Welcome to Myanmar! Upon arrival at the airport in Yangon, you will clear Immigration, collect your luggage and exit Customs. A friendly local representative will be waiting to greet you in the arrivals area, holding a sign with your name on it. For a smooth and comfortable start to your adventure, you will be driven directly to your hotel to check-in and freshen up. (This service is on a private basis.)

Yangon

Yangon, also known as Rangoon, is Myanmar’s largest city and most important commercial hub, located at the convergence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers. This former Burmese capital, creatively blends tradition, culture and modernity. It is home to the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda, which dates back more than 2,000 years. From pilgrimages and pagoda festivals, to ubiquitous tea shops and cosmopolitan avenues, you can find it all in Yangon. Often called the "Garden City of the East", nature lovers will enjoy the city’s pristine lakes, verdant tropical trees and spacious parks.

Spiritual Shwedagon Pagoda & Marriage Blessing Ceremony

Interested in discovering what is behind the golden facade of the Shwedagon Pagoda? During this interactive half-day tour, you will be guided through the back door, to reveal what is usually hidden from travelers. Understand the full history of the pagoda, the daily life of the people living in the immediate surroundings, and gain a deeper insight into the Buddhist religion and how their spiritual belief is mixed with the belief in nats – the Myanmar spirits. This intriguing adventure will begin from the bottom of the hill, passing the workshops, markets, and temples - all of which play an essential role in the upkeep and worship of Shwedagon Pagoda. This excursion includes a traditional Burmese breakfast, offerings to the monks and the pagoda, a visit to a fortune-teller, and lunch.

Your guide will teach you all about the pagoda as you participate in a traditional blessing ceremony for a long, happy marriage. The traditional service is performed by three Buddhist monks who will pray for you and who will recite Buddhist verses (ceremony duration: approximately 20 minutes). After lunch, you will board the famous circular train, exiting at the stop located right behind the Bogyoke Aung San market. Enjoy some shopping before heading back to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

After a hearty breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel in Yangon and transferred to the airport. You will then take a flight to Mandalay for a new adventure! Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Mandalay Orientation Tour

This tour is the perfect introduction to Mandalay. Your exploration begins with a visit to Amarapura, a township in southern Mandalay that was once the capital of Myanmar. Known for its traditional silk and cotton weaving, as well as bronze casting, it’s a truly fascinating experience watching the weavers at work. Walk through the famous Mahagandayon Monastery complex with hundreds of monks, visit a 100-year-old weaving vocational training institution, and traverse U-Bein Bridge, where we taste a sip of Mandalay rum which has been produced since 1886!

Proceed with a visit to the Mahamuni Buddha Temple and admire the century’s old Buddha statue originating from Mrauk Oo. It is a very lively temple compound, with pilgrims from all across the country arriving to worship and make merit, some applying gold leaves to the Buddha. The Chanmyathazi neighborhood is also an excellent place to shop around for the perfect Buddha statue (bronze or wood). Can’t find what you are looking for? Marble statues can be found at the workshops employing many young men and boys at your next stop, the marble carving street. You'll have time to see sculptors carving statues from solid blocks of white marble before heading back to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Glass Palace and the Royal History of Mandalay

This morning you will go on a half-day tour of the Glass Palace for a chance to learn about the royal history of Mandalay. Thibaw Min was the last king of Burma. His reign ended when the country lost to the British Empire forces in 1885. He became king in 1878 after nearly 80 other royals were brutally slaughtered by his wife and mother-in-law – ensuring he would become king. The book The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh perfectly describes this period in detail.

Your tour will start with a visit to Mandalay Palace. The palace was built as part of the founding of the new royal capital city of Mandalay by Thibaw’s father, King Mindon Min. Continue to the beautiful wood-carved Shwenandaw Monastery just outside the palace grounds, in which King Mindon lived until he died in 1878. Afterward, visit the lesser-known Setkyathiha Pagoda, home to a five-meter-high bronze Buddha statue, brought to Mandalay by King Thibaw just before his defeat and exile to India. The royal family collected many religious artifacts and handicrafts made in Mandalay. Visit some of the old workshops where they were made, including one where you can find kalagas tapestries crafted from gold and silver thread. At the end of the tour, you will stop to eat a delicious lunch. Enjoy the traditional Mandalay curries and a much-needed break.

The car and guide will be available for additional visits until 6:00 PM. (This service is on a private basis.)

Temples, Tortoises, & River Cruise

After a great time in Mandalay, you will make your way to Bagan! Your guide will meet you in the morning at your hotel with a private car and take you to Ta Moke Shwe Gu Gyi, an enormous temple complex, west of Kyaukse that is one of the best archaeological sites in the country. It boasts magnificent stucco reliefs that include scenes from the life of Buddha, as well as depictions of animals, plants, and mythological beings. Continue to the Minzontaung Wildlife Sanctuary to see the endangered star tortoise, indigenous to Myanmar’s dry zone. Go on a walk through the forest with the wildlife sanctuary rangers, seeking out the released tortoises in their natural habit. Following the walk, visit the sanctuary’s breeding center to see some of the new-born baby star tortoises. Your visit to the Sanctuary helps to support funding for the project. Enjoy a delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant before heading the city of Pakokku for a leisurely boat cruise down the Irrawaddy River to Bagan. If time permits, you might be able to stop at the rarely visited Kyauk Gu Umin cave temple. (This service is on a private basis.)

Bagan

Located on the eastern banks of the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar, Bagan is famous for its picturesque Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins. More than 2,000 of these extraordinary treasures cover an area of 16 square miles, many of which date back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Bagan is the ultimate photographer's paradise. No matter if it's the colorful hour of dawn or the balmy late afternoons, the impressive pagodas that decorate the landscape, is truly picture perfect.

Full Day Orientation Tour

Today, you will embark on a full-day tour by car through Bagan. Learning through the eyes of your experienced guide, the focus of this tour introduces the best-known temples of the area. Your adventure begins with a climb to the top of a hill from where you can genuinely appreciate the iconic temple views. From the top, you will see the ancient ruins rising from the rice plains in every direction. It is this enchanting scenery that puts Bagan on the map. After time for plenty of photos, your exploration continues to other nearby temples, including some that are several centuries old. Places like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu will certainly impress you.

This afternoon, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant, before riding by horse cart to your next location. You will arrive just in time to admire the colorful sunset. Enjoy the enchanting scenery, as your guide serves refreshing beverages and another beautiful day in Bagan comes to an end. This tour includes a contribution to local charity initiatives. (This service is on a private basis.)

Sunrise Balloon Ride

Get ready for a legendary Bagan experience this morning! Before the sun comes up, you will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the launch site for a spectacular hot air balloon ride over the temple zone in Bagan. In the hands of your expert British balloon pilot, you will enjoy the ride of your life, as you watch the sunrise against staggering temples in the distance. After soaring through the colorful skies, you will land safely on the ground, welcomed by a smiling crew, chilled champagne, and the memory of a lifetime!

Discover Myanmar's Culinary History!

It’s all about food this morning. Narathihapate, or Sithu IV of Pagan, was the last king of the Pagan Empire, who supposedly had a gluttonous appetite – demanding 300 varieties of dishes at each of his banquets! Today, you are going to discover what kind of food he must have eaten, to become so obsessed. You will learn more about herbs and greens at the market in Myinkaba, visit home-based cottage industries, where products like tamarind paste or candies are made, and visit the Mingalazedi pagoda, which was built by the last king. In a local monastery, you will have the chance to satisfy your senses with the various tastes of typical Burmese ingredients, from sweet, too bitter. End your excursion with a meal, just as the last king of Bagan would have requested it - only a bit more moderate - with “only” 30 different dishes to try! Cheers! Please note, your car and guide will be available for any additional visits to temples. (This service is on a private basis.)

Minnanthu Temple Tour & Picnic Lunch

This afternoon, you will visit Minnanthu Temple. A favorite among frequent Bagan visitors, this historic temple is set in a quiet area that is often entirely deserted. In this enchanting forgotten part of Bagan, your guide will lay down a blanket for a nice picnic lunch surrounded by the ancient ruins. After lunch, you will have time to visit a few other ancient temples in the area before heading back into the city. You will have your guide and car at your disposal for additional visits to other temples. (This service is on a private basis.)

After a wonderful time in Bagan, you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to Kalaw for today's activity. (This service is on a private basis.)

Elephant Encounter in the Forests of Kalaw

Today, a specially trained elephant conservation guide will take you on a rewarding adventure in the Kalaw forest, to encounter elephants, their mahouts, and locals from the surrounding areas. Young tourism professionals from Kalaw town decided to set up Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp, a project that is focused on protecting nature, providing care for elephants no longer fit to work, and preserving the traditions of local people living in and around Kalaw – a former hill station that today is popular for trekking. In a large part of this privately protected forest, a natural habitat has been set aside for animals that would otherwise be vulnerable to hunting and poaching. The tour begins with a private car ride to the main camp where the specialized staff will explain the project and the camp's daily activities. A delicious lunch of Nepalese food will then be served to you. In the afternoon, you will be introduced to the resident elephants! You will learn about the elephants and their individual stories while having an opportunity to feed them a variety of specially prepared foods. You can then assist a local mahout with bathing one of these incredible creatures in the nearby river. After this unforgettable experience, you will be invited to plant a tree before saying goodbye to your new friends and heading back to your hotel.

Kalaw

Sitting at an elevation of 4300 feet, the peaceful hill station of Kalaw offers a lush, cool respite from the heat of the plains. Known for its trekking, Kalaw is also interesting culturally with a diverse population of Shan, Indian Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims as well as Nepali Gurkhas who came to Kalaw to build the roads and railway line under British rule. Kalaw is the main setting of the novel “The Art of Hearing Heartbeats” by Jan-Philipp Sendker.

Trekking, Tribes & Train Journey

This morning, you will depart from your hotel in Kalaw and embark on a scenic trek. Your guide will take you into the surrounding countryside, passing colorful fields of crops like sesame, tea, cauliflower, and rice, before entering forested areas, and eventually arriving at an ethnic Danu village, where you will see Danu hill tribes going about their daily activities. You then arrive in Myin Dike railway station, where you board a train for a fantastic train ride passing through picturesque Kalaw, a former British colonial hill station, and then on over the mountains and through the valleys to Inle Lake. A simple lunch will be served on the way. This is a unique local experience that offers great views and a glimpse of local life in the Shan Hills. Your arrival in Shwenyaung is planned around 3:20 PM but could be delayed if the train stops longer than normal in local hill tribe villages to on, or offload, local goods. On arrival in Shwenyaung, a transfer is arranged to your hotel. This is a great way to reduce carbon emissions by private vehicles and also a fascinating journey that will give you a real insight into the terrain and friendly locals. (This service is on a private basis.)

Inle Lake

Magical Inle Lake is a vast natural freshwater lake located in the heart of Shan State, part of Shan Hills in Myanmar bordering Laos and Thailand. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles, and one of the highest at an elevation of 2,900 feet. A wonderful watery world of floating gardens, stilted villages and crumbling stupas, Inle Lake is a place to be savored. Watch the unique leg-rowers of the Inthas, the native lake dwellers. Revel in colorful floating markets, meditative monasteries and interesting hill tribe villages in the surrounding mountains.

Inle Lake Culture, Scenery & Markets

Inle Lake is surrounded by traditional Shan Villages, where the Intha people have been living for many centuries, in villages built entirely on stilts above the water. Today's tour begins with a ride on a private motorboat around the lake. This offers the chance to truly appreciate the natural beauty of the lake, visit the floating gardens, observe some of the famous leg rowers and enjoy some tea at a local family’s home. On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in various villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule. During this excursion, you will visit one of these colorful markets, frequented by the local Shan and PaO people. You will also stop at a local cheroot factory, where Burmese cigars are made, before visiting a floating tomato garden and the beautiful Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. This afternoon, you will be invited into a local Intha home for a traditional lunch, served to your liking. Your guide can also take you to a weaving factory if you are interested, before returning to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Indein Ruins & Canoeing on Inle Lake

This half-day tour begins with a visit to Indein Pagoda, a temple with an impressive collection of stupas in the village of Indein, southwest of Inle Lake. The temple is surrounded by wild terrain, hills, and mountains. The site seems almost to have grown out of the landscape. Continue with a walk around Inle Lake, enjoying the fantastic views of this vast expanse of water and the rural countryside and farms around.

After learning about the ancient history from your guide, you will be welcomed into a local Intha family home for lunch. The Intha locals have been living on the lake on wooden houses built on stilts for centuries. This special cultural experience will be followed by a journey to the Nam Pan Village by canoe (paddled by the canoe's owner). After the tour return back to your hotel by motorboat. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

This morning, you will be picked up at your hotel in Inle Lake and transferred to the airport for your flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for a lovely night. (This service is on a private basis.)

This evening you'll enjoy a delicious dinner at Seeds. Seeds Restaurant and Lounge is the brainchild of Swiss Michelin Star Chef Felix Eppisser and his wife Lucia. Situated in a beautiful bamboo-crafted lake house, the restaurant offers picture-perfect views overlooking the lake, where you can sit and enjoy an extraordinary culinary experience, with professional, personalized service and hospitality. The restaurant also follows a policy of supporting young, local people – helping to prepare and train them for careers in the hospitality industry.

After two weeks of exploring Myanmar's most famous sites and hidden treasures, head to the beach next for some much deserved R&R! You will be picked up at your hotel in Yangon and transferred to the airport for your flight to Kawhaung. (This service is on a private basis.)

Upon arrival at the airport, take a flight from Yangon to Kawthaung. Once you have landed in Kawthaung, you will meet your driver who will transfer you to the jetty. At 2:00 PM you will board the resort's speedboat for your 1 hour and 40 minute transfer to Wa Ale Resort. (This service is on a shared basis.)

Off the Andaman Sea sits a gem of an island, nestled in The Lampi Marine National Park, surrounded by a pristine marine ecosystem and rich jungle habitat. This intimate island retreat sits in a beautiful protected cove with luxury tented and treetop villas overlooking a pristine beach and majestic rock formations

Resort Activities

Spend the next few days at the resort at your leisure! The resort offers various activities for you to choose from daily.

These activities include:

*Snorkel and dive the archipelago’s abundant reefs and caves (snorkel included, diving is subject to additional costs)
*Kayak and paddleboard through Wa Ale’s pristine river and mangrove forests
*Trek Wa Ale’s jungle trails and view the unique flora and fauna indigenous to the island
*Explore the exotic marine life and island hopping in the Lampi Marine National Park
*Learn about the local “Moken” fishing community and turtle conservation
*Relax in the quiet comfort of the Spa after a day of activities (spa services subject to additional costs)

Although your adventure must come to an end today, you will be leaving with new friends, amazing experiences and memories to cherish for the rest of your life. Once you have checked out of your hotel in the Mergui Archipelago, you will take the resort's shared speedboat transfer back to the pier (approximately 1 hr 40 min) where you will be met by your driver and transferred to the Kawthaung Airport in good time to board your domestic flight to Yangon. For the remaining time in Yangon, you will have the services of a driver and guide to set out on one final adventure if there is time before your flight. At the appropriate time, you will be taken to the airport for your evening international departure flight.

We wish you safe and happy travels home!