DISCOVERY MYANMAR HIGHLIGHTS 12D

On arrival to Yangon airport, you will be welcomed by Discovery DMC guide with a sign board and your name on it. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. After freshening up we will visit some of Yangon’s highlights; Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, home museum dedicated of national hero Aung San father of Nobel Peace Price laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Next enjoy lunch at the best Bamar / Burmese cuisine restaurant in Yangon and perhaps in all Myanmar. The Feel Restaurant is locals’ favourite and busy from early morning until late evening hours. Next we drive a few blocks making stop and the exiled Indian Mughal emperor’s tomb and mosque and Ne Win pagoda. From here we walk to the root Singuttara Hill and take a “trishaw” bicycle taxi ride through a local neighborhood off the beaten trails. In the lively market streets you will see local fresh produce, vendors making and selling all kinds of merchandise for Buddhist pilgrims who come here for Shwedagon Pagoda. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda, a gold covered bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed. As the sun dips down you have the opportunity to join candle lighting ceremony at the pagoda.

After breakfast at hotel we embark on a journey to explore Yangon highlights. Starting from colonial-style city center and one of the landmarks Sule Paya stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and being the focal point of numerous historical events in the city. We continue on foot to the quaint Yangon Old Quarter, built during the British Burma. Many charming historical buildings are still located here. During our walk through bustling market streets full of merchants and food stalls, we visit a local pharmacy and learn about Myanmar traditional medicine, and stop for a tea and snack at the Rangoon Tea House in the fashion of locals, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon.

We continue to one of Asia’s architectural landmarks, the elegant Strand Hotel built by the Sarkies brothers. Inside, you can visit the River Art Gallery should you wish, where the works of some of the most famous and skilled Burmese artists are on display fitting of the grand surroundings. We continue to bustling Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color. (Please note that the market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays).

After lunch break transfer to Yangon airport for flight (1hr) to Nyaung U/ Bagan. Upon arrival to Bagan airport transfer to hotel in Bagan. Time permitting you can enjoy sunset at one of the temples.

After breakfast at hotel we begin our journey into the Ancient Kingdoms of Bagan. The Dhamayazeka Zedi is our first visit, providing panoramic views of the temple studded plains of Bagan. We continue to the Archeological Museum and the gold gilded Swezigon Stupa, purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. Not far from the stupa, the Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple is a sight to behold, housing Bagan’s best preserved mural paintings of the Buddha’s Jataka re-incarnations. Next, we learn how Bagan’s famous lacquerware crafts are produced in Myingaba Village, and then visit Htilominlo Temple to learn how Burmese sand paintings are created. The day’s temple tour ends with a visit to the beautifully symmetric and majestic Ananda Temple with its four standing Buddha images that seem to gaze at the viewer with fixed serenity wherever the viewer stands. For sunset, a bullock or horse cart ride around the temples offers unparalleled photo opportunities of one of the richest archeological treasures in Southeast Asia as the sun dips behind the temple ruins (weather permitting).

Today exploration will be with electric bicycles that allow us to travel small back streets and lanes and visit some remote corners in Bagan and local villages. The following are some activities that we can do on this day. Visit the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king to represent his time in captivity under the Bagan king. Continue to the Nyaung U market, the largest market in the Bagan region, nearby we can see how Burmese cigars “cheroots” are rolled by hand.

In the late afternoon, we transfer to the Ayeyarwaddy River for a private sunset cruise where local cocktails can be enjoyed on board along with views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore. This evening enjoy Bagan’s premier entertainment the Dandaree Cultural Show with buffet dinner. (The show is operated from October to March).

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Bagan airport for a 30 mins flight to Mandalay. Transfer 40 km/1 hr to Mandalay City where enjoy a morning stroll through the lively Zegyo in the heart of the city and making stops at Burmese snacks and “thanaka” (make up) stalls. We continue to the artisan quarters, where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to last kingdom of Myanmar. Observe the process of pounding gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. We also see how bronze and marble Buddha statues are carved, cast and molded.Next, we proceed to the highlights of Mandalay: the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda, housing one of the most significant Buddha images in the country, covered in several tons of gold leaf and the crown prize in long past wars between competing Myanmar kingdoms; the Golden Palace Monastery, the only surviving Royal Palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals; and lastly, the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a compound housing Buddha’s teachings carved in the sacred Pali script on stone slabs and regarded as the world’s largest book in terms of surface area.

We end our day with sunset panoramic views over city skyline on Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city.

After breakfast at the hotel, we discover the ancient kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay, a short transfer to river jetty. Where our tour starts with 1-hour cruise across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy) to Mingun village, known for its massive unfinished pagoda cracked by an earthquake in the 1800s; another attraction to see here is Mingun’s massive bronze bell, believed to be largest ringing bell in the world. Drive through small countryside road takes us to the Ancient Kingdom of Sagaing enjoy the magnificent views from the Sagaing Hills, overlooking the river and hillside covered with countless pagodas. Sagaing being one of the most important Buddhist centres in Myanmar we take the opportunity to visit a monastery or nunnery and learn about daily life to the devotees.

We continue to Ava (Inwa), the ancient capital of the Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries and explore the small roads and ruins of Ava by horse cart. We end the day with a visit to another beautiful ancient capital city, Amarapura, famous for its weaving traditions and the Ubein Bridge, a simple yet strong teak structure that spans 1,2 km over Taungtaman Lake. The bridge silhouetted by the setting sun is one of the most magical experiences in Myanmar and a photographer’s dream.

Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the Mandalay airport for the 30min flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. On the way to Inle Lake, we stop at a local family’s house to see Shan umbrellas and paper making using traditional methods and fibres of the mulberry tree. Next, we take a 1-hour drive to Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields.

After checking into the hotel, we embark on afternoon explorations of Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake. Visit the centuries old Nga Phe Kyaung monastery with beautiful Buddhas inside.

After breakfast we journey out by boat, following the currents of a small river to reach the Inn Thein, a site that makes us feel as if we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the Inn Thein archeological site we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago.

Continue by foot or by boat along tree shaded creek to Sae Ma village for a visit to local school. Meet the teachers and students, for a hello before taking a boat back to Inle Lake.

Rest of the day is for lake explorations, learn how the floating islands and cultivations are shaped and tended, marvel at lotus thread and garments making in Inn Phaw Khone village, and visit the Ywama village known for its silver smith traditions. Time permitting we can visit the Burmese Cats at Inn Thar Heritage House and end the day with scenic canoe ride propelled by leg rowers.

In the morning we transfer to Nyauang Shwe town and to Mine Thauk village Red Mountain Estate to tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain. Taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cellar cave.

After lunch break in Nyaung Shwe we drive 1hr to Heho airport for afternoon flight to Yangon. Upon arrival to Yangon transfer to hotel. Rest of the evening is free for relaxing & own Yangon explorations.

Morning pickup in Yangon and drive 2hrs/80 km to Bago, where we take a walk through the Bago Market and visit a Buddhist monastery for a brief introduction to monastic life and Myanmar Buddhism. After observing monks gather for their last meal of the day before noon it is time for us to head to a local restaurant for a lunch break. After lunch we continue 3.5 hrs/110km to Kin Pun base camp to change our mode of transport to an open truck and travel next 12 km to summit ridge of the mountain range. The Golden Rock, or Kyaikhtiyo as the Burmese call it, is a fascinating sacred boulder covered in gold leaf and balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. Crowning the boulder is a small shrine believed to contain Buddha’s hair relics, the source of the gravity defying magic. A continual stream of pilgrims from Myanmar and Asia come to witness the wonder at least once in their life time. Enjoy the tranquil sunset, soak in the unique atmosphere and share in wonder with fellow monk, nun, and lay pilgrims.

Wake up early for lovely sunrise views and a quiet morning stroll. Breakfast at the hotel before descending back to the Kin Pun base camp. We drive 3.5hrs/110km to BAGO, one of richest archeological sites in Myanmar and the ancient capital of Mon Kingdom. Where we visit the snake pagoda where giant Burmese python is worshipped, visit pottery village to observe local production methods, at buffalo shrine learn some countryside values and beliefs and find out about Myanmar traditional medicine and its exotic ingredients such as scorpions. Should you wish we could also visit the Kyiak Pun Pagoda with its four giant Buddha images and the reclining Buddha resting near-by. The rest of the 2hrs/80km drive to Yangon is broken up with visits to a Nat tree shrine dedicated to a legendary nat spirit, and the Allied troops war cemetery honoring 6,000 war heroes of WWII. The tour ends at guests’ hotel in Yangon.

Breakfast at hotel and free at leisure until transfer out to Yangon airport for your departure flight.