Myanmar Classic With Kyaing Tong (Keng Tung)

Safely arrive at Yangon International airport and warmly welcomed by local tour guide with the welcome-board on which your name will be mentioned. Transfer to the hotel for refreshment and then walk on a heritage line of Yangon's bustling city center, observing the urban street networks with well-preserved old British colonial buildings where you will pass through the Sule Pagoda; 2500-year-old Burmese Stupa located in the heart of downtown Yangon, which is surrounded by colonial era buildings such as City Hall, High Court and Maha Bandula Park. Yangon city center is fascinating as of presenting of a church, a mosque, a synagogue and a temple all within walking distance of each other.

In the afternoon, visit Botataung Pagoda, (which means 1,000 military warriors, who escorted the delivery of the hair relic in 6th century B.C.), a famous landmark on Yangon’s waterfront, is the first temple in the world with the sacred hair relic of Buddha.

Every visit to Yangon should include a trip to Shwedagon Pagoda, the iconic symbol of the city, gleaming in gold and decorated with diamonds, is a spectacular work of architecture and proportional beauty.

Morning drive to Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) Pagoda which takes about 4 hours drive from Yangon. En-route stop at Shwe Nyaung Bin Nat Shrine, a famous shrine sheltered by a banyan tree with a gold-painted trunk bustles with activity day and night as drivers in vehicles of all kinds visit to pay their respects and pray for its protection. Honouring the Shwe Nyaungbin Bobogyi shrine is believed to be auspicious for business, as well as safe travel, and the endless processions of vehicles at the shrine include trucks and taxis, as well as private cars. Second stop is at Kyat Khat Wai Monastery to witness the hundreds of monks gathering in line for gathering alms food & donations. (To be there at 10am-10:30am).

Continue to Golden Rock Pagoda. Journey to Golden Rock pagoda includes a ride of crowded open-top truck which would take about 1 hour from the base camp to the summit. When you reach the summit, you will be truly amazed. Golden Rock Pagoda can be qualified as one of the wonders of the world by virtue of the fact that it sits uniquely at the apex of a huge, almost egg shaped granitic boulder. This boulder is precariously perched on a projecting tabular rock. Visitors can have panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the summit, especially at sunset and sunrise time.

Morning, take the truck car ride down to the base camp. From there, take the journey back to Yangon via Bago. There are rubber plantations near Kyaikhto and drop a visit to one of the farms to explore the traditional rubber plantation.

Bago was the capital of ancient Mon Dynasty and known as Pegu in colonial era. Tour Highlight includes Shwemawdaw Pagoda which was destroyed in 1930 by a massive earthquake and was rebuilt during 1952-1954; Shwetharlyaung Buddha, Length and height-55 meters tall and 15 meters long and the world’s most beautiful reclining Buddha Image, and Kyaikpun Budda Images, 4 giant Buddha Images sitting back to back.  Last visit of today is a visit to Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery, which is located approximately 32km from Yangon and it is a memorial to Allied soldiers who lost their lives in Myanmar during the First and Second World Wars.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to Bagan. On arrival Bagan, visit colorful Nyaung Oo Market; gleaming Shwezigon Pagoda, the graceful bell-shaped stupa which is architecturally important because it became the prototype for many later Burmese stupas; Wet-Kyi-Inn Gubyaukkyi Temple, which has fine frescoes of Jataka scenes; and Htilominlo Temple, noted for its plaster carvings.

After check-in at the hotel, visit Min-Nan-Thu village and temple sites around village area which includes Latmyatna temple “Temple of Four Faces”, a beautiful example of a single-storied temple built in the late style; Paya Thone Zu “Three Pagodas”, a complex of three interconnected shrines. It was abandoned shortly before its construction was complete, could have been due to the invasion of the Mongols. This monument has been built during the 13^th century.

Enjoy the beautiful sunset at Nanmyint Watch Tower, as well as an ideal viewpoint for visitors to Bagan to see the wonders of over 2000 ancient architectural temples and monuments of 11^th to 13^th century.

Today highlights start with horse-drawn carriage ride around ancient temple sites. Tour Highlights include Tharabar Gate, which is the only structure left of the old city built by King Pyinbya in 849 A.D; Thatbyinnyu Temple which is the tallest temple in Bagan, reaching 61 metres (201 feet) high and with a floor plan in the shape of an unsymmetrical cross with gilded spires rising up from the corners of the terraces; NaylyaungKyaung which means “Shrine confining Nats or Spirits, a reference to a purported time when King Anawratha tried to banish Nat worship in Bagan; ShweGuKyi Temple “Golden Cave”, located in front of the royal palace and therefore also known as Nandaw Oo Paya meaning the Pagoda in front of the palace; and Dhammayangyi Temple, the most massive structure in Bagan; Sulamuni Temple (also known as crowning jewel) is an impressive and elegant temple which represents some of Bagan's finest ornamental work, carved stucco on moldings, pediments and pilasters.

In the afternoon, visit Ananda Temple displaying a mix of Mon and Indian architecture. It was originally built in 1105 AD and is one of only four temples that survives within Old Bagan. Continue to visit Manuha Temple, which main feature is three chambers that are filled with over-sized statues of the Buddha which are vastly out sized for their spaces; Nanphaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument which inner walls were built of baked bricks whereas the outer walls were built of sandstone.  Enjoy the sunset at one of the viewing hills in Bagan.

After breakfast, enjoy the overland trip to Mandalay to grab the chance to explore ways of life in countryside. En route stop in Sagaing. Sagaing is located on the Irrawaddy River, 20 km to the south-west of Mandalay which is well-known for its numerous religious and monastic centers.  Visit Khaung Mu Daw Pagoda which is a giant solid dome-shaped Pagoda unlike any other pagodas in Myanmar.

After lunch, head to Sagaing Hill and pay a visit to U Min Thone Sae “30 Cave Pagodas” and Soon-Oo-Pone-Nya Shin Pagoda. Continue to “Tha-Kya-Thi-Dar” Buddhist institutions for nuns and to see the lacquer Buddha Image. After visit in Sagaing, head to Amarapura to explore silk weaving works and enjoy the spectacular sunset in Taungthaman lake by taking a canoe boat with the background of 1.2km long U Bein wooden Bridge.

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Mingun, a small town in central Myanmar, sits on the banks of the Irrawaddy River (Ayeyarwady River), northwest of Mandalay. Start the sightseeing by about 1 hour boat excursion to Mingun, located 11km up the Ayeyarwady River on the west bank from Mandalay which is the country's vital river and the most important commercial waterway. Mingun has a monumental uncompleted enormous stupa, “Mingun Pahtodawgyi” began by King Bodawpaya in 1790. King Bodawpaya also had a gigantic bell cast to go with his huge stupa, the Mingun Bell, weighting 90 tons and is today one of the largest ringing bells in the world. Just a couple of hundred yards from the great stupa and bell lays the beautiful white Mya Thein Dan Pagoda, also known as Hsinbyume Pagoda with a very distinctive architectural style.

Back to Mandalay and drive to Amarapura. Visit Mahamuni Budda Image, a colossal image of Buddha cast in bronze and inlaid with gold in Myanmar is considered as one of the most venerable pagodas. In the afternoon, visit Shwe Kyaung (Golden Palace) Monastery; noted for its exquisite wood carving and the huge teak wooden pillars, Kuthodaw Pagoda also known as “the World’s Largest Book of Buddhism” which refers to the 729 marble tablets of the Buddhist scriptures in pagoda compound and enjoy the sunset at the Mandalay Hill; advantaged point for a panoramic view of the city.

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to the airport for flight to Inle Lake. On arrival Heho airport, proceed to Nyaugn Shwe jetty for 1 hour drive. On the way visit Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which is located just outside of Nyaung Shwe. It is a charming red painted teak monastery, built in the early 19th Century and well-known by photographers for its unique oval-shape windows which serve as eye-catching frames when novice monks stand to look out

Sightseeing in Inle Lake includes a chance to see the leg-rowing Inthars’ fishermen and the floating gardens that built up from strip of water and mud and anchored to the bottom poles where locals grow crops like squash and tomatoes. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most holy place on the lake which is home to five statues of Buddha which are re-coated daily with fresh gold leaf and continue to Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, the biggest and oldest teak monastery on the lake which is known for a collection of 16th and 17th century Lacquer Buddha images from different areas that is worth-visiting for historical purposes and architecture.

After breakfast at the hotel, take a boat ride to the village of Indein (also spelt Inn Thein, and meaning "shallow lake") is the most famous for its crumbling and atmospheric groups of ancient pagodas, some of which are now being restored (sometimes in rather too pristine fashion). These include Nyaung Oak, immediately behind the village, with its carvings of mythical creatures, and Shwe Inn Thein Paya, which can be found at the top of a long and atmospheric covered walkway leading up the hill; the pagoda area features many hundreds of densely packed stupas to be explored. From Shwe Inthein Paya you can also see some wonderful views across the lake. Inndein village also has a vibrant market near the jetty.

Continue to Inle Heritage House to see the hidden gems of Inle Lake by guided tour such as Burmese cat village, vocational school, Aquarium and many other interesting places in one place. Your boat trip leads to Ywama village to pay a visit to ethnic hill tribes “Kayah women” who are known as “long-neck women”. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour in a village nearby hotel to explore the ways of life of Inthar people and their ways of life.

Morning, transfer to Nyaung Shwe jetty. Visit lively local market in Nyaung Shwe and transfer to Heho airport for the flight to Kyaing Tong. Arrive in Kyaing Tong in the afternoon.

In the evening, visit one Tree Hill which is 250 years old planted by King Anawrahta of first Myanmar’s Monarchy, and enjoy a walk by the side of Naung Tone Lake. This attractive lake sits in the center of town and is surrounded by what is left of Kyaing Tong's British-era architecture. In the evening the lake is the most lively place in Kyaingtong, with locals flocking to the restaurants that surround it.

Start the sightseeing to Keng Tung north direction – Kat Tauk area Pin Tauk – Pon Ping village which is one of most famous trekking spots near Kyaing Tong. Trek through lush mixed monsoon forest and enjoy the view of plain rice fields, looking like a huge, green patchwork blanket. Visit the villages of the Akha and the Enn tribes. Akha tribes wear the silver headdress and the Enn are an ethnic group, which tourists have found particularly interesting labelling them the “Black Teeth”. A brief stop to see Wan Kan Villagers making Sake’ Rice Wine in traditional process and continue to visit Wan Lau village’s hand-making “Saa-Pulp” Shan paper works.

In the morning, head to 5542 feet high Loimwe. It is a town blanketed with misty and walk around the town, old British colonial governor’s house, hill top lake, cherry and peach wine shops & old Catholic Church. Enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding area and a temperate climate atop of it.

The main attraction on the ascent to Loimwe is the scenery, which includes forests and terraced rice fields. Visit the ethnic hill tribes - In the Wan Lun Shan villages, walk around and explore the native village life and in the Ho Lup Akha village you can see the traditional Akha tribes.

Morning visit the Market. The central market of Kyaing Tong bustles daily from 6 to 11 in the morning. People from the surrounding mountains wearing traditional clothing gather in the market to buy and sell. As well as products from China and Thailand the market has local traditional clothing, antique coins, local musical instruments and other implements for sale making good souvenirs. Continue to visit Shan lacquerware family-run workshops.

Afterwards transfer to the airport for the flight to Yangon. Arrive in Yangon in the late afternoon.

Before departure and if time permits, visit Scott Market (closed on every Monday and public holidays), where you will find stalls selling all types of souvenirs: gold-flecked bowls, puppets, beads, tapestry, clothes and many other local handicrafts which remind you of your time in Yangon. Spend a couple of hours here exploring the fabrics, some local snacks of sticky rice cakes and fresh fruits. On the way to Yangon International Airport for departure, visit Chaukhtetkyi Reclining Buddha Image, which is known for its 65 meters long and 16 meters high structure.