A very special Myanmar tour connecting two biggest Buddhist land of Indochina Peninsular mainland, we will take you to the heart of Buddhism when Buddha obtained Enlightenment in Bodh Gaya and nearby places that attached to Buddha life. Then we connect with Myanmar the country that Buddhism is the country-wide religion.
Start : Varanasi
Finish : Yangon
Tour Type : Indochina Tours
Place to visit : Varanasi – transfer to Bodh Gaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodh Gaya – fly to Yangon – Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo) – Golden Rock – Bago – Yangon
Day by Day Tours
Day 01: Varanasi, India arrival (-)
Day 02: Varanasi – transfer to Bodh Gaya (B)
Day 03: Bodh Gaya sightseeing (B)
Day 04: Bodhagaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhagaya
Day 05: Bodh Gaya – fly to Yangon, Myanmar (B)
Day 06: Yangon – Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo) (B)
Day 07: Golden Rock – Bago – Yangon ( B)
Day 08: Yangon departure (B)
Tour Prices (US$/person)
Group of 02 persons : OnRequest
Group of 04 persons : OnRequest
Important notes:
Surcharge in Peak Times eg: Christmas, New Year Eve, and Water festival may be applicable.
Inclusions
- Hotel rooms based on twin/ double sharing
- All domestic, regional flights
- Private transfer by A/C verhicles
- English speaking guide
- (Other language guide, please request)
- Meals indicated in the itinerary
- (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Entrance fees where applied
- Water and tissues
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- All International flights
- Visa stamp fees
- Personal expenses
- Meals not mentioned
- Drinks not mentioned
- Tips & Gratitues
| I NEED TAILOR-MADE | I’LL TAKE THIS TOUR |
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Day 01: Varanasi, India arrival (-)
Our tour guide and driver will welcome at Varanasi airport/station depending your arrival time and booking. We transfer downtown while our guide will brief a very interesting introduction about this land. After enjoying your very first lunch (your own account), we will start to visit Sarnath garden.
Sarnath is a city located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Gomati rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Go back to Varanasi in afternoon and checking in hotel for relax.
Overnight in Varanasi – India.
Day 02: Varanasi – transfer to Bodh Gaya (B)
We need to wake up early this morning as we are going to get on a cruise trip on Ganges River to catch the sunrise over the most sacred river of the whole India country. Enjoy the pure morning on the most important river of Indians. You may have many chances to witness the ritual bath ceremony to wash up the dust of ordinary life before praying to Buddha by Hindu people.
We back to the hotel for checking out and get ready for the transfer of approx. 240km to the holiest land of Buddhism – Bodh Gaya. Arrive Gaya in late afternoon, this is free time to relax and first exploration surroundings on your own.
Overnight in Bodh Gaya – India
Day 03: Bodh Gaya sightseeing (B)
Start up our day with an excursion the most important place in Bodh Gaya – Mahabodhi pagoda where Buddha spent his last time of an ordinary person. After that, we move to Bodhi Tree – under this tree, Buddha obtained Enlightenment.
In afternoon, we take a visit to Niranjana River. This river sticks with a story of Buddha receiving a bowl of milk soup by Lady Sujata and a bunch of hay by a farmer to set up the sitting place of meditation under Bodhi Tree. Then we enter Sujata village – named after Lady Sujata. You are free time to walk around the village and do charity to a local school.
The rest of this visiting day is a time for Vietnamese pagoda, Nepal pagoda, Mahabodhi Mahavihara – Indian pagoda and/or Burmese pagoda. We back to the hotel late afternoon and dinner under your own management.
Overnight in Bodh Gaya – India
Day 04: Bodhagaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhagaya
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, we start our transfer to Rajgir – the first capital of ancient kingdom Magahda and the Buddhist researching center for centuries. Our most highlights today are Venuvana Vihara monastery – the very first monastery of Buddhism built and offered by King Bimsisara; next Nalanda University – the largest Buddhism university and believed that the most ancient university dating back to the 5th century; we keep visiting to Sapataparni cave where Buddha did the pure meditation up to 6 years; the last visit today is Gridhrakula hill where the Buddha taught and spread his theory (cable fee under your own account if used).
We finish this very informative day of Buddhism here then transfer back to the hotel. Take the last night in the scared land, Bodh Gaya.
Overnight in Bodh Gaya – India
Day 05: Bodh Gaya – fly to Yangon, Myanmar (B)
Free this morning, we check out the hotel and transfer to the airport for the flight of about 2 hours to Yangon, Myanmar. Because the flight is not daily, please check carefully or contact us to support.
Arrive in Yangon, Myanmar – the land of golden pagoda and Buddhism is predominant. Depending on your flight time, we transfer downtown for the iconic pagoda of Myanmar – Shwedagon where is believe to remain Buddha hair relics. Following with Shwedagon pagoda, we drive a bit south of Yangon to Swe Taw Myat paya – Buddha tooth relics.
We check in the hotel late afternoon and you are free to enjoy dinner with Burmese cuisine.
Overnight in Yangon – Myanmar.
Day 06: Yangon – Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo) (B)
Breakfast at your hotel and meet our guide and driver for a scenic transfer through the rural areas of Yangon to reach Golden Rock.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred by truck to the top of Kyaikhtiyo Mountain, a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State, Burma. According to legend, the Golden Rock itself is precariously perched on a strand of the Buddha’s hair. The balancing rock seems to defy gravity, as it perpetually appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill.
Later, drive to our hotel for your stay.
Overnight in Golden Rock – Myanmar.
Day 07: Golden Rock – Bago – Yangon ( B)
Enjoy your breakfast, we head south back to Yangon. On the way, we will visit Bago, also known as Pegu, was the capital of the Mon Kingdom in the 15th century and is a town steeped in legend.
Out sightseeing covers the 55-metre long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha, the four seated Buddha at Kyaikpun and the old palace of Kambozathadi. The Mon-style Shwemawdaw Pagoda is the most outstanding religious monument in Bago. This golden temple stands at 114 metres tall, higher than Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, and can be seen from around 10 kilometers outside of the city.
Experience the local market with our guide then head to Yangon. Enjoy our farewell dinner at a fine restaurant in Yangon.
Overnight in Yangon – Myanmar.
Day 08: Yangon departure (B)
Free time at your leisure or go shopping at Scot market and enjoy walking at British streets before our guide collect you for an airport transfer.
Thanks for your consideration on our services. Enjoy your favorite Indochina Tours !
Essential Notes
Passports and Visas
The first thing goes first. You definitely must obtain valid VISA in order to travel into any country and so is Myanmar (Burma). Unless your country is in VISA exemption list, it is your responsibility to get valid VISA before arrival. There are two ways to get Myanmar VISA:
- Go to Myanmar Embassies and Consulates in your home country and you will be guided procedure. You may want to check the list of countries where Myanmar has embassies and consulate offices by clicking here.
- Obtain VISA On Arrival (VOA). For tourists coming from countries has no Myanmar Diplomatic Rep offices, you can obtain VOA online via www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm – the official portal for VOA by Myanmar government. The portal launched in Sep 01, 2014 and took its pilot operation for a month. Providing you encounter any issue, please contact us for support.
Climate & Clothing
Generally speaking, Myanmar is a tropical country with rather hot weather. Sometimes in year or in some Northern places, temperature cools down but not that can be called cold. Roughly saying that the best time to travel Myanmar is from Oct to March due to dry and cool season. Other months, however, you may get very nice deals of promotion.For clothing: comfortable clothes, absolutely. We suggest you should take at least one long pan, a long skirt and a sleeve top because we will visit some religious site and many of them require proper code of dress.All of temples and pagodas require you enter with bare feet. A pair of sandals is highly recommended.
Cell Phones & Calling Cards
You may wish to carry a cell phone while traveling. Check with your cell phone provider if your phone will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. Myanmar service is dominated by the GMS technology standard, while some of the world such as U.S uses the incompatible CDMA standard. We suggest that you should check carefully or you may incur high international roaming fees.We said previously “the SIM card in Myanmar is not very popular and still quite expensive”. But now, forget it! SIM cards in Myanmar now are cheap and easy to buy in any main city as cheap as about US$ 02 each. Cell phones, even smart phones are available on sales widely.
Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another
When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: dial your country’s Exit Code + destination Country Code + Phone Number. Country Code of Myanmar is 95.
Wireless Internet Access
Passengers traveling with WiFi enabled devices (such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) may be able to connect to the internet via a wireless network access point (or hotspot). Wifi is now popular in most hotels from three stars up. Most of them are supplying Free Wifi but some may incur extra charges. We suggest you should ask the receptionist before.
Cards and Currency
Myanmar’s national currency, the KYAT (pronounced chat, abbreviated in MMK) is divided into the following banknotes: K1, K5, K10, K20, K50, K100, K200, K500 and K1000.We once said “ATMs are still very hard to come” but from my latest inspection of Myanmar, the country now starts using ATMs. Most three stars hotels up often have at least one AMT machine right at their lobbies. Main hotels now accepts credit cards payment.Anyway, we suggest you should bring with some cashes just in case. Local buying there accept Burmese and US dollars widely. However please pay at attention when bring US notes with you:
- The US$ notes must be new.
- The US$ notes torn, marked, folded will not be accepted.
- The US$ notes having series before 2003 backward may not accepted.
You are allowed to bring up to US$ 5000 in cash per person to enter Myanmar.
Trip Preparation
A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. We suggest you should taking a checklist below:
- Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you.
- Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order.
- We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement.
- You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names.
- We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock.
- Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage.
Happy Travelling with CRYSTAL HOLIDAYS ASIA!
