Itinerary - 12 Days / 11 Nights
Day 1 – Arriving at Mandalay
Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our local guide and car driver and transferred to Mandalay which was the last capital of royal kingdom and the second largest city of Myanmar. After check in, you will start visiting the Shwe Nan Taw Kyaung, Golden Palace monastery which was the original remain of Mandalay royal palace as it was dismantled to the present side to be donated to the venerable monks. Then proceed to Kuthodaw Pagoda which is also renowned as the biggest book of the world because of its 729 stone scriptures. Afterwards, go up to Mandalay Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and gorgeous sunset. Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 2 - Mandalay – Bagan (B,-,-)
In the morning fly to Bagan and visit the local market a place where you can observe various staffs used for Burmese kitchen, seasonal fruits and fresh vegetables to bamboo baskets, Thanaka wood and souvenirs . Then, commence your great exploration of Bagan archaeological zone by visiting Shwezigon pagoda, prototype of 11th century built by the King Anawrahta who was the founder of the first Myanmar Emperor, a must for everyone visiting Bagan. Afterwards go to Wat Gyi Inn Gu Byauk Gyi temple which is the copy of Mahabawdhi Temple from India and see the most impressive mural painting. And keep visiting Htilominlo Temple where you can learn about the brick laying system of Bagan dynasty. Then visit Arnanda Temple the finest architecture with four standing Buddha images. And lacquer ware workshop, of course it is the typical product of Bagan and see how the people make the lacquer wares. And end the day with the sunset and enjoy panoramic view of Bagan from Shwesandaw stupa.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 3 – Bagan – Kanpalet (B,L,D)
full-day tour starts with a private car trip to Kanpalat. And then, taking about one hour you will drive along Ayeyarwaddy River to Chauk, where you can have a sightseeing of morning market. The next route is to cross Ayeyarwaddy River via Chauk Bridge to Seikphyu Village. After that, proceed to one of the big Burmese villages, called Kazunma Village, in Magwe Division. After lunch, drive on among the forested mountains and make many stops for photos. Driving in the dry zone takes about 3 hours before we arrive at Saw, a small administrative town, where you can pause your drive for tea break. Then proceed for 12 miles to Kanpalat, which seems to be a big Chin village though it is an small town. To the there women with tattoos on their faces, you can visit there in the town.
In the evening, go on to Chin Eco Lodge, situated on the pine hill 3000 ft above sea level, for night stop. The cool climatic condition on the hill will be lovely for you while seizing enjoyable dinner and night stay at Chin Eco Lodge.
Overnight at Kanpalat
Day 4 - Kanpalat-Mt.Victoria- Aye Village(B,L,D)
Drive to the base camp of Mt. Victoria, 10 miles away from the lodge, under the rising sun. The beauty pine forest and sweet bird calls add the beauty to the morning’s glory. This area is the most famous for Bird-watching in Myanmar with many endangered species. Begin our hiking from the base camp, 6500 ft above sea level, to the top, 10200 ft. At the first 45 minutes of the 3-hour-trek, the steps will be difficult. Enjoy taking photos at the top during the break of tea and snacks, and then return to our jeep within 2 hours. The trek down is much easier than the way up. Continue to Aye Village, 12 miles far away from the base camp, by jeep taking one and a half hours. It is a small Chin village and it has cool atmosphere in accordance with her name, sitting on the cliff of the hill. Once it was one of the British hill camps, there are still some colonial, old and dinky buildings in the icy cold climate. After sightseeing in the village, in which women with tattooed faces live, in the evening, catch pleasurable dinner and overnight in the village. Overnight at Aye Village.
Day 5 - Aye village- Kyardo village- Lote Pe Village- Mindat(B,L,D)
The beginning of today is to take the jeep for two hours before we start our interesting trek to Kyardo Village. Enjoy an hour trek along the trail down to a stream first and then another hour trekking to the intended Kyardo Village. There you can visit the villagers’ houses take a look at their traditional costumes and observe ways of living. One thing interesting to mention here is their religion, that is, the animism and their beliefs on Shamaing, the spiritual leader of the village and Nats, as well as fortune telling by Shamaing is really enjoyable and enjoy Chin traditionaldance. After lunch and a short rest, continue trekking toward Lote Pe Village, an old Chin village situated on the top of the hill. There you can talk to tattoo-faced women. One and a half hour down trekking to Check Chaung Stream follows after the sightseeing of Lote Pe Village. It is an hour drive up to Mindat by the time we meet our jeep on the bank of the stream. Checking in a small guest house and grabbing an enjoyable dinner on the hill and overnight there.
Overnight at Mindat
Day 6 - Mindat-Ponetaung Ponenyar- Bagan(B,L)
A morning filled with different cultures will make us refreshing when we do sightseeing around Mindat morning market. After that drive back to Bagan and on the way we can have excellent stops for photos among the pine forest hills. Also a short stop at the top of the Ponetaung Ponenyar mountain range, with small stupas and Nat shrines at the summit, taking some photos as well as having tea at a tiny tea shop there are the activities on our way of driving back to Bagan. Lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant on the way.
Overnight at Bagan.
Day 7 – Bagan – Kalaw (B,-,-)
In the morning drive to Kalaw (approx six hour!), a British Hill Station, a small town with ethnic minorities, such as Pa-O, Palaung, besides the Shan People. In the town, you can still feel the colonial atmosphere with the colonial buildings and the houses with the chimney indicate the weather of the lovely town which is over 1300 meters above sea-level. The book,” The arts of hearing heart beats” which is written by Jan-Philipp Sendker is recommended to read before visiting Kalaw.
Overnight in Kalaw.
Day 8 – Kalaw – Htithein village (5 hrs trekking) (B,L,D)
Today you will start trekking early. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the village Lamine where you are going to start your trekking. The trails go up and down with the gust of wind coming to caress you getting tired from time to time. Take a break if necessary under the big Bayan Tree (ficus). After about 3 hours trek, you will arrive at the Paw Kai village of Pa O hill tribe. Pa O people, especially the ladies, wear their traditional dress that consists of black blouse, trousers and most attractively their turbans that they use not only as their head-dress but also the towel when they sweat. Those colorful turbans they put on their head make one of the National Geographic photos. The Pa O villages here are also famous for cultivation of Hot, Red Hot chili, and you may call them Chilli City. After lunch, you may take a nap at the village’s typical home, stretching your legs, giving massage each other to the stiff muscles. Then continue your trek passing through the Pa O houses with the chilli drying mats in their house compound. The trail goes through the corn-maize fields, ginger fields, the small rivers and streams till finally you will arrive at the Hti Thein Monastery where you may stay overnight.
Enjoy the dinner at the monastery and overnight.
Day 9 – Hti Thein – Tone lae – Inle Lake (B,L,-)
Today, the tiresome trekking over the high mountains will end with the half day trekking up to Inle Lake. After your breakfast, start your trekking further east to the higher mountains. Looking back at the mountainous scenes, after about half an hour trek, you will see the Ocean of the Clouds up above the forests. The trails go on the edge of the mountain up to the Pa O villages of Kyauk Su, Nan Yoke where you may visit some village houses. After nearly 3 hours, you will see the last mountain that flanks the Inle Lake from the western side. That mountain is the hardest part of the trekking forming with the hard rock’s ascending down up to one of the villages on the western shore of the lake called Tone Lae where you will have lunch. After lunch you will take a boat to your hotel.
Overnight at Inle Lake.
Day 10 - Inle – Indain (B,-,-)
Today will be full day tour on the outrageously beautiful lake by private boat to see a colorful 5-day market where the hill tribes come to exchange their goods with the lake people. While on the boat tour, you will also observe the unique lifestyle of Inn Thar people… the leg rowers, floating gardens, fishermen with strange fishing gears etc. Visit Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda one of the main principle shrines in Myanmar and dating back to the 18th century; continue to Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake and where inside its large wooden meditation hall and are over 200 year old ancient Buddha statues. Then take a boat ride to Innpawkhone, weaving village to see the only one lotus thread producing and weaving of the world. And ride the boat down a small canal will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indain, positioned on the western shores of Inle lake. Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending to the top of a hill. Once you have arrived at the summit, you will be greeted by an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Then ride back to your hotel by enjoying sunset on the lake.
Overnight at Inle.
Day 11 – Inle – Yangon (B,-,-)
After breakfast, transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe and by car to Heho airport for the flight to Yangon. Here, visit Kyaukhtatgyi pagoda to see a 70 meter long reclining Buddha statue around the size of a blue whale. Afterwards, continue to the Royal Lake in Kandawgyi Park a very popular one with the locals, especially in the early morning and around sunset. Catch a view of Karaweik Hall, a reproduction of a royal barge and enjoy a spectacular view of the Golden Shwedagon Pagoda. Then proceed to Shwedagon Pagoda which plays in very important role in Myanmar. No Myanmar expedition can be considered truly great if it is lacking a visit this legendary site. Then go to hotel for check in. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 12 – International Departure (B,-,-)
We will transfer you to the airport for international departure.
Tour Price Includes
- Accommodation throughout the tour
- Meals as mentioned in the above itinerary
- Supported vehicle for all transfers & tours
- English speaking walking guide, ranger
- All entrance fees & toll fees
- Water & snack
Price Excludes
- International Flights
- Visa Fees (please check with us)
- Alcoholic, and other beverages in the evenings
- Tips for guides.
- Personal travel insurance
- Any services not mentioned in itinerary
