USTOA
In partenership with
Find your dream vacation
Travelstride climate

Compare Road to Mandalay by Saga Travel vs Myanmar Discovery Tour by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.

Duration 17 days 13 days
Price From $ 4,676 $ 3,899
Price Per Day $ 275 $ 300
Highlights
  • Discover Mandalay and Bagan
  • Have a chance to cruise in Inle Lake
  • Explore  Popa Mountain National Park
  • Discover Sule Pagoda, Botataung Pagoda and Kandawgyi Lake
  • Look out for varieties of natural beauties and historical artifacts
  • Immerse in the unique cultures of different ethnic groups
  • Explore the enchanting  lakes, sparkling beaches, and the golden pagodas
  • Learn more about the rich cultural heritage and archeological center of Asia
Trip Style Small ship cruise Group tour
Lodging Level Premium Standard
Physical Level
  • 2- Easy
  • 2- Easy
Travel Themes
  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • National Parks
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Cultural
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • National Parks
Countries Visited
Cities and Attractions
  • Bagan
  • Mandalay
  • Yangon
  • Bagan
  • Lake Inle
  • Mandalay
  • Shwedagon Pagoda
  • Yangon
Flights & Transport Ground transport included Ground transport included
Activities
  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Nature
  • Short Cruise
  • Culture
  • History
  • Nature
Meals Included

35 Meals: 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 9 Dinners

  • 12 Breakfasts  & 1 Lunch
Description

Discover a golden land Burma, described by Kipling as being ‘quite unlike any land you know about’, is a country of endless fascination and unique sights; from the stilted, teak houses of Inle Lake to the 2000 temples and pagodas of Bagan.

The time to visit Myanmar (Burma) is now! Myanmar offers a variety of natural beauties and historical artifacts such as dazzling waterfalls, graceful lakes, enchanting caves, sparkling beaches, thousand year old golden pagodas and the unique cultures of different ethnic groups.

Itinerary: Road to Mandalay

Day 1: UK-Yangon

After taking Saga’s included UK door-to-door travel service to your departure airport, fly overnight to Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon

Stay two nights at the Chatrium Hotel (4Q) close to the shores of the Royal Lake in the Kandawygi Natural Park.

Day 3: Yangon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Join your local guide for a walking tour of the central districts of downtown and visit to the Botataung Pagoda and Sule Paya. Stop for a noodle lunch in a teahouse before stretching your legs in Kandawgyi Park, where the golden Karaweik barge is moored on a lake. Continue to the Shwedagon Pagoda to explore the vast complex with your guide and observe an oil-lighting ceremony. There will be a welcome dinner this evening.

Day 4: Yangon-Heho-Inle Lake

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Fly to Heho and transfer to Nyaung Shwe, gateway to Inle Lake. Enjoy an afternoon boat trip on the lake, sailing past villages of stilted houses and floating gardens. Disembark at the village of Inpawkhone to see traditional techniques for weaving silk, and to discover how Burmese cigars are rolled by hand in a cheroot factory. Stay two nights at the Sanctum Inle Resort (5Q).

Day 5: Indein market

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

This morning visit a colourful market with your guide, who will identify the native fruit and vegetables on sale. Then take a boat trip to the Pa-oh village of Indein where you can stroll around the village, visit a local school and perhaps venture up to the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area with its forest of ancient stupas. After lunch at a local restaurant re-board the ship and continue to the Inthar Heritage House to learn more about the Inthar people.

Day 6: Inle lake-Pindaya-Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Head into the Shan Hills to the town of Pindaya beside Pone Taloke Lake. Lunch is included at the Green Tea restaurant, which specialises in Shan cuisine. An afternoon visit to the famous Pindaya Caves reveals some 6000 golden statues of buddha. Continue to the former British Hill Station of Kalaw, a charming little town founded in the Colonial era by British civil servants. Stay two nights at the Kalaw Hill Lodge (4Q).

Day 7: Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

At the heart of Kalaw is its popular market where villagers flock from the surrounding hills to trade. Take the opportunity to explore the market this morning before joining a short tour that reveals some of Kalaw’s Colonial architecture. Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Day 8: Kalaw-Heho-Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Fly to Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city. Head up to Sagaing Hills by coach to admire views across the Irrawaddy River. Continue to Shwe Kyet Yet village to embark your ship, the Belmond Road to Mandalay (5⚓), and set sail for Mandalay. Enjoy lunch on board before transferring by boat to the shores of Mandalay for a guided tour of the city. Return to your ship for dinner and entertainment by local performers.

Day 9: Burmese village and Ava

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Join an early morning walking tour of Shwe Kyet Yet village before sailing to Ava, the former capital between the 14th and 18th centuries. Disembark for a tour by horse and carriage, visiting an ancient teak monastic school and the ruins of King Bagyidaw's palace. Spend the rest of the day relaxing on board watching the river life drift by. A cocktail party is followed by dinner on board.

Day 10: Bagan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, Belmond Road to Mandalay arrives at the ancient city of Bagan where over 2,000 temples and pagodas adorn the plains that stretch alongside the river. See the most important temples on a guided orientation tour and venture inside some of the more significant pagodas with your guide. Later, your guide will take you to watch the sun setting over a field of gleaming pagodas.

Day 11: Mount Popa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Set off on a full-day excursion to the Mount Popa National Park where the imposing Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, is crowned by a complex of monasteries, pagodas and shrines, some in honour of the native spirits believed to live on the crag.

Day 12: Bagan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Join your guide to explore the market at Baglan before hopping back on board your ship to begin the cruise towards Mandalay, along the Irrawaddy River. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the top deck watching the scenery unfold around you. Afternoon tea will be served on board and the guide will give a talk about local customs. This evening enjoy an on-board cocktail party before dinner.

Day 13: Mingun

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Enjoy breakfast on board as your ship continues along the Irrawaddy, past the pagoda topped hills of Sagaing and the lively riverbanks of Mandalay City. Mooring late this afternoon gives you the chance to go on an included tour of Mingun, home to the huge, unfinished pagoda of King Bodawpaya.

Day 14: Maymyo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

This morning Belmond Road to Mandalay crosses the river to Mandalay City. Disembark for an included full-day excursion to Maymyo, a colonial hill station with a beautiful botanic garden. Look forward to a typical Shan lunch in a colonial house before returning to the ship for dinner and your final night on board.

Day 15: Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast on board, disembark and transfer to the Sedona Hotel Mandalay (4Q) for an overnight stay in the heart of the city.

Day 16: Yangon-UK

Travel to the airport for your overnight flight. B

Day 17: UK

Arrive in the UK for your included UK door-to-door travel service home.

Itinerary: Myanmar Discovery Tour

Day 1: Arrival Yangon

Welcome to the Garden City Yangon.  International flights arrive into Yangon International Airport. Our representative will give welcome gifts including postcard and Map of Myanmar.Then transfer to hotel for check in. After that visit Botataung Pagoda, a famous landmark on Yangon’s waterfrontwhere one can see Buddha’s hair relic and Nanthida Jetty to see people coming and going for work from either side of Yangon River. And then continue to Sule Pagoda, MahaBandoolaPark with IndependenceMonument, located at the heart of the city, Chaukhtatgyi reclining Buddha image.Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon Kyaikhtiyo

After breakfast at hotel, you will start trip to Kyaikhtiyo the “Golden Rock”, a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. From Kin Pun, we have to drive 11 km to the intermediate point by Local Truck and proceed to summit by palanquin (at own account), check in at Kyaikhto hotel. Visit Kyaiktiyo; Golden Rock, watch the beauty of sunset or dawn at this important pilgrimage site.Overnight at Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 3: Kyaikhtiyo Bago - Yangon by Car

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast return to Yangon. Before proceed on to Yangon and sightseeing at Bago, the ancient Mon Capital. Sightseeing tour highlights include Kyaik Pun Pagoda,Shwemawdaw Pagoda, over a thousand years old; its spire is even taller than Shwedagon Pagoda. The 55 meter long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image is among the country’s most revered and Kyaik Pun Pagoda. The HanthawadiPalace: Kanbawza Thadi, the famous palace of King Bayinnaung (1551 – 1581 A.D.) is being extensively excavated and some buildings are being rebuilt. Return to Yangon through rural landscape of paddy fields and small villages. Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 4: Yangon Bagan by AM flight (flying hour 1 20)-Cycling

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Bagan. On arrival to Bagan airport we pick up our bike and ride along the river side across the Natdaungkyaung, Taungbila village, university of lacquer ware then continue to explore the Nyaung Oo Market which is very active in the morning not only for the local people but also for the tourists, then continue to the Shwezigon Pagoda a prototype of later Myanmar stupa. You will visit the Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi Temple with fine mural paintings of Jataka scenes Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek cross. After lunch at the local restaurant we will check- in to the Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour continues with bike to visits some of the beautiful monument and sun set at Pyathagyi temple. Overnight at Hotel in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan-Popa-Bagan (50 Km Cycling)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at hotel, visit to Mount Popa,an extinct volcano,which is the abode of Nats(Spirits).On top of the mountain,there are monasteries,pagodas and shrines in different style.Then come back to Bagan by cycling. We first head to New Bagan to explore some of the monument and villages to study ways of life of people until Lunch time. Then visit to the lacquer ware industry where you can study traditional Myanmarlacquer ware making. In the afternoon, we continues riding to the Myinkabar village which we can study about the lacquer ware, Manuha Temple with gigantic Buddha images, a captive king’s impression of life in prison; Nanpaya, an Early-style temple with the finest stone carvings and Sunset at Shwesandaw pagoda . Overnight in Hotel in Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan-Mandalay-Amarapura by flight

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Mandalay. On arrival to Tada-Oo International Airport, you will be proceeding to visit an ancient of Amarapura, silk weaving industry and enjoy the great serenity of 1.2 km long U Bein wooden Bridge constructed in 1849 is about three quarter of a mile with 1086 posts and Taung- ta-man lake that will give you an enchanting experience.Visit Mahagandaryone monastery the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar. Daily at around 10:30 a.m. about 700 monks queue up for their last meal on this day.Then visit famous Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddha Image in Mandalay. Then visit to Gold foil making cottage industry. Check-in at hotel and followed by afternoon sightseeing that begins with visits to Mandalay Palace,Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the World’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures. Tour continues to Mandalay Hill, optional cycling around base of the hill, a vantage point for a panoramic view of the city and a spectacular sunset view. Optional stroll up the hill enjoying panoramic views from different location can also go by car. Return can also be made by car as there is also a car track by the base of elevator just before the platform. Overnight at Hotel in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay-Heho-Pindaya-(60 Km Cycling)-Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Heho. On arrival to Heho airport we pick up our bikes cycling on beautiful undulating roads passing through vegetable farm and rice paddies. Enjoy the lunch enroute. We finish our ride at Pindaya and the rest of the day is at your leisure to rest or explore the small town. Optional points of interest – Pindaya Cave, Paper Making, Umbrella Making. Then continue to Kalaw by car and overnight at hotel in Kalaw.

Day 8: Kalaw-Taryaw (Trekking)-NyaungShwe

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After Breakfast morning (8:00 am),depart from Hotel by car. Drive about (10 min

×
×
×
Sign in to Save Trips
Welcome back! We're so happy to see you. ? Forgot Password?
Don't have an account? Join
  • Bookmark trips you like
  • Share with your travel companions
  • Track price changes
  • Access private discounts on trips you save
×
Sign in to see your results

TripFinder is a member-only feature. Don’t worry, it’s free!

With a membership you:

  • Save up to $700 per person!*
  • Access private deals and offers
  • See personalized trip recommendations
  • Save favorite trips
*See Member Savings Program details
×
Activate your free Travelstride membership

Just use the email address and password provided in the email we sent.

? Forgot Password?

With your free membership you:

  • Save up to $700 per person!*
  • Access private deals and offers
  • See personalized trip recommendations
  • Save favorite trips
*See Member Savings Program details
×
To Follow, sign in or sign up (it's free) ? Forgot Password?
Don't have an account? Join
member benefits

By signing in, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use

First name is required!
Last name is required!
First name is not valid!
Last name is not valid!
This is not an email address!
Email address is required!
This email is already registered!
Please enter valid email address
Password is required!
Enter a valid password!
Please enter 6 or more characters!
Please enter 32 or less characters!
Passwords are not the same!
Terms and Conditions are required!
Email or Password is wrong!
Please select the captcha checkbox!
Please select the valid captcha!
Something went wrong! Try again later!

"The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands."
Sir Richard Burton
x