Essential Burma Tour

Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our Asia Senses guide, the be transferred to your hotel for check in. Take a short break at your hotel.

This Yangon sightseeing tour will introduce the main highlights of Yangon, including the revered Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda which is built in 1966 and houses a striking reclining Buddha image that measures an impressive 65 metres long and 16 metres high. Then take a visit to Sule Pagoda known in Burmese as the Kyaik Athok Zedi, is surrounded by busy streets, a market and colonial era buildings. After that, we walk around and take some photos of Yangon City Hall, Yangon Region Court, and Independence Monument which is located in Maha Bandula Park.

In the late afternoon, we will visit the famous Shwedagon Pagoda - Yangon’s most famous landmark. The massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire set on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon. Its massive bell-shaped golden spires are plated with 60 tons of gold, while the tip of the stupa is inset with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topaz. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.

Overnight in Yangon hotel.

Today, you will catch a domestic flight to Bagan. On arrival in Nyaung U airport, you will be welcomed by our local guide and transferred to the hotel for check in.

Originally founded in 849 by the Burmese as the capital of their empire, this ancient city is one of the most amazing archaeological sites in the world which more than 2,000 Buddhist monuments tower over green plains, an area of 42 square kilometres (16.2 square miles) on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, testifying to the power and status of Bagan in bygone times.

We begin our sightseeing tour by visiting the golden Shwezigon Pagoda which was constructed in 1057 by King Anawrahta, considered the founder of the Burmese nation, as a place of prayer and meditation. After that, we visit Ananda Temple which is considered to be one of the most surviving masterpiece of the Mon architecture. Also known as the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Then, we move to visit Thatbyinnyu Temple - the tallest temples of all monuments in Bagan; 61m high overlooking the Bagan scene. Afterwards, take a break at the local coffee shop to have cold drink under the shade or return to hotel to relax.

In the afternoon, we will drive to Myingabar village to visit a Lacquer Ware Workshop - one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts. We continue to visit Dhammayangyi temple - one of massive temples in Bagan. It was built in 12th century by Narathu King. It is infamous for its mysterious, bricked-up inner passageways and cruel history. To finish our today’s tour, experience by local horse–cart way to Shwesandaw pagoda, a perfect spot to enjoy a magnificent sunset. Enjoy sunset from the temple then transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Bagan hotel.

Start today for a 45-minute ride in a hot-air balloon to watch the stunning sunrise over the temples of Bagan. Seeing hot-air balloons flying over Bagan is one of the iconic images of Myanmar. Then we take a stroll through the lively Nyaung Oo Market for a great photo opportunity and offers a colourful display of fruit, vegetables, flowers, fish and textiles. Morning time is the best time to visit market, you would see it at its liveliest and ways of life of local people. After that, we drive to Minnanthu village which is located near central Bagan. When we arrival, you will meet friendly and hospitality villagers. They will take us around their village. It is a unique opportunity for us to observe their daily life. Later we return to the hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, we will visit Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with its unique architecture shows Indian influence and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, a large majestic structure towering 46 meters high with fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. Then we take a visit Nat Hlaung Kyaung temple and Bu Paya pagoda. As the day comes to an end, we will take a boat for boat ride along Irrawaddy River, offering magnificent views of the temples and riverside villages as the sun begins to set.

Over night at hotel in Bagan.

This morning, you will be transferred to Nyaung U airport to take domestic flight to Mandalay, the second-largest city and former royal capital of Myanmar’s king in 1885. Upon arrival Mandalay, we will drive to Amarapura to visit Mahagandayon Monastery, home to some 800 monks and one of the major destinations of Mandalay tour. If we visit at 11:00AM, you can watch the whole monastery eating silently. Afterward, we will take a stroll over a historic U Bein Bridge. This beautiful 1.2 kilometre-long structure built from teak planks. It was built in 1851 and cross over the Taungthaman Lake. Then we head to your hotel for check in and take a short break. Enjoy a lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we continue to visit Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung (or Golden Palace Monastery) to marvel at its carvings, particularly the interior gilded Jataka scenes (past-life stories of the Buddha) and Kuthodaw Pagoda (also known as the world’s largest book), named after the 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. In late afternoon, we climb up covered stairways to 240 meters high Mandalay Hill and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views during sunset -an amazing photo opportunity.

Overnight in Mandalay hotel.

Our guide will pick up you then take a short transfer to Sagaing Dist by passing Ava Bridge. On arrival, we will visit Sagaing Hill where you can observe white and gold pagodas along the Irrawaddy River from top of hill. This hill has numerous pagodas, monasteries and meditation centers known as a peaceful place for Buddhist studies. It is a place one can enjoy the magnificent views over Sagaing hill. Then visit a Soon Oo Ponya Shin Pagoda, U Min Thonze Caves which are located on the top of the Sagaing Hill.

Alter that, we will drive to “Ava”, an ancient city near Mandalay. It's well-known for religious structures left over from several reigns as the nation's capital, from the 14th to the 19th centuries. On the way from Sagaing to Ava, we will visit handmade silverware workshop. Your excursion to Ava can be made with a horse cart. We visit to Ava’s Leaning Tower called “Nan Myint”, Maha Aungmyae Bonzan monastery, located inside of Innwa Palace & it's one of remaining buildings from Innwa Dynasty and Bagayar monastery famous for its traditional architecture, with soaring tiered roofs and heavy teak doors carved in high relief of celestial figures bearing lotus buds.

At the end of day, we return to Mandalay and overnight at hotel in Mandalay.

Early check - out at your hotel and transfer to Mandalay airport for a short flight to Heho airport. Upon arrival at Heho airport, you will be welcomed by our guide and driver then take a short transfer to Nyaung Shwe Township. On the way, we will stop to visit “Shwe Yan Pyay” monastery which is just a short walk north of the Nyaung Shwe town.

On arrival Nyaung Shwe town, transfer by local boat to the hotel in Inle Lake, one of Myanmar's most anticipated destinations and all the hype is justified. The lake is 22km long, and is densely inhabited by many different tribes in Taunggyi Dist of Shan State. Check in hotel and take a short break. Then, we take an excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include seeing the famous leg-rowing fishermen, local methods of fishing and see their floating villages & gardens where fruit and vegetables are grown. The highlights including Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda the holiest religious site in Southern Shan State, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf and Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, a wooden monastery built on stilts and the oldest & largest one in Inle Lake. We also visit handicraft workshops such as blacksmiths, silversmiths, weaving looms, etc.

Overnight at hotel on Inle Lake.

Take a visit the lake’s five-day market for unique insight into the local cultures of the area. The market is called “five-day market” because the local people rotate between 5 different locations over a 5-day-period. Villagers from the surrounding hill tribes come to the market to sell and trade tomatoes, eggplants, scallions, peppers, betel, beans, garlic to cheroots. There are some people selling lacquerware, Buddha statues, carvings, longyis, Shan bags, textiles, ornamental objects and other hand-made goods for both local use and trading. (Note: the market is daily open except on dark moon day and full moon day).

From the market, we continue broad down a small canal leading to Indein village. On arrival village, we will visit Nyaung Ohak and Shwe Inn Thein, two groups of ancient pagodas. Explore the area on foot and wander through the beautiful pagodas. Then, climb up to the top of a hill which is covered with picturesque ancient stupas. Enjoy magnificent views of the lake below from this vantage point. After enjoying the visit to Indein, return to the boat. Continue along the lake for additional sightseeing before returning to the hotel in the afternoon.

Overnight on Inle lake hotel.

This morning, you will be transferred to Heho airport for your flight back Yangon. Depend on your actual arrival time, some soft sightseeing for an orientation tour is suggested. Or you could wait at Yangon airport for your onward departure flight.

See you again in your next Myanmar (Burma) Tours with us.