Rondreis Myanmar | The Highlights

Arrive at the international airport of Yangon and meet your guide and driver outside the arrival hall. Transfer to the hotel in the city.
The rest of the day remains free.

After breakfast, you will take the public ferry to Dala on the Yangon River. During the 15‐minute drive, you’ll have the opportunity to observe the hustle and bustle of the pier and riverbank. You’ll then have plenty of time to actively discover the area during a traditional bike rickshaw ride which will lead you past the local fish market and Burmese tea shops, before travelling to the neighbourhood primary school. Interact with the locals during your stops, laugh with children and maybe even sample some special spices in the markets. Take the ferry back to Yangon, enjoy ‘High Tea’ at the Strand Hotel, which dates from 1896 and was once known as the ‘leading hotel in the East’, take a stroll through the Bahan market and, in the late afternoon, climb the steps up to the world‐famous Shwedagon Pagoda, which Somerset Maugham described as follows: “The Shwedagon rose superb, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city”. This massive, bell‐shaped stupa rises 100 metres above its hilltop surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, temples and Buddha images and observe religious and secular visitors from all over the world. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the pagoda.

Transfer to airport for your morning flight to Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma. Upon arrival, cross the Ava Bridge towards Sagaing, located 21 kilometres south‐west of Mandalay, and visit the Sagaing Hills, a place of refuge for devout Buddhists, with its various pagodas, monasteries and convents. Visit the village of Sagaing at the foot of Sagaing Hill, with its markets, shops and restaurants; the Tilawkaguru Cave Monastery, with its murals; the Umin Thounzeh cave complex, with its 45 Buddha statues; and the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, which was built in 1312. This location offers outstanding views of Sagaing. Lunch with the monks or nuns, who will provide you with a glimpse of everyday life within a monastery.
In the afternoon, travel to Amarapura: the ‘City of Immortality’. Along with the surviving pagodas, the ancient silk‐ and cotton‐weaving tradition using handlooms is very much alive there. You will visit a mill where weaving is still performed using handlooms, take a rowing boat across Taungthaman Lake to the picturesque village of Taungthaman, and return at sunset to Amarapura via the U Bein bridge, which, at 1,200 metres in length, is one of the world’s longest teakwood bridges.

After breakfast explore the city center by motorcycle rickshaws and go for a stroll around the vast Zegyo Market, which was originally designed in 1903 by an Italian architect. The Zegyo Market is a trading centre that connects the cities of upper and lower Myanmar. Various local and imported goods (mostly from China and Thailand) are traded here. The old, Italian‐style market was destroyed and rebuilt with a modern design. The clock tower next to the Zegyo Market was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1903. Afterwards, visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, which was originally built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya; its gilded Mahamuni Buddha, the oldest Buddhist statue in Myanmar; and some of the famous craft workshops (wood carvings, marble workshops or gold leaf production). In the afternoon, visit the Shwenandaw Monastery, which is famous for its exquisite wooden carvings, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which, owing to its stone tablets with Buddhist inscriptions, is famous for containing the world’s largest book. Later on, enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill, a vantage point offering panoramic views of the city.

After breakfast drive to Pakokku (approx. four hours). En route stop in some villages to get a glimpse of the everyday lives of the people in this rural area. Upon arrival in Pakokku, you’ll visit the market and its vibrant goings‐on, a typical cigar‐making shop and a traditional hand‐weaving workshop. A trishaw tour guarantees you a pleasant glimpse of what life is really like in this bustling town. In the afternoon travel by private boat along the mighty Ayeyarwady River towards Bagan (approx. two hours).

You will be picked up at your hotel around 8:00 a.m. Your guide will accompany you as you explore Bagan by E‐roller – a city whose foundations were laid in the 2nd century AD and which was the Burmese royal capital until the 14th century. This is the biggest archaeological site – and the richest in terms of historical structures – in Southeast Asia. Many people find it even more impressive than the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia. Nowadays, Bagan is a village that exudes an endless sense of tranquillity. The local inhabitants mostly make their living from agriculture and the production of lacquerware. You will constantly have wonderful views of the Bagan plains; countless pagodas and temples line the riverbanks. Picnic lunch near the ruins.

Enjoy a day in Bagan at leisure.

After breakfast, travel to Mount Popa (approx. 11⁄2 hours travel time). On the way, visit several villages and see how sap is extracted from palm trees and then converted into palm sugar. You will visit the large, extinct volcano. The solitary volcanic peak of Mount Popa, rising out of the shimmering heat, is home to Myanmar’s most powerful ‘nats’ (spirits). Visit the Nat Museum and its life‐size statues of the 37 nat gods. Climb the steps to the stupas and shrines on the summit above the museum and encounter many pilgrims on the way. Then continue to Thazi (approx. four hours).

After an early breakfast walk to the train station (10 minutes) for the train to Kalaw, by 141UP (Etd: 07:00 / Eta: 13:35). The route from Thazi to Kalaw is one of the most scenic routes in Myanmar. The ride through the mountains is an experience you will not forget so quickly. Upon arrival transfer to Hillock Villa for check‐in. Rest of the day free at your own leisure.

Leave the hotel at 8:00 am and drive by pickup truck to Lamine (approx. 45 minutes), a rural Danu village and the starting point for your 2‐day soft adventure trek to Inle Lake. Walk through the village and continue for half an hour downhill, with an altitude difference of 100 m. Enjoy the grassy rice terraces surrounding you. Keep a slow steady pace, cross a small stream and walk for half an hour uphill, with an altitude difference of 200 m. Immerse yourself in the spectacular mountain view from the peak and continue for one hour more along the ridge and its wondrous scenery to Pawke, a typical Pa‐O village. This village is about 6 km from Lamine. People from Pa‐O villages make their living from growing rice, chili peppers, sesame and potatoes. From here, continue the trek for another hour (3 km) to Kone Hla, a Danu village. A delicious meal will be served at the welcoming home of a local family. After lunch, continue the last 3 hours’ trek (7 km) of the day to Pattupauk, which is 1,300 m above sea level. The route will pass mostly through rice fields and pine trees across the isolated mountains. Upon arrival, take a short rest and walk around the village to see how people make baskets from bamboo. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the home of a local family in Pattupauk.

Depart from Pattupauk at 7:00 am for your spectacular trip to Inle Lake, 900 m above sea level. Follow a small trail for half an hour on a flat route, continue another hour downhill (with an altitude difference of 300 m) along a scenic hillside and walk uphill for 45 minutes (with an altitude difference of 200 m) to Nanyoke, a Pa‐O village about 7 km from Pattupauk. Stop for a short coffee break while meeting welcoming local people from the village.
From here, walk for one hour (3 km) along a relaxing path with old banyan trees on the way, before the path becomes rocky and you get the first glimpse of the lake. Continue downhill for another hour (3 km), with an altitude difference of 200 m, through a small jungle. Walk with care and enjoy the view of Inle Lake. During the last 30 minutes (2 km), you will pass through an enchanting bamboo forest until you reach Tonele’ for lunch. The small restaurant is located in the bamboo forest ‐ the perfect place to sit and rest at the end of the trek. In the afternoon, take a thrilling boat ride to Nyaung Shwe (approx. 1 hour), a small town on the north‐eastern shore of Inle Lake.

Boat trip along Inle Lake (25 km in length), which is known for its one‐man boats, floating gardens, fishermen and the village life out on the water. Today, you will also learn why the famous Shan crackers are so popular with the Burmese people. You will visit a small Intha village to help a family make the popular Shan crackers, which will then be offered for sale at the market. Traditional lunch with an Intha family. In the afternoon, you will take a ride in a small canoe through the floating gardens. The floating flowerbeds are tied together in shallow water, which is mostly only around 3 meters deep, and produce an abundance of fruits which can be harvested several times a year.

Morning boat excursion to Indein (approx. one‐hour journey) through a beautiful countryside of tall grasses and little water steps, to view the historical Bagan‐ and Shan‐style pagodas built during the Bagan period. The decaying pagodas, hidden in bushes, officially date back to the 12th‐13th century. Afternoon transfer to Heho Airport and return flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to Park Royal Hotel, check‐in and overnight stay.

You will have the morning free. Explore the Burmese metropolis on your own! If you’re feeling in the mood and want to experience the Burmese culture up close, then just take an interesting tour on the public ‘City Circular Train’ (circular railway) or a leisurely stroll through the Bogyoke market (closed Mondays and public holidays) for some last‐minute shopping. There is a wide range of items for sale, including: wooden carvings, bronze statues, lacquer, mother‐of‐pearl cutlery, longyis and much more. Afternoon transfer to airport for your return flight.