Baron Travel and Tours, Myanmar (Burma)

Tour Code    : BTT 8-7ASB
Tour Name   : Amazing Scenic Beauty
Duration       : 8 Days – 7 Nights
Destination   : Yangon - Bagan - Salay - Mt. Popa - Mandalay – Amarapura - Mingun - Ava (Innwa) - Heho - Inle Lake - Yangon

Day 1. Arrival

Warmly welcome by your guide upon your arrival. Then transfer to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy your leisure at the hotel. Lunch at Golden Duck (8 miles). After your lunch, visit the Kaba Aye Pagoda and Maha Pasana Cave (closed on Sat & Sun. Open at 10:00 am – 04:00 pm but closed between 12:00 & 01:00 pm). Then visit the Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha Image, the National Museum, the hundred-year-old colonial buildings, stop at the entrance of the National Kandawgyi Park and admire the amazing scenic beauty of the Shwedagon and the lake view. Finally, the tour highlight is the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most wonders of the world. Enjoy the buffet dinner with the Myanmar cultural variety show at Kandawgyi Palace. Accommodation: Hotel Yangon or similar.

Bogyoke Market

Day 2. Yangon – Bagan by flight (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bagan, which brought in the golden age of Myanmar's art and culture. On arrival, continue to Nyaung Oo Market to see the ways of life of local people. Then visit the Shwezigon Pagoda, a prototype of the Myanmar stupa; Kyansittha Umin (cave) to see the figure of the Mongol soldiers on the mural paintings; the Gubyaukgyi Temple at Wet Kyi In village, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes; the Htilominlo Temple, which is noted for its original fine plaster carvings; and the Tharabar Gateway, the remnant of the circuit wall is believed to be built in 849 AD by King Pyinbya, the 34th king of the Pre-Bagan Dynasty. Enjoy your lunch at Sarabha Restaurant. Then transfer to the hotel for check-in. After a break at the hotel, visit the Bagan Archaeological Museum, houses various archaeological items excavated throughout the times; the Thatbyinnyu Temple to discover the rare form of Buddha image in the highest temple in Bagan, the Ananda Temple, one of the most impressive and exquisite monuments of Bagan; Ananda Okkyaung, the vivid wall paintings of fine workmanship illustrate the life of the ordinary people; the Maha Bodhi Pagoda, the pyramid-shaped pagoda was an exact replica of a structure built in India; and the Bu Paya, believed to be built by King Pyusawhti, the 3rd king of the Pre-Bagan Dynasty . Enjoy your dinner with marionette show at Si Thu Restaurant. Accommodation: Bagan Thande Hotel or similar.

Gubyaukgyi Temple

Day 3. Bagan – Salay - Mt. Popa – Bagan by car (B)

After breakfast, head for Salay, which is 36 km south of Bagan and it was also the home town of Salay U Ponya who was a famous writer and poet of the Bagan Era. Visit to Yoak Sone Kyaung in Salay is a must. Explore the hundred-year old wooden monastery, built by U Po Kyi in 1882, which is decorated with exquisite wood carvings. Then drive to Popa, 50 km southeast of Bagan is the most important nat (spirit) worship center. On arrival at the bottom of Mt. Popa, you will note the Maha Giri nat (spirit) Shrine, where displays 37-mannequin-like nat figures is one of the major attractions. Then climb 777 steps up to the top of the mountain. You will admire the splendid panorama atop the mountain. After that return to Bagan. Enjoy your lunch at Sunset Garden Restaurant. After your lunch, visit the Nan Paya, which is one of the rare types of temples where stones was widely used; the Manuha Temple, built by the captive King Manuha in 1059 AD while in his exile and captivity; a lacquer ware workshop; the Mya Zedi, to study the four-faced stone inscription written in Myanmar, Mon, Pali and Pyu languages; the Minkaba Gubyaukgyi Temple, built by Raza Gumar as a meritorious deed for his ailing father King Kyansittha; and enjoy the splendid sunset atop the Shwesandaw Paya. Enjoy your dinner at Nanda Restaurant or at a restaurant. Accommodation: Bagan Thande Hotel or similar.

Mount Popa

Day 4. Bagan – Mandalay – Amarapura – Mandalay by flight (B)

Transfer to the airport for flight to Mandalay, which was the last capital of Konbaung Dynasty (1857-1885) and is still the cultural center of Myanmar. On arrival, drive to Amarapura to experience about 1000 monks having their lunch at 10:15 hour at Maha Gandayon Monastery; also stroll through the 1.2 km long U Bein Bridge, which is built across the Taungthaman Lake, and observe 100-shuttle silk-weaving workshop. Lunch at “A Little bit of Mandalay” or at a local restaurant. Then transfer to the hotel for check-in. Afternoon sightseeing includes visit to the Mahamuni Buddha Image, tapestry workshop, gold-leaf makers, bronze castings, stone carvings, Mya Nan San Kyaw Golden Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, dubbed "the World's Biggest Book", there are 729 standing marble slabs on which are inscribed the entire Buddhist canon / Tripitaka and each slab is housed on its own stupa. Enjoy the superb panorama from the top of Mandalay Hill. Dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Mandalay City Hotel or similar.

Mandalay Hill

Day 5. Mandalay - Mingun – Ava (Innwa) – Mandalay by car / boat (B)

Transfer to the jetty for a boat trip to Mingun, situated upstream on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, which is famous for the Mingun Bell. Sightseeing includes the Settawya Pagoda, where a foot print of Buddha is enshrined; the five-meter high Pondaw Pagoda, a working model of the Mingun Paya; the Mingun Pagoda, it will stand 500 ft high if it was completed; the Mingun Bell, weighs 90 tons and is the world biggest ringing bell; and the beautiful snow-white Mya Thein Tan Stupa with seven wavy terraces around it. Afterwards, return to Mandalay by boat. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive to Ava, which had been the capital of a Myanmar kingdom since 1364 AD for nearly 400 years, apart from some brief interludes. Tour highlights include Nan Myint Watch Tower (27 meter high); the remnant of the city walls, Maha Aung Mye Bon Zan Monastery (brick-and-stucco monastery), built by Mae Nu, the Chief Queen of King Bagyidaw; the Lawkatharaphu Pagoda with two figures of a couple of Europeans on a glazed plaque; Bagaya Monastery (Ava), constructed with 267 teak wooden pillars and you can also witness some old temples around Ava.. Dinner at Ko’s Kitchen Restaurant or at a local restaurant. Accommodation: Mandalay City Hotel or similar.

Mingun Stupa

Maha Aung Mye Bon Zan Monastery

Day 6. Mandalay – Heho – Inle by flight/car/boat (B)

Transfer to the airport for flight to Heho. On arrival, drive to Nyaung Shwe. En route visit Shweyanpyay Monastery with oval-shaped windows built by ancient Shan kings. Then drive to Nyaungshwe, the capital city of ancient Shan kings. Proceed to hotel for check-in. Take a boat trip around Inle Lake, which is about 22 km x 11 km and 875 meters above the sea level. Visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which is the holiest pilgrimage place in southern Shan State. Lunch at Nam Pan Restaurant. You may visit Nam Pan Market after your lunch. Then visit the Shan weaving workshop, silversmith, ironsmith, cheroot making workshop and Ngahpe Chaung Monastery, also known as “Jumping Cat Monastery” . You can also explore the floating market, unique method of fishing and outstanding leg-rowers which are different from other regions. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at the hotel. Accommodation: Hu Pin Hotel, Inle Khaung Daing Resort.

Leg-Rowers Of Inle

Day 7. Nyaung Shwe – Heho – Yangon by flight (B)

After breakfast, visit Nyaung Shwe Market, and explore the ways of life of the ethnic tribe. After that check out the hotel and transfer to airport for the flight to Yangon. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Depending on the time of your arrival, you can enjoy your lunch at Thai Kitchen Restaurant. After your lunch, transfer to Bogyoke Market, former Scott Market for souvenirs. You can drop in “Zawgyi House” for some light food and drinks on your own account. Then visit the Botahtaung Pagoda, a land-mark of Yangon; the Sule Pagoda and environs. Enjoy your dinner at Royal Thazin Restaurant. Accommodation: Hotel Yangon

Nyaung Shwe

Day 8. Departure (B)

After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight home.

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