Day 1: Yangoon
The beginning of an exiting 12 days tour in the land of golden pagodas and golden dreams starts with a tour in the amazingly green city of Yangon.
Day 2: Yangoon - Heho - Kalaw
Yangon Air will take you to Shan State, some call it "Switzerland of Myanmar" (?)... One and a half hours drive from Heho is formers British hills station town, Kalaw. Cool, spring-like weather, pine forests, tea plantations and colourfully clad hill tribes make this town to a natural magnet for tourists.
Day 3: Kalaw - Pindaya - Nyaung Shwe
A visit of the Pindaya Caves, hosting more than 8,000 Buddhas, will compensate you for the one and a half hours ride on a bumpy road! In late afternoon you will arrive by car at the sleepy village of Nyaung Shwe. The old palace of the last Shan prince, who was Myanmar's first president, will bring you back to the times of the old Burman.
Day 4: Inle Lake
Don't forget your sun lotion! A whole day excursion in a long-tailed sampa on the Inle Lake, rimmed by blue mountains, will show you that life here still follows ancient, traditional patterns. Floating gardens, one leg rowers, villages on stilts, the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, wonderful monasteries, and the reflection of the cotton wool clouds - that's magic!
Day 5: Nyaung Shwe - Heho - Mandalay
Morning flight by Yangon Air will take you to the city of Myanmar's kings. A visit to the Mahamuni Buddha image will make you realize, why Myanmar is known to be the "Golden Land". Excursions to the handicrafts centers with wood carving, marble carving, tapestry work, gold leaf making and bronze casting and...and...and...You are back to the centuries before the industrial revolution.
Day 6: Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay
"Men may come and men may go, but I flow on forever"... the Ayeyarwaddy is humming. Don't ask why the king didn't finish the biggest temple in the world, the Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, just be happy to see the world's largest ringing bell! In the afternoon don't miss the 729 stone slabs of the Kuthodaw Pagoda with the entire Buddhist scriptures. The climb upwards the 1,729 steps to Mandalay Hill will reward you with a firm and sound sleep.
Day 7: Mandalay - Sagaing - Monywa
Today you will learn a lot about the daily life of monks and nuns. Neither need to get up as early as them nor to stay for years in one of the 400 monasteries in the Sagaing Hills, the heart of the Buddhist religion. Continue travelling to the center of Chindwin Valley, which is worth a visit. Attributes start here with more, most, bigger, largest...500,000 Buddha images, 806 stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures, 1,000 Banyan trees and the largest Reclining Buddha...
Day 8: Monywa - Pakokkou - Bagan
Have a lovely day driving along the country roads. En route stop at villages and everywhere people delighted to have their pictures taken! A visit to Pakangyi - said to be the place of skillful quibblers in Myanmar - to see the huge monasteries, supported by the hundreds of teak pillars, is in order. Here in Pakokku you will see an ornamental backdrop of a throne of a Buddha image - the most amazing, marvelous, wonderful, excellent, perfect and splendid wood carving you have ever seen.
Day 9: Bagan
Enjoy the whole day at the most extensive archaeological site in Asia. Among the 2,000 temples you will see Ananda, Shwezigon, Thatbinnyu, and, and, and... Some you can walk to, others are best visited by bicycle or pony cart. Walking, bicycle or pony cart riding - finally now you will know that you must go barefooted in all pagodas.
Day 10: Bagan - Mt. Popa - Bagan
En route to Mt. Popa you will visit some villages and watch the collection of juice from palm trees and its conversion into palm sugar. Rising out of the shimmering heat, the solitary volcanic crag of Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar's most powerful "nats".
Day 11: Bagan - Yangoon
Today Yangon Air will bring you back to the modern city of Yangon, leaving the tranquillity behind you. Busy street scenes dominate the city. Botataung and Sule pagodas in the center of the city, the sprawling Bogyoke Market, Chinatown,... - but at sunset you will find your rest at the Shwedagon Pagoda, the highlight of your wonderful journey.
Day 12: Yangoon - Departure day
A visit to the outstanding National Museum with its ornate treasures will give you the impression that you haven’t seen enough. Well - always welcome again. |
