Myanmar The Local Way

Yangon – Bagan – Salay – Mandalay – Inle lake

12 Days & 11 Nights

Duration
12 Days & 11 Nights
Group Size
Max 15 people
Place Visited
Myanmar
Minimum age
Travellers need to be at least 18 years old
Transport
Airplane
Best time to go
From October to March

Highlights

  • Overnight in a quaint village south of Bagan.
  • A real insight into the daily life in the countryside
  • A mix of local transportation, from the traditional canoe on the lake to the oxcart or the circular train
  • Culinary experiences in Burmese restaurant supported by social projects
  • A show performed by the dance students of InwaSchool of Arts
  • Connect with nature on a hike across the shan mountains
  • Unique experience of an overnight at the monastery

Itinerary

Discover the beauty of Myanmar – 10 Days & 9 Nights

Today you will visit to the former capital Yangon, also known as Rangoon, remains Myanmar largest city and continues to be the country’s most important commercial hub and gateway for most of its international visitors. Then you will visit the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda, considered to be the most important religious site for the Burmese.

Start your day by traveling the local way across town on board the circular train and local buses.Then you will have chance to discover the history of the colonial building with the non-profit group Yangon Heritage Trust. Finish of the day with a diner at the social restaurant Linkage.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Bagan. Today you will explore Bagan and its mystical temples by electric scooter or by bike. Then you will delight in Burmese delicacies at Sanon restaurant. Pay a visit to Taung BiLibrary before hopping on a horse cart for a ride among the temples at sunset.

You will start from the vibrant Nyaung Oo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily. You will be invited to a local home to join a family for a traditional cooking experience. Then spend your whole afternoon at leisure.

You will start with a journey to Salay, along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Then will stop at a traditional house and have a lunch prepared from fresh local products.Spend the afternoon with the inhabitants, take a tour by oxcart or by bike, and enjoy an unique village experience.In the evening, the villagers will take you to a hidden place for sunset. A home cooked dinner will be served before a last tour of the village to experience the evening routine of a local family.

Drive to Mandalay and take a break on the way to visit the Burmese Tortoise Sanctuary. The endangered tortoise – which displays star-shaped designs on its shell – is the victim of smugglers who sell them on the black market as a delicacy or for their beautiful shell. The volunteers and rangers in this sanctuary work towards the protection of and educational programs about the Burmese Star Tortoise –an endemic species living in the sub-tropical regions of Myanmar. After the visit you will reach Mandalay and check-in at your hotel.

Walk on top of Mandalay Hill and get lost among the hundreds of stupa of Kuthodaw Pagoda. Mandalay Hill overlooks the city of Mandalay and offer full panoramic view of the Shan Hills to the east, the Mandalay Palace to the south and the Ayeyarwady River to the west. After the visit you will assist to a Traditional Dance Show from Inwa School of Arts at Mintha Theaterand enjoy free time to relax or visit the market.

In the early afternoon, leave the hustle and bustle of the city to reach the starting point of your bicycle adventure, near Amarapura. The ride will first lead you through farms and villages where, instead of fighting traffic, you will be encountering friendly smiling locals and farm animals wandering around the roadside. Stop at the home town of Mayor U Bein, whose name was given to the bridge, to learn about the Muslim community there and their 200-year history in the area.

You will then ride along shady paths through Ava, also known as Inwa, getting a bit of a rest as you cross the small canal by local ferry boat. From here, continue until a small village where a rewarding snack break awaits you. Your bikes will be taken care of while you drink your tea, and you will then drive by car back to Mandalay.

Cycling distance and duration: 18 kilometers –3 hoursRoad condition: flat, tar roads Level: 1

You will fill up with a hearty breakfast before starting your 2-day hike that will begin with a steep walk to the village of Htut Ni. The first section of the journey will take you to the heights of Pindayahills, offering panoramic views of the surrounding farms and tea plantations. You will travel by foot through forested areas and across Danu villages, where you will enjoy a home-cooked lunch, all the way to Taung Myint Gyi, a Palaung village, that will mark the end of this first day of hike. You will gather with your guide in the evening for a traditional dinner before you settle in for a good night’s sleep in the village monastery.

Hiking duration and distance: 16 kilometers –5h 30min

You will wake up to the bustle of the morning activities of the villagers preparing for their day in the fields. A simple, but delicious breakfast will be served at the monastery before you lace up your shoes to get back on the road! The first stretch of this morning hike will showcase some beautiful scenery as you walk towards the village of Ya Gyi. There, you can relax with a cup of tea before beginning the final descent to the village of Pwe Pyat. At Pwe Pyat your car will be waiting for you to bring you to your hotel in Inle Lake.

Hiking duration and distance:10 kilometers – 2h 30min

A fascinating day on the lake with a visit to Indein pagoda complex and the lake’s workshops. Finish off the day with a relaxing excursion among the floating gardens on a traditional canoe usually used by the lake farmers to take care of their gardens. Take a deep breath, close your eyes and give in the serenity of the place.

You will be transferred to Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. If time allows, head to Bogyoke Market for last minute shopping souvenir before your international flight departure from Yangon Airport.