Best Myanmar Tour

Mingalabar. Welcome to magical Myanmar! Touch down in Yangon and transfer to the hotel to check in. Take some time to freshen up and relax before heading out in the evening to visit one of the country’s most spectacular landmarks – the Shwedagon Pagoda. Wonderfully illuminated, take in the beautiful sight of the gilded stupa, glowing against the dark sky. It’s undoubtedly one of the most important Buddhist pagodas in the country and is topped with a diamond-encrusted spire reaching up to 110 meters.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a heritage walking tour of Myanmar’s largest city. Start at Yangon Railway Station and set off on a journey through some of Yangon’s impressive buildings, many of which date back to the British colonial era. From the Gothic St. Mary’s Cathedral and Myanmar’s last Armenian church to the Victorian Ministers’ Office and the legendary Strand Hotel, enjoy a smorgasbord of styles and structures and be sure to bring the camera. Finish the city exploration with a stroll through Mahar Bandula Park to the adjacent of Yangon City Hall, a fine example of British-Burmese architecture, before returning to the hotel.

In the afternoon, board a plane to Heho and continue to Nyaung Shwe. Check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure in this laid-back town on the shore of Inle Lake.

Start the day with a boat ride across the lake. Look out for the iconic fishermen, admiring their unique one-legged rowing style, and witness the floating gardens, filled with fruits and vegetables that provide an income to the lake dwellers. Stop by the area’s famous five-day market, which rotates between five locations over a five-day period. Immerse in the bustling environment and browse through the fresh produce and handicraft souvenirs sold by villagers from the surrounding hilltribes.

Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, famed for its five small golden Buddha images, and visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. Also known as the Jumping Cat Monastery, a moniker that spread after monks trained the resident cats to jump through hoops, this title is the only remnant of this practice.  What remains, however, is an impressive collection of Buddha images in the monastery.

Spend the morning on a bicycle tour around Inle Lake. Grab a mountain bike and pedal along the beautiful lake side, passing family workshops, vegetable gardens, orchards and farming villages that dot the countryside.

After this active morning, return to the hotel, pack up and catch a flight to Bagan in the afternoon. Upon arrival in the ancient city, check into the hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure

Get ready to explore the myriad temples and stupas spread across the plains of Bagan on a bike adventure. Choose between mountain bike or electric bike and set off to visit some of the most fascinating complexes of the archaeological site. Once home to more than 10,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas, nowadays only 2,200 of the ancient structures remain.

Escape the midday heat and enjoy a relaxed afternoon at the hotel, before heading out again on another bicycle tour. Cycle through small villages and get a taste of local community life in this area. Get to know a local family over a cup of green tea and watch the magical sunset before travelling back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Hit the road and journey from Bagan to Mandalay, a four-hour drive northeast from the ancient city. Located on the Irrawaddy River, the former royal capital is known for its reconstructed palace and pagoda-covered hill in its centre. Upon arrival, spend the afternoon relaxing at the hotel or exploring the city independently.

Start the day with a city tour of Mandalay and visit some of city’s remarkable landmarks; admire the highly revered Mahamuni Buddha image at the eponymous pagoda, an important pilgrimage site in Myanmar, and witness the world’s largest book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, featuring 729 marble tablets inscribed with Buddhist texts.

Continue southeast, crossing the Irrawaddy River, and arrive at the ancient capital of Sagaing. Sprinkled with white and gold pagodas across its hilly landscape, enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding valley and riverside from Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin, an ancient pagoda sitting atop Nga-pha Hill.

End this day’s cultural excursion at the iconic U Bein Bridge in Amarapura. Spanning 1.2 kilometres over Taungthaman Lake, the magnificent teak wood bridge is believed to be the longest of its kind in the world. Watch a glorious sunset and witness as the throngs of locals crossing the 150-year-old structure turn into perfect silhouettes against the vibrant sky. As twilight turns to night, return to the city for a last night in this magnificent country.