Best of Myanmar 12 Days

As soon as you arrive in the charming city of Yangon, be introduced to our guide who will escort you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon. Your first day with Asia Private Travels ends. 

Start your Yangon excursion with the Immanuel Baptist Church located on Mahanbandola Road in the downtown of Yangon. The site dates back to the year 1830. Keep on walking east through a few alleyways full of food stalls and lovely markets. Then turn right and you will find Pansodan Street which is filled with stalls of old and photocopied books.

Before arriving at Strand Road, you can have a glimpse of the High Court Building, the massive Inland Water Transport office, and the gigantic Myanmar Port Authority Building. Feast your eyes on the magnificence of the Strand.

Hotel then keep strolling on Strand Road to head to the Customs House and the Law Court which comes with enthralling colonnaded architecture.

Then head north to the lively Bank Street and continue to Sule Pagoda Street. Have your palms read by some fortune tellers there if you find it comfortable and worth giving a try.

Sule Pagoda is a symbolic landmark of Yangon’s downtown which was constructed more than 2000 years ago.

Contemplate the Independence Monument and the Garden of Mahabadola. Pass the boisterous Indian and Chinese quarters, stop by the gold stores on Shwe Bontha Street and indulge the Moseh Yeshua Synagogue on 26th Street. Arrive at the Theingyi Zei market and participate in pickled-snake hunting. Passing Anawrahta Road and you will reach Yangon’s most vibrant Hindu temple – Sri Kali. 

The next destination of the day is the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda which is located in the very center of Yangon.

The site is home to the massive lounging Buddha statue with a length of 70 meters. Then contemplate the tranquil beauty of the Royal Lake of Kandawgyi Park in the uptown part of the capital which is favourite location of the locals to watch sunrise and sunset. Visit the Karaweik Hall which was reproduced based on the royal barge.

Then learn an interesting lesson about Buddha and the religion of Myanmar when climbing the stairway to the well-known Shwedagon Pagoda. Look for some exotic Buddhist merchandise like monk robes, alms bowls, offerings and incense en route. Our guide will explain and introduce the rituals and purpose of each item for you. The Pagoda of Shwedagon is a gilded site to the Burmese and is the pride of Yangon.

The stunning images of the site when the heavenly sunset coats the sacred stupas with its light should definitely linger in your mind for a long time.

When arriving at the summit, be enthralled by the 100-meter Buddhist chedi glowing under the sun and reflecting the light of 40 tons of gold leaves.

The visit to the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda is considered one of the most exciting experiences of the whole tour by our beloved customers.

Return to the hotel to relax.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before being transferred to Mon State on a five - hour driving trip to visit Golden Rock which is an important site of the Buddhist pilgrims. The site earns its name since on top of a gold-leaf coated boulder stands a splendid Buddhist chedi.  

On the way, stop by to pay a short visit to the Kyakhat Wine Monastery which is home to many monks living and studying Buddha’s literature. You may have a better understanding of the life of young monks and their monastic discipline. 

Upon your arrival at the base camp, be transferred on a local truck to reach the junction camp and finally the site of Golden Rock. Hike for about 45 minutes. A sedan chair is optional with an additional cost. 

Please note this below info when visiting Golden Rock.

What to pack:

• Hiking shoes are recommended as it should take some climbing to reach the Golden Rock.
• As the temperature drops in the evening, don’t forget a scarf or a light jacket.
• We suggest you leave your main luggage in Yangon and travel to Golden Rock with a small backpack packed with necessary items only.

Return to Yangon after breakfast. You will be transferred back to the base camp by open truck then reach Yangon after a few hours of driving. Stop en route at Bago (or sometimes called Pegu) for a visit to the Pagoda of Shwemawdaw which ranks as the highest pagoda of the country.

Be fascinated by the site’s architecture and its massive scale as well. Don’t miss the chance to have a glimpse of Kanbawzathardi palace reconstructed base on the Royal Palace that dates back to the second half of the 16th century. Contemplate the magnificence of Shwethalyaung as one of the biggest Buddha images in Myanmar. And the pagoda of Kyauk Pun is best known for four gigantic seated Buddha shrine so this place should not be missed in your trip to Myanmar. Visit the local market and a Mon residential area where they once made woven textiles.

On the way back to Yangon, go see the World War II Cemetery and a hand-made pot workshop. Overnight stay at a hotel in Yangon

Overnight: Hotel in Yangon

Breakfast is served at the hotel. This morning, head to the airport to fly to the legendary Bagan – city of thousands of temples. Considered one of Asia’s largest religious sites. Bagan used to possess more than 13,000 red brick temples between the 11th and 13th centuries, most of which were destroyed by earthquakes, humans or times. However, with over 3000 temples left, Bagan is still a highlight of Myanmar and the world’s Buddhist community.

Be immersed with its time-honored and magnificent stupas, pagodas and temples which still stands gloriously on the banks of the River of Irrawaddy. 

To capture the whole scenic view of the plains of Bagan whose size is about as large as the Manhattan Island, you will be taken to a cave temple. This elevated site should be a perfect viewpoint to contemplate the pristine Irrawaddy River and the captivating temples of Bagan.

This trip to Bagan is not only to feast your eyes on the exotic architecture of religious buildings but to understand the cultural values of the Burmese as well. 

From the cave temples, we proceed to another gilded jewel of Bagan, the Ananda temple. Enjoy this tranquil temple before moving on to some others around the plains of Bagan. Inhale the rural life of this living museum will surely be a memorable experience when in Myanmar.

Participate in two workshops of woodcarvings and lacquerware making to understand more about Bagan traditional products and the life of the locals. Observe the making of those Bagan’s most well - known products will amaze you as they use techniques preserved generation after generation. 

Overnight stay at a hotel in Bagan.

In the morning, we shall pay a visit to Nyaung Oo Market to blend in the countryside life of the Bagan locals. You may find some lovely souvenirs for your beloved ones here. Then set your feet on the ground of Shwezigon Pagoda, built under the reign of King Anawrahta in the 11th century.

Discover some other small religious sites and villages of Bagan and dive in the peaceful atmosphere of this area before heading for other highlights of today’s trip. There are more lesser-known villages and religious sites around Bagan for you to discover. We can arrange a short walk through the areas to visit these other landmarks upon your demands. 

Get on horse-carts to head to the highest temple in Bagan – Thatbyinnyu built in the 11th century. The next stop is the massive Temple of Dhammayangyi with renowned brickwork. Last but not least, the enthralling Sulamani Temple.

Wrap up your trip to Bagan with a glorious sunset view of Bagan when the whole area glows under the rays of the setting suns. What an experience. 

Return to the hotel afterward.

Wake up early today for your domestic flight to Mandalay and this is the next stop in the itinerary of Asia Private Travels.

Upon your arrival at Mandalay, be transferred to our first destination of the city tour, Amarapura. In Burmese, the former capital of Amarapura bears the meaning of “City of Immortality”.  Visit the monastery of Mahagandayon where over a thousand young monks live and study to have a better understanding of their life with monastic discipline. 

Then continue our exploration with the Pagoda of Mahamuni which is home to the Burmese most sacred Buddha image coated with gold leaves pasted on by male Buddhist devotees every day. The next stop of the day is the Mandalay Palace Kyauktawgyi Pagoda which is home to a Buddha statue created from one gigantic marble rock. The block of marble is so huge that it is said to take ten thousand men and two weeks to bring it to the pagoda from the shore of the gilded river. 

Afterward, immerse yourself with the most well-known landmarks of the city. Kuthodaw Pagoda is located at the foot of Mandalay Hill. The site comprises a gilded pagoda, hundreds of shrines housing inscribed marble slabs and several pavilions. Kuthodaw is also called the world’s largest book, named after the 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Proceed to the Monastery of Shwenandaw constructed in the 19th century and contemplate its splendid carved woodworks.

Take a short walk to in Taungthman Lake where it stands the world’s longest teakwood bridge – U Bein. This wooden landmark was built in the 18th century and possesses a length of 1.2 kilometres across the lake. Observe the sunset from the bridge as the lake reflect the sun rays perfectly. 

Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay

This morning, head to Mandalay jetty to get on our private boat on the Irrawaddy River. Chill on deck as we set sail to Mingun where we will visit a stupa that dates back to the reign of King Bodawpaya in the 18th century. The site was never completed because of a prophecy that its construction would harm the King’s life. In the 1800s, heaven struck an earthquake on it and split the building into parts. The stupa is still the largest brick landmark of Myanmar nowadays. Enjoy the panorama view of the Hsinbyume Paya, the mighty river of Irrawaddy and Mingun’s tranquil villages on top of the building.

Continue the trip to Hsinbyume Pagoda, made out of alabaster. This odd stupa has its own history. The pagoda is originally a representation of the Sulamani Paya which stands on top of Mount Meru at the very center of the universe, according to the Buddhist theory of the cosmos. 

Mingun is also home to the world’s biggest bell whose weight is up to 90 tons. The bell can still produce gilded sounds thanks to perfect preservation. 

If time permits, we shall pay a short visit to Mingun’s residential areas where they make baskets. Enjoy the hospitality of local craftsmen and vendors.

Return to the boat and head to Sagaing Hill where it stands 600 pagodas and monasteries glowing in ivory colour. The hill is considered the spiritual center of Myanmar consisting of almost 100 meditation shrines and home to about 3000 monks. Indulge the beauty of several religious sites such as Soon U Ponya Shin, U Min Thone Sae, and Shin Pin Nan Gyaing before reaching Sagaing local market. Then watch the locals making special water pots in a traditional pottery workshop.

Overnight stay at a hotel in Mandalay.

Be transferred to Mandalay Airport for a short flight to Heho located in the center of Shan State. From Heho airport, be escorted to Nyaung Shwe village. Stop en route to explore the making of traditional Shan paper and special handmade umbrellas of the locals. Before reaching the incredible Inle lake, pay a short visit to the Shweyanpyay monastery made out of teakwood to immerse yourself with its splendid woodworks by the monks.

Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar embellished with floating gardens and splendid mountainous scenery. The beauty of the lake is not completed without the features of living humans as you can find wooden fishing boats and unique local stilted houses around the lake. So, let's explore this place with Asia Private Travels.

On the way, our dearest tourists can enjoy the calm images of fishermen rowing their boats with just one leg and original stilted houses of the local people of Intha. The fascinating floating flower beds of the lake are made of a totally natural mixture of Hyacinth plants, soil and bamboo poles. 

The next stop of the day is the Monastery of Nga Hpe Chaung which is home to numerous Shan Buddha Images. The monastery was once famous for the “jumping cats”. Then we head for Phaung Daw Oo Stupa to see five scared statues of Buddha coated with gold leaves. 

If time permits, we shall stop en route at some villages to observe the way local people handmake exotic products like lotus silk, cigar, blacksmiths, silversmiths and wooden boats (only available in certain time of the year).

Then return to the hotel after one fatiguing but exciting day of discovery.

Overnight stay at a hotel on Inle Lake.

In the morning, pay a visit to the traditional morning market on the lake which is closed in every full-moon and dark-moon days. The market is a major trading site of the lake whose location changes every five days.

Then, hop on the boat for one hour to ride through a canal to reach the Pa-Oh village of Indein located on the western shores of the lake. Spend a while in the peaceful village before taking the old stairway to climb a hill there, on top of which sits a gigantic Buddha statue. Feast your eyes on various ancient stupas as well. The enthralling view from the top of the hill is definitely worth climbing all the way. Don’t forget the complex of Indein Pagoda where you can take a look at hundreds of minor ancient stupas. 

Today return to Yangon on a domestic flight from Heho to continue your classic journey. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure. Don’t forget to look for some lovely souvenirs for your beloved friends and family. Spend a night at the hotel in Yangon.

Say goodbye to wonderful classic journey to Myanmar since you will head to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight. End of service with Asia Private Travels!