Compare Burma: Land of the Golden Pagoda by Asia Transpacific Journeys vs Myanmar Discovery Tour by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Day 1: Yangon (Rangoon)

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: The Strand or The Governors Residence

Welcome to Burma. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to our hotel to meet our Tour Leader and fellow travelers, and enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2: Yangon

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: The Strand or The Governors Residence

Today we will explore the capital, with its wide avenues, fine Victorian architecture, bustling markets and picturesque water-front. Visit the National Museum, which houses interesting exhibits on Burmese history, culture and ethnic groups. The Lion Throne of King Thibaw, an extraordinary work that stands over twenty feet tall and is covered with carvings depicting scenes from Burmese mythology, is especially intriguing. There will then be time to browse the nearby market stalls in search of eclectic souvenirs, hand-crafted jewelry or traditional sweets. At sunset, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, the glistening golden stupa that towers over the capital and never fails to enchant visitors. Dinner will be on your own tonight, offering opportunities to explore or relax.

Day 3: Yangon / Mandalay /Amarapura

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort or The Sedona

This morning, we will fly to Mandalay, arriving midday. The cultural center has many interesting sites, including the Shwenandaw Kyaung Monastery, noted for its fine teak carvings, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda with 729 marble slabs inscribed with the entire Buddhist canon. Then visit a gold-leaf factory and a shop selling woodcarvings, Burmese marionettes and richly-embroidered tapestries called kalagas. Time permitting, we will also prowl the Zegyo Market with its endless panoply of color, hustle and heady aromas. In the afternoon, the lovely countryside around Mandalay is a delight to explore as is the fascinating old city of Amarapura. We will visit a weaver’s workshop, beautiful pagodas, the ruins of the old palace, a Chinese joss house (temple) and shops specializing in cotton and silk longyis (the Burmese-style sarong). Catch sunset before returning to our lodgings for dinner on your own tonight.

Day 4: Mandalay / Irrawaddy River/ RV Paukan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: RV Paukan

We will depart early this morning for a journey by bus and ferry to the charming town of Ava, which was the capital between the 14th and 19th centuries. An exploration by horse cart offers a glimpse into the Burma of old: farmers plowing their fields with oxen, ruined pagodas peaking out of the jungle and a marvelous wooden monastery where crimson-clad novices practice reciting Buddhist scripture. We will then make our way down to the jetty to board the RV Paukan and begin our trip down the Irrawaddy.

Day 5: Irrawaddy River/ RV Paukan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: RV Paukan

Today, as we float down the majestic Irrawady, stop to visit small riverside villages. Meet the locals, explore their quaint towns and beautiful pagodas. For many, encountering the warm, welcoming locals on these stops is one of highlights of the journey. We will also visit Sagaing Hills, a fascinating site of crumbling pagodas and many active shrines standing watch over the river. When Mandalay was Burma’s capital, Sagaing was the “annex” town that housed hundreds of Buddhist monks.

Day 6: Irrawaddy River/ RV Paukan/ Bagan

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or the Aureum Resort

Today, we will continue our leisurely river journey, arriving in Bagan mid-morning. During its golden age in the 12th century, Bagan was known as “the city of four million pagodas.” While Kublai Khan and several massive earthquakes have reduced that inflated number drastically, what remains is still incredible, and rightfully known as one greatest sites in Asia. Over the next two days, we will visit the principal pagodas, some rarely seen stupas, several small villages and the on-site museum. Our expert Tour Leader and knowledgeable local guides will provide insightful explanations of all we see. This afternoon is free to relax or explore on your own. If you like, take a bicycle or horse cart and lose yourself amidst the crumbling spires. Dinner will be on your own tonight.

Day 7: Bagan/ Chauk/ Salae/ Mt.Popa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or the Aureum Resort

This morning, we will drive south to the little town of Chauk to visit the colorful local market and then continue on to the little- visited hamlet of Salae, home to several working monasteries. Nearby Mt. Popa, an extinct 5,000-foot volcano beckons. It is the traditional home of the Mahagirinats (animistic spirits) and an important pilgrimage site. Everything about the place is dramatic—the lush vegetation on the mountain slopes, the petrified forest along the road and the complex of monasteries perched on unlikely crags. After lunch, we will return to Bagan for an afternoon of free time. This evening, we will reconvene for dinner at a favorite local restaurant, accompanied by a marionette performance.

Day 8: Bagan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or the Aureum Resort

Visit the spectacular Shwezigon Pagoda at first light. (Note: if you have pre-booked the optional Oriental Ballooning excursion, instead depart early this morning for this wondrous adventure.) Reconvene for lunch and then continue exploring with a visit to Ananda. Built in 1090, the whitewashed and gilded Ananda is an amazingly well-preserved temple. Tonight, we will enjoy a special private dinner party on the grounds of our hotel.

Day 9: Bagan/ Heho

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

This morning, we will fly to Heho and then travel overland to Inle Lake. Private boats will complete the transfer to our hotel.Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 10: Inle Lake/ Indein

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

Today, we will visit a local tribal market, which rotate through villages in the region. These fascinating hodgepodges of brightly colored flowers, flopping fish and local goods, offer the opportunity for various tribal peoples and villagers to not only buy and sell their wares, but also catch up on the latest news. We will then board a boat for Indein, a 16th-century temple complex, and another spectacular piece of Burma’s vast cultural wealth. Enjoy lunch at Nam Pan village and visit with local silk weavers, boat makers, cheroot makers and blacksmiths. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent exploring beautiful Inle Lake. We will see the famous Intha fishermen rowing their fishing boats with a swirling move of their leg, pass floating gardens (villagers actually grow tidy rows of vegetables on the lake’s surface), stop at a weaving village and visit several Shan temples. We will also pay a visit to the Mine Thauk Orphanage, which we have been supporting for many years.

End the day with snacks and a wine tasting at the Red Mountain Estate Vineyard and Winery. Since its founding in 2002, French wine maker, Francois Raynal, has imported over 400,000 vines from Spain and France along with the best European equipment and is producing exciting, young wines from Burma. His wines are the first ever made in the country.

Day 11: Inle Lake

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

Today, continue exploring the lake region with activities of your choosing. Hop on a bicycle and ride to a local market, savor the tranquility of our lake side lodgings or take a leisurely walk along the foothills to access more local flavor and natural landscapes. Tonight, we will reconvene for a farewell dinner.

Day 12: Inle Lake/ Yangon/ Home Or Extend

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning, we will transfer to Heho and fly to Yangon. After lunch at the Strand Hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flights home or to begin a private extension.

Day 1: Arrival Yangon

Welcome to the Garden City Yangon.  International flights arrive into Yangon International Airport. Our representative will give welcome gifts including postcard and Map of Myanmar.Then transfer to hotel for check in. After that visit Botataung Pagoda, a famous landmark on Yangon’s waterfrontwhere one can see Buddha’s hair relic and Nanthida Jetty to see people coming and going for work from either side of Yangon River. And then continue to Sule Pagoda, MahaBandoolaPark with IndependenceMonument, located at the heart of the city, Chaukhtatgyi reclining Buddha image.Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon Kyaikhtiyo

After breakfast at hotel, you will start trip to Kyaikhtiyo the “Golden Rock”, a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. From Kin Pun, we have to drive 11 km to the intermediate point by Local Truck and proceed to summit by palanquin (at own account), check in at Kyaikhto hotel. Visit Kyaiktiyo; Golden Rock, watch the beauty of sunset or dawn at this important pilgrimage site.Overnight at Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 3: Kyaikhtiyo Bago - Yangon by Car

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast return to Yangon. Before proceed on to Yangon and sightseeing at Bago, the ancient Mon Capital. Sightseeing tour highlights include Kyaik Pun Pagoda,Shwemawdaw Pagoda, over a thousand years old; its spire is even taller than Shwedagon Pagoda. The 55 meter long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image is among the country’s most revered and Kyaik Pun Pagoda. The HanthawadiPalace: Kanbawza Thadi, the famous palace of King Bayinnaung (1551 – 1581 A.D.) is being extensively excavated and some buildings are being rebuilt. Return to Yangon through rural landscape of paddy fields and small villages. Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 4: Yangon Bagan by AM flight (flying hour 1 20)-Cycling

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Bagan. On arrival to Bagan airport we pick up our bike and ride along the river side across the Natdaungkyaung, Taungbila village, university of lacquer ware then continue to explore the Nyaung Oo Market which is very active in the morning not only for the local people but also for the tourists, then continue to the Shwezigon Pagoda a prototype of later Myanmar stupa. You will visit the Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi Temple with fine mural paintings of Jataka scenes Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek cross. After lunch at the local restaurant we will check- in to the Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour continues with bike to visits some of the beautiful monument and sun set at Pyathagyi temple. Overnight at Hotel in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan-Popa-Bagan (50 Km Cycling)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at hotel, visit to Mount Popa,an extinct volcano,which is the abode of Nats(Spirits).On top of the mountain,there are monasteries,pagodas and shrines in different style.Then come back to Bagan by cycling. We first head to New Bagan to explore some of the monument and villages to study ways of life of people until Lunch time. Then visit to the lacquer ware industry where you can study traditional Myanmarlacquer ware making. In the afternoon, we continues riding to the Myinkabar village which we can study about the lacquer ware, Manuha Temple with gigantic Buddha images, a captive king’s impression of life in prison; Nanpaya, an Early-style temple with the finest stone carvings and Sunset at Shwesandaw pagoda . Overnight in Hotel in Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan-Mandalay-Amarapura by flight

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Mandalay. On arrival to Tada-Oo International Airport, you will be proceeding to visit an ancient of Amarapura, silk weaving industry and enjoy the great serenity of 1.2 km long U Bein wooden Bridge constructed in 1849 is about three quarter of a mile with 1086 posts and Taung- ta-man lake that will give you an enchanting experience.Visit Mahagandaryone monastery the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar. Daily at around 10:30 a.m. about 700 monks queue up for their last meal on this day.Then visit famous Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddha Image in Mandalay. Then visit to Gold foil making cottage industry. Check-in at hotel and followed by afternoon sightseeing that begins with visits to Mandalay Palace,Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the World’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures. Tour continues to Mandalay Hill, optional cycling around base of the hill, a vantage point for a panoramic view of the city and a spectacular sunset view. Optional stroll up the hill enjoying panoramic views from different location can also go by car. Return can also be made by car as there is also a car track by the base of elevator just before the platform. Overnight at Hotel in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay-Heho-Pindaya-(60 Km Cycling)-Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Heho. On arrival to Heho airport we pick up our bikes cycling on beautiful undulating roads passing through vegetable farm and rice paddies. Enjoy the lunch enroute. We finish our ride at Pindaya and the rest of the day is at your leisure to rest or explore the small town. Optional points of interest – Pindaya Cave, Paper Making, Umbrella Making. Then continue to Kalaw by car and overnight at hotel in Kalaw.

Day 8: Kalaw-Taryaw (Trekking)-NyaungShwe

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After Breakfast morning (8:00 am),depart from Hotel by car. Drive about (10 min