MYA - T 10: MYANMAR COMPREHENSIVE, 14 days (L)

Yangon – Bagan - Irrawaddy River – Mandalay - Heho – Pindaya - Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon

Day 1 Yangon

Arrival at Yangon airport, meet on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Free time at leisure

Overnight in Yangon

Day 2 Yangon

After breakfast at the hotel, escort on an introductory tour of this colorful metropolis. First to visit one of the world’s most spectacular monuments the Shwedagon Pagoda, Batatauang Pagoda’s circular treasure vault covered in a mosaic of mirrors, and Ngadatkyi Paya - rarely-tourist monastery hosting a spectacular 5 story Buddha image.

Afternoon, visit the National Museum with several interesting exhibits such as the regal Lion Throne of the Last Burmese King, the gem-encrusted crown jewels of old Burma, a modern art gallery, wood and lacquer furnishings from everyday life. Next, our guide will take you to Buddhist Art Museum where collected by begging bowls, palm leaf scriptures and wooden Buddha images since 18-20^th century. Follow by visit Maha Wizaya Pagoda and Sule Pagoda - an excellent landmark of Yangon where a Sacred Hair Relic is enshrine.

Overnight in Yangon

YANGON: lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the treetops. The city became the capital only in 1885, when the British completed the conquest of Upper Myanmar and Mandalay's brief period as capital of the last Burmese kingdom ended.

SHWEDAGON PAGODA: the highlight of any visit to Yangon, this pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond all recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold leaf, which is continuously being replaced.

BOTATAUNG PAGODA: this paya was named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over 2000 years ago. This ancient monument was completely destroyed during WWII. It was then rebuilt in a very similar style to its predecessor, but the zedi is hollow and one can walk through it.

NGADATKYI PAYA: located in the Ashay Tawya monastery, this paya contains the huge seated "five-story" Buddha image.

NATIONAL MUSEUM: a museum with several interesting exhibits, especially the 8-meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by King Thibaw Min, the last Burmese king, and returned to Burma in 1908 by Lord Mountbatten. The main floor contains jewelry, old black and white photos of Mandalay Palace and Yangon, royal relics, Hintha opium weights, and inscribed tablets.

BUDDHIST ART MUSEUM: housed in a 1952 Art Deco-style building. The dominant lotus window depicts all the attitudes of the Buddha. The museum's contents were collected by the archaeology department: begging bowls, palm leaf scriptures and 18th-20th century wooden Buddha images.

MAHA WIZAYA PAGODA: built by General Ne Win in the 1980s. The pagoda is hollow with a ceiling depicting Burmese constellations and a permanent display of pagoda styles through the ages.

SULE PAGODA: the British used this 48-meter high golden dome as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city when it was rebuilt in the 1880s. The pagoda's peculiarity is its octagonal-shaped stupa, which retains its shape as it tapers to the spire.

Day 3 Yangon – Bagan

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. After refreshment, continue the day with visit to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda - built by King Anawrahta in the early 11^th century as a religious shrine, Gubyaukhyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn - the great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for visit, Ananda Pahto - one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples, Gubyaukgyi Temple - a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes, Manuha Temple - was built by King Manuha in 1059, it enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha and visit Shwesandaw Paya to enjoy significant view over Bagan.

Overnight in Bagan

BAGAN: is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Irrawaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.

SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090. Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. The stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all-later stupas over Myanmar.

GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe.

ANANDA PAHTO: one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.

GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba: built in 1113 by Kyanzittha's son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.

MANUHA TEMPLE: the Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by King Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King Anawrahta. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by Manuha to express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan.

SHWESANDAW PAYA: in 1057, King Anawrahta built this Pagoda following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the Stupa. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's magnificent sunsets.

Day 4 Bagan

After breakfast, visit Mahabodhi Temple - inspired by the Mahabodhi at Bodh Gaya in India, Dhamayangyi Temple, Sulamani Temple - this temple is one of the best examples of the later, more sophisticated temple styles, Nandamannya Temple - the mural paintings in the interior tell the story of the “Temptation of Mara”, Thatbyinnyu Temple - It is also called the “Omniscient” Temple and its enormous size makes it a classic example of Bagan’s middle period.

Overnight in Bagan

MAHABODHI TEMPLE: Inspired by the Mahabodhi at Bodh Gaya in India, this temple was built during the reign of King Nantaungmya (1211 – 1234). Temples of this nature only appeared during the Late Bagan period and the Mahabodhi is the only one of this style in Bagan.

DHAMAYANGYI TEMPLE: the brickwork of this temple is said to rank one of the finest in Bagan. Built in the 12th century, it is not exactly clear by which King actually started the construction. Some sources say it was King Narathu, others say it was constructed a little earlier, during the reign of King Alaungsithu.

SULAMANI TEMPLE: built in 1181 by King Narapatisithu this temple is one of the best examples of the later, more sophisticated temple styles. Carved stucco on moldings, pediments, and pilasters represents some of Bagan’s finest ornamental work and is in fairly good condition.

NANDAMANNYA TEMPLE: this small, single chambered temple is dating from the 13th century. The mural paintings in the interior tell the story of the “temptation of Mara”.

THATBYINNYU TEMPLE: this temple rises up to 61 meters and is one of Bagan’s tallest monuments. It is also called the “Omniscient” Temple and its enormous size makes it a classic example of Bagan’s middle period. King Alaungsithu built the Thatbyinnyu Temple in the 12th century.

Day 5 Bagan

After breakfast, excursion to Mount Popa: rising 737 meters from the flat surrounding Myingyan Plain, Mount Popa is said to be an extinct volcano last active 250,000 years ago. It is considered the abode of Myanmar's most powerful nats and, as such, is the most important nat worship center in the country. Evening free time at leisure

Overnight in Bagan

Day 6 Bagan - Irrawaddy River

After breakfast, transfer to jetty and commence your river journey on board of the Irrawaddy Princess from Bagan to Mandalay, departure in Bagan at 7am on Sunday.

The boat arrives at Pokokku at 10:30am for short sightseeing (2 hrs) to visit local market, important pagodas and weaving stores by traditional trishaw and to observing the divers river life and the magnificent scenery - the boat then continues upstream past the breathtaking confluence of the Irrawaddy and its tributary the Chindwin. The boat will stop for overnight at a little village called Yandabo.

Overnight on board - Irrawaddy River

Day 7 Irrawaddy River – Mandalay

After breakfast, on board Irrawaddy Princess, departure is at 5:30am upstream towards Mandalay. There is a short stop at Myinmu before arrival in Mandalay at around 5 pm. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and free time at leisure

Overnight in Mandalay

Day 8 Mandalay

After breakfast at the hotel, excursion to Inwa (Ava) - a charming horse-drawn carriage will take you to the Nanmyin Watch Tower - the remains of the palace building call ”leaning tower” of Ava. Visit the Maha Aungmaye Bonzan Monastery - built of brick and stucco as well as the Bagaya Kyanun Monastery - famous for its ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Then continue to Sagaing and Amarapura with numerous monasteries and pagoda, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, and visit 200-year-old U Bein teak bridge - built in 1782 at the time when Amanrapura was the Royal Capital before return to Mandalay

Overnight in Mandalay

INWA: this ancient city, for a long time a capital of Upper Burma after the fall of Bagan, is on the Mandalay side of the Ayeyarwady River close to the Ava Bridge. From 1364 Inwa was the capital of the Burmese kingdom for more than 400 years, until the shift was made to Amarapura in 1783.

NANMYIN: the 27 meter high masonry watchtower is all that remains of the palace built by Bagyidaw. The upper portion was shattered by the 1838 earthquake and the rest has taken a precarious tilt.

MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN: a brick-and-stucco monastery built by King Bagyidaw's chief queen for the royal abbot Nyaunggan Sayadaw in 1818.

BAGAYA KYAUNG: a monastery built of teakwood and supported by 267 teak posts. The main hall stands on a raised platform, separate from the monks’ quarters, and is designed so that space between the walls and roof allows air to circulate.

AVA BRIDGE: this British-engineered, 16-span bridge dates from 1934 and was the only structure that crossed the Irrawaddy River until 1998 when a new Chinese-engineered bridge was completed at Pyay.

SAGAING: located on the right bank of the Ayeyarwady River, it is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. It is popularly known as 'Little Pagan' as the Sagaing ridge is crowded with around 600 pagodas and monasteries in which there are more than 3000 monks. There are also around 100 meditation centers in the area.

THABYEDAN FORT: the fort built by the Burmese as their final resistance against the British forces in the third Anglo-Burmese war in 1886.

KAUNGHMUDAW PAYA: this is Sagaing's most important temple. It was built by King Thalun in 1636 and styled after a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) pagoda in commemoration of the re-establishment of Ava as the royal capital.

TUPAYON PAYA: contracted by King Narapati of Inwa in 1444, Tupayon is of an unusual style for Myanmar: it consists of three circular stories each encircled by arched niches.

AUNGMYELAWKA PAYA: situated on the riverfront, this zedi was erected by Bodawpaya in 1783 on the site of his home before he became king. It is built of sandstone and based on Shwezigon Pagoda.

DATPAUNGZU PAYA: a comparatively recent pagoda, which houses many relics from other older temples that were demolished when the railway was built through Sagaing.

HSINMYASHIN PAYA: built in 1429 and known as the Pagoda of Many Elephants because of the elephant statues stationed at each entrance-way.

AMARAPURA: the name means City of Immortality, but its period, as capital was brief. It was founded by Bodawpaya as his new capital in 1783, not long after he ascended the throne, on the advice of court astrologers. His grandson and successor, Bagyidaw, moved back to Ava in 1823. The four pagodas that marked the four corners of the city walls still remain, as well as the watchtower and treasury building.

PAHTODAWGYI: built by King Bagyidaw in 1820, this well preserved pagoda stood outside the old city walls. The lower terraces have marble slabs illustrating Jatakas (scenes from the Buddha's life).

BAGAYA KYAUNG: built when Bodawpaya moved the capital to Amarapura, it was destroyed by fire in 1821. It was rebuilt several times and it is no longer a monastery, but houses a museum and library, of interest for its collection of palm-leaf manuscripts.

PALACE RUINS: little remains of the palace except for two masonry buildings - the treasury building and the old watchtower. King Bagyidaw and King Bodawpaya were both burnt here on the site of their 'tombs' and their ashes placed in velvet bags and thrown into the Irrawaddy River.

U BEIN'S BRIDGE: a long and rickety teak bridge, curved to withstand the wind and waves, crosses the shallow Taungthaman Lake. During the dry season, the bridge crosses mostly dry land.

Day 9 Mandalay

After breakfast, excursion to Mingun by vehicle and boat. Mingun is located a short distance upriver from Mandalay on the opposite bank of the Irrawaddy River. It is a pleasant trip and gives one a glimpse of river life fishing villages, bullock carts, cornfields, market boats, and laundering, visit the world’s largest bell and several temple along the way. Afternoon, you will be transfer back to Mandalay to experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar the Mahamuni Paya - a traditional Burmese wooden monastery, Shwenandaw Kyaung - a traditional Burmese wooden monastery. At one time this building was part of the palace complex, and was used as an apartment by King Mindon and his chief queen, Mandalay Museum and Library - the museum and library containing a collection of Mandalay regalia, royally commissioned art and palm-leaf manuscripts that were formerly housed in the palace

Overnight in Mandalay

MINGUN PAYA: thousands of slaves and prisoners of war labored to build the massive stupa, beginning in 1790. Work halted in 1819 when Bodaw Paya died, leaving a brick base about a third of its intended height. The earthquake of 1938 damaged the stupa but there is still a lot to see.

PONDAW PAYA: 5-meter high working model of Mingun Paya. It gives a clear picture of just what Bodaw Paya intended to achieve with Mingun Paya.

MINGUN BELL: in 1808 Bodaw Paya had a gigantic bell cast to go with the gigantic zedi. Weighing 90 tons, it is claimed to be the largest bell in the world.

HSINBYUME PAYA: built by King Bagyidaw in 1816, three years before he succeeded Bodawpaya as king, this stupa was constructed in memory of his senior wife, the Hsinbyume princess.

SETTAWYA PAYA: located close to the riverbank and upstream from the Pondaw Paya, this hollow, vaulted shrine has a footprint of the Buddha that was brought to Mingun by King Bodaw Paya.

MAHAMUNI PAYA: originally built by King Bodaw Paya in 1784 when a road paved with bricks was constructed from his palace to the paya's eastern gate. The centerpiece of the shrine is the highly venerated Mahamuni image that was transported to Myanmar from Mrauk U in Rakhaing in 1784.

SHWENANDAW KYAUNG: a monastery of great interest, not only as a fine example of a traditional Burmese wooden monastery, but also as a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Fort. At one time this building was part of the palace complex, and was used as an apartment by King Mindon and his chief queen, and it was here that he died. After Mindon's death, King Thibaw Min had the building dismantled and reassembled on its present site in 1880 as a monastery.

MANDALAY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY: a museum and library containing a collection of Mandalay regalia, royally commissioned art and palm-leaf manuscripts that were formerly housed in the palace. Most of the articles date from the reigns of the last two Mandalay kings.

Day 10 Mandalay

After breakfast, you will process to visit Atumashi Kyaung - a traditional Burmese monastic construction, its consists of graduated rectangular terraces, Kuthodaw Paya - the world’s largest book made of marble, Mandalay Fort - an imposing walled palace compound constructed in 1857 with a channel from the Mandalay irrigation canal filling the moat: Kyauktawgyi Pagoda - a Buddha carved from a single block of marble and Mandalay Hill with breathtaking view over the city.

Overnight in Mandalay

ATUMASHI KYAUNG: built by King Mindon in 1857, these ruins stand a little to the south of Kuthodaw Paya. This monastery was of traditional Burmese monastic construction (a masonry base topped by a wooden building) but instead of the usual multiroofed design it consists of graduated rectangular terraces.

MANDALAY FORT: an imposing walled palace compound constructed in 1857 with a channel from the Mandalay irrigation canal filling the moat. After the British occupied the city in 1885 the compound was named Fort Dufferin and became the colony's government house and British Club.

KUTHODAW PAYA: the central stupa here was modeled on the Shwezigon Paya at Nyaung U near Bagan. Building commenced in 1857, at the same time as the royal palace. The paya has been dubbed 'the world's biggest book', for standing around the central stupa are 729 marble slabs on which are inscribed the entire Tripitaka.

KYAUKTAWGYI PAGODA: built between 1853 and 1878 and chiefly interesting for the huge seated image of the Buddha carved from a single block of marble. The marble block from the mines of nearby Sagyin was so colossal that it required 10,000 men laboring for 13 days to transport it from a canal to the current site.

MANDALAY HILL: an easy climb up the sheltered steps bring one to a panoramic view over the palace, Mandalay, and the paya-studded countryside. The famous hermit monk, U Khanti, is credited with inspiring the construction of many of the buildings on and around the hill in the years after the founding of the city.

Day 11 Mandalay - Heho – Pindaya

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for domestic flight from Mandalay to Heho. Upon arrival, by vehicle from Heho to Pindaya - Journey west on Highway 4 and then due north from Aungban on Highway 41 past Pwehla, road is scenic and there are fields of dry-cultivated mountain rice along the way and potato fields where the tuber is grown in red mud mounds.

Visit Pindaya Caves - a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries and Shwe U Min Paya - a cluster of low stupas just below the ridge near the Pindaya Caves.

Overnight in Pindaya

Day 12 Pindaya - Inle Lake

After early breakfast, proceed by road to Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake), excursion by boat on the Inle Lake

Inle Lake, located in Shan State. It is beautiful with very calm waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and busy fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lakes shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled fisherman using their "leg-rowing" technique to propel themselves around the lake. Visit Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village and visit local market and Intha village around the lake.

Overnight in Inle Lake

Day 13 Inle Lake - Heho – Yangon

After breakfast, continue excursion by boat to the Western Shore of Inle Lake will take you to the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden and unknown Inn Thein Pagoda complex. After that transfer to Heho airport for domestic flight from Heho to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and free time at leisure

Overnight in Yangon

Day 14 Yangon

After breakfast at the hotel and free time at leisure before transfer to the airport for departure

End of Services **Note: Itinerary subject to change due to flight schedules.

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