Golden Myanmar

27 DAY GOLDEN MYANMAR
Coverage: Yangon, Bago, Kyaiktiyo, Kyaiktisaung, Mawlamyaing, Thanbyuzayat,
Hpa An, Bagan, Salay, Mt. Popa, Mandalay, Mingun, Amarapura, Ava, Sagaing,
Pindaya, Kyaing Tong, Inle Lake, Mrauk U, Sittwe, Ngapali Beach.

Tour Code: PHGM 27

Itinerary
DAY (01) YANGON ARRIVAL

Arrival at YANGON Airport in the morning, welcomed by your PEACE HOUSE guide
and transfer to hotel.

Afternoon YANGON sightseeing includes SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000
years ago; CHAUK HTAT GYI Reclining Buddha Image; KARAWEIK HALL, a royal
floating barge, for photo stop; and enjoy the sunset at SHWEDAGON PAGODA,
one of the world's most spectacular monuments.

If arriving at YANGON Airport in the evening, welcomed by your PEACE HOUSE
guide and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Yangon.

DAY (02) YANGON - BAGO - KYAIKTIYO (Golden Rock)

Breakfast. Early morning, drive out of YANGON to the Ancient Capital of MON
Kingdom, BAGO (Pegu), about 80 kilometres northeast of YANGON. Tour
highlights include KYAIK PUN BUDDHA IMAGES four 30 metre high Buddha figures
seated back to back; 55 meters long SHWETHALYAUNG reclining Buddha image;
SHWEMAWDAW AGODA, over a thousand years old, its spire is even taller than
the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.

From Bago, drive through seemingly endless paddy fields to the small town of
KYAIKTO and on to the 'base camp' of KIMPUN. Transfer to light truck and
drive about 45 minutes to the transit camp and walk up the path which climbs
steeply to the legendary 'GOLDEN ROCK'. (The climb takes around 1 hours and
those unwilling, or not fit enough, to walk can hire four porters to carry
them in a sedan chair). The incredible 'GOLDEN ROCK' sits precariously on
top of the mountain, and is said to balance thanks to a precisely placed
hair of Buddha.

Weather permitting, sunset view from MOUNT KYAIKTIYO are amazing. Overnight
in Kyaiktiyo.

DAY (03) KYAIKTIYO - KYAIKTISAUNG - MAWLAMYAING

Early risers may enjoy returning to the Golden Rock, about 20 minutes walk
from the hotel, to watch the sunrise. After breakfast, walk down the
mountain and return by truck to the base camp at Kinpun.

Then drive to KYAIKTISAUNG PAGODA, Suvannabhumi or "Golden Land" the birth
place of Buddhism in Myanmar, to see ancient LATERITE-STONES PAGODA and
BUDDHA IMAGES. Pay homage to the KYAIKTISAUNG SAYADAW (Abbot of the
monastery) and observe around the pagoda then proceed to the city of
Mawlamyaing.

Arrive Mawlamyaing in the evening. Overnight in Mawlamyaing.

DAY (04) MAWLAMYAING

Breakfast. Morning take a boat trip to the Island of GAUNG SE KYUN, also
known as shampoo island, famous for its former hair washing ceremonies in
the middle of Thanlwin River, to see the floating rock and ancient Buddha
Images.

Afternoon visit the eastern part of the city, a hilly north-south ridge;
MAHAMUNI PAGODA, built in typical MON STYLE, the largest temple complex in
Mawlamyaing; KYAIK THAN LAN PAGODA, known as the Kipling Pagoda, the city's
tallest and most visible pagoda; over 100-years-old SEINDON MIBAYA KYAUNG, a
monastery where King Mindon Min's Queen sought refuge; U ZI NA IMAGE, was
named after a former monk who dreamt of finding gems at this spot; U KHAN TI
IMAGE, the hermit who built Mandalay Hill.

Enjoy the sunset from the view point of Mawlamyaing. Overnight in
Mawlamyaing.

DAY (05) MAWLAMYAING - THANBYUZAYAT - MAWLAMYAING

Breakfast. Drive from MAWLAMYAING to THANBYUZAYAT (Tin Shelter), was the
western terminus of the infamous Burma-Siam Railway, the "Death Railway" by
the thousands of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian coolies who were
forced by the Japanese Military to built it which was connected with the
famous RIVER KWAI (Thailand). En route visit the WORLD LARGEST RECLINING
BUDDHA IMAGE which under still construction. Then proceed through beautiful
Rubber plantation to THANBYUZAYAT. Visit to SECOND WORLD WAR MEMORIAL
CEMETERY in THANBYUZAYAT.

Drive back from Thanbyuzayat to Mawlamyaing.

Arrive Mawlamyaing in the evening and take a stroll along the Strand Road.
Overnight in Mawlamyaing.

DAY (06) MAWLAMYAING - HPA AN - YANGON

Breakfast. Drive from MAWLAMYAING to HPA-AN by car about 60 km distance.

Arrive Hpa-An and visit LAKE KANTHAYAR for photo stop; HPA-AN MARKET and
SHWEYINMYAW WORLD PEACE PAGODA at the banks of Thanlwin River.

Proceed to Yangon from Hpa-An and arrive Yangon in the late evening.

DAY (07) YANGON - BAGAN

Breakfast. Early morning transfer to YANGON Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon
Airways flight from Yangon to Bagan. From the airport, start your full day
BAGAN sightseeing tour includes a visit to NYAUNG-U MARKET; SHWEZIGON
PAGODA, the prototype of Myanmar stupas; 12th Century frescoes adorning the
corridors of KYANSITTHA CAVE TEMPLE. WET GYI INN GU BYAUK GYI TEMPLE , with
superb mural paintings of Jataka scenes; HTILOMINLO TEMPLE noted for its
plaster carvings ; and ANANDA TEMPLE, an architectural masterpiece and its
Groundwork resembling a Greek Cross.

Afternoon, visit MANUHA TEMPLE in Mon style built in 1059; NANPHAYA TEMPLE,
a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha;
MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE with its fine mural paintings under the
protection of UNESCO.

At the end of the day proceed to BUPAYA PAGODA or MINGALA ZEDI STUPA to
watch the sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River. Overnight in Bagan.

DAY (08) BAGAN - SALAY - MT. POPA

Breakfast. Morning drive to SALAY where you can observe YOE SOE (YOUPSON)
KYAUNG, the oldest surviving wooden monastery hall bearing the original
120 -year-old sculptures, which include nearly three-dimensional carvings of
19th century court life, JATAKAS and RAMAYANA Tales.

Proceed to MT. POPA, the core of an extinct volcano last active 250,000
years ago, known as the 'Mt Olympus' of Myanmar, the abode of Myanmar's most
powerful NATS, the most important NAT Worship Centre.

Enjoy the sunset from MT. POPA. Return to Bagan. Overnight in Bagan.

DAY (09) BAGAN - MANDALAY

Breakfast.

Morning transfer to Jetty for upstream to MANDALAY. Following RUDYARD
KIPLING'S ROAD TO MANDALAY POEM enjoy the natural scenic beauty and the ways
of life of along AYEYARWADY RIVER.

Arrive Mandalay in the evening and transfer to hotel. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY (10) MANDALAY - MINGUN

Breakfast. Morning boat trip to MINGUN, just 12km on the west bank upstream
from MANDALAY. Upon arrival, visit PONDAW PAYA, a five meter high working
model for gigantic structure; SETTAWYA PAYA, the vaulted shrine with a
footprint of the Buddha; MINGUN PAHTOTAWGYI PAYA, one of the world's largest
chedis built by Bodaw Paya; the World renowned ringing MINGUN BELL weighing
90 tons; HSINBYUME PAYA, a representation of the SULAMANI PAYA which stands
atop Mt. MERU. Return to MANDALAY.

Afternoon sightseeing includes SHWE INBIN Monastery, one of the rare
specimens of typical Myanmar architecture; and Tapestry Workshop. ZAYGYO
MARKET to see the flow of the vegetables; SHWENANDAW KYAUNG or GOLDEN PALACE
MONASTERY, a superb traditional wooden building; KUTHODAW PAGODA, known as
the World's Biggest Book with the collection of 729 stone slabs on which are
inscribed the whole of the Buddhist scriptures; MAHAMUNI BUDDHA IMAGE,
covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Continue to Marble carving and
Bronze carving workshops.

In the evening enjoy the sunset from MANDALAY HILL. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY (11) MANDALAY - AMARAPURA - AVA - SAGAING

Breakfast. Morning excursion to AMARAPURA,11km south of Mandalay. This trip
will take you to MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks
live and study, to see their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue
to U BEIN WOODEN BRIDGE built in 1782. And observe Myanma traditional
hand-woven silk workshop. Continue to AVA, tour highlights include the
27-metre-high Masonry Watch Tower, the NANMYIN (or) the "Leaning Tower of
AVA"; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN OK KYAUNG, a brick and stucco Monastery; AVA
BAGAYA MONASTERY built with 276 teak pillars and observe Myanma traditional
Alms bowls workshop.

Afternoon across AVA Bridge, built by British engineers, to visit
picturesque SAGAING HILL which is perhaps the living centre of Buddhist
faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and
monasteries. Continue to visit KAUNGHMUDAW Pagoda, with its huge egg -
shaped dome in Ceylonese style.

In the evening, enjoy the sunset from the SAGAING HILL. Return to Mandalay.
Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY (12) MANDALAY - PINDAYA

Breakfast. Morning transfer to MANDALAY Airport. Air Mandalay or Yangon
Airways flight from Mandalay to Heho. On arrival, transfer from Heho Airport
to PINDAYA.

Afternoon, visit magnificent PINDAYA CAVE, well known for its countless
Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over many centuries; the amazing
traditional Shan PAPER-MAKING and BAMBOO UMBRELLA and BAMBOO HAT MAKING
Workshops.

Overnight in Pindaya.

DAY (13) PINDAYA - KYAING TONG

Breakfast. Morning. transfer to Heho Airport. Yangon Airways or Air Mandalay
flight from Heho to Kyaing Tong, the capital of Eastern Shan State and also
one of its most powerful Shan principalities during the colonial period. On
arrival at Kyaing Tong, the local guide will welcome you and transfer to the
hotel.

Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Kyaing Tong including: THITTAPIN TAUNG, the
245 years old DIFEROCAPUS TREE planted by King Alaungphaya the founder of
Third Myanmar Dynasty; SHAN LACQUER WARE WORKSHOP, the beautiful NAUNG TONG
LAKE and MAHAMYATMUNI PAGODA, housing Mandalay Style Buddha image and near
by a monastery where the monks learn "KHUN" language which is very similar
to that used in northern Thailand.

Overnight in Kyaing Tong.

DAY (14) KYAING TONG & surroundings

Breakfast. Full day sightseeing to PIN TAUK area. Lush mixed monsoon forest
with a view to the plain tree fields looking like a huge, green patchwork
blanked shimmering in the water of the flooded paddy fields. The local guide
will introduce you to the villagers of AKHA and ENN tribes. Some are
baptized, some tribes still animists. The ENN tribes live on the higher slop
es surroundings PIN TAUK area. They have distinctively different costumes
and beliefs from the other tribes. Their traditional silver jewellery is
most elegant against their simple black jackets. In the Enn village of NAM
LIN MIN, there is a symbolic tether post representing their and ancestors'
beliefs in spiritual-beings.

Late afternoon come back to Kyaing Tong.

Overnight in Kyaing Tong.

DAY (15) KYAING TONG & surroundings

Breakfast. Morning visit to WATER BUFFALO MARKET and CENTRAL MARKET. Then
take the car about 50 minutes and trek about 1½ hours to arrive HO KYIN
Village, typical AKHA Village.

From here continue for another 30 minutes to NAN PHI PHANK AKHA village and
to PANG MA PHAI AKHA tribe village to learn more about their daily life.
Come back to the car to go MONG ZINE (KHUN Village) to see traditional LAHU
KNIVES made by LAHU BLACKSMITH.

On the way back to hotel visit JOE PHYU, "WA Village". Overnight in Kyaing
Tong.

DAY (16) KYAING TONG - INLE LAKE

Breakfast. Morning, visit the lively CENTRAL MARKET offering a mixture of
local products, handicraft wares of the tribal folk and merchandise from
Thailand and China.

Proceed to NAUNG TONG LAKE and WAT JOM KHAM PAGODA, the most impressive one.
Then transfer to KYAING TONG Airport. Yangon Airways or Air Mandalay flight
from Kyaing Tong to Heho.

On arrival at HEHO Airport, drive down to NYAUNGSHWE on the edge of INLE
LAKE and board your own local boat to your hotel. Overnight in Inle Lake.

DAY (17) INLE LAKE

Breakfast. Full day sightseeing of INLE LAKE, tour highlights include; 5 day
rotation MARKET at one of the village; NATIVE'S METHOD OF FISHING; GOLD AND
SILVER SMITH WORSHOPS at YWAMA Village; CHEROOT and BOAT MAKING WORKSHOPS in
NAN PAN Village. Continue visit to PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA, housing five sacred
and almost shapeless Buddha images.

Afternoon, visit SHAN SHOULDER BAG WEAVING CENTER; FLOATING GARDEN and NGA
PHE CHAUNG MONASTERY, better known as "Jumping Cat Monastery", a beautiful
old teak wood building.

If time allow, visit a village to see village life. Overnight in Inle Lake.

DAY (18) INLE LAKE

Breakfast. Morning leave the hotel by boat to south coast of Inle Lake to
see people are more origin, typical style cottages and nature.

Afternoon take a boat trip to INTAIN VILLAGE, the west coast of Inle Lake.
And then visit SHWE INTAIN PAGODA to see old stupas; take a walk and cross
BEAUTIFUL BAMBOO FOREST and SMALL DAM. Continue to visit BAMBOO SHEET HAT
MAKING WORKSHOP.

Return to hotel. Overnight in Inle Lake.

DAY (19) INLE LAKE - MRAUK U

Breakfast. Morning, leave the hotel by boat and drive down to HEHO Airport.
Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways flight from Heho to Sittwe via YANGON.

On arrival at SITTWE Airport, transfer to Jetty for boat to MRAUK U.
Overnight in Mrauk U.

DAY (20) MRAUK U

Breakfast. Morning, drive to WETHALI (Vesali), founded in the 4th century.
Sightseeing includes the RUINED CITYS WALLS; DEFENSIVE MOAT; CENTRAL PALACE
and the Great Image of SU TAUN PYAE, a 5 metre seated Buddha which is said
to have been carved out of one piece of rock. From Wethali, continue to
KYAUKTAW and visit MAHAMUNI BUDDHA IMAGE, according to legend the original
site of Mandalay's famous bronze Buddha image. Return to Mrauk-U.

In the afternoon, visit the MUSEUM which houses ancient stone slabs with
inscriptions and an interesting collection of Rakhine-style Buddha images.
Continue to visit most famous ****TAUNG PAGODA, shrine of 80,000 holy Buddha
images. Visit ANDAW PAGODA, an eight sided monument; DUKKANTNEIN "ordination
hall", a construction of laterite and sandstone bricks.

Enjoy sunset at SHWETAUNG from where there is a good view over MTAUK-U.
Overnight in Mrauk U.

DAY (21) MRAUK U - SITTWE

Breakfast. Transfer to jetty for departure by boat to SITTWE.

Arrive in Sittwe in the afternoon and enjoy wandering through the town, or
relaxing on the beach.

Overnight in Sittwe.

DAY (22) SITTWE - NGAPALI BEACH

Breakfast. Morning at leisure before transfer to SITTWE Airport for flight
to THANDWE.

Arrive THANDWE and proceed to NGAPALI BEACH.

Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

DAY (23) NGAPALI BEACH

Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

DAY (24) NGAPALI BEACH

Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

DAY (25) NGAPALI BEACH

Breakfast. Day at leisure. Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

DAY (26) NGAPALI BEACH - YANGON

Breakfast. Morning at leisure before transfer to THANDWE Airport for flight
to YANGON.

Arrive YANGON Airport and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Yangon.

DAY (27) YANGON DEPARTURE

Breakfast.

Travellers having arrived at YANGON Airport in the morning of day 1 will
transfer morning to airport for departure flight.

For those having arrived at YANGON Airport in the evening of day 1, a
morning of sightseeing will include YANGON CITY TOUR highlights as shown in
day 1 itinerary. Transfer to airport for departure flight.

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Peace House Travel
27(A), Mahabandoola Garden Street, Kyauktada,
Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

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