Family adventure 15 days
Itinerary in detail
Day 1: Mandalay - Arrival
Met and welcome by our guide upon arrival at the airport. Then transferred by private car to your hotel.
You refresh and relax a little after your flight, then we will furnish you with various items needed to begin your adventure:
- You will be given a map of the city, and the necessary explanations to help guide you.
- Then we’ll help you to exchange currency, and you can start to soak up the atmosphere.
Day 2 : Mandalay - City tour - Amarapura - BOAT - U Bein Bridge
After breakfast, you transfer by private car to the airport for a flight to Mandalay. Meet with your guide on arrival and transfer to the city of Mandalay, the second largest city in the country, known as the “Golden City”, and also the cultural and religious center of Buddhism in Myanmar. While here we will discover:
- The Atumashi and Shwe Nandaw monasteries to see beautiful and extremely fine hand carved teak motifs that adorn these magnificent architectural buildings which house incredibly beautiful marble sculptures.
- Kuthodaw Pagoda, a set of Buddhist stupas that house the largest book in the world, a vast collection of seminal texts engraved on marble headstones, each nestled in a small white temple, a total of 729 in all.
- The Arakan Pagoda, also known as the Mahamuni Pagoda, that houses a Buddha from the ancient Arakan Kingdom, conquered by the Burmese. This highly revered Buddha is endlessly being covered in gold leaf.
We take lunch during our travels, after which we drive to Amarapura. Then we will visit:
- A workshop to see marble sculpturing and some gold hammering.
- A cotton and silk weaving establishment.
- The Patodawgyi and Kyauktawgyi Pagodas.
- And as sunset draws near we cruise on the Taungthaman boat to view the magical spectacle of U Bein Bridge, built in 1841and based on teak columns and is the longest teakwood bridge in the world.
Day 3: Mandalay - Mingun - Sagaing – Mandalay
We visit the Jade Market then board a boat to go up the Irrawaddy River towards Mingun.
Disembark in front of the Satowya Pagoda See a model of the Mingun Pagoda, and receive an explanation of same.
Visit the unfinished Mingun Pagoda, started in the reign of King Bodowpaya, and originally meant to be 150mts in height, but amounts to only 50mts, and then visit the ruins and the imposing pile of bricks. See the Mingun Bell that weights over 90 tons, the largest bell in the world to ring.
Visit the Hsinbyume pagoda.
We then return to Mandalay for lunch.
Tour to Sagaing and its impressive panorama of pagodas dotted the surrounding countryside. We will continue our day around the hills of Sagaing approximately 20kms south of Mandalay, using the metal bridge at Ava, after which we will enjoy a tour of Sagaing and its impressive panorama of pagodas that dot the surrounding countryside.
Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 4: Mandalay - BOAT – Bagan
Day 5: Bagan – Visit
The plain of Bagan is the largest archaeological site in Myanmar and it covers around 40 square kilometers and is a testament to the populations’ Buddhist beliefs.
In this magical and historical location, there are over 2000 pagodas spread out and punctuated by vegetation. Some of the monuments were built between the 10th and 13th century, showing a variety of external influences including Tibetan, Indian, Sri Lankan and some Burmese influences as well.
Our guided tour of Old Bagan and popular surrounding sites can be made by carriage or bike, depending on your choice. We will see:
- The door, Sarabha
- The monastery of Ananda Archaeological Museum
- Thatbyinnyu Temple
- Dhammayanzika Temple
- Nanpaya Temple
- Pagoda Bupaya
- Manuha Temple
- Discovery of a workshop, making traditional lacquer ware products
And at sunset, if the sky permits, we will climb to the terrace of a temple to admire the scenery of Bagan in the last rays of the setting sun.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 6: Bagan - Mount Popa - Bagan
In the morning, depart Bagan for the Mount Popa, an extinct volcano over 1500 m high, about 48 km southeast of Bagan and visit the Nat worship shrines, stupas, and monasteries at the summit.
On the way, stop at a palm plantation and palm sugar candy workshop in Kyaukpaduaung village. Mt. Popa, the Burmese “Mt.Olympus” is a legendary home of the “Mahagiri Nats” (Powerful national spirits) and an important pilgrimage site.
After your arrival at Mt. Popa, there is an optional climb to the summit for an amazing panorama view and visit a Nat shrine and monasteries on top of the volcano. Everything about the place is dramatic: the lush vegetation on the mountain’s slopes, the Petrified Forest along the road; the complex of monasteries and shrines perched on the rocky crag and endless views of the plains below. The Mt Popa area has been designated as a National Park.
Afternoon back to Bagan, rent a bicycle or hire a horse cart and lose yourself amidst the crumbling spires if this fabulous place.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 7: Bagan - FLY - Heho – Pindaya - Kalaw
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Heho. From Heho, it is a scenic one-hour drive (32km – 1 hour) to Nyaung Shwe, gateway village to Inle Lake.
Then you will board a private motorboat and go to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. Observe the daily activities of the local leg-rowing fishermen and see their ‘floating gardens’, which are built up from strips of water hyacinth, earth and anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles.
You will also visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses loads of early Shan Buddha Images. In the past this temple was known for its ‘jumping cats’ but these days there are only a few felines roaming around and none are jumping anymore.
Finally, proceed to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which contains five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf. There are also many traditional crafts originating on Inle Lake and, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making incredible woven items from lotus silk, boat builders (depending on the time of year), a cigar making workshop, blacksmiths or even silversmiths.
Overnight in Kalaw.
Day 8: Kalaw – Inle lake
Today begins with a visit to the lake’s morning market (the market is open every day apart from the dark moon and full moon calendar days). The market is a hive of activity as the lake’s residents gather to buy fresh produce and other goods in the early morning hours. Continue with a 1-hour boat ride down a small canal will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending the moss-covered stairway to the top of a hill.
Once you’ve arrived at the summit, you will be greeted by an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery. Then it’s time to embark on a 45 minutes trek to Sae Ma village. Along the way, you’ll enjoy the natural beauty and panoramic vistas of the area while basking under the shade of the bamboo grooves in the area. Upon arrival at the village, observe the daily lifestyles of the rural inhabitants. Should time allow, you’ll stop at Intha Heritage House to learn more about the history and culture of the lake’s indigenous people?
The day will come to a close with a return trip by boat back to your hotel.
Overnight in Inle Lake.Day 9: Inle Lake – Indein - FLY –Yangon
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Bagan.
Upon arrival at the airport, met and welcome by our guide and then transfer to your hotel in Yangon.
Overnight in Yangon.
Day 10: Yangon – City tour
In the morning, take your journey back to Yangon, then start your:
- Visit Fish & Fruit Market
- Continue to Mahapasana Cave -where the sixth Buddhist synod took place.
- Follow by Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda for its dedication of sixth Buddhist conference, and Second World War cemetery.
- Visit Myanmar famous precious Gems, Jade & Jewelry Workshop for stone lovers In the afternoon.
- Visit Bogyoke Market established by the British in 1920’s as Scott’s Market, where one can find a great selection of typical Myanmar souvenirs including lacquer ware, woodcarving, cotton shoulder bags, colorful textiles, longyis, monk’s umbrellas and robes, paintings, jade statues, beads made of cultured pearls, and exquisite jewelry.
- Go for a walk to the Landmark of the city, Sule Pagoda, and Botahtaung Pagoda.
- Walk around the Mahabandoola Park to see the colonial courthouse and the city hall.
- Continue to visit National Museum In the evening, take a walk to China Town where can see the many vendors on the platform & can buy the variety of Myanmar products.
Day 11: Yangon – Kyaiktiyo - Golden Rock
In the early morning, depart Yangon in a private vehicle for Kyaikhtiyo standing on a gilded boulder precariously perched on the edge of the hill over 3615 feet above sea-level 190km to the east of Yangon.
Late morning, arrive at Kyaikhtiyo and stop at Kinpun Basecamp, then transfer an open truck for one hour ride to the transit junction and take a slight hiking for one hour to reach the summit to see the Golden Rock, one of Myanmar most important pilgrimage sites.
Overnight in Kyaiktiyo.Day 12: Kyaiktiyo – Bago - Yangon - FLY – Ngapali
After breakfast return to Yangon. On the way, stop at Bago, an ancient city of the 15th century the Mon Kingdom as well as Myanmar Second Dynasty and pay a visit to:
- Shwemawdaw Pagoda – the highest pagoda in Myanmar.
- Kanbawzathadi Palace, the palace site of King Bayinnaung who is the founder of Myanmar 2nd Dynasty.
- Shwethalyaung Pagoda – 55 meters long reclining Buddha.
- Mons’ weaving village and Cheroot Making Home Cottage Industry On the way back to Yangon visit Kyaikpon Four gigantic Buddha Images and the Allied War Cemetery near Htaukkyant where 27,000 allied soldiers who had perished during the Second World War were buried.
- Then transfer to the airport for a flight to Thandwe. Greeted by our driver and then transferred to the hotel in Ngapali.
Day 13: Ngapali - Freetime
Free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Ngapali
Day 14: Ngapali - Freetime
Free time at your leisure.
Overnight in Ngapali.
Day 15: Ngapali - FLY - Yangon – Departure
Free time at your leisure then flight back Yangon for your departure.
Source: http://ancharm-myanmar.com/tours/family-adventure-15-days/
Comments
Post a Comment