15 DAYS, ETHNIC MYNAMAR

Itinerary

Itinerary in details:

DAY 1 : YANGON ARRIVAL
Arrival (evening), welcome dinner with Traditional performance.
Overnight in Yangon.

DAY 2 : YANGON
Visit Great Shwedagon Pagoda, the landmark of Myanmar, and Watch the devotional activities from the Pagoda Platform. Then Continue to Karaweik Floating Hall to learn the Architectural Work of Pilaster, and view the Great Pagoda through the Royal Lake. Drive to Chaukhtutgyi Reclining Buddha Image and learn the daily life of Buddhist Monks in the Monastery Compound. Drive to the center of town and view the remains of British Victoria Style Monuments. Walk along the riverfront and continue to Botahtaung Pagoda.
Dinner and overnight in Yangon.

DAY 3 : FROM YANGON TO KYAINGTON
Flight to Kyaington, The capital of Eastern Shan State. Transfer to Motel by the most experienced trekking guide. Afternoon sightseeing in the town on foot, learn the Shan lacquer ware work and sunset from Mt Naungton.
Dinner and overnight in Kyaington.

DAY 4 : TREKKING TO AHKHAR TRIBAL VILLAGE
Morning visit Central market to see the colorful minorities of Northern Shan State. Then continue to Buffalo’s market to learn the purchasing of animals. After this proceed to Mount Pintauk about 12.5 mile from motel to start trekking to Ann tribal village. These people always colored their teeth by the resin of medicinal plants, and trees. Then proceed to waterfall, and Lahu villages to study the daily life of the tribal people. Dinner and overnight at Motel.

DAY 5 : TREKKING TO ARCHI AND EIKAW TRIBAL VILLAGES
This morning we are trekking to Hokyin village where Akhar tribal people live. The base of the mountain is about 13 miles from the motel, and trekking to Hokyin village. The dressing of Akhar tribal peoples are very similar to those of people who live in the Northern Thailand called Ekaw people. On our return stop at Baizin village to study the cottage industry of Kanbawza Shan People such as sword, knifes, and betel nut cutters. Dinner and overnight in Kyaigton.

DAY 6 : FROM KYAINGTON TO INLE.
Flight for Heho . Transfer to Nyaungshwe and drive to Golden Island Cottage hotel by small boat. (If time allowed watch the fish catching, and floating garden on which vegetable, fruits, and flowers are grown). Dinner and overnight at Golden Island Cottage Hotel.

DAY 7 : INLAKE
Explore in and around the lake by small boat. Learn the life of fishermen, floating gardens on which fruits, flowers, and vegetables are grown. Visit Nampan market or Ywama floating market or another one (depend on five days’ movement) to watch the colorful minorities of Shan State. Phaungdawoo Pagoda is right in the center of the lake and famous for it’s five shapeless Buddha Images heavily gilded with gold . Then continue to floating village to learn the daily life of Inta people. Visit Silversmith, Handloom weaving in Einpawkone village, and boat making. Ngahpechaung Monastery is famous for its’ well trained jumping cats. Dinner and overnight in Inle.

DAY 8 : TREKKING TO PAO AND DANU TRIBAL VILLAGES
Trekking from Nanpan village to Mine Khut, and Panpyin village where the PaO Tribal lives. Again continue to Tak Gyi, and Donthkhut village to view the Taungyoe tribal people. There are not very many houses but very remote. Proceed to Htine village located on the peak of the mountain from where view the panorama of Lake Inle. Htine is the village which is the mid way to Katku. Return to Hotel for dinner and overnight in Inle.

DAY 9 : DRIVE TO PINDAYA
Drive to Pindaya, stop at five days tribal market, and Taungyoe tribal village en route. Again visit Pindaya Cave in which thousands of Buddha Images are adorned at every corner and niche of the cave. Then continue to Ngetphawtaw village to see the bamboo umbrella making. Yechansin village is famous for it’s local product Bamboo hats. Dinner and overnight in Pindaya.

DAY 10 : DRIVE TO KALAW AND TREKKING TO PALAUNG TRIBAL VILLAGE
After breakfast visit to the market and watch the daily life of the Shan tribal people. Then drive to Kalaw and start trekking to Tayaw Palaung (Silver Palaung) village. These Palaung people are called Golden Palaung. View the tealeaf plantation, and Thanatphet of which is used for Burmese Cheroot. Visit new village, and drop at monastery. Again visit Long tent in which ten or more families are living together. Walk back to Kalaw, and dinner and overnight in Kalaw.

DAY 11 : FROM (KALAW) TO MANDALAY
Overland drive to Mandalay. Stop at Monastery and village to learn the monastic education and the country life. Sometime enjoy the unpredictable celebration such as noviciation ceremony, weeding ceremony held at the village en route. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 12 : VISIT MANDALAY AND AMARAPURA
Visit Kuthotaw Pagoda, the world largest book, then learns the Gold leaf beating. Drive to Mahagandayon monastery to study the life of Buddhist monks, and stop at picnic site U Bein Bridge. After that visit Mahamuni Pagoda known as Arankaneese Pagoda, and learn the Silk weaving in Amarapura. The quick discovery of Sagging includes Thameikhtaw Nunnery, Ywahtaung village for silver ware making, and earthen pot making. View the panorama and sunset from the top of Sagaing hill. Dinner at local restaurant and enjoy the Marionette show. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY 13 : BOAT TRIP ALONG MAJESTIC AYEYAWADDY RIVER
Early morning Boat trip along Majestic Ayeyawaddy with the ferryboat Bagan. This river is the longest River in Myanmar and still useful for Island Water Transportation, and sometimes cut-teak wood logs are floating down along the River until it reach the Saw Mill or Export Center. The boat stops at every village and town to load and unload the goods and cargoes. Transfer to Hotel and if time allowed watch the sunset from the top of one Temple.

DAY 14 : BAGAN
The culture tour begins with Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar Stupa then visit Nyaung Oo local market to watch the people of surrounding, proceed to Gawdawpalin Temple and Htilominlo Temple, well noted for its pilaster work, proceed to Dhamanyangyi Temple, famous for its fine brick work, continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural crowing achievement of Bagan. Thatbyinnyu Temple is the most tallest temple Bagan and built in the middle of 12th century. Visit Sulamani Temple to study the finest brickwork. Visit Minnanthu Village to learn the village life. Stop at Phayathonesu Temple to study the early frescos of Bagan period, and Climb Tayokepyay Temple to view the panorama of surrounding area and enjoy the sunset. overnight in Bagan.

DAY 15 : FLY BACK TO YANGON AND DEPARTURE
Fly for Yangon and visit to Visit in the downtown, and proceed to National Museum to watch the royal Regalias of the Last King that are made of gold and richly studded with precious stones such as Rubies, Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, Oriental Topaz…Last minute shopping at Scotch Market and departure in the evening…