours up to Lote Bell Village which is located on high hills from where we will see strong wooden houses built across the rolling hills. The views are stunning, and we will also see some interesting tombstones. We then proceed to Kyardoe Village where we will see their sacrificial animals such as bulls and pigs. The skulls of these animals, collected from the surrounding forests, are used for spiritual reasons as the decoration of their houses. According to their spiritual beliefs, the decoration of the houses with these skulls shows their power, wealth, and prestige, and there is a sense of pride in doing so. You will note the number of animals which they sacrificed and the different meanings of a variety of carvings on large wood spikes. Their lifestyle is very different from the Burmese people. We then will have lunch and enjoy a Chin traditional dance performance at the village. Afterward, we hike down to cross a string-bridge which is built across the Makee Creek, and after about 1½ hour of hiking we will arrive at our car and drive up to Aye Village where we will overnight.

Day 9, Mindat – Bagan (By Car)

After breakfast, our friendly guide will greet you at the hotel and start our journey back to Bagan. After 6 hours we will pass through Kyauk-Htu and Pauk townships and after another 45 minutes, we will arrive in Bagan. En route we will cross the Ayeyarwaddy River via the Pakokku Bridge which is the longest bridge in Myanmar and connects the townships of Bagan and Pakokku. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 10, Bagan – Heho  (By AM Flight) , Pindaya – Kalaw (By Car) 

This morning, our driver will meet you at the hotel and transfer to the Nyaung Oo airport for your flight to Heho which is the gateway to Pindaya, Kalaw and Inle Lake. 

Welcome by our esteem guide with the name board and will be transferred to small charming town Pindaya. It is an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. On arrival in Pindaya explore the ancient Pindaya Cave set deep in the limestone ridge overlooking the lake. This winding maze of caves and caverns is filled with more than 8,000 gilded Buddha images of all ages, carved from alabaster, teak, marble, brick and lacquer. Visit the workshop of a local family who produces the famous Shan paper. Learn how the paper is made and watch the artisans crafting the paper into beautiful umbrellas, fans and other handicrafts. Lunch is taken in an idyllic spot on the shore of a private lake nestled at the foot of the hill. Enjoy traditional Shan cuisine while taking in the stunning views, and then stretch your legs with a walk through the surrounding plantations. Then stroll around Ponetaloke Lake to see the local women washing their clothes and the children swimming in the water. Before starting the drive to Inle Lake explore the half ruined Zedi Gyi Pagodas dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries. 

Thereafter, drive back to Kalaw, if the time allowed visit Bamboo Strips wish fulfilling pagoda, Thein Taung Pay, a temple perched on the hill overlooking the main road and proceed to the viewpoint that has a small shop of Nepalies nation. At the view point you can enjoy beautiful scenery and panorama views. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

[Kalaw is a former British hill station and is located at an altitude of 1,320m above sea level. Kalaw, was a popular hill station during the British days. It sits at an elevation above 4000-feet, on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era.]

[Pindaya is famous for its many Banyan trees, many of which are around 250 years old.  Tour overview explore in the small town of Pindaya, home to the Danu tribe, and famous for its limestone caves and beautiful lake.]

Day 11, Kalaw – Elephant Camp – Inle Lake (By Car)

After breakfast, meet with our friendly guide at the hotel and go straight to elephant camp. Safety instruction will be given before interacting with elephants. Walk to elephant village and see the life of mahouts with their families. Introduce the elephant and observe the elephant feeding system and then lead to the river where the elephant bathes and you can enjoy washing elephants like your owned pet. Thereafter, join the elephant camp’s forest recovery efforts activity by planting one reginal tree. Lunch will be provided at the main camp. After lunch, direct drive to Inle Lake and transfer the hotel for check in and free at your leisure. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 12, Excursion Inle Lake (By Boat)

After breakfast at the hotel, continue by road (approximately one hour) to Nyaung Shwe Jetty, enjoy a boat ride on Inle Lake for the day. Your sightseeing will start with a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda which features beautiful carving and a collection of four revered golden Buddha images that have been laden with gold leaf by devotees. The next must-see stop is Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, and attractive wooden monastery built on stilts over the lake at the end of the 1850’s. Today’s sightseeing will conclude with a visit to local workshops: silverware workshop, silk and lotus workshop, cheroot making factory, boat making factory, blacksmith, etc. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

(Inle Lake is located 1,328m above sea level and is approximately 22 km long and 11 km wide at its widest point. The lake is most famous for the extraordinary lives of the people who live on and around it, known as the ‘Intha’. They are famous for their boat rowing technique; using only legs! There are many villages surrounding the lake and several temples and floating gardens.) 

Day 13, Excursion Indein,  Heho – Yangon (By PM Flight)

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will greet you to transfer to the jetty for a private boat to the Ywama village for the weaving factory. Then visit Indein Village; the hidden treasure of Inle lake. It is ShweIndaing pagoda complex that is newly open to International travelers where one will be totally amazed by ruined stupas as from the 13th century.  On the way, you will enjoy the natural beauty on the way like vegetable gardens, child and young monks (novices) enjoying their morning bath in the clear stream, water buffaloes and people among the paddy fields etc. After a nice stroll among the pagoda complex, walk back along the bamboo forest to the Nyaung Shwe jetty. Then transfer to Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. 

Upon arrival, our friendly driver will meet you and transfer to the hotel for check in. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 14, Departure Yangon 

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with our driver and transfer to the Yangon International Airport for your flight back to your home country or your next travel destination. 

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