Spirit of Burma touring holiday
10 nights/11 days
This ten night tailor-made luxury touring itinerary offers the perfect introduction to the highlights of Burma, visiting the four main destinations – Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. We highly recommend adding a few days to relax on the beach at the end of your tour on the white sands of Ngapali on the Bay of Bengal.
Day 1 Arrive Rangoon (Yangon)
Arriving at Yangon International Airport you will be met and driven to the Savoy Hotel. Here you will have a chance to relax and enjoy a swim at this colonial style boutique hotel. After an included lunch, enjoy a leisurely amble around Scott’s Market where you will have a chance to purchase an array of local handicrafts making for a relaxing interlude before finishing the day with a sunset visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world’s most impressive golden pagodas.
Day 2 Rangoon
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Rangoon, exploring the colourful downtown including the ChaukHtetGyi (a colossal reclining Buddha), the Sule Pagoda, the City Centre and Strand Road. Dinner at the elegant Governor’s Residence Hotel provides a fitting end to the day.
Day 3 Mandalay
Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Mandalay. On arrival you will be driven to the Red Canal Hotel. Today your tour of Mandalay will include a visit to the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is surrounded by 729 marble slabs denoting the entire Buddhist scriptures and often called the world’s largest book. Sightseeing will also include the Shwenandaw Monastery, known for its exquisite wood carvings and the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, concluding with a visit to a gold leaf making workshop. End the day with a sunset view over the city and Irrawaddy River from Mandalay Hill.
Day 4 Mandalay to Inwa and Mingun
After an early breakfast, start the day with a ride by horse and cart to the former Burmese capital Inwa. Return via the Mahagondayon Monastery to see the spectacular sight of monks lining up for their last meal of the day. You will then visit Amarapura, Burma’s penultimate capital, to see the U Bein Bridge, one of the most photographed sights in the country. The bridge stretches close to 1.2km across the shallow Taungthaman Lake and is a perfect viewing point for watching the fishermen in the still waters, monks streaming crimson from one end to the other or Burmese locals biking from shore to shore. After a break for lunch, you will be driven to the jetty for the seven-mile journey by boat up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun. Here you will visit the massive 50m high ruins of the Mingun Pagoda – a truly impressive sight affording spectacular views over the river and back to Mandalay. Enjoy the atmosphere of village life in Mingun as well as visiting the MaharThein Pagoda and the gigantic bronze Mingun Bell. Return to Mandalay by boat as the sun goes down.
Day 5 Irrawaddy Cruise – Mandalay to Bagan (Thursdays only)
After an early breakfast drive to Sagaing, you have time to enjoy this beautiful former capital before boarding the RV Paukan for a leisurely cruise down the Irrawaddy River to Bagan. This colonial style steamer offers a welcome opportunity to unwind and savour the sights of life on the Irrawaddy River. Overnight onboard. All meals are included onboard.
(Alternatively the faster ShweKinnery leaves Mandalay at 7am and will arrive in Bagan between 3 and 4pm - a more modern and less authentic means of transport allowing for mid-afternoon arrival in Bagan).
Day 6 Bagan
Disembark RV Paukan after breakfast. Transfer to the Thande Hotel. The day is spent exploring one of the most outstanding archaeological sites in Asia by vehicle. Highlights will include many of Bagan’s distinctive pagodas and its colourful market. A break for lunch at the hotel will provide a chance for relaxation and a swim before an afternoon visit to Min Nan Thu village. Complete the day taking in the unforgettable scenery of Bagan by horse and cart, culminating in sunset views over the plains of Bagan from the Pyanthetgyi Temple.
Day 7 Bagan
A chance to schedule a breath-taking balloon ride over Bagan at dawn (not included in cost of tour) or alternatively an opportunity to further explore the area either by car or bicycle, followed by a leisurely lunch at the Green Elephant Restaurant on the banks of the Irrawaddy where the delicious local specialities can be enjoyed in a stunning setting. The afternoon can be spent making further visits to pagodas or wandering through Bagan.
Day 8 Bagan/Inle
In the morning you will fly to Heho. From here the journey to the Inle Princess Resort is by boat, taking in the stunning scenery of the magical and unique Inle Lake. Here sights of Intha fishermen with their ‘one-legged’ rowing style, coupled with the small stilted villages, floating gardens and rolling hills are extraordinarily beautiful. The Phaung Taw Oo Pagoda and the Jumping Cat Monastery on the eastern side of the lake will also be visited by boat.
Day 9 Inle
Rise early and enjoy a visit to a local market with its wonderful array of colours and visiting local tribes. Continue exploring the sights of Lake Inle with a visit to Indein village. The journey to the atmospheric 17th century pagodas of Indein, which are located along a scenic creek overlooking the lake, passes through truly stunning scenery. You will also visit various local cottage industries – silk and lotus weaving together with Cheroot (traditional cigar) rolling.
Day 10 Inle/Rangoon or extend to Ngapali Beach
Morning flight to Rangoon. On arrival, transfer to the Savoy Hotel (or alternatively fly to Thandwe for a few days on the beach in Ngapali).
Day 11 Rangoon Departure
Transfer to Yangon International Airport for international departure.
Price from £3275 per person
OUR PRICE INCLUDES
• Return scheduled flights from London to Rangoon in economy class
• Domestic flights as specified
• Breakfast and accommodation sharing a twin or double room
• Overnight cruise on RV Paukan (Main Deck/Twin Cabin) on a full board basis
• Three lunches and one dinner (as specified in the itinerary)
• Private transfers and sightseeing tours in a chauffeur-driven air-conditioned car
• Services of an English-speaking guide
• Travel by horse and cart, bicycle, private boat where indicated in the itinerary
• Entry fees for all visits included on the itinerary
OUR PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE
• Visas
• Meals, except as specified above
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses
• Day use room charge at the Savoy on Day 11
Camera fees where applicable
• Insurance
HOTEL LIST FOR THE ABOVE ITINERARY
Rangoon, Savoy Hotel, a charming colonial style boutique hotel combining traditional European/Burmese interiors and antiques – Deluxe Room
Mandalay, Red Canal, a small boutique hotel with a beautiful garden and intimate atmosphere – Chin or Kachin Room
Irrawaddy Cruise (Mandalay to Bagan), RV Paukan, a beautiful replica of an early Irrawaddy River steamer, akin to a boutique hotel on the river. The boat is equipped with massage rooms, a sun deck and a bar and lounge for relaxation. Dining on board includes both eastern and western cuisine – Main Deck Twin Cabin
Bagan, Thande Hotel, the deluxe riverfront rooms offer the best views of the Irrawaddy River in this quaint mid-range hotel chosen for its location – Deluxe River View Room
Inle, Inle Princess Resort, the most luxurious of the Inle Lake hotels and located on the eastern shore. The beautiful chalets are built from local woods and blend well with the lake scenery – Private Lake View