Explore impressive Golden pagodas of Myanmar in 14 days

After breakfast, enjoy a private tour and drive downtown to explore the city center and its fabulous mix of architecture and sites. The streets are filled with historical buildings, many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. Learn about the fascinating history of the city as well as get a taste of the more modern side of the city.

Then visit the famous Reclining Buddha pagoda, 70 meters long, with the feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray. In the late afternoon, set off to see the sunset at the breathtaking Shwedagon pagoda, one of the most beautiful sacred sites in all of Myanmar. The exterior of the stupa is plated with 8,688 solid gold slabs; its tip is set with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies, sapphires, and topaz. A huge emerald sits in the middle to catch the first and last rays of the sun. At Shwedagon Pagoda, you can watch local pilgrims and monks offer their prayers and enjoy the beautiful view of the sunset.

Overnight in Yangon.

Meals: Breakfast.

Yangon Shwedagon pagoda

Morning flight to Bagan. Begin our exploration by visiting a busy local market and gaining an insight into the bustling market atmosphere in Bagan. You will spend the day exploring the architectural masterpieces of this amazing town through its most important pagodas and temples to see how impressive these constructions are.

This afternoon, you will visit the traditional lacquerware workshop to observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from one of the elevated viewpoints. Sit back, relax, and be amazed by the beauty of Bagan as you watch the sun slowly set behind the ancient pagodas.

Overnight in Bagan.

Meals: Breakfast.

Bagan young men working on lacquerwave souvenirs

More than just temples, our tour introduces you to a great overview of Bagan’s history, culture, and local lifestyles. Today, see the real way of life for most Myanmar people by visiting villages near Bagan to view the local lifestyle. Continue sightseeing around Bagan and its surroundings.
In the late afternoon, you will be transferred to the jetty, where a private wooden riverboat is waiting. Sitting under the shade or on the open-air deck, you’ll be treated to fabulous views as you cruise down the Irrawaddy River to Shwezigon Pagoda. A private boat tour on the river during sunset time will hopefully show you a spectacular sunset. Relax and enjoy the scenery.

Overnight in Bagan.

Meals: Breakfast.

Bagan local market

Transfer to the airport for your short flight to legendary Mandalay, the last capital of royal Burma, still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. This morning’s visit to Mahamuni-the-pagoda, one of the country’s most revered Buddha images in Myanmar, was covered in over 15 cm of gold leaf. Mandalay is well known for its skilled craftsmen. Visit local artisans’ workshops for gold leaf making, tapestries, woodcarving, and marble carving. Many of the techniques used to create these have remained unchanged from those used centuries ago to craft items for the Royal Court.

In the afternoon, visit the beautiful Golden palace teak monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th-century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving.

Continue to the Kuthodaw pagoda, which is known as “the world’s biggest book” due to the Buddhist scripture carved on 729 marble slabs. Before sunset, visit the 200-year-old teak bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge built by Mayor U-Bein, one of the most photogenic sights of the country and not to be missed.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: Breakfast.

Mandalay Mahamuni pagoda - Golden Pagoda

After breakfast, transfer to the jetty, where you’ll board a private local boat for a trip up the Irrawaddy to Mingun (45 minutes each way). Visit the Mingun bell, the world’s largest intact bronze bell, and the unfinished Mingun pagoda (built with the intention of being the world’s biggest pagoda). Mingun’s other highlight is the Hisnbyume pagoda, a white-washed temple built to resemble Mount Meru. Throughout Mingun, there are small neighborhoods where craftsmen craft traditional basketry and other artistic items, and there is plenty of time to stop and interact with the craftsmen and friendly locals.

After returning to Mandalay in the afternoon, we continued sightseeing. In the late afternoon, drive to the top of Mandalay hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River. Be sure to take some photos of this memorable setting.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: Breakfast.

Mingun Pahtodawgyi

Morning flight to Heho, gateway to Inle Lake. From Heho, drive about an hour to Kalaw, an old hill station with a laid-back atmosphere, a refreshing climate, and scenic views. Sightseeing around this charming town—Kalaw, reveals a few relics of crumbling British colonial architecture. If interested, visit the tribal villages nearby.

Overnight in Kalaw.

Meals: Breakfast.

Kalaw woman tribe harvesting red chilli

After breakfast, visit the Kalaw local market, then drive about an hour to the Nyaung Shwe city jetty, where we pick up our wooden boat & transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the full-day tour by private boat across the lake, passing through villages with stilted houses and floating gardens. Visit the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Be amazed by the local handicrafts, silk weaving, wooden handlooms, and traditional blacksmith methods along the way.

Proceed to Inn Paw Khone village, meeting with residents to witness the traditional silk-weaving techniques with the stems of lotus flowers. Visiting Inle Lake is not just about being on the water but also about discovering the Shan and Intha villages, where you interact with locals and immerse yourself in village life.

Overnight in Nyaung Shwe.

Meals: Breakfast.

Inle Lake women weaving colorful lotus fabrics

After breakfast, begin your day with a visit to the market, which rotates locations every five days and is where hill tribe people dressed in colorful, traditional outfits come and sell local products. We continue sightseeing in Inle Lake, maneuvering by boat through long, scenic channels. We will visit the fascinating village of Indein, with its complex of ancient shrines and stupas, and walk through exotic colonnades of stairways and shop stalls. We will visit the “long-neck” tribal women and weaving and craft villages perched on stilts. See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people row standing up with one leg. It is a feast for the senses and a photographer’s dream.

Overnight in Inle.

Meals: Breakfast.

Inle lake traditional fisherman

In the morning, return to Nyaung Shwe and continue to Heho for the flight to Ngapali. Transfer from Thandwe Airport to Ngapali Beach, 20 minutes away. Here, in the Bay of Bengal, is the beautiful beach of Ngapali, with its charming fishing village and coconut trees. You can take it easy on the beach or do sports like snorkeling, surfing, or cycling if you want to be more active.

Overnight in Ngapali.

Meals: Breakfast.

Ngapali local women carry sea fishes

Day leisure on the beach for sunbathing, swimming, and strolling along the white sand beach, and visiting nearby fishing villages by bicycle or boat.

Overnight in Ngapali.

Meals: Breakfast.

Ngapali woman selling fresh fruit

Day leisure on the beach for sunbathing, swimming, and strolling along the white sand beach, and visiting nearby fishing villages by bicycle or boat.

Overnight in Ngapali.

Meals: Breakfast.

Ngapali Local fishermen 2

Morning flight back to Yangon Drive through the city and observe the influences of diversity and other cultures in the region: St. Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1899, and the over 120-year-old beautiful Rangoon Synagogue. There, you will have the opportunity to meet with the trustee of the synagogue to learn about Jewish life in the Pagoda Land. Then walk around Little India and Chinatown; stop to greet the vendors and let them introduce you to their wares – some familiar, some exotic.

Then enjoy a visit to Scott market, the sprawling 90-year-old market (closed on Mondays and public holidays). At the market, you will find a whole variety of interesting Burmese souvenirs, from lacquerware to gems and jewelry. Bargain at the stores to fully experience the Burmese market atmosphere!

Overnight in Yangon.

Meals: Breakfast.

Yangon Stmarys Cathedral

After breakfast, spend the day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast.

Yangon city from airplane view