12 Days Breathtaking Myanmar with beach days

Upon arrival flight to Mandalay, SM travel guide will welcome you at Mandalay airport and driven to the city, a journey of about one hour. Our first visit is Shwe Nandaw Kyuang, also known as the Golden Palace Monastery, which is noted for its intricate wood carvings. Then visit Kayuk Taw Gyi Pagoda to view its huge marble Buddha. The marble is from Sagyin Quarry and took 10,000 men almost two weeks to transfer to its current location. Afterwards, visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ‘the world’s largest book’, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Afternoon sightseeing includes a visit to Zegyo market and some of Mandalay's cottage industries, such as weaving and kalaga tapestry-making, Burmese sweet-making, and bamboo fan-making near Eindaw Yar Pagoda. We spend our sunset at the top of Mandalay Hill, which rises 240 metres above the city.

Today exploration is to royal capital of Mandalay. Transfer to jetty to board a local private boat to Mingun. The visit begins at the famous Mingun Pahtodawqyi. This huge brick structure was left unfinished after an astrologer predicted the king would die should the temple be completed. Then, see the Mingun Bell which, weighing in at over 90 tons, is considered to be the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell. We transfer 15km to AVA (INWA), the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries. We visit the Bagaya Teak Monastery, over three hundred years old yet well preserved and still in use by local monks; the Nanmyin Watch Tower, the last standing structure of the Ava dynasty palace compound also known as the “Leaning Tower of Ava”; and we continue to the Ancient Kingdom Of Sagaing, located across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. The hills here are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. In the late afternoon, transfer to Ubein Bridge, silhouetted by the setting sun, is a magical experience and a photographer’s dream.

Early morning transfer to Mandalay train station and 3 hour train journey that crosses the famous Gokteik Viaduct, once the highest railway trestle in the world. It was constructed between 1899 and 1900 by Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge Construction to further expand British influence in Myanmar. This incredible train journey affords stunning vistas as the train trundles along at a snail’s pace. After disembarking from the train, continue drive to Pyin Oo Lwin, a former British hill station and enjoy a packed lunch at a Tea Plantation. Then, at the Botanical Gardens, we feast our eyes on the variety of flora available in the region. Just outside of Pyin Oo Lwin, we’ll stop at the View Restaurant. Located directly across a narrow valley from Dat Taw Gyi waterfalls, this is a fantastic spot to grab a coffee and get a final look at the beautiful scenery of the Pyin Oo Lwin region. Then, drive back to Mandalay.

After breakfast, transfer to Heho and fly to Nyaung U (Bagan).Start your tour to visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples in Bagan. These include the Shwezigon Pagoda, a huge gilded temple built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century and Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi-Inn), a 13th century temple with exquisite murals of the 'Jataka Tales' (scenes from the life of the Buddha). Continue to the eminent Ananda Temple; one of the finest and largest pagodas, with a 51-metre (170-foot) shimmering gold tip plus four huge standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. For sunset, Horse Cart Ride around the temples offers unparalleled photo opportunities of one of the richest archeological treasures in Southeast Asia as the sun dips behind the temple ruins.

Today the tour starts at 08:00 with a, visit to Bagan’s local villages. Start at the Nyaung Oo Morning Market where locals gather every day to buy and sell everything from fresh produce and meats to flowers and pottery. There are many food stalls and tea shops around, which provide the perfect vantage point for observing local culture. Then learn the interesting process of creating “Poneyay” (pea powder paste) and see how local plum jam is made and packed. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the beautiful Nat Htaung Kyaung, a monastery famous for wood carvings, built in 1781 by a group of monks. Admire the monastery's collection of ancient Buddha statues and lacquer boxes. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the Ayeyarwaddy River for a Private Sunset Cruise where local cocktails can be enjoyed on board along with views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore.

After breakfast, transfer to airport and take the flight to Heho. On the way to Inle Lake, we drop in to local workshop where Shan paper and parasols are made. Continue drive to Nyaung shwe jetty and board your private local boat to take you to your hotel. Inle Lake is simply magical. At 1000 meters elevation, the temperatures are pleasant, and the calm waters are dotted with Intha stilt house villages, floating vegetable gardens and fishing canoes, set against the back drop of the beautiful Shan hills. After checking into the hotel, we embark on afternoon explorations of Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes through Indaing village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Many pagodas here remain charmingly un renovated, with plants and even small trees growing out of them, making the area very atmospheric.

This morning, we visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, home to five gold leaf-covered Buddha figures, and the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. We also visit the boat construction workshop at Nampan village and stop to see some traditional handicrafts - silk weaving on wooden handlooms in Inpawkhon village, a cheroot-maker's workshop and a blacksmith's forge. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old. Return back to hotel, free and leisure. In the late afternoon, we enjoy magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.

After breakfast, transfer to Heho airport and fly to Thandwe (Ngapali Beach). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and enjoy beach holidays with facilities.

Realx on beach or optional activities: Beach Safari at Maung Shwe Lay – where ‘private beach’ for the day. This beautiful spot is a typical fishing village in the Rakhine State and is, due to its remote location, rarely visited by tourists.

Realx on beach or optional activities: Beach Safari at Maung Shwe Lay – where ‘private beach’ for the day. This beautiful spot is a typical fishing village in the Rakhine State and is, due to its remote location, rarely visited by tourists.

After breakfast, transfer to Thandwe airport and fly to Yangon. We will start from heart of Yangon which is colonial-style city center of Yangon. One the landmarks; Sule Paya stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and visit Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, to see Myanmar's wide range of handicrafts and souvenirs Continue to the Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed

Free and leisure at hotel until transfer to Yangon Int’l airport