Yangon, Bagan & Mandalay Tour

After arriving at the Yangon International Airport, get in touch with your representative who will assist you with a transfer to the hotel. After some rest and relaxation, set off for your Yangon sightseeing tour. The first place which you will visit is the downtown area of the city which, among other things, is famous for having the highest number of buildings dating back to the colonial era. You will also come across numerous Hindu temples as this area is home to a sizeable Hindu community. Due to the prevalence of Indian customs, traditions, and temples, this area is also referred to as Little India. The next place which you will visit in Yangon is the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which is also called the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda. The main attraction here is the sleeping statue of Lord Buddha which is 65m long. Your tour to Yangon continues with the next stop being Karaweik Palace. A golden palace docked on a lake built in the shape of a Karaweik (the Burmese mythical bird), it really looks like a picture jumped straight out of our dreams. Your tour continues with a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, whose beauty cannot be captured by mere words. Dating back to around 2500 years, it is located on the Singuttara Hill and covered with hundreds of gold plates. The top of the stupa is decorated with 4531 diamonds. Overnight stay in Yangon.

Bagan is one of the ancient and most beautiful cities in Myanmar. Once believed to be home to nearly 4446 temples, there now remain almost 2230 temples today. As part of your sightseeing tour in Bagan, some of the shrines which you will visit are Ananda, Htilominlo, Thatbyinnyu, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Shwezigon Pagoda. All of these temples are unique in their own ways in terms of history, architecture, and traditions, but it’s an incredible experience to visit each one of them. The other places in Bagan which you will visit are Nyaung U market, which is also known as Mani Sithu market. You can explore the market which is divided into sections selling poultry, vegetables, and seafood. It is a great place which provides a glimpse into the local lifestyle. Bagan is also home to numerous traditional workshops which produce handicrafts and a variety of pottery items. Overnight stay in Bagan.

The day begins with an enjoyable drive to Mandalay, which was also the last royal city of the erstwhile Myanmar kingdom. Exploring Mandalay, with its monasteries, nunneries, stupas, and bridges, is like taking a step back in time. Here, the first place which you will visit is Amarapura. It attracts tourists for several reasons. Make your way to the Maha Gandayon Monastery, where you can witness almost 1000 monks immersed in the learning of Buddhist scriptures. From there, enjoy a short walk to U Bein bridge, which also holds the record for being the world’s longest teak footbridge. Making a gentle curve at the Taungthaman Lake, it is also one of the most photographed sites of Myanmar. Your next stop will be the Mahamuni Buddha Temple, which houses the Mahamuni Buddha image. A very interesting legend associated with these images states that it was the Buddha who consecrated the image after it was built by the King of Arakan. Overnight stay at Mandalay.

The morning starts with a boat ride to Mingun. After arriving, you will visit the ruins of the colossal Mingun Pahtodawgyi, which was once intended to be the largest pagoda in the world but now lives in a wrecked state after repeated earthquakes. In close proximity to it, you will find the Mingun Bell. Weighing 90 tonnes, it’s the largest uncracked ringing bronze bell. You will also visit the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a splendid structure built in the shape of circular terraces which represent the seven mountain ranges that surround Mount Meru. After this, you will sail back to Mandalay. In the afternoon, set off for a sightseeing tour to some of the popular tourist attractions in Mandalay. Some of these are the Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery (an exquisite monastery built from teak wood), gold leaf beating workshop and Kuthodaw Pagoda (which is also known as the world’s largest book after the 729 marble slabs which are inscribed with Buddhist teachings). The last stop for the day is the Mandalay Hill, one of the most sought after landmarks by tourists in Mandalay. Standing at a height of almost 760 ft, it is great for enjoying the views of the city spread out below along with panoramic views of the sunrise. Overnight stay in Mandalay.

In the morning, leave for Yangon. After arriving, you will be provided with a car and guide to explore the rest of the city’s attractions at your own leisure. You can choose to visit other tourist hotspots in the city if you like or go for shopping in the famous markets of Yangon. In the afternoon, you will get transferred to Yangon International Airport to catch a flight for your onward journey. The memories of this trip will remain with you for a long time to come until you decide to come back to Myanmar for some sightseeing and exploration.