Compare Classic Myanmar by EPG Travel

Day 1: Yangon

Explore downtown Yangon with a walking tour through the historic quarter.  The lively streets are filled with book sellers, street markets, fortune tellers and the crumbling facades of the colonial era. Then take a short trip by local ferry across the Yangon River to Dala.  Although only a short distance from the city, life is vastly different here. Hop on a trishaw for a ride along the waterfront and back roads before taking the ferry back into the city. Later in the afternoon visit Scott Market, the oldest in town, where you can buy everything from antiques, handicrafts and precious gems. Next is a photo stop at Kandawgyi Lake with its royal barge and pretty views, then head to Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset when the stupa glows bright gold in the evening light.

Day 2: Bagan

Fly to Bagan where the temples are a sight to behold with more than 2,000 dotted around the plains. As the former royal kingdom grew in size and its rulers in wealth, a massive building phase began.  Over a two hundred year period, some 10,000 stupas, pagodas and monasteries were constructed. See the best of Bagan’s distinctive temples including Shwezigon that dazzles in gold, the delicate painted ceilings of Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi and Ananda, the most revered of all, with its four standing Buddha’s.

Day 3:    Bagan – River Trip

Travel by boat to the island of Kyun Thiri located in the middle of the Irrawaddy River and visit a typical farming community. Learn about life on the land, and meet the locals over a cup of tea and a chat at a monastery.  It’s not all about temples as Bagan is renowned for its laquerware.  Visit a village for a demonstration of how the process is created layer by layer and see how the intricate patterns are etched within.  Afterwards, travel by horse cart through the countryside for sunset views over the plains.

Day 4:    Mandalay – Sagaing – Inwa – Amarapura

Fly to Mandalay and the gateway to the ancient capitals of Sagaing, Inwa and Amarapura. Starting with Sagaing, this former royal city is known as the centre of Buddhism in Myanmar. Visit one of the many monasteries perched on a hill top for impressive views across the Irrawaddy River. Then it’s a short boat ride to Inwa, a capital that lasted almost 400 years, where the remaining palace watchtower leans precariously. Travel by horse cart to see the sights, including one of the oldest teak monasteries Bagaya Kyaung.  Next, it is Amarapura for a stroll along the legendary U Bein Bridge that stretches 1.2km over Lake Tuangtaman.

Day 5:    Mingun  - Mandalay

Leave the city behind and cruise along the Irrawaddy River for about an hour to the ruins of the Mingun, the site of what would have been the world's biggest pagoda had King Bodawpaya not died in 1819 thereby halting all further work. The mammoth base still remains as does the bell which is said to be the largest hanging un-cracked bell in the world! Once back in Mandalay, continue on to Mahumani Pagoda gilded in gold leaf, and Shwenandaw Monastery before seeing the largest book in the world at Kuthodaw Pagoda, where Buddhist scriptures are etched into the 729 marble slabs.

Day 6: Inle Lake               

Fly to Heho and travel about an hour through picture-postcard scenery to reach Inle Lake. Get your first glimpses of daily life on the water, travelling by long tail boat to nearby villages and pagodas. Pass by floating gardens and see the fisherman using one leg to row their boats. The first stop is Paung Daw Oo noted for its five famous Buddha images which have been covered in so much gold leaf that they resemble golden balls. Then it’s on to a stilted village where traditional skills such as blacksmithing, cigar rolling and silk weaving are still done by hand. The last stop on the lake is the Jumping Cat Monastery. While the cats no longer jump there is an impressive display of Buddha images.

Day 7: Inle Lake – Indein

Tucked away on a far bank on the western shore is Indein, a small patch of crumbling stupas from the 17th century.  Walk up the main stairs flanked with vendors selling postcards, puppets and wood carvings to reach the top and views out to the nearby village. While some of the stupas have been rebuilt, most remain in an abandoned state. Continue exploring the many stilted villages that speckle the lake, each with their own handicrafts.

Day 8: Yangon

Leave the tranquillity of Inle Lake behind and transfer to Heho airport and fly back to Yangon.