Burmese Days
Private journey – 11 days/10 nights
Meals: 9 breakfasts
Yangon
Inle Lake
Mandalay
Cruise
Bagan
Yangon
Sule Shangri-La
Inle Princess Resort
Mandalay Hill Resort
R.V. Paukan
Thiripyitsaya Hotel
Sule Shangri-La
1 night
2 nights
2 nights
2 nights
2 nights
1 night
DAY 1 – Arrival in Yangon. Shwe Dagon
Pagoda.
On arrival in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) you will be
met by a representative of World Discovery outside
immigration and customs. You will then be taken by
private car direct to your hotel. Time to relax for a
few hours before your late afternoon visit to the
amazing Shwe Dagon Pagoda, whose gilded stupa
has drawn the admiration of travellers for centuries.
The marvellous solid gold central zedi (stupa) of the
Shwe Dagon is regilded every year and is the best
known the site's monuments but there is much more
to see around the surprisingly large complex; all
around the central stupa devotees walk (always in a
clockwise direction), passing a profusion of mosaiccovered pavilions, images of Buddha and smaller filigreed pagodas. The smell of incense hangs in the air
and a light tinkling of bells can always be heard. This is the most revered site in Burma and is said to house
relics from the four Buddhas who have so far appeared on earth. Sunset is a magical time to visit the Shwe
Dagon, as the colours turn to crimson gold and orange, and the mighty diamond at the stupa's summit casts
beams of light into the surrounding sky. You will also have some time to wander through the colourful market
in China Town before returning to your hotel.
DAY 2 - Yangon. Fly to Heho. Drive to Inle Lake.
Yangon is probably best described by what it does not have – traffic jams, fast-food restaurants, freeways,
smog, lots of tourists and flashy discos. More than other city in Asia, Yangon still reflects the “Romance of
the East” as evoked by the writings of Conrad and Kipling. Your guide will show you the main sights of
Yangon this morning, beginning in the colonial-style city centre, where you will visit the beautiful Sule
Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years, an attractive golden temple which unusually sits in the middle of one
of the city's main roundabouts. Take a look at the City Hall and the downtown section to see colonial era
buildings, and stop for a photo at the well-known Karaweik Hall, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge (now a
restaurant) on the Kandawgyi Lake before walking through the famous Bogyoke Aung San market
(formerly known as Scott market); this enormous market, which is more than 70 years old, has a wide variety
of souvenirs - lacquerware (pictured), Shan shoulder bags, slippers, silks - but is also somewhere to enjoy
the happy atmosphere and to haggle alongside local shoppers. In the afternoon transfer to airport and fly to
Heho, gateway to the Shan States, known for colourful markets, beautiful mountain scenery, and its
fascinating people, a mixture of tribal races. Then drive to Nyaung Shwe and transfer by private boat to your
resort in Inle Lake, one of Burma's most spectacular locations.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 3 – Inle Lake. Indein.
After breakfast enjoy a leisurely trip on Inle Lake by longtail boat to explore some of the floating gardens and
to catch a glimpse of the local Intha fishermen famous for their one-legged rowing technique. Along the way,
you will also stop off to visit the Phaungdaw U Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State, and
the old Nga Phe Monastery which has a beautiful collection of antique Buddha statues, but is more perhaps
more famous for its unique 'jumping cats' that jump through hoops in the air! Then witness the production of
traditional Intha Silks at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and of Burmese cigars in the cheroot factory,
where these typical cigars are still made by hand. Afterwards, proceed to Indein, a recently discovered 16th
century temple site. Although not as grandiose as the temples of Bagan, these interesting stupas and
pagodas are incredibly atmospheric and well worth a visit, especially those on the top of the hill that
overlooks the village and lake - here the Shwe Indein Pagoda complex offers more than 1,000 small zedi or
stupas, leaning at odd angles and largely unrestored.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 4 – Lakeside Market. Fly to Mandalay.
In the morning visit one of the daily markets on the lakeside (the location differs from day to day) where you
can find a real local atmosphere with a huge variety of produce from the lake and the surrounding area; the
markets are crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses. In the afternoon drive to Heho and
take the short flight to Mandalay.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 5 - Mandalay. Amarapura.
After breakfast you will be taken to Amarapura, a former Royal capital located 7 miles south of Mandalay.
Little remains of the old city as large parts - such as the wooden palace buildings - were dismantled and
taken to Mandalay, when the capital was moved there by King Mindon Min. The famous Maha Ganayon
Monastery, however, is well worth visiting; here you may observe the daily life of the thousands of monks
studying Buddhism. The biggest attraction in Amarapura is the remarkable 1300 yard-long U Bein teak
footbridge which crosses the shallow Taungthaman Lake. More than 200 years old, this popular walkway is
always teeming with life - fishermen casting their lines into the water, locals walking their bicycles home to
their villages, saffron-robed monks carrying alms bowls between the monasteries on both sides of the
bridge. Have your cameras at the ready! Check into your Mandalay hotel and in the afternoon enjoy the
main sightseeing highlights of Mandalay itself. Mandalay is a relatively young city, having been built mainly
in the 19th century when it became the last of the Burmese royal capitals. Your first visit will be to the
Mahamuni Pagoda, which houses the most revered Buddha image in the city. The seated image is cast in
bronze but has been covered in a thick layer of gold leaf over the years by thousands of devout Buddhists
(en route to the pagoda you will stop off to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating, where gold is
painstakingly hammered out into tissue-thin squares). Continue to the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known also as
the world’s biggest book, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings,
followed by a short visit to the Shwenandaw Kyaung (the Golden Teak Monastery), noted for its exquisite
wood carvings. Take a stroll around Zegyo market, where you can find Burmese products such as silk and
slippers, before heading for the top of Mandalay Hill for great views of the surrounding countryside.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 6 - Your Irrawaddy Cruise begins.
Embark on the R.V. Paukan 2007 and enjoy lunch soon after setting sail downstream. Your first shore
excursion is to the former royal capital of Mingun, where you visit the Mingun Bell, the world's largest
uncracked bell, weighing 90 tons, and the unique Hsinbyume Pagoda with its 7 whitewashed terraces
surrounding a central stupa (said to represent the 7 mountain ranges around sacred Mount Meru). Continue
to the unfinished Mingun Pagoda, which would have been the largest in the world, but whose construction
was halted on the death of King Bodawpaya who commissioned it. Tonight your cruise boat will moor at a
sandbank in midstream.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
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DAY 7 - Sagaing. Yandabo.
Early in the morning cruise downstream. During the 2 hours journey you can admire the
natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or just sitting outside your
cabin. Enjoy the sunrise over Sagaing Hill. After breakfast step ashore to visit Sagaing, a peaceful town on
the western banks of the Irrawaddy which is dotted with more than 500 stupas, as well as many monasteries
and nunneries. It was capital of an independent Shan Kingdom from 1315 to 1364 and again, briefly, from
1760 to 1764. Visit the Kaungmudaw, best known of Sagaing's pagodas, with its white breast-like dome,
and then take a look at a silver workshop, followed by a climb to the top of the Sagaing hills for a panoramic
view. Continue cruising on the Irrawaddy and in the late afternoon visit the village of Yandabo, famous for it
pottery. Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint.
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
DAY 8 – Disembark. The Temples of Bagan.
Disembark from the R.V. Paukan 2007 at Aye Yar jetty, located close to one of the most impressive
archaeological sites in Asia - Bagan (formerly Pagan). More than 2,000 temples and pagodas dot the dry
plain beside the Irrawaddy River, some dating from the 11th century. After checking in at your hotel in
Bagan you will spend the day exploring the extensive ruins of Bagan. Your guided exploration of these
marvellous temples begins with the Shwezigone Pagoda, built in the 12th century and the prototype of
many early stupas. Its distinctive gilded zedi dominates the small town of Nyaung-U. This impressive
pagoda contains 4 shrines at the cardinal points, each housing a 13ft high bronze standing Buddha, the
largest surviving examples in Bagan. Continue to the cave-temple of Kyansittha Umin, built into a cliff face
close to the Shwezigon; its long, dimly lit corridors feature some fine frescoes. Next you will visit the 13th
century Wetkyi-In-Gubyaukgyi, a temple with fine mural paintings from the Jataka*, and the Htilominlo
Temple noted for its pilaster carvings. Perhaps the highlight of today is the monumental Ananda Temple,
an architectural masterpiece of resembling a Greek Cross, with four huge standing Buddha images. Other
temples visited today are Dhamayangyi, a massive temple with the finest brickwork, and Manuha Temple
with gigantic Buddha images. End the day with a sunset view of Bagan from Shwesandaw Temple.
Meals included: Breakfast.
*'Jataka' - Stories of the Buddha's past lives, a common theme for temple paintings.
DAY 9 - Bagan.
Further Bagan sightseeing this morning, starting with a visit the colourful Nyaung-U market before continuing
with your exploration of the main temples. This morning you will visit the following temples and pagodas:
Mingalazedi, located close to the banks of the Irrawaddy and noted for its enormous bell-like dome;
Gubyaukyi, or 'Great Painted Cave Temple' containing some superb 12th century paintings; Shwegugyi, a
smaller but elegant temple with some fine stucco carvings; Thatbyinnyu, Bagan's tallest temple built in
1144; Natlyaung Kyaung, the only Hindu temple remaining in Bagan, dedicated to Vishnu; and
Pahtothamya, one of the oldest of the temples, believed to have been built in the 10th century. In the
afternoon explore the village of Minn Nan Thu, the least visited temple area in Bagan. Observe the local
farmers’ way of life together with a visit to some of the most interesting temples such as Payathonzu, with its
unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence. You will also visit Myinkaba village to see
lacquerware family workshops.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 10 – Bagan. Return to Yangon.
The day is free in Bagan until your early evening flight back to Yangon for overnight.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 11 – Depart for home.
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Bangkok to connect with your homeward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast.
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