Myanmar Exclusive

From the moment you arrive at Yangon International Airport, you will receive special attention: Our staff will be waiting for you and will assist you with all the necessary airport formalities, such as collecting your luggage and registering your entry. In the arrival hall, your tour guide will welcome you with a first personal surprise.

By private shuttle you will reach your hotel, The Strand, an elegant hotel built in 1901 in the city center.

Overnight stay in Yangon.

After breakfast, you will explore the historic city center on foot and by car. You will discover the colonial-era buildings such as the former Parliament, City Hall and the Immigration Office, as well as the Maha Bandula Park and the Sule Pagoda. Take a break to have a cup of coffee or tea at a Let Ywe Sin tea store, one of the locals' favorite places right in the city center. Walk a bit further to Bogyoke Market, formerly known as the Scott Market. Spend time here browsing the wide selection of local handicrafts and other goods before heading back to the hotel. The market is closed on Mondays and holidays.

You will get the chance to meet a local astrologer who uses Burmese constellations and other divination techniques to tell your fortune. At the end, you will receive your personalized prediction as a gift.

After a lunch break, you will depart to discover more highlights of Yangon aboard the Elephant Coach. The elegant 1945 Chevrolet bus has been extensively restored and features a luxurious teak interior. The vehicle is decorated with traditional Burmese handicrafts. Experience the unique feeling of exploring the streets of Yangon in a moving lounge while enjoying refreshments from the minibar on board.

Head first to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 70-meter-long reclining Buddha painted white and gold. A visit to Kyaukhtatgyi will give you a deep insight into Buddhism through the ornate murals depicting the Buddha's life. Carved into the feet of the statue are traditional symbols before which many locals gather to pray and pay homage. Continue on to Kandawgyi Park. This green oasis in the middle of the city is a popular gathering place in Yangon. Here you will see the sparkling Karaweik barge, a replica of the royal barge as well as the huge lake overlooking the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda, which is also your next destination.

Shwedagon is the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar, and the religious center of the entire country. A very special ceremony takes place at dusk: the lighting of hundreds of small oil lamps placed throughout the grounds of the Golden Temple. Join the locals to light the lamps for this mystical and auspicious ritual.

Overnight stay including breakfast in Yangon.

Start your day with a visit to one of the art galleries and antique stores around Yangon and then continue to one of the best spas in the city to enjoy a relaxing massage. The traditional massage will allow you to regenerate before your vacation continues. This afternoon you will be transferred to Yangon Airport to fly to Heho. Here you will take a one-hour drive through the picturesque countryside to Nyaungshwe, the main access point to beautiful Inle Lake. A private local motorboat will escort you to your luxurious hotel for check-in. Along the way, you will pass by villages on stilts, leg-rowing Intha fishermen, and floating gardens anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles. Check into your hotel, a resort nestled near the lakeshore. Your bungalow chalet, perched on stilts, offers spectacular views from the balcony.

Overnight stay at Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake.

Spend a day on the lake exploring the area and the surrounding villages by private boat. If you wish, we can arrange an earlier start for you to visit the floating markets.

Visit the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, famous for its dozens of Shan Buddha statues as well as the resident trained cats. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's sanctuary, which houses five sacred images of Buddha. Then head to the Inpawkhone village to learn about the traditional silk weaving techniques of the Intha people. Inpawkhone is also known for its weaving of lotus flower stems, a process that may be time consuming but one that results in a high-quality material that is treasured all over the country.

We will also visit the factory where locals make hand rolled cigars. For lunch, enjoy the unique opportunity to cook with a local Intha family in their house built on stilts. Assist in the kitchen as they prepare an array of delicious traditional dishes such as Inle stuffed fish and Burmese tomato salad. Sitting on the floor of the dining room, in true local style, you will enjoy the freshly prepared lunch.

Afterwards, rejoin your longtail boat and head back to the hotel, arriving in the late afternoon. A romantic canoe ride during sunset is the perfect way to end the day. The one-leg rowing technique to operate the oar - so that your hands can be used for things like fishing - is typical here. You will be served drinks while your boat, steered by a "leg-rowing" Intha fisherman, cruises through the calm sections of the lake.

Overnight stay including breakfast at Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake. Lunch also included.

After a hearty breakfast, you will start the day. Then you will travel by boat towards Nyaungshwe, arriving there around noon.

For lunch, you will stop at the Viewpoint Restaurant. The restaurant is, according to many of its visitors, the best place in all of Myanmar to enjoy the traditional cuisine of the Shan people.

Afterwards, you will drive to Heho airport and continue your journey to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be transferred to the hotel to spend the rest of your evening at your leisure.

Overnight stay with breakfast included at the Aureum Palace Resort, Bagan. Lunch included as well.

Today begins with a visit to the Thagyar Pone temple. From there you will have a spectacular view over the surrounding plains. This is the perfect introduction to the magnificence and vastness of Bagan's architecture. Then you will move on to Ananda Temple, one of the most revered temples in Bagan. You will arrive here early in the morning, before the throngs of tourists arrive, so you can enjoy the spiritual aura of this mystical place undisturbed - an experience unique to this trip!

Afterwards, we will drive to Myinkaba village to visit the Gubyaukgyi temple. This is known for its beautiful murals inside and well-preserved carvings in the plaster on the outside. Nearby you will find both Manuha Temple and Nan Paya Temple, two smaller temples with beautiful Buddha statues and stone work.

After a lunch break, return to your hotel to escape the extreme midday heat.

In the afternoon, leave the fascinating ancient temples behind to explore the culture and daily life of the country.

We will visit a monastery where you will receive a special blessing from a local monk. This quiet ceremony is a great experience and a unique chance to learn firsthand about the rituals of Buddhism.

You will also visit a store selling handmade lacquerware typical of Myanmar, where you will find a variety of household items made using traditional techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Overnight with breakfast included at Aureum Palace Resort, Bagan.

Today you will get up early for an unforgettable hot-air balloon ride over the beautiful temples of Bagan. You will be taken to the departure point and while you have a coffee/tea with a snack, you can watch the crew preparing the balloon. Afterwards, you will get a short safety briefing before taking off for an approximately 60-minute ride. The flight route may vary depending on the thermals. After landing, you can enjoy a sparkling wine and refreshments in a field between the temples.

Afterwards, visit the golden stupa (a dome-shaped burial mound) of Shwezigon Pagoda, where you will get an introduction to the history of Bagan. Then head to nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite Jataka murals. Each of these places reflects a different style and the interesting history of the country.

With flashlights, you will explore the Kyansittha Cave Temple and walk through the tunnel-like corridors to examine the faded paintings on the ceiling.

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure with your tour guide and car. A program designed according to your wishes will be arranged for you upon request.

The exclusive dinner will certainly be one of the highlights of your vacation in Myanmar. You will be taken to the riverbank and from there you will continue by boat to a sandbank in the middle of the Ayeyarwady River. There, just for you, a table will be set up with traditional decorations and romantic lighting. Relax with a cocktail and enjoy the freshly prepared delicious dinner on your private sandbank.

Overnight stay with breakfast at Aureum Palace Resort, Bagan. Dinner included as well.

Spend the morning at your leisure until you are transferred via private shuttle to Nyaungu Airport for your flight to Thandwe.

Upon arrival at Thandwe Airport, you will be greeted by your tour guide and transferred to Ngapali Beach (an approx. 20-minute-long drive).

Ngapali Beach is a quiet, three-kilometer-long white sand beach lined with coconut trees. The warm, clear water is perfect for water sports such as snorkeling and the surrounding small islands can be easily reached by boat.

Overnight stay with breakfast included at Sandoway Resort, Ngapali.

Enjoy two days of free time in Ngapali. An exquisite breakfast awaits you daily, and there is the possibility of snorkeling and boat or bike tours.

Also, with prior arrangement, we can organize a visit to Maung Shwe Lay, where you can enjoy a private beach very exclusively for one day. This beautiful place is a typical fishing village in Rakhine State and, due to its remote location, it is rarely visited by tourists.

Overnight stay including breakfast at Sandoway Resort, Ngapali.

Spend the morning at the beach before departing for Thandwe Airport to fly to Yangon.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in and spend the evening at your leisure. Your guide and a car will be at your disposal.

Overnight stay including breakfast at The Strand, Yangon.

You are free to spend the day as you wish until your return flight.

Duration of the trip: 12 days / 11 nights

Included

• 11 nights in a double room in luxurious accommodation in accordance with the program
• Daily breakfast; additional meals as per program
• All necessary domestic flights
• Tour guide
• All transfers and excursions in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Private motorboat for the excursion on Inle Lake
• Entrance fees for visits as per program
• Water and refreshing towels during the tour

Not included

• International flights
• Meals and beverages not mentioned in the scope of service
• Personal expenses, such as minibar and tips
• Visa
• Insurance