Summary
This Myanmar Vacation Package (11 days) will offer you the possibility to discover Yangon city, where you will visit the Botataung Pagoda and the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is the holiest Buddhist pagoda in Thuwanabumi, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the current kalpa. You will be impressed by the Pindaya Caves, a Buddhist pilgrimage site with countless images of Buddha. You will also make a stop in such cities as: Mandalay, where you will visit Mahamuni Temple and see the Mahamuni Buddha (Gautama Buddha) statue inside it, which is the most revered image in Myanmar and makes this temple one of the most religious pilgrimage sites across the country; Mingun, where you will see the Mingun Pagoda and the Mingun Bell (90 tons); Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where you will visit the Shwezigon Pagoda, the most important mural in the area. You will see the Phowintaung cave complex which consists of 947 large and small caves, which are richly decorated with wall paintings and several carved statues of Lord Gautama Buddha, Temple of Thanbode, known for its architecture design, unique in the whole country, and the Bodhi Tahtaung Pagoda, which houses murals and sculptures of Buddhist mythology in its interior. You will also discover Mount Popa, famous for the beautiful Popa Taungkalat Shrine located on top, named Popa Taungkalat.
Individual travel request form Enjoy a private tour
Alfonso
Local travel expert in Vietnam
More than 10 years living and working in tourism in Southeast Asia. Based in Hanoi, but living for work periods in Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. In love with Asian culture and the wonders that I do not stop discovering in these amazing countries. They certainly do not stop surprising me with something daily.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in the city.
Later, you will visit the Botataung Pagoda, first built by Mon around the same time as the Shwedagon Pagoda. The Pagoda was completely destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt after the war. The new pagoda has an original design and a height of 40.13 m and its main attraction is the interior hollow of the stupa, which has a walkway shaped like a mirror maze lined with glass showcases containing many ancient relics and artefacts that were sealed inside the previous pagoda.
Next, you will visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is the holiest Buddhist pagoda in Thuwanabumi, in the southern part of Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the current kalpa. Built 2,500 years ago on the 51-metre-high Singuttara Hill, the pagoda is a 112-metre-high golden more stupa that dominates the Yangon skyline.
Accommodation in Yangon.
In the morning, you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Heho.
Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Pindaya, where you will visit its caves, with countless images of Buddha. Pindaya Caves are a Buddhist pilgrimage site that consists of three caves on a limestone ridge that runs from north to south, but only the southernmost cave that extends for about 150 metres can be entered and explored. It is known for its interior, which contains over 8,000 images of Buddha. It is not known with certainty when the first images were placed inside the cave, but the oldest ones have inscriptions dating back to the Konbaung dynasty of the late 18th century. Within the cave, there are about seventy unique images of the Bhisakkaguru tradition found nowhere else in the country that date back to the late 18th century. Gold plated or made from teak wood, marble, bronze, etc., small or big, more the Buddha images represent the various eras in which they were made. The number of images is constantly growing since people are still adding more. At the entrance to the southernmost cave there is a 15-m high pagoda named Shwe U Min Pagoda or Golden Cave Pagoda built by King Asoka and repaired by King Alaungsithu in the 12th century.
Next, you will visit the local craft centre where the best paper umbrellas in the whole country are manufactured before continuing your trip to Inle.
Accommodation in Inle.
You will begin the day with a boat ride on Inle Lake.
You will visit the ethnic market, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Phe Chaung Monastery with its floating gardens. The Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is a notable Buddhist site in Myanmar located on Inle Lake where the great annual festival of pagodas is held during which the main Buddha images from the temple circulate on a royal barge across Inle Lake. The pagoda houses five small golden Buddha images, which have been covered with gold leaf to the point that their original forms can’t be seen. The images are of different sizes, ranging from approximately 230 to 460 mm tall and are believed to have been brought to Inle Lake by King Alaungsithu.
Accommodation in Inle.
After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the village of Inn Paw Khone in Inle Lake area, a tidy village of teak stilt houses famous for its weaving workshops.
In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar after Yangon.
Accommodation in Mandalay.
In the morning, you will visit Mahamuni Temple and see the Mahamuni Buddha (Gautama Buddha) statue inside it, which is the most revered image in Myanmar and makes this temple one of the most religious pilgrimage sites across the country.
Next, you will be transferred to Amarapura, the ancient capital of Myanmar, and visit the Mahagandhayon Monastery, a monastic college known for its strict adherence to the Vinaya, the Buddhist monastic code. The monastery was first established by Agatithuka Sayadaw, a Thudhamma-affiliated monk around 1908, as a meditation monastery for monks who lived in the forest.
Then, you will visit Sagaing city to see fascinating landscapes of the Ayeyarwady River.
You will continue your trip to Ava for visiting the Maenu Okkyaung Monastery (Maha Aungmye Bonzan) built by Queen Nanmadaw Me Nu in 1818 to serve as the residence of her religious preceptor, more the Nyaunggan Sayadaw U Po and the Bargayar Monastery (Maha Waiyan Bontha Bagaya), built during the reign of King Hsinbyushin (1763-1776) by the town officer of Magwe, Maha Thiri Zeya Thinkhaya and dedicated to Shin Dhammabhinanda.
You will return to Amarapura to enjoy the sunset on the U-Bein Bridge.
Accommodation in Mandalay.
The day will start with a boat trip to Mingun. You will visit the Mingun Pagoda (Mingun Pahtodawgyi) and the Mingun Bell which weighs 90 tons and is the largest bell in the country.
You will continue the tour to the Myatheindan Pagoda, also known as the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a large pagoda on the northern part of Mingun that is painted white and is modeled after the physical description of the Buddhist holy mountain, Mount Meru. After visiting the pagoda, you will enjoy a local craft workshop.
Next, you will visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a Buddhist stupa that contains the largest book in the world. It is located at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon. The stupa itself, which is gilded on its terraces, is 57 m high and is modeled after the Shwezigon Pagoda.
You will continue your journey with the visit of the Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace more Monastery) which was originally part of the royal palace of Amarapura, before being transferred to Mandalay, where it formed the northern section of the Hmannan (Crystal Palace) and part of the royal apartments of the King Thibaw Min. The building was heavily gilded and adorned with glass mosaics. The monastery is built in the traditional Burmese architectural style and is known for its teak carvings from Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and ceilings.
Later on, you will watch the sunset over the city from the top of Mandalay Hill.
Accommodation in Mandalay.
After breakfast, you will travel to Monywa. You will visit the Phowintaung cave complex located approximately 25 kilometres west of Monywa. The complex consists of 947 large and small caves, which are richly decorated with wall paintings and several carved statues of Lord Gautama Buddha that date back to the 14th - 18th centuries.
Next, you will be transferred to hotel and enjoy a free afternoon.
Accommodation in Moniwa.
In the morning, you will visit the Temple of Thanbode (Thanboddhay), which is located 15 km south east of Monywa. It was built in 1939 by venerable monk Mohnyin Sayadaw U Thumana and is known for its splendid architecture design, unique in the whole country. The entrance gate is guarded by 2 white elephants, while the main stupa, which is 40 m in height, is covered with many Buddha images in both its interior and exterior walls. The main stupa is surrounded by very colourful small stupas and large decorated pillars. The temple has more than 580,000 big and small images of Buddha and is one of the most decorated temples in the country with an extensive use of vibrant colours.
Next, you will visit the Bodhi Tahtaung Pagoda, which houses murals and sculptures of Buddhist mythology in its interior. The site was founded by Sayadaw U Narada in 1960 by planting a thousand of Bodhi trees and building a more thousand of Buddha images under each tree. At the moment, it has 250 acres with more than 9,000 Bodhi trees. You will also see two big Buddha statues on Mt. Po Khaung: the Standing Buddha, which is 116 m high and the Reclining Buddha, which is on the way down from the hilltop of the Standing Buddha. Laykyun Setkyar Standing Buddha was built by the venerable monk Bodhi Tahtaung Sayadaw and is the third tallest Buddha Image in the world. It is a hollow type statue and people can climb by the stairs inside of the statue and enjoy the panoramic view.
Later, you will be transferred to Bagan.
Accommodation in Bagan.
After breakfast, you will discover Bagan, which is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. From the 9th to the 13th century, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute Myanmar.
In Bagan, you will enjoy a private guided tour with an English speaking guide and see several important attractions starting with the Shwezigon Pagoda, the most important mural in the area, dating from the 11th century. The pagoda consists of a circular Buddhist stupa gilded with gold leaf and surrounded by smaller temples and shrines. The construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began during the reign of King Anawrahta (r. 1044–77), the founder of the Pagan Empire, in 1059–1060 and was completed in 1102, during the reign of his son, King Kyansittha. Over the centuries, the pagoda has been damaged by many more earthquakes and other natural calamities, and has been restored several times, but the lower level terraces have remained as they were before.
You will also visit the Htilominlo Temple, a Buddhist temple built during the reign of King Htilominlo (1211-1231). The temple is three stories high with a height of 46 metres, is built of red brick and is known for its elaborate plaster moldings. On the first floor of the temple, there are four Buddhas looking in each direction.
Next, you will discover the Manuha Temple, a two-story rectangular building built by the captive king Mon Manuha in 1067 that houses huge statues of Buddha and is one of the oldest temples in Bagan. Finally, you will visit Nanpaya Temple, which was built by the captive King Makuta of the Thaton Kingdom. It was built with mud mortar, stone and brick and was used as the residence of Manuha. The temple contains intricate carvings of Brahma and also contains representations of other Hindu gods.
Then you will go to Pwar Saw village, where you will share experiences with local people.
Accommodation in Bagan.
On this day, you will visit Mount Popa, a dormant volcano of 1,518 metres above sea level located about 50 km southeast of Bagan in the Pegu Range. It is famous for the beautiful shrine on top, named Popa Taungkalat, which can be reached by climbing up 777 steps. Mount Popa is a pilgrimage site topped with gold stupas, which is popular for its religious and mystical interests.
On the way back to Bagan, you will take a boat along the Ayeyarwaddy River to enjoy the sunset. If the weather is clear, Mount Popa can be seen from the Ayeyarwady River as far as 60 km.
Accommodation in Bagan.
The day will start with the transfer to the airport to take the domestic flight to Yangon.
Upon arrival in Yangon, you will enjoy a stroll through Chinatown and have free time at Bogyoke Market (closed on Mondays).
Next, you will be transferred to Yangon International Airport to take your international departure flight.
Prices
Travel dates
Upon request for individual travellers
Price per person in €
2 Pers.
4 Pers.
6 Pers.
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
1762€
1412€
1258€
Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
1824€
1522€
1424€
Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
1969€
1619€
1463€
Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
2187€
1836€
1720€
Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024)
2250€
1964€
1795€
Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024)
2359€
2008€
1855€
| Travel dates | Accommodation | Price per person in € | ||
| 2 Pers. | 4 Pers. | 6 Pers. | ||
|
Upon request for individual travellers |
Standard cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 1762€ | 1412€ | 1258€ |
| Standard cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 1824€ | 1522€ | 1424€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 1969€ | 1619€ | 1463€ | |
| Superior cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 2187€ | 1836€ | 1720€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (May 1 - Sept. 30, 2024) | 2250€ | 1964€ | 1795€ | |
| Luxury cat. hotels (Oct. 1, 2023 - Apr. 30, 2024) | 2359€ | 2008€ | 1855€ | |
What's Included
- 10 nights accommodation in a double (DBL) or twin (TWN) room at Standard, Superior or Luxury category hotels;
- Breakfast at the hotels;
- Excursions with English speaking guides according to the itinerary;
- Entrance fees according to the itinerary;
- Transportation according to the itinerary;
- Domestic flights in Myanmar;
- Local SIM card with data package included.