Day 1: Mandalay Arrival, Airport Pick-up
Welcome to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city! Upon your arrival, your guide and the driver will greet you and then escort you to your hotel. Along the way, you may find many locals wearing a light-yellow powder on their faces - that’s Thanaka, a special powder that shields people from insects and the scorching sun. After checking in, you can recharge for the 7 days private Myanmar tour or explore the city by yourself. Mandalay boasts a rich history and many cultural relics, as it was once the capital of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1885 AD) and the cultural center during the British colonial era (1885-1948 AD).
► Insider Tips:
1. When visiting Buddhist temples, you must wear long pants and remove your shoes and socks. So, wear slippers, and prepare wet wipes to clean feet and a bag for shoe storage.
2. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses as it’s hot almost year-round in Myanmar, but pack a light shirt or jacket for Bagan’s cool mornings and evenings. Besides, insect repellent is also necessary.
3. Due to poor street lighting in Bagan, it’s advisable to avoid hanging out alone after dark. Also, please prepare a battery bank because of frequent power outages.
► Why Choose Us
1. Public transportation in Myanmar is inadequate, and pagodas and temples in Mandalay and Bagan are scattered. We’ll provide with you an air-conditioned private car which saves you time for pure fun and helps with summertime fatigue.
2. Our knowledgeable guides can explain the styles and histories of impressive Bagan temples, allowing your temple tours to go beyond mere appearances.
Accommodation: Eastern Palace Hotel, Mandalay (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 2: Mandalay: Mahamuni Pagoda, Mahagandayon Monastery, Sagaing Hill & U Bein Bridge
After breakfast, your guide will accompany you to the Mahamuni Pagoda, housing Mandalay’s most revered golden Buddha! The 2,500-year-old Buddha image is believed to have been sanctified by Shakyamuni Buddha himself. People keep applying gold foil to it, making the thickest portion almost 16 centimeters (6.3 inches) thick, whereas each piece of gold foil is only about 0.12 microns thick! Besides, a customary ritual of washing the Buddha's face commences at 4:00 am, and the locals believe that the water contains blessings. ★ Witness Myanmar's Grandest Alms-giving CeremonyThen, we’ll visit the Mahagandayon Monastery, a renowned monastic college with over a thousand monks and novices, where an arms-giving ceremony is held at 10:00 am every day. Red-robed monks of all ages, holding bowls and towels, line up to receive alms and then gather for lunch, making a spectacular scene. They walk barefoot even on rainy days. The monastery’s daily meals cost around USD 1,500 and are provided by local donors, who wait in a queue to donate as they believe that it can accumulate merit. At noon, we’ll reach Sagaing Hill via City Harbor Bridge and visit a Sagaing nunnery, where the nuns wearing pink robes and orange shawls practice peacefully. Many families send their daughters to nunneries at the age of four or five due to poverty and rampant human trafficking. Although the girls can return to secular life, they’re likely to face discrimination and can hardly reconvert to Buddhism. Then, ascend to the hill summit and overlook hundreds of temples scattered among the forest along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. We’ll round off today at U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak footbridge, stretching 1,200 meters (3,937 feet) long over the Taungthaman Lake. At dusk, take a brightly colored long-tail boat on the lake, and take shots of the footbridge with orange-robed monks, longyi-clad pedestrians, and women carrying heavy loads on their heads under a stunning sunset. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Eastern Palace Hotel, Mandalay (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 3: Mandalay: Mingun Ancient Ruins, Shwenandaw Monastery, Kuthodaw Pagoda & Mandalay Hill
After breakfast, your guide and the driver will escort you to board a 1-hour boat bound for Mingun, a historic city in Mandalay’s suburbs. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the rectangular Mingun Pagoda, Myanmar’s largest brick structure. The king intended to build a pagoda as grand as Mandalay Hill; regretfully, only one-third of the original plan, the 50-meter (164-foot) high base, was completed after 15 years of construction. In an adjacent pavilion, admire the 90-ton Mingun Bell, which was originally planned to be installed in the pagoda. Then, proceed to the Settawya Pagoda, which houses the sacred Buddha's footprint etched with seashell and lotus designs. We’ll also visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a masterpiece made by a king to honor his deceased queen, which resembles a cream cake with seven wave-shaped bases. We’ll return to Mandalay at 13:00 and visit Shwenandaw Monastery, an intricately carved teak building that was originally housed inside the Mandalay Palace. It was once a king’s residence, but after his death, his heir moved the entire building out of the palace to avoid breaking a taboo, dramatically making it the sole imperial edifice to survive World War II (1939-1945 AD). Proceed to explore the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which is dubbed "the world’s largest book". It consists of 729 white stone slabs, each placed inside a small stupa and engraved with Buddhist scriptures, creating a spectacular white stupa forest. It’s said that reading all of these scriptures would take 450 days if one read for 8 hours every day! Afterward, we’ll ascend Mandalay Hill, the city's highest point at 231 m (758 ft), to take in the stunning sunset and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city. Before climbing, you must take off your shoes and socks. You can apply insect repellent to your feet to keep ants away. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. ► Dinner Recommendation (at your own expense) In the evening, use the Grab app to hail a tuk-tuk rickshaw and dine at the cozy Cafe City restaurant. Try the highly praised steaks and pizzas, as well as the fried rice and creamy tomato soup; don’t miss a sip of the cocktail or tea. Credit cards are accepted at this restaurant. Average Cost per Person: MMK 20,000-30,000 (USD 10-15) Address: Corner of 20th Street and 64th (B) Street, Mandalay Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Eastern Palace Hotel, Mandalay (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 4: Fly to Bagan, Visit Mani Sithu Market, Shwezigon Paya, Htilominlo Temple & Shwesandaw Pagoda
Today, your guide and the driver will escort you to the airport to board the flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, the local guide and the driver will pick you up and escort you to your hotel. Bagan was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom (11th-13th century), whose first king, Anawrahta, unified the nation and brought in the ascetic and monastic Theravada Buddhism, which laid the foundation for Myanmar’s modern Buddhist culture. Over ten thousand pagodas were built at that time, giving rise to the "City of a Thousand Pagodas" known as Bagan. Your guide will first accompany you to explore Bagan’s main market, Mani Sithu Market, which is teeming with a wide range of goods, including agricultural products, cloth, and handicrafts. A tangy, appetizing mixture of jackfruit, rambutan, and mango seasoned with a dash of chili powder is also worth a try. Afterward, admire the gilded Shwezigon Paya, which houses the Buddha's tooth and bone relics. Built in the 11th century, it’s the pioneer of Myanmar’s large-scale Buddhist architecture, featuring a bell-shaped tower atop a multi-layered square platform, encircled by 53 huge statues of lions, toads, and crocodiles. In Bagan's dispersed and rustic tower group, it stands out remarkably. Then, appreciate the pyramid-shaped Htilominlo Temple, which is said to be Bagan’s last Myanmar-style temple and where a prince was chosen as the crown prince, and admire the exquisite wood carvings in Nat Taung Kyaung Monastery. Our next stop is Shwesandaw Pagoda, which features a five-tiered base and a soaring bell-shaped stupa, with steep stairs on the façade leading to the top. In November, the grand Shwesandaw Pagoda festival is held with activities like lighting lanterns and vibrant fairs. Afterward, let’s conclude today with a boat trip to watch the setting sun drape an orange-red cloak over the countless pagodas. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 5: Bagan: Ananda Temple, Thatbyinnyu Temple, Manuha Temple, Myinkaba Village & Gubyaukgyi Temple
Today, your guide will accompany you to delve into Old Bagan, the core area of Bagan pagodas. Our first stop is Bagan’s most magnificent temple, Ananda Temple, which features four 9.5-meter (31-foot) tall golden Buddhas standing separately facing the four main directions. It bears the name of Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha with remarkable memory, who helped preserve the Buddha's teachings after his nirvana. Next, proceed to Thatbyinnyu Temple, Bagan’s tallest building and one of the early double-story pagodas. It is also known as "Bagan Twin Towers" along with Ananda Temple. Then, visit the Hindu-style Nanpaya Temple, which was once used as a prison to detain Manuha, the last king of the Thaton Kingdom (4th-11th century). With only a few fist-sized windows, it’s rather dim inside. We’ll also visit Manuha Temple, the work of the captive king. Be astonished by the reclining Buddha and two seated Buddhas housed in extremely small rooms, which seem to express the king's depression. Bagan is Myanmar’s primary lacquerware production hub, and we’ll head to Myinkaba Village, visit some lacquerware shops to appreciate the exquisite pieces and learn about how the locals use simple wooden tools to make them. Afterward, head to Gubyaukgyi Temple, which preserves Bagan’s oldest murals, depicting the Buddha's cycle and enlightenment. Given the dark interior, bring a flashlight. Then, tick off Pyathetgyi Pagoda, one of the largest temples in Bagan, which is characterized by expansive passageways and massive arched chambers. Later temples were not as large anymore. Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. ► Tips: 1. Most roads in Old Bagan are dusty, and it’s advisable to wear a mask. 2. Pack a thin coat during the dry season (Nov.-Apr.), when the daytime temperature is about 30℃ (86°F) and can drop to 10℃ (50℉) at night. 3. Watching the sunrise from a hot air balloon is a popular activity in Bagan, but it is only available from November to February. If interested, you can contact us at least 2 months in advance to add this experience. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort (4 stars) or similar Ananda Temple Thatbyinnyu Temple
|
Day 6: Fly to Yangon, Visit Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, Sule Pagoda & Shwedagon Pagoda
Today, your guide and the driver will escort you to the airport to board a 1.5-hour flight to Yangon, the largest city and former capital of Myanmar that features British colonial-era buildings. Once you land, the local guide and the driver will pick you up at the airport and escort you to your hotel, and then show you around some of the landmarks. The first stop is Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, home to Myanmar’s largest indoor reclining Buddha, measuring 5.4 meters (18 feet) high and 66 meters (217 feet) long! The Buddha has a vibrant makeup: blue eyeshadow, curled eyelashes, red lips and nails. Then, head to the city center and admire the 2,000-year-old Sule Pagoda, named for a powerful guardian spirit. The pagoda is encircled by 8 zodiac animal statues. Myanmar's zodiac is determined based on each day of the week, with Wednesday divided into two. You can ask your guide about the zodiac corresponding to your birthday to worship. Afterward, stroll around the nearby Maha Bandula Park, which was built in honor of a national hero of the same name and now serves as a recreational hub for the locals. We won’t miss Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered site in Myanmar with a 2,500-year history and eight strands of the Buddha Shakyamuni's hair! The 99-meter (325-foot) tall golden pagoda is always packed with believers, from toddlers to the elderly. People keep donating gold voluntarily, making it now covered with 7 tons of gold and thousands of rubies and sapphires! Their devotion to Buddhism is astounding for a nation with a per capita GDP of less than USD 1,600. A high-powered telescope in the corner is available to see the jewels on the towering spire. Additionally, you can bathe the Buddhas surrounding the pagoda by pouring water from above their heads for a blessing. The pagoda is particularly magnificent at night, and you can admire it on your own if you are interested. Afterward, your guide will accompany you to an upscale restaurant to enjoy a farewell dinner with a dance show. At last, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Rose Garden Hotel Yangon (4 stars) or similar
|
Day 7: Yangon Departure, Airport See-off
Today, say farewell to your one week private tour itinerary in Myanmar. Your guide and the driver will pick you up at the hotel and escort you to the airport for your return flight. If you wish to stay longer in Myanmar to visit the one-legged rowing fisherman at Inle Lake, relax on the soft sands at Ngapali Beach, or go trekking in Kalaw, feel free to contact us to tailor a hassle-free itinerary for you!
► Activity for Late Departure (at your own expense)
Myanmar is renowned for its jade, rubies, and sapphires. If time permits, you can go by yourself to Bogyoke Aung San Market, which is Yangon’s largest and most bustling market, featuring an array of jade stores, fun wood carvings, traditional longyi garments, and unique rattan bags. If something tickles your fancy, drive a hard bargain down to 30% to 50%.
Address: 11143 Bo Gyoke Aung San Road, Yangon
Meal: Breakfast
|
