Duration: 20 Days / 19 Nights
Tour Route: Yangon-Keng Tung-Mandalay-Bagan-Loikaw-Inle Lake-Yangon
“Mingalabar” – “Welcome to The Golden Land!”
Upon arrival, Myanmar Damsel’s guide welcomes you at Yangon international airport and offers you any assistance need before leaving the arrival terminal; you will be on your way to check into your hotel. Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meals: Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, starts an orientation tour of downtown Yangon. You will drive through Yangon’s busy roads and take a glimpse of the hustle downtown, Mahabandoola Park, Town Hall and there is a mixture of churches, mosques, Pagoda and magnificent colonial buildings of the high court, telegraphic office, Economic Bank, The office of Inland Water Transport, Myanmar Port Authority and the Custom House. This introductory drive will end with a stop near Sule Pagoda – dating back over 2,000 years ago, for brief photo taking. Next, visit Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market), a pleasant covered market containing crafts from all corners of Myanmar, gems, fabrics, and more. (The market is closed on Mondays and public holidays).
Finally, visit Shwedagon Pagoda, the finest of Yangon and perhaps the most stunning religious edifice in the world. Take your time to enjoy seeing this impressive feature and watching local people. Stroll on its platform surrounded by a set of smaller temples, shrines, and pavilions, and observe numerous shops along the stairways selling various colorful items, flowers, and books. As the sun sets, the reddish-golden rays of Shwedagon reflect on everything around and turning into a magical arena. Great photo time & a moment to take away with you. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at Hotel, transfer to the airport for a flight to Keng Tung (07:45-08:45). On arrival, transfer to hotel. After refreshment at the hotel, take the car about an hour drive through rubber plantation and seasonal cultivation fields and soft trek about 1.5 hours to arrive Ann, Akhu and Tai-Khun Villages.
Finally, visit Ka Bar Aye Pagoda (Wat Pratart Jom Doi) which was built during the 11th century to dedicate world peace. The name of the pagoda literally translates to world peace. It is covered in murals of nature and shows interesting golden images of four Buddha that has reached nirvana. It is a place that shows the history of Buddhism with drawings and beautiful images to make the experience more memorable and entertaining. You find a scenic view from the top of the Ka Bar Aye Pagoda Hill. Afterward, drive back to Keng Tung. Overnight in Keng Tung.
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng Taung
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, visit Pin Tauk by car (approx. 1 and half hours’ drive). Continue to Akha and Ann hill tribe villages by hiking. The Ann hill tribe lives on the higher slopes and possesses distinctively different costumes and beliefs from the other hill tribes particularly interest in their black teeth.
Picnic lunch would be lunch-box at Pin Tauk Waterfall. After lunch, Visit Yan-Law “Khun” people village, Palaung Village, Kat-Tauk village, Pin-Tauk “Lahu” village. Afterward, drive back to Keng Tung. Overnight in Keng Tung.
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng Taung
Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch
After breakfast at Hotel, visit to Kengtung Bazaar to observe the colorful trading of Chinese merchants and of the different minority tribes from this area. Afterwards, travel by vehicle outside Kentung, and trek for about 1.5 hours to Ho kyin “Akha people villages”, after exploring the village continues for 1.5 half hour to Na Phi Phank village, home to both Lahu and Akha peoples.
You will obverse Weaving Works where traditional clothes are made before exporting to Thailand. Continue past two more Akha villages and continue by vehicle to the Khun village of Mong Zine to observe how local blacksmiths make traditional Lahu knives. Return to Kengtung by vehicle. Overnight in Kengtung.
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng Taung
Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, visit Central Market which bustles daily from 06:00 to 11:00 in the morning. The market offers products from China & Thailand, and also it has local traditional clothing, antique coins, and other implements for sale making good souvenirs. Afterward, enjoy an orientation tour of Kengtung; it is a sleepy but historic center for the state’s Khun culture, surrounded by Wa, Shan, Akha, and Lahu villages. It is a very pleasant town as it is built around a small Lake, Nung Tung Lake, and is dotted with ageing Buddhist temples and crumbling British colonial architecture.
Then, proceed to Shan Lacquerware making home cottage, Wan Pon “Shan” Village and Shan houses, Wa people village and visit to Standing Buddha Image – it situates at the place where Keng Tung was founded about one thousand years ago, continue to ThittapinTaung – the 245 years old tree planted by King Alaungphaya, the founder of Third Myanmar Dynasty and stroll around the Naung Tong Lake. And then, come back to the pottery village “Yan Gone” to observe the handicraft earthen pots of the Shan tribe. Then, transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay (16:00-17:00). On arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Mandalay.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at hotel, head to ancient capital of Amarapura, a royal capital founded before Mandalay. Firstly, visit Mahagandayon Monastery; every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Then, proceed to two-century Old U-Bein Teak Bridge on the Taungtaman Lake. Take a leisurely walk over the bridge and enjoy the panoramic view of Taungthaman Lake and surrounding. Next, shortly stop at weaving industries, a traditional silk & cotton weaving.
Afterward, return to Mandalay and visit Mahamuni Paya, the most revered Buddha statue in entire Myanmar. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, visit Shwenandaw Kyaung (Golden Palace Monastery), a delicately carved wooden building, and Kuthodaw Pagoda (the world’s largest book), consisting of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. Finally, visit Mandalay Hill at Sunset. Up on the hill, you find a scenic view of the city, the plains surrounding it, the Shan Mountain, as well as the Ayeyarwaddy River, especially great at sunset. Return to Mandalay and overnight in Mandalay.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Early morning at 06:00, transfer to jetty to take the express cruise (downriver journey takes 7 to 9 hours depending on the ferry, water level, and weather condition) to Bagan. This boat journey allows visitors to experience ways of life and a different phase to enjoy one’s visit to Myanmar. After a day river cruise on the Ayeyarwaddy, you reach Bagan. Thousands of decaying pagodas rise majestically from the plain to create a timeless scene, saluting a glorious past. Upon arrival at Bagan jetty, transfer to hotel for check-in and overnight in Bagan.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Simple Breakfast and Lunch on board
After breakfast at the hotel, the tour begins at colorful Nyaung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, and its magnificent golden stupa; Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decoration, Gubyaukgyi Temple, with superb mural paintings of jataka scenes.
In the afternoon, visit Myinkaba Village and observe the process of the Traditional Lacquer ware Industry one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece of the early-style temple with four impressive standing Buddha images. Thabinnyu Temple, the highest temple in Bagan, Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. In the late afternoon, enjoy an unforgettable Bagan sunset by horse-cart. Overnight in Bagan.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel in Bagan, drive to Kanpalet about 100 miles for 6 to 7 hours’ drive, across over the Ayeyarwaddy River bridge. On the way, you may have the opportunity to see some of the prominent local birds of the lowland area. Lunch at a local restaurant. Kanpalet is a very beautiful hill station 1380 meters above sea level. The temperature is cool all year round and pleasant. Upon arrival, explore in and around the village. Overnight in Kanpalet.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kanpalet
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After Breakfast, drive to Taungsakan located about 14 miles where we have to leave our car, and off-road trek (Approximately 3 hours), arrive at the top of Mt. Victoria (3109 meters), the third-highest mountain of Myanmar. You can visit; the Natmataung National Park covers an area of 722 km with many rare forms of flora and fauna. And it is quite attractive sceneries with numerous kinds of native birds. Take photograph at the top and enjoy the spectacular views over the jungle and mountain area.
Afterward, climb down to your car, and then drive about 1.5 hours to Aye village – a small Chin village lay on the cliff of the hill, one of the British hill camps and sightseeing in the village. Afterward, drive back to Kanpalet. Overnight in Kanpalet.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kanpalet
Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch
After breakfast at the resort, trekking to Kyardo village and it takes one and half hour by car. Stop on the road and you walk down to the village for about 45 minutes. You will see varieties of face tattoo tribe women and typical Chin village houses decorated with animal skulls and bones. Return to car path, about an hour trekking.
Then proceed to Mindat, more varieties of face tattoo women and typical Chin traditional houses. Overnight in Mindat.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mindat
Meals: Breakfast and Picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at Hotel, transfer to Bagan airport for a morning flight to Heho (09:25-09:55). On arrival, drive to hotel in Nyaung Shwe with visit Shwe Yay Pyay Monastery one the way. After refreshment at hotel, start an excursion by boat on Inle Lake admiring the view of famous leg-rowers, typical floating farms and gardens, local methods of fishing and village life. Don’t miss it;
it’s a great photo time! Visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State, next the weaving village of Inpawkhon village then stop at Nampan village to observe the locals make cigars and boats, and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. Return to hotel. Overnight in Inle Lake.
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at hotel, head to south of Inle Lake by a long tail boat about 6 hours riding to a small town named as Phe khon. On the way, stops at several villages to observe the way of life. You will have lunch break at Sagar village after 3 hours’ ride.
After lunch, proceed to Phe khon and passing along the Bilu (Pilu) river. You will be enjoying the beautiful sceneries from your boat. Arrive at Phe khon, drive to Liokaw by car about an hour and 30 minutes’ drive. On arrival Loikaw and hotel check-in Hotel. Overnight in Loikaw.
Accommodation: Hotel in Loikaw
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Panpet village (long neck Kayan tribe women), and on the way visit Ngwe Taung Dam and stop at paddy field as it is a time for harvest. In one hour, you will reach Panpet village where you obverse Kayan tribe ladies wearing brass rings around their extraordinary long necks, Kayan traditional hand weaving, and wonderful ritual, Flag staffs of Nat (spirit) worshipers. Take a walk in the village and meet/chat with villagers and observe the different way of life, cultural, and religion from main land.
After lunch, proceed to Hta Nee La Leh (Kayah village) where you can learn about their way of life and traditional beliefs. On arrival, visit Kaehtobo hall, Hunting Shrines, local houses (Kayah traditional Musician and dress homes) and have cultural exchange with them. Finally, visit “TaungKweZeti” scenically built on a hillock overlooking the vast expanse of the environs. You can enjoy the marvelous landscape and sunset view from the top. Overnight in Loikaw.
Accommodation: Hotel in Loikaw
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Demawso colorful market (approx. 45 minutes): The Demawso Market was formed by local hill tribes on the purpose of selling their wares. Visiting the market is such a truly unique experience when you travel to this region. It only opens on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You will have spectacular opportunity to discover the trading of the ethnic groups who are wearing colorful traditional costumes. They are really simple, friendly and hospitable people. Next, visit Ngwe Taung Dam and stop at paddy field as it is a time for harvest.
Afterward, continue drive to drive to Dawtamagyi where to see Kayaw ethnic tribe wearing traditional dress. And take a walk in the village to observe authentic traditional houses, beliefs. Then visit huge and wonderful rice storage of village and learn the reason why all rice storage is outside of the village. And then, drive back to Loikaw. In the afternoon, visit Kayah National Museum observe insight into the unique culture and tradition of ethnic groups in this region. Then, visit Haw Nan Monastery. Then, continue to visit Pohperyone teaching monastery where about 500 monks are studying. Overnight in Loikaw.
Accommodation: Hotel in Loikaw
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast the hotel, drive to Htekho village (2 hours). On the way, you may enjoy the beautiful landscape with its hazy mountains.
Upon arrival, visit the Ho yar village where we can observe the way of living of Kayaw tribes – sup-tribe of Red Karen (Karen-ni, Kayah) women have long earlobes and many big jewelry, especially below the knee. Late afternoon, drive back to Loikaw and visit Christ the King Catholic Church. Overnight in Loikaw.
Accommodation: Hotel in Loikaw
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Loikaw airport for the flight to Yangon (07:45-08:45). On arrival, transfer to hotel. After refreshment at the hotel, transfer to the Nanthida Jetty to board a ferry to cross the Yangon River to Dala (other side of the Yangon city). The boat ride to Dala takes 15 minutes and upon reaching Dala, travel by local trishaw through the town, and visit the Market, and chit-chat with local people.
The trip to Dala is shutterbugs delighted as it is full of scenic spots and natural beauty. There is a wide gap between Yangonian life and the life of the people at Dala. The most outstanding thing is that these charming people extend their hospitality with enormous smiles. After visiting the village and market, proceed to the monastery to learn about monastic life in Myanmar. The monastery serves as a community center where the people can do good deeds, gain eternal merit, and find peace of mind. Return by boat to Yangon, observing life along the river, and reflecting back on your excursion to Dala. Upon returning to the Yangon jetty, transfer back to your hotel. 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 transfer to hotel. (By car)
(Day 02): Yangon city tour. (By car)
(Day 03): Yangon-Keng Tung. (By car and flight)
(Day 04): Keng Tung-Pin Thauk-Keng Tung. (By car and trek)
(Day 05): Keng Tung-Ho Kyin-Keng Tung. (By car and trek)
(Day 06): Keng Tung-Mandalay. (By car and flight)
(Day 07): Mandalay-Amarapura-Mandalay. (By car)
(Day 08): Mandalay-Bagan by Express Cruise. (By car and cruise)
(Day 09): Full day sightseeing in Bagan. (By car and horse-cart)
(Day 10): Bagan-Kanpetlet. (By 4WD)
(Day 11): Kanpetlet-Mt. Victoria-Kanpetlet. (By 4WD and trek)
(Day 12): Kanpalet-Kyardo-Mindat. (By 4WD and trek)
(Day 13): Mindat-Bagan. (By 4WD)
(Day 14): Bagan-Heho-Inle Lake. (By car, boat and flight)
(Day 15): Inle-Sagar-Phe Khone-Loikaw. (By car and boat)
(Day 16): Loikaw-Panpet-Hta Nee La Leh-Loikaw. (By car)
(Day 17): Loikaw-Htekho Village-Loikaw. (By 4WD)
(Day 18): Loikaw-Dawtamagyi-Loikaw (By car)
(Day 19): Loikaw-Yangon Departure. (By car, ferry, trishaw and Flight)
(Day 20): Yangon Departure. (By Flight)
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