General Information
Duration: 12 days/11 nights
Tour Routine: Bali – Denpasar – Ubud – Yogyakarta – Medan – Lake Toba – Medan
Start/End: Mandalay/Yangon
Tour Style: Landscape, In-depth Cultural
Guides: Myanmar Local Guide (English Speaking Guide, Other Languages upon Request
Tour Highlights:
- 4-night luxury cruise with Orient Pandaw
- Behold one of the most incredible sunsets in the world from cruise ship
- Explore Mandalay – the royal capital city of Burma with fascinating heritage sites
- Visit the ethnic group in Loikaw & discover their distinctive lifestyle
- Sightseeing Inle Lake – one of the most productive lakes in the world
Brief Itinerary:
Pre-cruise
Day 1: Mandalay Arrival
4-night Cruise with Orient Pandaw
Day 2: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay City sightseeing
Day 3: Sagaing – Yandabo
Day 4: Pakokku – Ayardaw
Day 5: Tant-chi-Taung – Salay
Day 6: Salay – Bagan – Heho – Loikaw
Post Cruise
Day 7: Loikaw – Kayan Tribe Villages
Day 8: Loikaw – Sagar Village – Inle Lake
Day 9: Inle Lake Sightseeing
Day 10: Inle Lake – Indein – fly to Yangon
Day 11: Yangon City Tour
Day 12: Yangon Departure
Full Itinerary:
Day 1: Mandalay Arrival
Mingalabar! Welcome to Mandalay – the golden capital of Burma. Today, meet your local guide and embark on your ship at Sagaing at 16 pm. Enjoy a welcome dinner on board. This night, we moor overnight at Sagaing.
Day 2: Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay City sightseeing
This morning, enjoy a scenic boat trip to Mingun, a small beautiful village on the bank of Irrawaddy River. Take a local tuk-tuk to transfer to Mingun Pahtodawgyi – the world’s largest unfinished pagoda. Intendedly built as the world’s largest pagoda, it has been through centuries being damaged by earthquakes that left to abandon. After that move to the elegant Hsinbyume Temple, an elegant white-washed temple built by King Bagyidaw in honor of his wife Queen Hisnbyume who unfortunately lost her life while giving childbirth. Later on, proceed to Mingun Bell, the world’s second-largest ringing bell.
Day 3: Sagaing – Yandabo
This morning, we set sail from Sagaing to Yandabo. On arrival, explore Yandabo Village which is famous for its production of terracotta pottery from the riverbank clay.
So far, the village is far-famed as the place where the first Anglo-Burmese war ended by the peace treaty signed in 1826.
Enjoy a morning walking tour in the village and visit a pottery workshop to see first-hand the production process. To gain more local experience, why don’t you try your hands on making a pot on your own?
Later on, visit the Yandabo School which is supported by Pandaw (if today is not school holidays)
Day 4: Pakokku – Ayardaw
Today, explore Pakokku – a quiet and traditional country town on the riverbank. Sightseeing around the town and local market by tuk-tuk. The town is well known for producing tobacco, peanuts, Thanatkha (traditional make-up and sun lotion) and textiles. Then continue to sail to the Ayardaw charity clinic supported by Pandaw.
In the afternoon, walk around the village to see the simple life of the villagers. Your guide also leads you to visit a cheroot workshop and discover how traditional cheroot cigars are made.
Day 5: Tant-chi-taung – Salay
Savor the stunning view of Irrawaddy River this morning while the ship sailing to Salay, a small charming town that used to be a bustling trading port, now remains as a sleepy village filled with colonial architecture and timeless teak monasteries.
Leave the ship for a short walk to Yoke-Sone Kyaung, the best-known teak carved monastery in Burma. On the way back, stop at Salay House. Enjoy the view surrounded nature and silence.
Next up, sail upriver to the Ayardaw charity clinic supported by Pandaw. From here, your driver will drive you up the winding road of the Tant-Chi-Taung Mountain to visit the hill-top stupa.
In the late afternoon, watch the traditional paper-mache elephant dance performed by the villagers from Tant-Chi.
Day 6: Salay – Bagan – Heho – Loikaw
This early morning, we cruise upstream from Salay to Bagan. Enjoy your breakfast and then say goodbye to the crew and disembark from the ship. Our local guide will then transfer you to the airport to take a flight to Heho.
On arrival, meet your guide and drive to the capital of Kayah State by car. Across 225km road, you will encounter so many paddy fields, which reflect a local sense here.
Day 7: Loikaw – Kayan Tribe Villages
A full day to explore the enchanting Loikaw. Wake up in the sound of bird-singing this morning, then ready to soak up the colorful local market where you can see peoples from different tribes with their traditional clothes. After that, drive to Pan Pet Village, be impressed by Kayan tribe ladies’ brass rings covering their extraordinarily long necks. Stroll along the village to capture natural beauty. Next up, visit Kayhtobo site and Hunting Shrine to feel the sense of local beliefs and spiritual life.
In the afternoon, experience the local life of Kayah. Your guide will lead you to visit a local musician house, Kayah’s traditional house, and you will also have a chance to try on Kayah’s dress. There you will also find some really good local handicrafts by the way.
In the late afternoon, enjoy the sunset view over Loikaw from Taungwe Zedi hill.
Day 8: Loikaw – Sagar Village – Inle Lake
Start the day with a visit to the Pohperyone Buddhist teaching monastery. You will see about 500 monks are studying here.
After that, transfer to Phekhone Town and take a boat trip on Phekhone Lake where you will be blown away by the breathtaking land space along Bilu Creek. Spend your few minutes at Sagar Village and explore 108 “sunken” stupas of Sagar which date back from the 16th century. Mingle with the minority culture and the traditional lifestyle of the ethnic group in the village.
Later on, transfer to the hotel in Inle Lake.
Day 9: Inle Lake Sightseeing
Rise before dawn this morning to behold the mesmerizing beauty on Inle Lake. Head to the morning market around Inle Lake to see the local trade and the diversity of local tribes. Leave the market, we embark on a boat trip to visit the highlights of the day. Passing through endless floating gardens and houses
With an early start, we will head to the morning market around Inle Lake to see the diversity of local tribes. Inle Lake is one of the most favorite destinations for tourists all around the world with stilt-housed villages, island-bound Buddhist temples, and floating gardens. Be amazed by fishermen’s led-rowing technique on their boats. Today you will visit silversmiths, weavers and cigar workshops to know more about the local production. Then visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Phe Chaung Monastery which contains a collection of ancient Shan style Buddha images before returning to your hotel.
Day 10: Inle Lake – Indein – fly to Yangon
This morning, take a boat trip and pass through narrow channels to reach the sleeping village of Indein. Here you will visit the exotic Shwe Indein temple, located on the hill overlooking the lake. With over 1000 ancient stupas, stroll around the temple will definitely be an unforgettable experience. After that, drive to the airport for an afternoon flight to Yangon.
Day 11: Yangon City Tour
A full day to explore Yangon – the former capital city of Burma. Start the day at Sule Pagoda, the 2500 years old temple located in the center of the city. Proceed to Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to view a colossal reclining Buddha image which is said to be one of the most sacred Buddha images in the country. Then your guide also leads you to Kandawgyi Lake, the most beautiful photo stop in Yangon where you will have a view to Karaweik Hall – an important landmark of Yangon.
After lunch, discover the most outstanding pagoda in Myanmar, if not Yangon: Shwedagon Pagoda. Capture its allure at sunset and observe the pilgrimages in the pagoda.
Day 12: Yangon Departure
After breakfast, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure until the driver comes to pick you up to transfer to the airport to take your departure flight.
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