Myanmar highlights tour is our most compact program offering you the experience of this mystical country’s most historic sites and culture. During one week of Myanmar travel, you will discover the elegance of the Yangon capital, the World Heritage site of Bagan, the Citadel of Mandalay and the strange areas in Inle Lake. Myanmar provides unmatched travel experiences to tourists who are wishing to have a memorable trip to Southeast Asia. With the most welcoming people in Asia, we make your trip extravagance in seeing a country more than a traveller.
Traveling to Yangon on the first day.
Yangon, the commercial capital, is the main gateway to Myanmar. Yangon is known as “The Garden City of the East” as this place has the lush tropical trees, shady parks and beautiful lakes. You will be overwhelmed with the stunning landscapes of cosmopolitan Burma. For distance, you can admire the ancient religious wonder of Shwedagon Pagoda, which is biggest, skyline and most sacred pagoda in Myanmar. Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most famous and interesting places to visit in Yangon. Therefore, if you travel to Myanmar country, you shouldn’t miss this pagoda. The entire area of Pagoda has gold-framed Buddhist buildings with elaborate architecture, but the main tower remains the center of attention for all believers and visitors. Shwedagon Pagoda is really crowded with believers to worshipers as well as visitors, which is opened from 4a.m – 10p.m every day. When you go to Shwedagon Pagoda, you have to take off your shoes, so bring comfortable shoes and put them in your backpack. Note that when visiting the pagoda at noon, the heat at this time will make the brick background extremely hot. You need to be careful when walking barefoot.
Additionally, you want to get more experience at this destination, try to enjoy the street foods. The unique taste and special processing of street foods of Yangon cuisine always make the tourists surprise. Here are some distinctive dishes that you should enjoy: E Kya Kway, steamed yellow beans, Roti, Koh Pieh, Koh Puo, Samosa salad, Mont Lone Yay Paw… Coming to the street foods with your friends, you will have the feeling of enjoying the traditional foods and beers at night.
Visiting Bagan on the next three days
This morning comes by a flight to Bagan. You will start your excursion to Bagan which an ancient capital of Kingdom. Bagan is a pride and something to be proud of to every Myanmar. Thus, it is more and more attractive for travellers to become a symbol of Myanmar. Next, you are planning to go to the red brick Pagodas which is the architectural beauty to enrich the landscape of Bagan. Breathtaking view of Bagan from a temple platform or taking an hour balloon flight or from the viewing tower offer an overview of the awesome panorama, that is Bagan. There are 2000 golden, red-brick, and white stupas create one of the most extraordinary sites in Asia.
Nearly 4,000 temples and pagodas which scattered across a vast plain of Bagan are the most appealing to visitors to Myanmar. Each temple has its own story associated with each dynasty or people at the time it was built. Here, there is no incense smoke, no noisy festival but only the pagodas, the top of the tower, the ancient moss-covered brick wall by the side of the road.
Enjoy the visit to significant temples and pagodas by horse-cart and car: Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the oldest and most impressive pagodas in Bagan; Manuha Temple with huge Buddha images, adjacent Nanpaya Temple with finest stone carvings. You also spend time at famous Ananda Temple and Thatbyinnyu Temple- the highest temple at 60 meters high, dominating the other temples of Bagan. Late afternoon, mark your Burma trip that of lifetime by the astonishing view of Bagan temples showered in the sunset.
Coming to Bagan in Myanmar tours, you can freely explore this mysterious city with all kinds of vehicles such as walking, horse carts, bicycles, electric motorcycles, motorcycles, and taxis. In particular, the most special transportation which makes the difference of Bagan is hot air balloon. Hot air balloons are heated every day to prepare for visitors’ journey at any time of the day. If you visit around Bagan with a hot air balloon, you need to pay $400 for nearly an hour of flying in the sky. Hot air balloon will help you enjoy all spectacular views in both old and new Bagan as if two halves of the past and the future. This experience also let you admire the picturesque scenery of Bagan by a unique method.
With an extraordinary view of white cows, the longyi girls inviting tourists to buy a fresh flower worshipping Buddha and try the horse carriage, you can totally relax and enjoy a peaceful moment, hide far from busy life. And you will hear your heart whisper prayers in this mysterious land.
Refresh this day by a visit to traditional villages to enhance the authentic culture and daily life of local people. Start the day by a walk to the lively Nyaung Oo morning market, where you can find almost everything from fresh vegetables and fruits to local handicrafts. Then proceed to Min Nan Thu and Phwa Saw village, well-noted for the traditional crafts of oxcart wheel-making and lacquer ware. Here, you can learn how the famous Burmese handicrafts are made and decorated by traditional methods, or try creating yourself.
Discovering Mandalay on the next two days.
Mandalay is known as the hub of Buddhism which is a realm of stupas, monks and monasteries. You will be attractive by the activities of the monks during their worship and meals.
The first place you should go to is Amarapura. Famous for Mahagandayon Monastery, Amarapura is the best place to experience the way of life for monks in Mandalay.
Continue to Sagaing Hill, beholding the panoramic view of Mandalay. Discover the numerous Buddhist monasteries; visit Buddha Cave, Umin Thonze Pagoda and Sunooponnyashin Pagoda.
Another bridge in Myanmar travel is Ubein Wooden Bridge to enjoy great sunset view over the bridge. This bridge is made entirely of solid wood. Come to Mandalay, you will also have the opportunity to admire the splendid scenery of the sunset with the orange sun shining on the bridge.
The next famous place in Mandalay is Maha Muni Pagoda. Maha Muni is Mandalay’s holiest pagoda, which is second only to Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon in terms of its popularity. This pagoda is very strange by many corridors entrancing the main area. Then you will admire the large gold-plated Buddha statue and the 4-meter-high.
Especially, the policy allows men to login, all women can only see the statue from the outside. As a result, you will feel the sacred atmosphere, as well as the cult of the people with their faith. Last experience which you should not miss in Mandalay for memorable Myanmar tours is Mingun old village. Mingun is about 11 kilometers from Mandalay, so you can come here by road, but most of the international visitors to Mingun go by riverway.
One recommendation for you is to visit the Mingun Pahtodawgyi ruins, which is the largest brick Buddhist architecture in the world with a planned height of 150m. It was built between 1790 and 1797 under King Bodawpaya, but due to the economic decline, this great work was halted and left unfinished after the king’s death in 1813.
Ending Myanmar travel in Inle Lake
The Inle Lake region is considered as one of the most anticipated tourist spots and hype for this palace is really justified.
Located at an altitude of about 889 meters above sea level, surrounded by majestic mountains, and covering an area of about 220 km2, Inle Lake is not only famous for its picturesque majestic natural beauty but also the residence of the Inthar (a minor ethnic group of Myanmar). Inle Lake today become one of Myanmar’s favorite destinations. It is also the gathering place of fishermen and the tomato plantations lurking on the water. You have one option transfer by boats.
If you have visited all the corners of Inle Lake, you can not miss the spectacular sunset view here. An orange glow from the sky gradually diminished, brightening a corner of the sky; the scene becomes sparkling fanciful. Visitors will totally be bewildered in front of this peaceful and romantic space. Taste some traditional food, enjoy those brilliant moments with your friends or family here can be an unforgettable memory. Riding on the Red Mountain where located both the famous vineyard and the winemaking location of the country is an enjoyable experience too.
After you can drop yourself under a large tree and start watching the whole Inle from above, enjoy a glass of wine under the cool sky, it will feel like you’re in a peaceful countryside in France.
The Buddhist and non-buddhist concentrate on Inle Lake, which is the residence of five ancient images of Buddha. For long years, travelers can’t see the original form of five Buddha images covered with gold. However, the policy is raised with the purpose the comparison of genders. For distance, only men bring the gold-foil onto the Buddha Images. The festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is usually held during October, which leads 18 days. Coming to the festival, you will grace the main performance transfering four of the Buddha Images onto the royal barge. One image always remains at the temple. The four images are located in the main monastery in each village for the night. The main activity of festival is that the images will come back to the town of Nyaung Shwe.
