Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Tour Route: Yangon-Bago-Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo)-Hpa An-Mawlamyine-Yangon
“Mingalabar” – “Welcome to The Golden Land!”
Upon arrival, the Myanmar Damsel tour guide welcomes you at Yangon international airport and offers you any assistance needed before leaving the Arrival terminal, you will be on your way to check into your hotel to drop off your luggage and refreshment at the hotel.
In the afternoon, transfer to the downtown area, and enjoy the orientation walking street photo tour, including beautiful historical colonial buildings, Pagoda, Church, Mosque, busy streets with their bustling teashops, train station, jetty, and markets.
Finally, transfer to Wardan Jetty (Kiwi Jetty) where you will have the best sunset river view and also ways of life of grassroots and groundwork in Yangon (including, the daily routine of ordinary folks, working, running errands, dock workers are loading and unloading crates from fishing boats, seller and buyer, and trishaw drivers are shouting out at passersby to offer them rides). Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meals: Lunch
After breakfast at your hotel, head to Kyaikhto, 121 miles, and a 4-hours’ drive away from Yangon. On the way, visit Htaukkyant War Cemetery, four seated Buddha images, Kyakhat wine monastery, Local market, Shwemawdaw Pagoda. After that continue to drive to the base camp of Golden Rock, Kyaikhtiyo. On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, proceed from the base camp to the top of the hill of Golden Rock Pagoda by open truck along the steep twisting concrete path through a bamboo forest. Arrive at Golden rock slowly and take a photo and video camera. The Golden Rock is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. Perched on the edge of a sheer cliff is a giant golden boulder topped with a gleaming stupa. It is particularly stunning at sunset when a magical atmosphere suffuses the shrine. Overnight in Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo).
Accommodation: Hotel in Kyaikhtiyo
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
For early risers, there will be an opportunity to experience the Golden Rock site around sunrise. After that, breakfast at your hotel. Then, descend to Kinpun base camp by truck. Then proceed by car to Hpa-An (120 km, 3 hours’ drive), Capital of Karen State. Before entering into Hpa-An, visit Kawgun Cave, it is a natural limestone cave and the rock face near the entrance is profusely decorated with different kinds of clay Buddha images that date back to the 15th century A.D, Hanthawaddy period.
Visit famous Sadan Cave, this is the one of the most highlights visit in Hpa: It is the biggest of the caves in the area and the 5th longest in Myanmar – and it is amazing. Walk all the way through the cave (about 800 meters), observe the beautiful lake and sail back by canoe under the limestone mountain. Next visit Yathepyan Cave. Then, check in hotel. In the late afternoon, stroll around Lumbini Garden, there are 1,000 Gantgaw trees with same style Buddha statues and finally, sunset at Kyaunkamlab Stupa, also called water lake monastery. Overnight in Hpa-An.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hpa An
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at Hotel, drive to outskirts of town, Kaw Nhat and Kado villages, observe the beautiful and ornate monastery in Kaw Nhat village donated by U Nar Auk, a famous rich man in Mon State who competed in water transport against British businessmen in the colonial era. And then, visit Bo Daw Kyaung, another old monastery in Kado village.
Afterward, continue drive to Mawlamyine and check in Hotel. After refreshment at hotel, brief sightseeing in Mawlamyine city of Mon State. First, visit Mahamuni Paya and Kyaikthalan Paya, the tallest pagoda in the area, offering beautiful views of the surrounding plain and the Thanlwin River. Originally dating back to the year 825, the pagoda has been destroyed and rebuilt several times over the years. Then, next visit to Seindon Mibaya Monastery, the highlight of Mawlamyaine. This monastery was built by the wife of King Mindon after she narrowly escaped death and stayed in hiding following the death of her husband. The interior is decorated with exquisite wood carvings. To end the day’s sightseeing at the U Zina Paya and sunset with a clear panoramic view of the city and river from View Point Hill. Overnight in Mawlamyine.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mawlamyine
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast, drive to outskirts of town and visit Win Sein Tawya Pagoda. Admire the longest (unfinished) Reclining Buddha in the world, built by Mon monks and private donors. When finished it will be a stunning 160 meters long. Inside the statue will be meditation centers, a monastery and rooms to accommodate the monks. Take another 30 minutes’ drive to Mudon, of interest mainly because of its weaving industry. Visit one small workshop where you can observe the weaving for cotton blankets and longyis.
Head to your next destination Thanbyuzayat, actually well known for its tragic role in WW ll. It was the end-station of the notorious “Death Railway” from Thailand to what was then called Moulmein, nowadays known as Mawlamyaine. Explore the small, but nicely kept Allied War Cemetery, which contains 3771 graves of Allied POWs who died building the railway, mostly British, American, Dutch and Australian soldiers. Lunch at a local restaurant in Thanbyuzayat (your own account). Continue to, whose main interest is the Yele Paya, a metal-roofed Buddhist shrine complex perched over the sea and reached via a long two-level causeway. When the tide is high, the beach level walkway can be submerged. Explore this famous religious pagoda with a special atmosphere and some lovely views. Drive back to Mawlamyine and visit Bilu Island over the Bilu Bridge, there are many small villages on the Island and you will be learnt main products like (an old fashioned slate board for the first grade to learn the writing of the Burmese Alphabet, making smoking pipes, watch the workers manufacturing there pipes in their local homes, rubber industry, the cigar rolling shop and rice paddy cultivation (seasonal) on the Island. Afterwards, return to Mawlamyine. Overnight in Mawlamyine.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mawlamyine
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
En-route brief stops at Bago for sightseeing and enjoy the pleasant scenery along the way back to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Transfer to Yangon International airport for your departure flight.
(Day 01): Arrival Yangon and full-day discovery in Yangon. (By car)
(Day 02): Yangon-Bago-Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo). (By car and mountain truck)
(Day 03): Golden Rock (Kyaikhtiyo)-Hpa An. (By car and mountain truck)
(Day 04): Hpa An-Mawlamyine. (By car)
(Day 05): Mawlamyine-Mudon-Thanbyuzayat-Kyaikkhami-Buli Island-Mawlamyine. (By car)
(Day 06): Mawlamyine-Yangon. (By car)
(Day 07): Yangon Departure. (By car)
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