From Himalaya to Yangon
This trip can be scheduled upon request
This program is an equivalent of the “The Best of Burma in 10 days” module with an extension that includes the Northern part of the country – a land of mountains at the spurs of Himalayas. There we will have an easy trekking and explore thriving nature and the life of the rural villages. This is a unique chance to visit a region that has opened up to tourists only recently and is often overlooked by travelers due to its remoteness. This allowed it to maintain its ecology and authentic character.
Day 1
Individual arrival to Yangon. The best option might be to fly into Myanmar via connection in Bangkok. Transfer to hotel.
21:00 - Meeting at the hotel lobby to get to know each other and go for dinner.
Day 2
After breakfast we’ll take a trip around Yangon – the modern capital of Burma, which has retained its historical charm. A thriving Asian business capital, it hosts a unique combination of men in modern suits and men in traditional long skirts longyi, concrete buildings and old colonial buildings, normal cars and rickshaws.
The program of the first part of the day includes amazing pagodas Sule and Chauhtatgyi, where we’ll find the Reclining Buddha, a walk through the old colonial city center and a visit to the National Museum of Myanmar - the main museum of Burmese art, history and culture.
After lunch we’ll head for the Shwedagon Pagoda – eighth wonder of the world – the main temple establishment of Yangon, decorated with gold and precious gems (some 30 tons of gold and 4350 diamonds weighing in total 1800 carat). According to the legend the Pagoda contains 8 hairs of Buddha. We’ll watch the sunset at Shwedagon.
Dinner at a traditional Burmese restaurant.
Day 3
Morning flight to Mandalay.
Our first destination is the ancient city of Amarapura, meaning "City of Immortality". There we shall visit Mahagandayon monastery and observe hundreds of Buddhist monks at their studies. The other highlight of Amarapura is the U Bein wooden bridge, built in 1782. The bridge and the people walking it are a perfect setting for memorable photos. At the silk and cotton longyis weaving workshops we’ll be able to buy some souvenirs.
After lunch we proceed to Mandalay. Here we visit the temple Atumashi Kyaung and then transfer to the foot of Mandalay Hill to observe “the largest book” at Kuthodaw Pagoda. The entire Buddhist canon is recorded here on 729 stone tablets. Up on the Mandalay Hill is a temple with a great view of the city. There we shall wait for the sunset and then descend via numerous steps of the covered wooden stair galleries.
Dinner and check into hotel.
Day 4
After breakfast we take a tour around the royal palace ground Shwe Nan Daw (Golden Palace Monastery, palace of former Myanmar kings) to observe finest Myanmar wooden architecture.
Flight from Mandalay to Putao (Air Bagan 1:15 PM - 3:35 PM). Arrive at Putao. Lunch and briefing of the tour, meeting with our mountain guides.
Car journey to Hpangkhing Village. Overnight stay at a local house.
Day 5
Trek from Hpangkhing to Longpongdam Village. Overnight at a local house.
Day 6
Trek from Longpongdam to Namshe Village. Overnight at a local house.
Day 7
Trek from Namshe to Putao City. Stay overnight at Khakabo Razi Guesthouse.
Day 8
15:55 – 18:15 – flight Putao – Mandalay (via Myitkyina)
Dinner and night in hotel.
Day 9
Drive by bus to Monywa. We start at 06:00. The drive might take 2-4 hours, depending on road conditions. The earlier we arrive, the more time we will have to see the best sites of Monywa.
10:00 – 12:00 - See Thambuddhei Paya. Sometimes it is called the “hedgehog temple” due to the numerous needles of pagodas that decorate it.
12:00 – visit Bodhi Tataung and walk through a field of sitting Buddas (or see them from a stupa top, depending on available time).
13:00-13:30 quick lunch and 14:30 – 16:30 – Phowintaung – a Buddhist cave complex with 947 small and large richly decorated caves.
17:00 – 18:00 – dinner (if we are late – dinner on the road)
18:00 – 23:00 drive to Bagan. Check into hotel.
Day 10
Spend the whole day exploring the ancient city of Bagan. We will visit Shwezigon Pagoda, which houses a tooth and a bone of Buddha, and was used as a prototype of subsequent stupas. We shall see the Kubyaukkyi Temple and its remarkable frescoes, the Htilominlo Temple with well-preserved sculptures and the Kyanzittha Umin Cave-Temple.
In the afternoon we visit Dharamayangyi and Sulamai temples, the Bupaya Pagoda (the earliest in Bagan), Myazedi Bupaya Temple. As evening falls we will climb the steps of Shwesandaw Pagoda and watch the sunset. This is one of the most amazing and magical views that I have seen in my travels.
Drive to dinner in a horse cart. Dinner and night in hotel.
Day 11
Morning flight to Inle lake. Transfer to hotel (by bus and then by boat).
On this day we will visit:
- Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, housing five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images
- Silk weaving workshop at Impawkhone Village
- Nge Phe Chaung Monastery, better known as "Jumping Cat Monastery", a beautiful old teak wood building
- Cheroot factory and floating Gardens at Nampan village.
Dinner and night in hotel.
Day 12
In the morning we take a boat trip to Indein Village at the west coast of Inle Lake. There we visit Shwe Indein Pagoda to see old stupas, take a walk in the beautiful bamboo forest and cross the Small Dam.
Continue to Bamboo Sheet Hat making workshop and gold and silver smith workshops at Ywama Village.
Day 13
Fly to Yangon, 9:25 AM – 10:35 AM and individual departure.
Flight Yangon – Bangkok at 12:50 PM – 2:40 PM.
Night in Bangkok if needed or direct flight home.
Day 14
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