Welcome to Myanmar. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by your guide who will accompany your trip in Yangon.
You will be taken to Sule Shangri-La Hotel for check-in.
Highlight: Visit the great Shwedagon Pagoda
- One of the largest religious monuments in the world. It offers picturesque views, colourful sights and a chance to explore a wide spectrum of historical values.
- Go up through a grand staircase where small shops are lining up all the way to the upper platform. Here, you will find Buddha images, monk robes, altars, offerings, incense and other unique Buddhist objects.
- At the platform, discover the world’s tallest pagoda standing at 100 metres high, literally enclosed in over 40 tonnes of gold leaves.
- The Shwedagon Pagoda is believed to be the most valuable treasure of Myanmar and is one of the most unforgettable trips for any visitor here.
You will be taken back to the hotel.
Lunch and dinner on own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Yangon Airport for your domestic flight to Bagan, which offers your first bird’s-eye view of pagodas, temples and fields.
Highlights:
- The rest of the day, your car and guide will be at your service. At your leisure, visit some of the temples and villages settled among the temple plains.
- If you have interest in local arts and crafts, visit two workshops producing Bagan’s most famous products – lacquerware and woodcrafts. Watch skilled craftsmen use traditional techniques passed down through generations to create beautiful items.
- In the afternoon, ride a horse cart past the tallest temple of Bagan, Thatbyinnyu, and the largest one called Dhammayangyi which is also noted for its remarkable brickwork, and the charming Sulamani Temple.
- At the end of your trip, you will have time to relax and enjoy a sunset over Bagan.
Lunch on own account and check-in to the hotel.
Option: Half Day by Electric scooter
On a battery-powered scooter, enjoy a quiet, smooth, and non-polluting ride to explore the sights of Bagan. Wander around Bagan’s ancient monuments of all shapes and sizes, and ride through the villages and farms where buses and cars cannot easily reach.
Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay at Aureum Palace Resort in Bagan.
Option: Balloon Flight over Bagan
In the morning, you will ride an exciting hot-air balloon above Bagan and surrounding villages. Discover a breath-taking panoramic view over the ancient land, as the sun rises over the Ayeyarwady River. (Only available from October/ November through March.)
Highlights:
- In the morning, begin your journey through the archaeological land with a welcome breakfast in the peacefully shaded gardens of the oldest lacquer warehouse in Bagan. Lacquerware is an art that began when the Pagodas of Bagan were first built in the 11th century and is still practiced today.
- After breakfast, visit the nearby Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta and the Ananda temple, built by King Kyansittha. These 11th century temples are two of the most famous archaeological monuments in Bagan.
Then, the crew will be ready to welcome you onboard the Strand Cruise. As your safety and security are our priority, a briefing will be conducted for the passengers prior to departure.
Mediterranean Lunch on the Strand Cruise.
After that, resume your tour by exploring the Bagan Heritage Trail. Return to the ship as the sun sets, and admire Bagan’s magnificent sights over the Ayeyarwady River from the sundeck with our special Strand signature cocktail. Passengers will be cordially invited to a “Myanmar Traditional Cultural Show”.
Myanmar Dinner on the cruise and overnight stay at the Strand Cruise.
(The activities and programme on the Strand Cruise are subject to change.)
Breakfast at the Strand Restaurant.
Highlights:
- Start cruising upstream toward Mandalay, enjoying upriver scenes and the fresh river breeze of Ayeyarwady. Throughout the trip, you will see the different views of Myanmar including fishermen, ferry boats and riverside villages.
- Don’t miss the numerous photo opportunities on the river. Feel free to relax, make yourself comfortable by the pool or enjoy the spa treatments.
Cruising lunch at the Strand Restaurant.
Traditional Strand Afternoon Tea will be served at the Strand Restaurant, followed by a lecture from a renowned speaker, subject to availability.
At sunset, our Cruise Manager invites you to enjoy a cocktail on the sundeck.
Overnight at the RV Strand Cruise.
(The activities and programme on the Strand Cruise are subject to change.)
The ship will cruise from morning to mid-afternoon to reach Ava, another Myanmar ancient capital. Throughout the morning, relax by the pool or participate in the activities and workshops on deck.
Breakfast in the Strand Restaurant. Then, a cooking demonstration at the Sarkies Bar followed by a traditional “Thanaka and Longyi demonstration” by the RV Strand crew on the sundeck. (Thanaka is Myanmar’s favourite natural cosmetic as well as sun cream. It has been used by for over 2,000 years. It has a fragrant scent like sandalwood.)
Thai lunch at the Sundeck/ Bar.
At Ava, where successive Burmese kings resided from the 14th to 19th centuries, horse carts will be waiting to take you on a pleasant ride through the naturally preserved landscape and its ancient monuments.
In the sunset time, enjoy a cocktail at the Sarkies Bar.
Barbecue dinner at Ayeyarwady Sandbank (subject to the seasonality and water level of the great river). If not, dinner will be served on board. Overnight at the Strand Cruise.
(The activities and programme on the Strand Cruise are subject to change.)
You will reach Mandalay. Breakfast in the Strand Restaurant.
Your morning visit will be to U-Bein Bridge, a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura. The bridge is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Continue the Mandalay Heritage Trail by visiting the great Mahamuni Buddha temple.
International Buffet Lunch at the Sarkies Bar.
Highlights:
- After lunch, continue to Mingun, another historical place with an interesting local community. You will see an unfinished extraordinary pagoda, one of the largest ever constructed in the history of Myanmar.
- Travel by popular local transportation, the Tuk Tuk. The pagoda is home to the great Mingun Bell, claimed to be the largest un-cracked hanging bell in the world. You will also visit Paya Hsinbyume, a remarkable pagoda that rises in seven curved whitewashed terraces representing the seven mountain ranges around Mt Meru, the mountain at the centre of the Buddhist universe.
In the evening, Sunset Cocktail on the Strand Cruise. And then, a crew presentation at the Sarkies Bar.
Signature Dinner at the Strand Restaurant.
(The activities and program from Strand Cruise are subject to change on their logistic issue.)
The cruise will end in the early morning at Mandalay. Subject to your flight timing, you will be transferred to the Mandalay Airport to fly to Heho.
Highlights:
- From Heho Airport, experience a lovely scenic one-hour drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake.
- Along the way, visit rural workshops that specialise in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas.
- Stop at the teak monastery of Shweyanpyay to explore the interesting wood carving artwork and craftsmanship of the monks there.
Lunch at View Point Restaurant in Nyaung Shwe. Then head back to your hotel for check-in.
You can also stop at Red Mountain Estate, a winery tucked in the Shan hills. Wander around the estate and taste some Myanmar wine while enjoying picturesque views of the region.
Reach your resort and spend the day experiencing the world-famous environment of Inle Lake.
Dinner at the hotel and overnight at Aureum Inle Resort.
Take a scenic one-hour boat trip along a small canal to visit the famous Pa-Oh ethnic village of Indein. Explore the village before going up through the staircase of the Indein pagoda complex, one of the most exciting sites in Inle region. At the top, witness the ancient Buddha images and hundreds of amazing stupa ruins.
Option: Shan Picnic in The Bamboo Forest
The Shan cuisine is one of Myanmar’s best! Enjoy a tasty Shan picnic in a wonderful bamboo forest of Indein. A splendid market, ancient pagodas and ruins will surround this unique “Dejeuner sur l’herbe”. A cosy picnic station will be laid on a natural woven palm mat, cold towels will be served upon arrival and you will comfortably sit on pillows.
Lunch at local restaurant in Indein.
Highlights:
- Visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery for its beautiful collection of Buddha images.
- You will then reach the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s holy island, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf.
- If you wish, take a break to witness the making of interesting woven items from lotus silk, boat building (depending on the work season), or cigar-making.
Return boat trip to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at the Aureum Inle Resort.
It’s time to take your joyful culinary adventure and learn to cook as a Intha (lake people) family!
Start by visiting the local market with our head chef for shopping of ingredients. Learn how to buy and deal with local sellers and about the ingredients being purchased. At the Viewpoint Kitchen, during your cooking class, you will also discover the aquaponic and biotic soilless garden which produces organic vegetables for the lodge’s dining outlets.
After that, you will have lunch at the greenhouse.
Highlights:
- In the afternoon, kayak on the tranquil waters flanked by high mountains, passing by small villages on stilts, vegetable farms and rowing fishermen that have become the symbol of the local Intha tribe.
- Paddle at leisure, from 30 minutes up to 2 hours. Your private boat will follow in the distance for you to take a break at any time. Kayaking is the best way to experience the lake and get in touch with its pristine nature.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Aureum Inle Resort.
After breakfast at the hotel, head to Heho Airport (1 hour) to fly to Yangon.
In Yangon, visit the Kyauktatgyi Pagoda where a 72-metre long reclining Buddha statue resides. It is the second largest of that type in Myanmar. After that, visit the Bogyoke Aung San Museum.
Lunch at Monsoon Restaurant.
Highlights:
- Start the tour of downtown Yangon on one of the main roads called Mahabandoola Road where the Immanuel Baptist Church, built by an American missionary in 1830, is located.
- You will pass impressive colonial buildings including High Court Building, Inland Water Transport Office and Port Authority until you reach Strand Road and see the Yangon River. Finish your tour back at Sule Pagoda and take a picture break at the twice-rebuilt City Hall.
The next visit will be to Bogyoke Market, also known as “Scott Market”. There are numerous local handicrafts, souvenirs and garments.
Notes:
The market is closed on Mondays, full moon and black moon days as well as during public holidays.
The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays as well as public holidays.
Dinner at Hotel Cafe’ Sule and overnight stay at the hotel.
Take an enjoyable drive to Kyaiktiyo, home to one of Myanmar’s most well-known landmarks. Renowned for its religious significance, the ‘Golden Rock’ is a massive boulder covered entirely in gold leaf and precariously balanced right on the edge of a jagged cliff. On the way, you will pass the Allied War memorial park near Htauk Kyan, the final resting place for over 27,000 allied soldiers where you can make a brief stop.
Highlights:
• Upon arrival in Kin Pun, a small town at the foot of the mountain, switch vehicles to a public local truck for a winding, exhilarating ride the top of the mountain. If you wish, you can get off half-way point and continue on foot all the way up. A challenging – yet rewarding – path to the summit (4 kilometres – around 45 minutes).
• Arriving at the Golden Rock, admire the gleaming rock and the views that surround it. The pagoda here is said to hold a hair of the Buddha and many pilgrims from all over Southeast Asia come here to worship. Watch as the sun sets overtop of Kyaiktiyo. Lunch at a local restaurant on the way to the Golden Rock and dinner at the hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel in Golden Rock. Notes: – The local trucks from Kinpun camp to the top will be very crowded and uncomfortable. The trucks won’t leave until they are stocked with passengers; we kindly ask for your patience.
Please note that you need to reach Kinpun at 5.30 PM at the latest to be sure to hop into the last truck to the summit.
– The Golden Rock Hotel is not located at the top but is a 45 minutes’ walk or 15 minutes’ drive from Golden Rock. After the visit of Golden Rock, guests will need to take the last truck leaving the summit at 18.00 – just after sunset – in order to reach their hotel. Distance and driving time: 190 kilometres – 5 hours
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the base camp by the same route and return to Yangon.
Highlights:
- On the return, if time allows, stop in Bago to stretch your legs and explore this former capital of the Mon kingdom. Browse through the colourful local market where vendors sell flowers, produce and spices.
- Your exploration of Bago will continue to the thousand-year old Shwemawdaw Pagoda which features a spire taller than the one of Shwedagon Pagoda.
- Continue the sightseeing tour to the 55-metre long Shwe Tha Lyaung Buddha, which is recognised as one of the country’s most extraordinary images. You can also visit Hin Thar Kone Pagoda which has some interesting Nat figures and offers views over Bago from its upper platform.
Back in Yangon, you will reach your hotel where you will enjoy a relaxing night.
Note:
Distance and driving time: 190 kilometres – 5 hours
It’s time to say that your vacation has successfully completed, and you will forever be thanked by the charming people of Myanmar. You will drive to Yangon International Airport and proceed to the check-in of your flight back.
Lunch on own account.
Note: Please book an evening flight from Yangon.
