MRAUK U AND LAY MRO CHIN VILLAGES

After breakfast, transfer to Yangon domestic airport for flight to Sittwe. Upon arrival to Sittwe, a former seaside capital of colonial Burma where the rivers Kaledan and Lemro meet the grand Bay of Bengal. After enjoying a late lunch at local restaurant, we visit the following town highlights; the Cultural Museum with an impressive wealth of cultural artifacts representing the Rakhine civilization that dates as far back as 300BC ; the Buddhist Nunnery a stately building hailing from gone times: the fascinating Local Fish Market at times wiht thousands of fish on display from the deep Bay of Bengal . We continuer to moutn of River Kaledan where it kisses the Bay of Bengal and stroll on the black sand beaches amidst a beautiful setting sun.

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Sittwe Jetty for boat journey to Mrauk U. The 70 km cruise upstream the Kaledan River, travels through farming region and small river side communities. The travel time varies from 4-7 hours depending on boat size and river conditions. Small packed lunches are provided on the boat. Upon arrival to Mrauk Pier half a mile south of town’s central market, transfer to hotel. In the afternoon, we embark on journey to the ruins of Lost Arakan Kingdom of Mrauk U, a seaport at the crossroads of ancient trading routes between the East and West. Mrauk U has inherited a rich cultural legacy, particularly the 700 enchanting temples ruins scattered over misty hills. We visit the fortress-like SHITE THAUNG TEMPLE, a solid structure with thick heavy walls housing some 84,000 Buddhas and reputed to be modelled after Indonesia’s Borobudur. We continue to adjacent ANDAW THEIN ORDINATION TEMPLE, which houses a stupa believed to contain the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka by the Burmese King Mindon. Nearby on a hill is HTUKKAN THEIN FORTRESS TEMPLE, with only one entrance, three inner chambers and small windows designed to let the rays of the dawning sun shine directly onto the central Buddha statue in the main vault.

After breakfast, we visit the central MRAUK U MARKET to see the typical Rakhine foods and products sold, then drive 30min/14km to the ruins of the Wethali. The ANCIENT CITY OF WETHALI (VESALI) was a thriving dynasty from the 4th to 9th centuries, though little but overgrown bushes remain. At the GREAT WETHALI PAYAGYI, we admire the 17ft-high seated Buddha crafted from a single slab of sandstone, set amidst a panoramic view of quaint villages and farmland. We return to Mrauk U for lunch and later in the afternoon, visit the serene PHARAOUK TEMPLE, built in late 1500s and with a solid stupa featuring 29 life-sized Buddha’s seated radially in its wall. Continuing to KOTHAUNG TEMPLE, we visit the most colossal temple of Mrauk U, named for the 90,000 statues it originally housed. If weather permits, we climb to the SHWEGUDAUNG PAYA, the highest pagoda of Mrauk U to enjoy the captivating views of temples winking under the setting sun.

Early breakfast at the hotel followed by a boat ride to Sittwe. If time permits, we visit enroute a MRO ETHNIC MINORITY VILLAGE, known for intricate designs of the Khami traditional dress hand woven by the local tapet backstrap loom. Lunch is served on board the boat. Upon arrival to Sittwe, we transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight back to Yangon. In Yangon, we transfer to the hotel.