Mt 13

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MT-13: 12 day Golden Rock + Mandalay + Bagan + Inle lake + Yangon

This 12 day tour first visits an amazing pagoda atop a boulder perched on the edge of a cliff : the Golden Rock. You are transported up hills covered by tropical forest to this unforgettable site also known as Kyaikhtiyo.Then you continue on to Mandalay; the hub of Myanmar culture,religion, arts & crafts, Bagan; the city of ancient temples and at last but not least, the home of the Intha people and colorful hill tribes –Inle Lake. Coverage: Yangon–Bago-Golden Rock - Mandalay- Bagan- Pindaya – Inle LakeStart City: Yangon End City: Yangon Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights Operational period: October to MayBrief ItineraryDay 1: Arrival Yangon Day 2: Yangon-Golden Rock Day 3: Golden Rock-Bago-Yangon Day 4: Yangon-Mandalay(By Flight) Day 5: Mandalay-Mingun-Ava Day 6: Mandalay-Bagan (By Flight) Day 7: Bagan- Mt.Popa Day 8: Bagan-Heho (By Flight)-PindayaDay 9: Pindaya – Inle Lake Day 10: Inle lake Boat Excursion Day 11: Inle Lake-Heho-Yangon (By Flight) Day 12: Departure YangonDetailed Itinerary

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DAY 1 YANGON ARRIVAL

On arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel. After refreshment, you embark on a city tour including:(1) China Town noted for its fruit market, delicious street foods and old world atmosphere.(2) Downtown Yangon’s Sule Pagoda, City Hall, Independence monument and old colonial buildings. (3) A visit to the magnificent and world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, known for its religious significance and artistic beauty. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz - a stunning sight as the sun sets and an unforgettable place to begin your trip in the "Golden Land". Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel in Yangon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon Meal:Welcome DinnerDAY 2 YANGON – GOLDEN ROCK

The day’s schedule :(1) This morning,we leave for Kyaik-hti-yo, about 160 km from Yangon,( 5 hr drive). The Golden Rock Pagoda stands on a gold gilded boulder precariously perched on the edge of the hill, which is 1102 meters above the sea-level.Upon arrival to the base-camp, we have lunch and transfer to an exciting truck ride up-hill through a rain forest. From the upper-camp, we trek up-hill for about an hour to the amazing Golden Rock. Check in Hotel, rest and later, visit the magnificent Golden Rock pagoda environs. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Golden Rock.





Accommodation: Hotel at Golden Rock Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner

DAY 3 GOLDEN ROCK – BAGO – YANGON

(1) We wake early to enjoy the sun-rise over the these misty jungle-clad hills of Southeast asia. (2) After breakfast, descend to the base-camp, drive to Bago: an ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom in 15th Century. Bago is situated only 80 km north-east of Yangon.(3) Upon arrival to Bago, we have lunch. Afterwards, we visit the magnificent Shwe Maw Daw -said to be over 2,000 years old temple. Naung daw gyi Pagoda; MyaTharLyaung (a colossal reclining Buddha Image which was recently restored ).(4) ShweTharLyaung (a huge reclining Buddha);55 meters long and dating back 994AD and Kyaik-Pun temple which isfour huge seated Buddha images in the open air. Back to Yangon.Accommodation: Hotel in YangonMeals: Breakfast, Lunch,DinnerDAY 4 YANGON – MANDALAY

Early morning,transfer to Yangon airport for departure flight to Mandalay ETD:06:30,ETA:08:35.Upon arrival to Mandalay Airport :(1) we drive to the ancient capital Amarapura for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; observe the local weaving industry.(2) walk across the two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungthaman Lake and later observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence at Maha Gandaryon Monastery. We proceed to Mandalay and check in at the hotel. After refreshment, a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes :





(3) Maha Muni Image - a bronze Buddha image said to be cast during the lifetime of Buddha himself. It is the holiest buddhist site in Upper Myanmar : a Buddha image of great beauty and witness the reverence and worship of the local people. (4) Mandalay Palace and the nearby, Shwe Nandaw Monastery - noted for its exquisite wood carvings and Kuthodaw Pagoda - known as the world biggest book.(5) We finish the day’s tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to experience a tropical sun-set with panoramic views of the city and the Ayeyarwaddy River.Accommodation: Hotel in MandalayMeals: Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner

DAY 5 MANDALAY – MINGUN - AVA

The day’s tour includes :(1) a 45 minute private boat ride across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. Stop at Kywe Zoon on the way to the pier to watch the busy riverside activity. (2) The unfinished but unfinished Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, a brick counterpart of the pyramids of Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest ringing bell in the world. (3) The Myatheintan Pagoda, a representation of the Buddhist universe.We return to Mandalay by boat and after lunch, drive to the ruins of the Kingdom of Ava, 30-minutes to the south of Mandalay. Although the royal palace is no more, the pagodas, temples and monasteries still remain there.(4) We travel by pony-cart around Ava to Nanmyint Leaning Tower which gives a birds' eye view of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River; Bagaya;a wooden monastery; Aungmyaybonza Monastery made of brick and stucco. Return drive to Mandalay and see a silversmith’s work place on our way back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.Accommodation:Hotel in MandalayMeals: Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner

DAY 6 MANDALAY – BAGAN





We depart from Mandalay to Bagan by air. On arrival in Bagan we, check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone Heritage Area and begin a comprehensive tour of Bagan including : (1) NyaungOo market(2) Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas(3) Kyansittha Umin(4) Wet-kyi-Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with its exquisite mural paintings of 13th century (5) the majestic HtilominloTemple. In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to(6) Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha(7) Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha(8) Ananda Temple,1090AD,a masterpiece of early period temple-architecture with four huge standing Buddha Images (9) Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings.Enjoy a spectacular sunset from one of the temples of Bagan. Dinner with a puppet show and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Accommodation: Hotel in BaganMeals: Breakfast,Lunch,DinnerDAY 7 BAGAN – MT. POPA





This day’s tour includes a short morning trip to Mt. Popa and return to Yangon :(1) We leave the Bagan temples and take a short drive to Mt. Popa. We join local pilgrims on a 777-step winding staircase ascent of the Mt Popa and see the Nat (spirit)shrines that line the walkway along with the monkeys that live on the mountain. Mt. Popa is known as the abode of Nats (spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and you can also see the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak. (2) Proceed to Popa Mountain Resort for lunch. The restaurant offers a great view to the Popa summit and the central plain.On the way back to Bagan we will stop at a village to see the collection of juice from the toddy-palm trees, and its conversion to brown sugar. (3) As time permits we will have a short boat ride on the Ayeyawaddy River at sunset.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner

DAY 8 BAGAN – HEHO - PINDAYA





Today we depart Bagan and take a flight to Heho on the Shan plateau ETD:7:50,ETA:08:30. Upon arrival:(1) we transfer by road to Pindaya (60km) about 90 minutes drive. After check in hotel,we take an excursion to the caves which houses over 8,000 Buddha Images accumulated over the centuries (2) In the afternoon, explore the small quiet town for it's famous traditional Shan paper & parasol making cottage industry. Enjoy the cool climate and overnight at the hotel in Pindaya.Accommodation: Hotel in PindayaMeals: Breakfast, Lunch , DinnerDAY 9 PINDAYA – INLE LAKE

This morning we are driving to Inle Lake. We have a leisurely morning making our way down into the Inle lake and by "long-tail" boat cross the lake to our hotel right on the lake. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day:(1) A boat excursion on InleLake, a delight to all with a camera ,its calm water dotted with floating vegetation on floating Islands and small fishing boats,to which scenic high hills provide the perfect back-drop. See the “Intha” (Lake- dwelling people) also known as the unique “Leg-Rowers” who use one leg to stand on the boat while the other leg is wrapped around an oar and rows.





(2) You will continue on to Nga Phe Chaung; also known as the Jumping Cats Monastery which is one of the oldest monasteries on the lake with ancient Buddha Statues dated over 200 years and amazing cats trained by the Buddhist monks.(3) Observe floating Gardens, with vegetables and flowers grown on them, and the lake way of life at ‘Kay La Village’.(4) Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda,the holiest religious site in Southern Shan State which has five small Buddha Statues so heavily gilded with gold that the original buddha images are unrecognizable.(5) Observing the Lake Inle cottage industry workshops such as silk & lotus fabric weaving with wooden handlooms at “Inn-Paw- Kone”Village, traditional ‘mild-cigar –making’ (cheroot Factory at “Se’ Kaung Village” and tradional silver and gold smiths,paper umbrella –making at ‘Ywa-ma’ Village.You will also see Padaunghill tribe ladies(ladies with elongated necks from wearing brass rings around their necks) in that village. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.Accommodation:Hotel in Inle LakeMeals:Breakfast,Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 INLE LAKE BOAT EXCURSION

After breakfast at the hotel :(1) we visit a floating market which is held a t villages on the lake according to a 5 day rotation schedule. It is most fascinating to watch the daily life of the ethnic hill tribes and their market activities. (2) we continue our excursion by motorized boat to the Indein pagoda complex, on the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal to a small Pa O tribal village. From the village, we follow an old path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to your hotel and overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake Meals: Breakfast, Lunch , Dinner





DAY 11 INLE LAKE – HEHO - YANGON

In the morning we head for the airrport at Heho for our flight to Yangon. Check in at airport and fly back to Yangon ETD: 09:20,ETA:10:30. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. In the afternoon: (1) we revisit the wonderful Shwedagon Pagoda.(2) see the the Karaweik, a royal barge on the Royal Lakes for stunning views of Shwe Dagon Pagoda (3) visit Bogyoke Aung San Market(named after the father of Aung San Suu Kyi and formerly known as the Scott Market )to purchase souvenirs and handicrafts if you wish. There are gems, fabrics, lacquer ware, wood sculptures,paintings etc… the range of wares is fantastic and don’t forget to bargain ! Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.Accommodation: Hotel in YangonMeals: Breakfast, Lunch , DinnerDAY 12 DEPARTURE YANGONAfter breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Yangon International Airport for your return international departure flight.

Accommodation: N/AMeals: Breakfast

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Mt 13