TRIBES OF MYANMAR

Upon arrival to Yangon Int’l airport, you will be welcomed by your Discover DMC guide and transferred to your hotel. Our journey begins with an afternoon tour through the colonial-style city center of Yangon.

Formerly known as Rangoon, or the garden city of the east, Yangon is the thriving economic heart of the nation and an epicenter of transformation in Myanmar. Yangon’s city center is blessed with many fine colonial-era buildings and is an exotic mix of spiritual heritage and colorful street life that makes it one of the most fascinating and vibrant cities in Asia.

We start with one the landmarks; Sule Paya stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city –Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake.

We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gleaming 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.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon domestic airport for 45 mins flight to Bagan (Nyaung U).

Today, 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 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.

Last but not least we continue by ox or horse cart to witness a magical sunset behind the temples (weather permitting) and enjoy dinner with a cultural performance.

Bagan’s beauty is not found in each individual temple, however sublime they appear up close. It’s the scale. Over 3000 is an unfathomable number, and most of the temples and pagodas don’t have names. Instead, they’re known as Temple 942 or Pagoda 354, yet these are multi-story 10th-century buildings filled with carved golden Buddhas and intricate sculpted verandahs. It’s this abundance that creates mystique. In most temples, you’ll be the only visitor. Explore on a silent e-bike and stop at any that look interesting. Perhaps a sand artist sits inside one, crafting paintings using the dust of the ground. Maybe a monk prays silently in another. Or it’s just you, exploring the long forgotten temples ruins.

Spending several days in Bagan ensures that you can properly explore its scale. The most famous temples are architecturally imperious, and understandably popular with praying locals and any foreign visitor. After seeing many from afar, today you can travel far into the midst of the site and stand surrounded by hundreds of temples. Each is different. Admire how every Buddha is carved differently, the expressions reflecting when the temple would have been used. A private guide provides the narrative, revealing the dates and styles of Bagan’s great building boom. The tour is flexible, and there’s no definitive route. Take your time, soak up the serenity, and get lost in one of the world’s greatest cultural sites.

Private Car Pickup at your hotel in Bagan at 7am, relaxed 5-6 hours drive to Mindat (with plenty of stops on the way, as needed). Check in at Se Nang guesthouse and meet your guide, in the afternoon time to explore Mindat and enjoy the spectacular views together with your guide. Dinner at Myo Ma restaurant close to the guesthouse.

After breakfast at your guesthouse, the car will pick you up and we’ll be going down the mountain south of Mindat to the Chit Chaung river bridge, from where we will start our trek. Crossing a bamboo bridge, the trail leads us up for around 2 hours to the hilltop village of Pu Kone, where we will enjoy our home-cooked lunch, take a rest and have a look around the big village. Aftre that, it’s an easy 1-hour trek downhill/flat to the neighboring village of Loute Pe, where we should arrive right in time for the end of school, you’ll be greeted by dozens of excited primary-school students! After leaving our luggage at the house where we will stay for the night, there’s enough time to explore the village. Dinner at the village house, prepared by your guide.

Distance/Duration: around 10 kilometer / 3-4 hours

After early breakfast in Ein Moon,it’s time to say Goodbye to beautiful Chin state! A short 30-minutes walk leads us back to the main road, where the car will pick you up and get you back to Mindat possible to pick up some souvenirs from the market) and overnight in Kenpetlet.

Distance/Duration: 2 kilometer, 30 minutes

After breakfast, drive to Bagan (lunch stop on the way). You will arrive back to Bagan around 2pm and relax at hotel.

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Nyaung U airport and fly to Heho and a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. Visit the bustling main heho market, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). En route to Kalaw, we stop at a Local Family Work Shop to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made by traditional methods using the fibers of the mulberry tree. We continue our 1-hour drive to Kalaw, a former British colonial hill station where ambassadors would spend the summers enjoying the crisp mountain air and sipping on gin tonics. After we check into the hotel and enjoy our lunch, we can spend afternoon either luxuriating in fresh mountain air for those who prefer sedentary pleasures, or hiking around Kalaw’s beautiful forest vistas for those yearning more active pursuits. Local guides can adjust the duration and difficulty of the more active activities according to our wishes.

After breakfast at your hotel we transfer 25km/ 45min from Kalaw to the Magwe Elephant Camp on a winding road descending to forested valley. On arrival info briefing and refreshment before we walk to nearby river where you will have an opportunity to participate in feeding and washing the elephants. Participate in tree planting in reforestation efforts and walk around the conservation area and spot butterflies, birds, orchids and take a ride on the elephant back. (weather and elephants health condition providing) Enjoy lunch with panoramic views at the camp head quarter before transferring to Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake).

Morning pick-up from your hotel and embark on a scenic 2 – 3 hour boat journey through lake and river scenery to the southern part of Inle Lake where the waterway gets narrower and canal like. It almost feels as if time has stood still here and the ethnic population of Pa-O, Innthar and Shan continue living simple and traditional way. Visit local lake side villages, mingle with the locals and observe how pottery, bamboo ware, weaving and fishing nets are made by hand. Visit the ancient pagoda Sagar / Samkar and near by Tha Kong built in the 17th century in typical Shan style. Try the local firewater distilled from rice wine if you dare,

On a market day when along our route we will certainly join the hill tribe and lake folks to see whats on sale and the latest produce.

After breakfast, boat transfer to Phekon and car transfer to Loikaw. We begin the day with a tour of Loikaw highlights with stops at the Haw Kyaung, a former Shan chieftain’s palace, which has been converted into a monastery and the Kayah State Museum, to learn about the fascinating history and culture of the state. After a lunch stop, we drive 30 minutes out of town into the serene countryside to explore the recently opened Kyat Gu cave system, a sprawling limestone cavern full of mesmerizing geological structures. In the late afternoon we return to town to enjoy a beautiful sunset atop Loikaw iconic Taung Kwe Pagoda. The pagoda is perched on top of a limestone outcrop overlooking the city and offers excellent views of the surrounding landscape.

After breakfast at your hotel we set off to visit the Kayan (Padaung) minority villages of Pan Pet. The Kayan ‘Long Neck’ Ladies are famous for their traditional brass ring necklaces that appear to elongate their necks. On arrival at Pan Pet, you will be received by a local community guide. Taking advantage of the cool morning weather, your guide will begin the visit with a leisurely hike along a scenic nature trail. As we climb the hill, your guide will stop to explain important cultural sites on the way. These include a monument which honors the village clan, an animist bird totem, and a guardian spirit cave. The two hour hike ends at a beautiful viewpoint, with a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, rice fields and the five hamlets of Pan Pet. After a picnic lunch at the scenic spot, we continue to the hamlet of Salong Kana where you will be able to meet with members of the Kayan community to get an insight into the local life and culture. During your time at the village you will also have a chance to visit traditional Kayan homes and observe artisans making Kayan bracelets, weaving traditional textiles, carving wooden statues and other handwork. After a full day spent with these fun loving and artistic people, we say our farewells and return to Loikaw in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, 4 hours drive transfer to Heho airport for flight to Yangon. The rest of the days is own exploration.

After breakfast, transfer to Yangon Int’l airport for your onward flight.