Meet the Locals Myanmar

24-Days 23-Nights the best of Myanmar (Example tours for Taunggyi Balloon Festival: this year date is Nov 8^th -15^th )

Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo – Hpa An – Mawlamyaing -Mandalay- Hsipaw – Bagan -Inle Lake – Taunggyi Hot Balloon Festival – Ngapali Beach – Mrauk U –Yangon

Itinerary Overview

Day	Itinerary	Overnight
Day 1	Yangon arrival (9:20am – Singapore – SQ998)  and sightseeing	Yangon
Day 2	Yangon (8:00 am) – Bago (11:00) – Kyeikhtiyoo (Golden Rock) by private car	Golden Rock
Day 3	Golden Rock (10:00 am) – Hpa An by private car	Hpa An
Day 4	Hpa An  (9:00 am) to Mawlamyaing by private car and sightseeing	Mawlamyaing
Day 5	Boat tour to Blugyun Island and local village visits	Mawlamyaing
Day 6	Mawlamyaing – Yangon by private car	Yangon
Day 7	Yangon (8:15 am) – Mandalay (9:40 am) by flight and city tour & Amarapura	Mandalay
Day 8	Mandalay sightseeing – Mingun by boat	Mandalay
Day 9	Mandalay – Hsipaw by car	Hsipaw
Day 10	Hsipaw trekking	Hsipaw
Day 11	Hsipaw – Kyaukme by car and then train to Pyin Oo Lwin then car to Mandalay	Mandalay
Day 12	Mandalay (8:00 am) – Bagan (2:00 pm) by morning bus and sightseeing	Bagan
Day 13	Bagan Biking among temples	Bagan
Day 14	Bagan – Popa day tour with visits to local villages	Bagan
Day 15	Bagan – Nyaung U (11:35 am) to Heho (12:15 pm) by flight -Inle Lake	Inle
Day 16	Taunggyi Balloon Festival (visit Kakku on the way)  Taunggyi … Full moon Day of Festival	Inle
Day 17	Inle Lake sightseeing	Inle
Day 18	Nyaung Shwe – Heho (9:10 am) – Thandwe (10:10 am) by flight – Ngapali Beach	Ngapali
Day 19	Ngapali Beach relaxation	Ngaapli
Day 20	Ngapali – Thandwe (12:35 pm) to Sittwe (13:20 pm) by flight – boat to Mrauk U	Mrauk U
Day 21	Mrauk U	Mrauk U
Day 22	Mrauk U	Mrauk U
Day 23	Mrauk U – Sittwe (13:35 pm)- Yangon (14:55 pm) by flight .	Yangon
Day 24	Yangon for international Departure (10:25 am) by flight

Day 1. Yangon arrival and sightseeing

Arrival Yangon by morning international flight upon arrival on your arrival time, your Myanmar representative & your English language guide will welcome and then transfer to the hotel. Then visit to down town an enchanting journey of the everyday life in Yangon, visit “Sule” Pagoda (window sightseeing), colonial style building, City Hall, “Botahtaung” Pagoda where Strand road, “Chaukhtatgyi” the colossal reclining Buddha Image, glittering stupas. As the evening approaches, we arrive at Myanmar’s holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda over 2,600 years ago. Enjoy your sunset a towering stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf.  Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight in Yangon.

 

Day 2. Yangon – Bago – Kyeikhtiyo by private car

After breakfast at hotel , Drive to Bago (99 km – 2 hours),Bago sightseeing, Kyaik Pun , four high and huge Buddha Images, Shwethalyaung , huge reclining Buddha, Market, Shwemawdaw Pagoda, built over 2000 years and Kanbawzathadi , ancient palace site . Continue to Kyaikhtiyo(Golden Rock) 110 km – 3 ½ hours.  Arrive at base camp; proceed to Hill by open truck (coach) until arriving at the mountain top. The Golden Rock Pagoda is standing on a gold gilded boulder, precariously perched on the edge of the hill over 1100 km above sea-level and the scenery is breathtaking. The stupa is believed to be enshrined with Buddha’s hair relics. Then, you will be strolling around the local rest houses, restaurants and stalls near the pagoda platform where you can meet with many smiling local people and can have conversation through your guide.

Overnight at Kyeikhtiyo Mountain.

 

Day 3 : Kyeikhtiyo – Pha An by private car

After breakfast, down to the base camp and proceed to Pha An by car (120 km – 3 ½ hours). Sightseeing the way, charming city of Pha-An, the capital of Kayin State. Visit the newly covered “Ancient Kaw kun caves with thousands of votive tables at the cave wall and the story of Mon captive king”. Visit to Kyaik kalat a cup shaped lime stone boulder finished with a small stupa and see the groups of villagers living around Zwegab in mountain, it is interesting to visit is to various villages of small groups settled there in their own believe and culture. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Hpa An.

 

Day 4 : Pha An-Mawlamyine by private car and Sightseeing to Setse, Thanbuzayat and Win Sein Taw Ya Reclining Buddha

After breakfast, Visit Hpa–an and drive to Mawlamyine (1 ½ hours). After breakfast, we will drive to Kyaikami, small town where Judson, an American Priest, arrived in 1825, with a nice view of beach is called Setse here some shopping at the colorful local “souvenir shop”. On the way back we will drop and looking around  an hour or more Thanphyuzayat the Second World’s War  Cemetery  where was buried soldiers/allies  which contains( 3771) graves  who died building the Burma-Siam railway. (DEATH Railway of WWII). After that we will return to Mawlamyaing, on the way you will see very long and large reclining Buddha Image (Win Sein Taw Ya) and Kyaikmaraw pagoda, built by Queen Shin Saw Pu in 1455 in the late Mon regional style on the way. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Mawlamyine.

 

Day 5. Mawlamyine – Blugyun Island – Mawlamyine (By Boat)

After breakfast, visit to Mawlamyine Zegyi Market and then transfer to jetty visit Blugyun Island across the Thanlwin River boat trip. Take a walk visit the village where you can study local ways of live. In there, you can see Rubber Making, Slate Making, Walking Stick and Pipe Making for smoking tobacco. Lunch at local restaurant. Then back to Mawlamyaing by boat. Evening sunset at Thanlwin River bank. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight in Mawlamyine.

 

Day 6 : Mawlamyine -Yangon by private car

After early breakfast, drive back from Mawlamyine to Yangon (364 km – 8 hours).

The land from “Road To Mandalay”famous old songs.

On the way to Mawlamyine, just passing different landscape and interesting stops according to your interest are

( 1 )  Sittaung old bridge and river

( 2 ) Theinzayat market

( 3 ) Thaton pagoda

( 4 ) Zinkyaik waterfall ( June to Sep )

( 5 ) Mottama steam locomotive shed

( 6 ) Mawlamyine bridge

Transfer to hotel in Yangon. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Yangon.

 

Day 7. Fly to Mandalay, the city of the last Kingdom of Myanmar

Early morning check out to fly to Mandalay, on arriving there, you will be visiting Amarapura. Highlights are: Mahagandaryone Monastery to see the Buddhist way of life, U Bein’s Bridge and Silk weaving home cottage.  Proceed to Sagaing Hill – known as the center for meditation. Pottery Making village and Silver-smith workshops. Mandalay City tour is including Mahamuni Image, Marble carving workshop, Tapestry making home cottage, Gold-leaf Beating workshop, Shwenandaw Monastery. Kuthodaw Pagoda and Mandalay Hill watching the sunset of unforgettable scenery. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Mandalay.

 

Day 8. Ayeyarwaddy River Boat to Mingun Full day Sightseeing

Boat trip to Mingun. Sightseeing Mingun Bell. Patodawgyi Unfinished Pagoda and surrounding village. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Mandalay.

 

Day 9. Mandalay to Hsipaw by private car (Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin: 2 hours drive and Pyin Oo lwin to Hsipaw: 3 hours drive) and after a short relax, city Tour in the afternoon by bikes

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be going to Hsipaw by car through the morning scenic landscape of Shan Hills. On arrival the small and quiet town, you will be relaxed for a while at hotel. In the late noon, by bikes, you will be visiting to Hsipaw Haw;( well known as old Shan Palace know an architectural design reminiscent of the British country home. Then continue to the main market in Hsipaw in which the range of goods on offer is staggering. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Hsipaw Hotel.

 

Day 10. Hsipaw whole day trekking

After early breakfast at your hotel, you will be going trekking to the nearby hill tribe villages where you can see the way of their loving which is dated far behind from your world. While enjoying the natural scenery, you will have your lunch in a village or at view point. You will be enjoying the trekking the whole day and go back to Hsipaw at sundown.

Overnight at Hsipaw Hotel.

 

Day 11. Hsipaw to Kyauk Me and then unforgettable Train trip to Pyin Oo Lwin and then drive to Mandalay

After breakfast at your lovely hotel, you will be transferred to Kyauk Me station to catch the train which had left Hsipaw very early morning. Along the way, you can enjoy the amazing beauties of Nothern Shan State and especially when you crossing through world famous Gokehtaik Viaduct railway bridge. Arrive at Pyin Oo Lwin in the late afternoon, at about 16:00 and then go back to Mandalay by car (67 km, about 2 hrs drive). Tours ends on arrival to Mandalay Hotel.

Over night in Mandalay.

 

Day 12. Bus to Bagan from Mandalay in the morning and then relaxing evening tour in Bagan

After early breakfast at your Mandalay Hotel, you will be transported to Mandalay Bus station for the trip to Bagan (8:30 Am Bus). Then, you will be picked up at your arrival to Bagan (at about 1 pm) and have a sightseeing to the famous temples of Bagan.  Tour ends at 6 pm.
Over Night at Bagan.

 

Day 13. Bagan Sightseeing among temples by e-bikes

Breakfast at your Bagan hotel and then a full day tour with e-bikes to some of magnificent stapes and temples of a bygone era of between 11th & 13th centuries selected out from over 2217 of them followed by a visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 14. Day trip to Popa and visit to the villages on the way

After breakfast, you will be taking a stroll through the lively Nyaung U Market before proceeding to Mount Popa for day trip (45 km – 1.5 h), an extinct volcano with spectacular views and the birth place of the Myanmar ‘nats’ or spirits. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as ‘nats’ and you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. Return to Bagan and stop at a typical local village as well as a toddy palm plantation. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 15. Fly to Heho to visit Inle Lake

Early morning check out from Hotel and take the flight to Heho & welcome by the RMT guide and car drive to Nyaung Shwe. Full day tour on the outrageously beautiful lake by private boat to see the (Nga Phe Kyaung) monastery, an ancient monastery famous for its Shan Buddha images, region’s most revered Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, traditional silk weaving looms at Inn Paw Khon village, Burmese cats at Inthar heritage restaurant, the silversmith workshop. The highlights of this boat tour also includes the unique lifestyle of Inn Thar people… the leg rowers, floating gardens, fishermen with strange fishing gears etc.  Tour ends at 6 pm.

Over night at Inle Lake.

Day 16. Nyaung Shwe to Taunggyi Balloon Festival (visit Kakku on the way)Full Moon Day

After breakfast, you will be visiting the scenic road trip to Taunggyi to participate in the Hot Balloon festival. On the way you will be visiting Kakku. Set off from the low-lying lands at Inle Lake toward Taunggyi, then head into the rolling hills toward the east of the lake. The drive is spectacular, crossing over the railway line and through small villages inhabited to the Pa-Oh people. This area was closed to visitors for many years and even now only a few intrepid tourists make their way through here. After two hours you’ll arrive at Kakku. Then drive to Taunggyi to enjoy the day Hot air Balloons.

     

The stay up to 8 pm (after dinner at Taunggyi) at the Night Balloon Festival and then drive back to Nyaung Shwe and depending on traffic you will arrive to Nyaung Shwe a bit late.

Overnight at Nyaung Shwe.

 

Day 17. Inle Lake sightseeing

In the morning, you will visit the lake market to explore daily life of local people and their traditional products.

After that, you will go to the Indein Village(a small Pa O Tribe Village) through a narrow canal with beautiful natural landscape to see the Ancient Stupas which were donated by the Bagan King Alaung Si Thu( Grandson of King Kyan Sit Tha). The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Over night at Inle Lake.

 

Day 18. Nyaung Shwe to Heho and fly to Thandwe to relax on Ngapali Beach

After breakfast, your guide will come and pick you up at your hotel, check out from your Taunggyi hotel and then fly to Thandwe. On arriving the Thandwe Airport, you will be welcome and transferred to your Ngapali Hotel for beach relaxation.

Overnight at resort in Ngapali.

 

Day 19. Ngapali Beach relaxation (without language guide)

Overnight at resort in Ngapali.

 

Day 20. Ngapali – Thandwe – fly to Sittwe then to Mrauk U

After breakfast, you will be transferred to your check in at Thandwe Airport  to fly to sittwe. Arrive to Sittwe at about 10:00 and will be welcomed by your language guide. Then boat trip to Mrauk U (about 5 hours).

Overnight at Hotel.

 

Day 20. Mrauk U sightseeing

On this early morning, you will be departed from your hotel at around 6:00 am in order to catch an impressive sunrise over the misty hills of Mrauk U. Afterwards, return to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast,  sightseeing to SAKYAMANAUNG ( early 17^th century stupa ) Rattanamanaung ( MID 17^th century stupa), Laungbwannbrauk Stupa ( The coloured plaque pagoda, early 16^th century ). Anndaw Thein, Shiethaung Temple ( the most well known and Massive Temple of 80 thousand Buddha images & sculptures ). Lemyathna ( four faced Temple) & Htukkant Thein Temple ( a museum of Traditional costumes of Mrauk – U period ). Sunset from Herredaung hill. Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at Hotel.

 

Day 21. Mrauk U sightseeing

A Day trip to Tattooed face of Chin Women Village

After breakfast proceed by boat to Chin tribal village by small boat that is motivate by a small engine. The upstream along the Lay Myo river will take about 2 hours and no one will get board while passing through the true nature and scenic views. Finally, arrive at this typical village where one can experience their way of life and amazing face tattooed Chin ladies.

Here is the time to listen the traditional believes of these villagers from your local guide. Return the same way back and that calls for the day.  Tour ends at 6 pm.

Overnight at hotel in Mrauk U.

 

Day 22. Mrauk U – Sittwe – Yangon by flight

Today you will be check out very early (around 5 Am depending on the flight time) from your Hotel and transfer to jetty and for Sittwe to check in for the Yangon Sittwe flight in the afternoon. Arrive at Sittwe, transfer to airport for flight back to Yangon (usually 1:25 hr flight). Relaxing own time at your hotel.

Overnight at hotel in Yangon

 

Day 25. Yangon for international departure

Relaxing free time of your own before departure. Your car will come and pickup at the hotel for the check in to your airport for the international departure.

End of program…

 

Inclusions:

1. Hotel cost (3 stars) 24 nights in Twin Sharing room with breakfasts.
2. Local English Language Guides fees,
3. Trekking guide Fees,
4. Lunch pack on day trek,
5. Entrance fees as mentioned above
6. Domestic Air fares as per program,
7. Transfer with private tour grade cars
8. Sightseeing with private cars,
9. Bus ticket fees,
10. Bike rental fees,
11. Boat fees,

Exclusions:

1. Meals (lunch and Dinner),
2. International flights,
3. Drinks, tips and personal expenses,
4. Insurance, & Visa fee for Myanmar,
5. Other cost not mentioned in the inclusions