The gold leaf

Breakfast at your hotel.

« Mingalaba, ! » (Hello !)

After a good night of rest and a delicious breakfast it is time to explore the country ! Let’s start with the amazing market of Zegyio for a first immersion into the local life.

Enjoy the colorful stands of tropical fruits, the smiling vendors and don’t be surprised to see most women with painted cheeks. The « Tanaka » powder is applied most of the time in cercles on cheeks as a beauty sign for over 2000 years.

Continue the visit of this morning at Mandalay hill. Your car will drive you all the way up to the hill dominating the city. From there, take a lift to access the top of the pagoda and enjoy an amazing view point over the whole rgion.

Back to the hotel to refresh before heading to the afternoon visits.

This afternoon, your driver drops you off at the Kyauktawgyi pagoda. A short walk will lead you to the Sandmuni pagoda and then to the spectacular Kuthodaw pagoda : in the middle of hundreds of bright white stupas, the main stupas named Kuthadow measures 57 meters high. The legend says it hides the largest book in the world. This site is also a spot which is appreciated by local families and friends to meet over a pic nic while kids play hide and seek behind the stupas !

Continue the exploration going to the King Mindon’s house : an architectural jewel. Meet your driver at King Mindon’s house and drive back to your hotel.

Overnight in Mandalay

Breakfast at your hotel.

Today, departure to Amarapura aind Sagaing, located south of Mandalay.

Head to Amarapura. This city is still well know today for its Mahar Gandar Yone monastery (with 1200 monks living there).  During your visit, you will witness the daily life of a buddhist monastery. Take your time to chat with monks : they will be happy to asnwer your questions and even more happy to ask questions about you too !

From the monastry, have a quick walk to reach U Bein bridge so you can see it from the East bank of the river.

Get back in the car for a quick drive to Sagaing crosing the great river.

Sagaing is a former royal capital but above all it is the spiritual heart of the country with 600 buddhist monasteries where more than 3000 monks live.

Visit Soon U Ponya Shin. It is located on the top of a green hill, above the Ayeyarwaddy river. The view from there offers to see all the temples’ golden roofs : it is absolutely amazing !

Lunch in a restaurant in Sagaing.

After lunch, your car drives you to the West bank of the river. Drop off at Kyauktawgyi pagoda and from there walkl to the West side of U Bein bridge. Built in 1782, it is the longest teak-wood bridge in the world (1.2KM). In the afternoon the ligh there is absolutely magical with the bridge reflecting on the lake.

Back to Mandalay at the end of the visits.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Today is dedicated to the visits of Bagan’ temples and pagodas.

Quick car ride to drop you at Alotawpi temple. Frtom thre, have a short walk to reach the spectacular Htilominlo temple which is chronologically the last of the « great temples » of Bagan. IT was built between 1211 and 1218 by the king to honor his crowning.  4 amazing statues of Buddha are placed in the 4 cardinal points of this temple offering a quite unique architecture.

Continue to the site of Khe Ming which is very photogenic.

Back to your hotel for lunch at leisure followed by time at leisure to rest and refresh. It can be really hot in Bagan so the visits are concentrated in the mroning and second half of the afternoon in order to avoid the highest peak of heat.

This afternoon, visit the Shwesandaw pagoda, built to host some hair of Buddha.
End today’s visits with the de Buphaya pagoda with  its bulbous shaped dome.  It used to be painted in white but now the walls are entirely covered with gold leafs. From there you can enjoy a wondeful sunset on the river.

Continue to the very popular Bu Phaya with its great golden tupa overlooking the river : a great spot for sunset !

Overnight in Bagan.

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning, start with the visit of Dhamma Ya Za Ka temple : this stunning pagoda has something special : a special feeling, a special atmosphere … it is hard to describe it verbally. For sure, this pagoda is probably the most photogenic of all.

Short car ride to reach the Lawkananda pagoda (which is not accessible) and from there, cross the market and continue for a short while to reach your lunch restaurant overlooking the river : you have from the restaurant a great view point to enjoy.

Lunch in a restauant located on the banks of the Irrawadi river.

Drive back to your hotel to rest and refresh.

Once the temperature cools down, depart to the Manuha temple : a buddhist sanctuary located in the village of Myinkaba. This temple hosts 3 statues of Buddha seating and another one of Buddha laying down. One says that only the laying Buddha smiles, showing that for the king Manuha only death could liberate him from his sufferings.

At sunset, reach the Nyaung Lat Phet sunset point for a great spot to enjoy the light fading.

Overnight in Bagan.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Departure to another region of Myanmar. Embark a 45mn flight to Heho, the main city of Inle lake ‘ region.

Arrive in late morning. Have a first stop in an umbrella traditional workshop. Umbrellas are hand made in different colors and various sizes. You can awtch the fabrication process and why not purchase an umbrealla as a nice decorating souvenir.

Check-in at your hotel and time to refresh.

Your hotel is ideally located by the lake. Enjoy the peaceful atmoshpere of this great location !

Overnight in Inle.

Breakfast at your hotel.

Full day at leisure to enjoy your amazing hotel and relax.

Overnight in Inle.

Breakfast at your hotel.

This moring, head to the handicraft market of Yangon. This market offers a great variety of souvenirs, jewels, fabrics (you will find a great range of female or male « Longyis » which is the traditional long skirt which is still worn by most of the Burmese people).

Continue to the food market. Every day of the week, vendors sell colorful fruits, tasty vegetable but also fish, meat and spices.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Back to your hotel to reresh and relax.

In the afternoon, departure to the most famous and probably the most amazing pagoda of the country : the Shwedagon pagoda. It is the first religious site of Myanmar.

Locals come here to pray and honor Buddha, to thank the « nats », and to please the gods for a good future. Water is much used in the offering rituals. The prayers are made in walking around the pagoda. But this pagoda is also a place where locals like to meet with friends or familiy to enjoy a wonderful sunset.

Overnight in Yangon.