Day 1: Yangon Arrival

Mingalabar and welcome to Myanmar! The former capital Yangon, also known as Rangoon, remains Myanmar largest city and continues to be the country's the most important commercial hub and gateway for most of its international visitors. Its colonial background and religious legacy make it one of the most mesmerizing and genuine places in all of Southeast Asia. Upon arrival at the airport you be warmly welcomed by your guide and driver and transferred to your hotel. The room will be at disposal from 13:30 on. The balance of the day is free. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: Morning City Walking Tour – Yangon sightseeing (B)

In the morning, You’ll be taken downtown and start your tour on Mahanbandola Road where the Immanuel Baptist Church, originally built in 1830, is located. Continue east passing a couple of alleyways crammed with food stalls and markets. Turn right onto Pansodan Street with its many stalls selling second-hand and photocopied books. You’ll pass the High Court Building, the grand Inland Water Transport offices and even grander Myanma Port Authority building until you’ll reach Strand Road. Your next stop will be the majestic Strand Hotel in order to get a better look at the Pansodan Jetty and examine the hustle and bustle on the Yangon River. Walk along Strand Road until you’ll see the Customs House and the Law Court, an impressive-looking colonnaded building. Turn north onto boisterous Bank Street and up onto Sule Pagoda Road, where you can consult one of the many fortune tellers who hang out under the trees. Be sure to make a photo stop at Sule Pagoda, downtown’s symbol whose construction dates back to over 2,000 years ago standing in the middle of the heat-stained Mahabandoola Garden. After a complete rotation seeing the twice rebuilt City Hall continue west down Mahanbandoola Road through the chaotic Indian and Chinese quarters. Explore the gold shops of Shwe Bontha Street and have a look from outside at the Moseh Yeshua Synagogue on 26th street. You’ll reach Theingyi Zei market, where you can engage in a little pickled-snake hunting. Exit onto Anawratha Road until you crash into the Sri Kali temple.    Then, enjoy a trip to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda to see a 70 meter long reclining Buddha statue around the size of a blue whale. Most countries and cultures have examples of what might be termed “quintessentially……” and the drinking of tea can certainly be describes as “quintessentially Burmese”. To share in this staple of Myanmar living, a visit to the Modern Tea Shop is a must. Here, in addition to the obvious “cuppa”, you will also find a wide choice of delicious morsels to sample while you soak up the atmosphere and observe the locals as they use the drinking of tea as a backdrop to both social and professional conversations. You should also be alert to the slightly unusual way that the tea is made. Afterwards, you continue. No Myanmar expedition can be considered truly great if it’s lacking a visit to the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda. Ready for an amazing experience? The visual delights present there alone, are worth the trip. Witness the colors transform on the 100-meter chedi which is literally enclosed in over 40 tons of gold leaf. Shwedagon is largely considered to be the most important religious site for the Burmese; most visitors report that the trip is extremely memorable and still etched into their minds. Descend the eastern stairway to find a row of shops at the base of the temple selling various religious items. Here you will find monks robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense and other unique Buddhist objects. As your browse the stalls your guide will explain the use and rituals of Myanmar’s Buddhist people. Next turn down a hidden laneway to discover a busy market tucked amid a labyrinth of small alleys. Fresh produce, rice, noodles and a variety of dry goods are on sale in this atmospheric little market. After sunset head on to Chinatown for a change of scenery and check out the dragons and incense of the colorful Khen Hock Keong Chinese temple. Explore the vibrant street stalls where vendors sell all kinds of fruit, vegetable and other goods or simply just walk around and soak in the atmosphere of this little China in Yangon. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Yangon - Bagan sightseeing (B)

In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arival, your guide will pick you up to discover the best of Bagan today! Not simply a chance to see the splendid Bagan temples, this excursion also introduces you to the Burmese culture, allows you to see traditional craftsmen at work and takes you up the mighty Irrawaddy River to a decidedly unusual ‘cave’ temple! Your fist port of call is an elevated temple with its panoramic views of the Bagan plains. This viewpoint will give you a taste of the sheer number of temples as well as some of their distinctive styles. From here you will have a look around the Ananda Temple – one of the most exalted of Bagan’s temples. We will ensure that our tour reaches this point before the majority of tourist arrive, enabling you to enjoy the splendor of the temple in relative tranquility. Continue to various other temples dotted around the temple plains to experience a variety of architectural styles in the area as well as the artistic wonder of the 9-14th centuries. Traveling amid the temples you will get a taste of rural Bagan life in this ‘living museum’ setting where farmers and families work amongst the monuments. In the afternoon, visit some more interesting temples in Bagan before drive to the jetty where a private wooden river boat awaits you. Sitting either under the shade or on the open-deck you’ll be treated to fabulous views as you cruise down the Irrawaddy River. You’ll cruise past several small villages, fishermen, local boats and of course many of the ubiquitous Myanmar Buddhist temples. The views of Bagan from the river are particularly spectacular and offer a different perspective from the land based tours. As the sun begins to sink slowly from view, you will prepare to disembark before being driven back, greatly relaxed, to your hotel for the evening. The perfect end to a busy day of sightseeing in Bagan! Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Bagan.

Day 4: Bagan sightseeing (B)

In the early morning around 5.am, our Balloons over Bagan bus will pick you up at the hotel transfer you to the launch site. As the pilots prepare the balloons for flight, tea and coffee will be served to help you wake up. Then climb into the basket for a remarkable flight. The balloon soars above the temple plains providing birds-eye views of the temples, villages and farms, the Irrawaddy River and distant hills. You’ll fly for around 45-60 minutes (depending upon wind conditions) and then touch-down in a field where a champagne toast and light breakfast is served. Return to your hotel by bus. (Total experience is approximately 2.5-3 hours)

After breakfast at your hotel, your guide and driver will pick you up to start your Bagan excursion. It’s off to the vibrant Nyaung Oo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily. From here you will have a look around the Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious memorial. Travel over dusty lanes and tree shaded roads past temples and monasteries to a small village. Explore the village on foot, getting a glimpse of local lifestyles of Bagan’s residents. Continue to more lesser-known monuments, selected based on your interest, in the area for the remainder of the morning. If you wish, a short walk can be arranged through a series of smaller monuments which allows for a unique perspective of Bagan. From here you will journey for an excursion that passes Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, and of course, Sulamani Temple. Take pleasure in an extraordinary sunset from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples.  Lunch and Dinner on own account. Overnight stay in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan - Yangon (B)

You will be transferred (without guide) to the airport for the flight to Yangon. Upon arrive in Yangon, you will wait at the airport until your next flight back home / next destination. Meals on your own.

SERVICES END.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Services included

• Accommodation on shared twin room basis with daily breakfast
• Meals as mentioned in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D= Dinner)
• Activities and sightseeing as mentioned in the program
• English speaking guide (station guides)
• Ground transportation with air conditioned vehicle (where available) with drivers.
• Entrance fees for visits mentioned in the program (except camera fees)
• 1 bottle of water per day and refreshing towels on touring days

Services excluded

• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry etc.)
• Early check in and late check out from hotel
• Tips for guides, driver and other suppliers
• Any other services/items not mentioned in inclusions
• Visa for Myanmar (arranged by clients)
• International airfare
• Domestic airfares with either Air Bagan, Yangon Airways, Asian Wings or Air KBZ (please refer to the airfare table)