Guidepost Discovery & Cultural Tours in Myanmar

Special Myanmar Tour 8 days – MY-SIC-06

MANDALAY - MONYWA – BAGAN - MANDALAY

Day 1 Yangon - Mandalay

Arrival in Mandalay

Transfer

Sightseeing in Mandalay

The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual

centre. Neighbouring Sagaing is home to over sixty per cent of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay

continue to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar.

Visit Shwenandaw Kyaung

Shwenandaw Kyaung is a monastery of great interest, not only as a fine example of a traditional Burmese wooden

monastery, but as a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Fort. At one time this building was part of the palace

complex, and was used as an apartment by King Mindon and his chief queen, and it was here that he died. After

Mindon's death, King Thibaw Min had the building dismantled and reassembled on its present site in 1880 as a

monastery.

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Visit Kuthodaw Paya

The central stupa of the Kuthodaw Paya was modelled on the Shwezigon Paya at Nyaung U near Bagan. Building

commenced in 1857, at the same time as the royal palace. The paya has been dubbed 'the world's biggest book', for

standing around the central stupa are 729 marble slabs on which are inscribed the entire Tripitaka.

Visit Burmese candy making production

Visit Jade Market

Visit Mandalay Hill at sunset

Visit Mandalay Hill and take an easy climb up sheltered steps to experience panoramic views over the palace,

Mandalay and the paya-studded countryside. The famous hermit monk, U Khanti, is credited with inspiring the

construction of many of the buildings on and around the hill in the years after the founding of the city

Overnight in Mandalay

Day 2 Mandalay (Breakfast: Hotel)

Sightseeing in Mandalay

Visit some of the main sights of Mandalay, the last capital of royal Burma and a cultural and spiritual centre.

Neighbouring Sagaing is home to over sixty percent of the country's monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue

to turn out the finest crafts in Myanmar.

Visit Maha Gandayone Monastery with sunrise at U-Bein Bridge (Tour will start early morning)

Leave the hotel at 4am and drive 30 minutes to Mahagandayon Monastery in Amarapura. Arrival in Amarapura

around 04:30am and look around the monastery. Observe how 1.500 monks have breakfast at 04:45am and talk

with some of the monks and have tea together at about 06:30am. After that, walk 5 minutes to U Bein bridge and

enjoy the sunrise there.

Visit U-Bein's Bridge with boat trip on Taungtaman Lake

Excursion to Sagaing and Inwa (Ava)

Cross the river to Sagaing, a former royal capital and the spiritual centre of Myanmar. Hundreds of stupas,

monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found in Sagaing Hill, sometimes known as a living Bagan. Thousands

of monks and nuns retreat here for meditation and contemplation. Stop at some of the most famous temples, such

as Tupayon Paya and Hsinmyashin Paya (the Pagoda of Many Elephants).

Continue to Inwa (Ava), another formal royal capital, now a quiet rural oasis situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy

River. Enjoy a leisurely horsecart ride around the peaceful countryside, briefly visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful

teak wood monastery, Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Kyaung, and Nan Myint Tower. On the way, stop and observe how

local artisans make their famous alms bowls out of iro - Overnight in Mandalay

Day 3 Mandalay - Monywa (Breakfast: Hotel)

Visit Mahamuni Paya for the Buddha face-washing ceremony (4 am)

This extraordinary ceremony takes place at 4 am each morning. The resident monks take part in a ritual cleaning of

the venerated Buddha image, wiping it with elaborate face cloths donated by the devout. In order to witness this

ceremony, it is necessary to depart the hotel around 3 or 3.30 am.

Visit Yadana Labamuni Hsu Taung Pye Paya (Python Temple)

The "Python Temple" is located in Paleik between Mandalay airport and downtown. The Python Temple has become

widely known as the Snake Pagoda, or Hmwe Paya. In the 1970s, three pythons came into this pagoda and curled up

next to the Buddha image. They never left and are being taken care of as vital part of the pagoda.

By vehicle from Mandalay to Monywa

Sightseeing in Monywa

Situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River, Monywa is now the second biggest town in Upper Myanmar and

serves as a major trade centre for agricultural produce from the surrounding Chindwin Valley, especially beans,

pulses and palm sugar. Visit the Thanboddhay Paya, where every spare surface, inside and out, is covered with

thousands of miniature Buddha images (almost 600,000 altogether); the cumulative effect is spectacularly colourful.

Discover one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Myanmar, the Shwe Gu Ni Paya, its importance due to its

main zedi, which reportedly has the ability to grant wishes. See the magnificent Reclining Buddha, perched atop a

hill, with spectacular views across the plain. This giant reclining Buddha is one of the largest in the country. Marvel at

Boddhi Tataung, a grove of banyan tree with a 1000 Buddha images resting at the foot of the tree - Overnight in

Monywa

Day 4 Monywa - Pakkoku - Bagan (Breakfast: Hotel / Dinner: Local Restaurant (Myanmar)

Excursion to the Pow Win Daung Caves

Cross the Chindwin River by local ferry and continue westwards towards the Pow Win Daung caves. Pow Win Daung

Mountain is home to a series of caves nestled in the hillside along a path and contain Buddha images and well-

preserved murals that date from the 14th-16th centuries. Visit Shwe Ba Taung Paya, with shrines carved into the

hillside decorated with elaborate mosaics and Buddha images. Sculptures line the path and walls, including a giant

frog perched by the road and an elephant carved to form a temple doorway.

By vehicle from Monywa to Pakkoku

Travel from Monywa to Pakkoku with a stop at Ma-U village. Take a short walk and visit a family workshop to see

how incense sticks are made.

By vehicle from Pakkoku to Bagan

Day 5 Bagan (Breakfast: Hotel / Lunch: The Wheel Restaurant)

Sightseeing in Bagan

Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwady River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old

temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan

only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.

Visit Lacquerware workshop

The small villages around Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the

workshops and learn about the painstaking process of lacquerware making and decoration.

Visit Ananda Pahto

Ananda Pahto is one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have

been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early

Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.

Enjoy Picnic Lunch near Dhamayangyi Temple

Simply enjoy the authentic experience of picnic lunch in ancient Bagan. Picnic lunch under shady trees in the north of

Dhammayangyi Temple, the most massive structure in Bagan which has a similar architectural plan to Ananda

Temple. Enjoy the tasteful picnic lunch while experiencing the architectural wonder of the temple (Picnic lunch will

be arranged by The Wheel restaurant)

Visit Shwesandaw Pagoda

Shwesandaw Pagoda was built in 1057 by King Anawrahta following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first

monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the

Stupa.

(Shwesandaw Pagoda is not allowed to climb up until further notice due to some old bricks was fallen down)

Visit a pagoda for sunset

Day 6 Bagan (Breakfast: Hotel)

All day at leisure * No local guide *

Day 7 Bagan - Mandalay (Breakfast: Hotel)

By vehicle from Bagan to Mandalay

Day 8 Mandalay (Breakfast: Hotel)

Transfer

Hotel Var. A Var. B

Mandalay Shwe Ingyinn Hotel

Superior (No Extra Bed)

Hotel Hazel

Superior (No Extra Bed)

Monywa

Win Unity Resort Hotel

Standard 5 Stories new building with lift [II]

(No Extra Bed)

Win Unity Resort Hotel

Standard 5 Stories new building with lift [I] (No Extra Bed)

Bagan Ruby True Hotel

Superior [FIT 1-14 pax]

Bawga Theiddhi Hotel

Superior (No Extra Bed)

INCLUDED SERVICES:

- Program is based either on English or German speaking guide. For other languages a supplement charge will apply.

- Accommodation as mentioned above or equivalent.

- Where very early morning flights are scheduled, a breakfast box may replace the standard ABF.

- Meals according to itinerary / Breakfast box in lieu of ABF when early morning flight.

-Flight ticket(s), in economy class unless otherwise specified, according to the itinerary.

Flight from Yangon to Mandalay

- Porter fees at the airport where guide service is booked.

- Current fuel surcharges are included, however, these are subject to change prior to tour start date.

- Ground transportation in private A/C vehicle.

- 1 complimentary bottle of drinking water and 1 cold towel per person per half day tour/ 2 bottles of water and 2 cold

towels per person per full day tour.

- Sightseeing incl. admission fees according to itinerary.

- International and domestic airport taxes in Myanmar are automatically included in ticket.

EXCLUDED SERVICES:

- Visa fees, drinks, personal expenses. ** Visa Procedures: Myanmar

Prices from US$970 (per person) based on twin-sharing in double rooms – Prices are subject to currency fluctuation.

We recommend checking with our office for a firm quote in Australian Dollars and for “sole room use” surcharge.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON MYANMAR IS AVAILABLE FROM OUR OFFICE

Please note: This is a SMALL GROUP tour that operates ALTERNATE Tuesdays , minimum of 2 people. Discount prices are available for groups of 4 or more people travelling together on independent tours.