11 DAYS, COUNTRY’S SONG

Itinerary

Itinerary in details:

DAY 1: ARRIVAL YANGON (L, D)

On your arrival at Yangon international air port, welcome and transfer to your hotel. After having a short rest, walk in the Yangon bustling streets, see the colossal Reclining Buddha Image (Chaukhtatgyi – Myanmar second largest) and visit one of the world’s wonder Shwedagon Pagoda.  
Lunch and Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel in Yangon.

DAY 2: YANGON / INLE LAKE (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Heho. On arrival transfer to Nyaung Shwe through scenic Shan plateau. Visit Shweyanpyay monastery and Shan prince’s palace.  Continue by boat to your hotel in Inle lake. Afternoon visit floating gardens of tomatoes and chilly, and see the afternoon activities of this hard working villagers. Overnight at your hotel on the Lake.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel.  

DAY 3: INLE LAKE (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. Full day excursion on the lake:  one of the village’s market day, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the Intha floating villages and their cottage industries – such as blacksmith, silversmith, cigar making, silk and lotus weaving, bamboo umbrella and paper making, etc, their traditional fishing technique, Nga Phe Chaung Monastery housing the most beautiful Shan style thrones and Buddha Images. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. 
Lunch at a local restaurant during the visit. 
Dinner at hotel 
Overnight at your hotel. 

DAY 4:  INLE LAKE / PINDAYA / KALAW  (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, drive through scenic Shan plateau to Pindaya, a small town of Pa O tribe. Visit Aung Ban Market en route. Arrive Pindaya in the late morning after the visit of bamboo hats making. After lunch have a walk to the Sin Gaung village through the forest of hundreds years old Banyan trees. Drive up to Pindaya Cave where centuries old thousands of Buddha Images in different style are enshrined.  Walk down from this lime stone cave for the departure to Kalaw, one of the hill stations of British colonial time. After check in your hotel, have a walk through this peaceful cool town, visit the Hnee Phaya and see the colonial houses in their big beautiful gardens. 
Lunch at a local restaurant to taste the delicious Pa O cuisine. 
Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel in Kalaw.  

DAY 5: KALAW / POPA / BAGAN (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit the Kalaw Market where Palaung people from the nearby mountain comes down to barter.  Continue your journey to Popa, the driving goes through from the tropical forested highland to dessert like plain. See the seasonal farming of villagers and their typical houses along the road. Arrive Kyauk Padaung and visit its market to see the local products of the middle Myanmar.  Proceed to Mt. Popa, the oasis of this dry region, climb the 775 steps to the Pagodas at the top of Mt. Popa to see the views of forests and the surrounding low country.  Continue your driving to Bagan. Stop along the way to visit a small village and its toddy palm and palm sugar industry. Arrive in Bagan in the late afternoon. 
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

DAY 6: BAGAN (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel.  Full day visit of a 11th to 13th century Archaeological Zone: Shwezigon – proto type of Myanmar stupa, Gubyauk Gyi – 13th century finest mural paintings, and Htilominlo – the finest stucco carving. Then continue to visit Nagayon temple – late 11th century standing Buddha Image protecting by Dragons, proceed to New Bagan to visit a lacquer ware workshop. Afternoon visit the Saraba gate – 9th century masonry city gate, Ananda – most beautiful temple in Bagan, Ananda Okkyaung – 17th century mural painting, Mingaba Gubyaukgyi – early 12th century mural paintings, Manuha and Nan Phayar – one of the two sand stone temples in Bagan, sunset from a temple’s terrace or optional horse cart ride among the temples during sunset.  
Lunch at local restaurant on the Ayeyarwaddy River bank. 
Puppet show and Dinner at a local restaurant. 
Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 7: BAGAN  / RIVER CRUISE (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel.  Optional sunrise view from a temple terrace. Morning walk along the temples avenue: from Mimalaung Kyaung to Pahtotharmyar, Nat Hlaung Kyaung, Ngekywe Nadaung, and Thetbinnyu temple – the highest temple  in Bagan, and Shwegugyi temple – famous for Bagan style Buddha Statue. Transfer to the jetty to embark on the R.V. Pandaw1947 in the late morning. Cruise up stream on the Ayeyarwaddy River with a stop at a typical village. 
Lunch and dinner on board. 
Overnight in your cabin on board. 
Note: The departure is only on Tuesday and Friday. 

DAY 8: RIVER CRUISE (B, L,D)
Breakfast on board.  Full day cruising up stream to Mandalay with a stop at a typical Myanmar village. 
Lunch and dinner on board. 
Overnight in your cabin on board. 

DAY 9: RIVER CRUISE / MANDALAY (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board. The cruise arrives Manddalay in the mid morning. Transfer from the jetty to your hotel in Mandalay. Afternoon visit of the Myanmar’s last royal city:  Shwenandaw Monastery – to see masterpiece of 19th century royal woodcarving, and Kuthodaw Pagoda – which enshrined 729 marble slabs of Buddhist scriptures, bustling market of Zegyo to see the commercial centre of this city, Mahamuni Buddha Image – the most revered Image in Myanmar covered in 2cm thick of gold leaf, Shwe Inn Bin monastery – fine teak wood carving, gold leaf making workshop, and embroidery (kalaka) making.  Sunset view from the Mandalay Hill.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel.  

DAY 10: MANDALAY / YANGON (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive to Amarapura an ancient capital of Myanmar Kings during 18th and early 19th century to have an extraordinary experience of Myanmar Theravada Buddhism in Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand of monks live. Have a walk on the 200 years old U Bein Bridge built across the Taung Thaman lake with the support of hundreds of teak wood posts. Enjoy the local people picnic spot where tea shops are laid down under the shady big trees on the shore of the lake. Before proceed to Inwa visit a silk weaving workshop to see the weavers’ skilful fingers running among the looms. Cross the Myit Nge River by ferry, then take a local pony cart to stroll around this ancient capital of Myanmar kings since 15th century. Climb up the 19th century Nan Myint Tower to see the view of old city wall and mote, walk through the compound of Menu Okkyaung –  a 19th century fine masonry monastery,  see the huge teak posts of Bagaya Monastery – another 19th century wooden building but still serves as an active monastery with learning kids and teaching chef monk. From there transfer to the airport for an evening flight to Yangon. 
Picnic lunch.
Dinner at hotel. 
Overnight at your hotel.

DAY 11: YANGON (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit the spice market in Indian town, inter-connecting with the shop keepers who are eager to show you their numerous kinds of goods. From there walk ten minutes to the famous Bogyoke Aung San Market where one can find all kinds of everything - from Myanmar exotic snack to precious Mogok Rubies, enjoy among the city people’s shopping. Continue visit to the Naga Glass factory where all the glass wares are made by hands.  Afternoon stroll around the bustling China town’s famous food shops and see the oldest Chinese temple in town before transfer to the airport for your international departure flight. 
Lunch at a local restaurant