The Beauty of Bagan 6 days

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. You will visit Sule Pagoda (located on a roundabout in downtown Yangon), Yangon City Hall (featuring classic Myanmar architectural design), the High Court (noted for its British colonial architecture, including its clock tower and its red-bricked exterior).  Next, you’ll visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, built in 1966 and famous for its huge image of the Reclining Buddha, which replaced the older image built in1907.   

In the early evening, you will visit the famous Shwedagone Pagoda.  Its massive bell-shaped golden spires are plated with 60 tons of gold, while the tip of the stupa is inset with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topaz. You’ll have a restful overnight in Yangon.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for flight to Bagan .Upon arrival, you will go for a sightseeing drive to Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigone Pagoda (home to the Frontlet Relic of Buddha), Gubyaukgyi Temple (noted for its wall paintings), Htilominlo Pagoda (one of the largest temples of Bagan and noted for its fine plaster carvings) and Ananda Temple (the finest, largest and best preserved of all the Bagan temples).  You will also get to explore Ananda Okkyaung (a brick monastery with 18th Century mural paintings) and Dhammayangyi Pagoda (extending approximately 255 feet on each of its four sides, making it Bagan's most massive shrine). After lunch, you will visit a local family workshop to watch and learn about the production process of lacquer ware, one of Myanmar's best-known handicrafts.

You will then continue on to visit Thatbyinnyu Pagoda (Bagan's tallest temple at almost 217 feet high) and Nanpaya temple (a unique sandstone monument).  Then you will enjoy the breathtaking sunset from Shwesandaw Pagoda, the most popular sunset-viewing spot in Bagan before retiring for the evening in Bagan.

Pagoda (well known for its stone inscription which was engraved in the 4 language of Myanmar) and Nagayon Pagoda, which was built at the end of the 11th Century and which resembles the Indian temples of the area of Orissa. Your next destination will be Abeyatanar Pagoda (famous for paintings that cover the inner walls) and then lunch at a local restaurant.

Your journey will continue to Nga-kywe-na-daung Pagoda (with early Pyu type brick masonry stupa), Manual Temple (one of the oldest temples in Bagan), Mingalarzedi (noted for its fine proportions and many beautiful jataka tiles around its three square terraces). You will surely be ready for your relaxing overnight stay in Bagan.

Following breakfast, you will drive to Mt Popa, which is 50km away from Bagan and believed to be the abode of many "Nats" (spirits of ancient ancestors).  In the days of old, it also used to be referred to as the "Mountain of Spirits". The evidence of these beliefs is evident as there are an abundance of nat shrines, rituals, ceremonial offerings, annual representative festivals, and the never ending stream of pilgrims and believers in mysticism. The Mount Popa area has also been designated as a national park, a perfect place for eco-tourism.

After exploring the area, you will transfer back to airport and fly to Yangon.  Upon arrival, you will have dinner and transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay in Yangon.

After breakfast, you will continue your Yangon city tour with a visit to the Lawka Chanthar, the world’s biggest marble Buddha and royal white elephant. On the way, you will stop at the Naga Cave Monastic School, where you can learn the Myanmar monastic educational system.

You also have the option to visit Kandawgyi Lake and surrounding area, which offers numerous photo opportunities .After lunch, you can go shopping in the Bogyoke market (formerly "Scott market") where you can get a wide range of Myanmar handicrafts, jewelry, fabrics, lacquer ware and so on.  You can also visit China town markets selling fresh fruits, flowers and local delicacies.

Time permitting, your guide will bring you to the famous MK gems shop, where high quality gems are displayed in eight different decorated show rooms. This is just one example of why Myanmar is the world number one producer of precious stones. In the late evening, you will visit the International Business Centre (IBC) building, on the bank of Inya Lake, before an overnight stay in Yangon.