Experience the amazing nature and the beautiful cultural attractions that Burma Myanmar offers. You fly between the country’s highlights and can thus see many of the most beautiful and exciting places. Finish with beautiful days by the coast and enjoy the sun, sand and beach.
Experience the ancient royal and colonial cities in and around Mandalay and Yangon. Between the cities you can explore more of the thousands of temples and pagodas on the vast plain of Bagan and visit the unique volcanic mountain Mount Popa with its temple on top. See map of Myanmar on directoryaah.
Enjoy a magical adventure on Inle lake where you sail around the lake’s communities that not only live out of – but are also built on – the water. Take a boat trip to the nearby village of Indein, a temple area resembling a miniature of Angkor Wat with hundreds of 17th-century temples and stupas invaded by nature and partly covered with roots, moss and vegetation.
Finish with a few days at Ngapali Beach and enjoy the sand, beach and sun. This is the trip for you who simply want to experience Myanmar’s biggest highlights!
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
You fly from Scandinavia to Mandalay Myanmar, where you arrive the following day.
Day 2: Arrival in Mandalay
Upon arrival in Mandalay, a driver will be on hand to take you to your hotel. You have the rest of the day at your disposal and can start exploring the city on your own. For many, the name Mandalay itself brings to mind the bygone colonial era, but today the city is a modern Asian metropolis with great Chinese influence. It is also the city in Myanmar that has perhaps the liveliest nightlife. Hop on a local pickup or rickshaw, or simply take a walk, and explore the streets of Mandalay, whose everyday life is an experience in itself. It is teeming with Buddhist monks, motorcycles, rickshaws and older car models. The city also has a number of workshops that produce crafts from silver, wood and silk. Mandalay is rich in cultural and historical sights. In addition to the remains of the historic royal city, there are a number of ancient monasteries and older architecture. Do not miss to enjoy the amazing sunset from Mandalay Hill!
Day 3: The ancient royal cities of Amarapura and Inwa
Today’s experiences begin in Amarapura, one of Myanmar’s ancient royal cities. Here you visit, among other things, the huge Mahagandayon monastery where the monks in their dark red clothes stand in miles of rows at noon and wait to get alms in the form of food in their bowls. From the monastery, the tour goes to the world’s longest teak wooden bridge, the impressive U Bein bridge that crosses Taungthaman lake. It is an experience in itself to walk along the 1.2 km long bridge and see local fishermen use their large fishing nets. The next stop is the Irriwaddy river where a small boat takes you over to the former royal capital Inwa (also called Awa). There are no cars in Inwa so the area is explored by horse and carriage which contributes to the calm and peaceful atmosphere. You drive around the small gravel roads through the fields and get to see the beautiful monastery Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Kyaung, built in teak, and the watchtower Nan Myint which has been nicknamed “The Leaning Tower of Inwa”. The excursion ends back in Mandalay and you then have the rest of the day on your own. (F )
Day 4: Mandalay to Bagan with tour
After breakfast, fly on to Bagan where you will be picked up by a local guide who will take you on a tour of the famous ruined city. The plain with its more than 2000 temples and pagodas is an overwhelming, impressive and truly amazing experience. Bagan is one of the world’s largest religious sites and some older temples were probably built as early as the 2nd century. Visit some of the fascinating and beautiful pagodas and temples scattered across the vast archeological site, including the Shwezigon Pagoda, Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi which is a cave temple with some well preserved frescoes, and Ananda Pagoda which is one of the largest and best preserved the pagodas of ancient Bagan. Do not miss the sunset which is very special here – the last rays of the sun emit an almost magical light with temples and pagodas marked as silhouettes against the dark evening sky. (F )
Day 5: Excursion to Mount Popa
Today you have an excursion to the unique Mount Popa, a steep volcanic mountain that rises almost 1500 meters above the countryside. At the top of the mountain is a very beautiful monastery that is said to be home to the powerful spirits called “nats”. To reach the top, climb a flight of stairs with over 700 steps. The stairs are used extensively by the many pilgrims who go to the monastery and it is also crowded with very close-up monkeys – so keep your hat, glasses and camera! The climb up the stairs and the mountain is worth the effort as you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside. On the way to or from Mount Popa, you can also enjoy a slightly different taste experience at a local farm that produces toddy and palm sugar from coconut palms. ( F )
Day 6: From Bagan to Heho – and adventure on Inlesjön
After breakfast you drive to the airport and fly to Heho. Upon arrival, you will be met by your English-speaking guide for a tour of Inlesjön, starting from the village of Nyaung Shwe, where you will board a motorized longboat. Inlesjön is like a large mirror – approx. 22 km long and 11 km wide – surrounded by green-clad mountains that rise up to 900 meters above sea level. By the lake there are idyllic villages built on the water and you can see the area’s iconic fishermen who acrobatically stand and balance on their boat while rowing with one foot. Children in small canoes are on their way to school, women are washing clothes on their stairs – with a big cigar in their mouths – and tomato fields and gardens are floating on the water. You stop at the floating village of Inn Paw Khone, whose inhabitants are known for their processing of the strong silk of the lotus flower, Nanpan where the famous Burmese hand-rolled cigar is produced and the beautiful Phaungdaw Oo pagoda where five small Buddha figures are found – they were originally made of wood but have over time been coated with so much gold leaf that it is hardly possible to see what the figures represent. The boat then cruises further between the small floating villages and markets to the Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, also known as the “Jumping Cats’ Monastery” for the monks previously trained cats to jump through rings and perform small tricks. Then sit back in the boat and enjoy the view as you then travel back across the lake to your hotel in Nyaung Shwe. ( for the monks to previously trained cats to jump through rings and perform small tricks. Then sit back in the boat and enjoy the view as you then travel back across the lake to your hotel in Nyaung Shwe. ( for the monks to previously trained cats to jump through rings and perform small tricks. Then sit back in the boat and enjoy the view as you then travel back across the lake to your hotel in Nyaung Shwe. (F )
Day 7: Experience the Temple Mount Indein
Today it’s time for new adventures at Inlesjön. First, make a short stop at the “5 day market” (if it is open today), a market that changes location and ‘walks’ between the lake’s different minorities – every day it is a new place. The market is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the preservation of local culture by buying handmade goods made around the lake. The excursion continues with a boat trip through some scenic canals, where the vegetation gradually gets closer and closer, to Indein where there is a temple area reminiscent of a mini-version of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. There are hundreds of temples and stupas from the 17th century that over time have been invaded by nature and are now partly covered by roots, moss and vegetation. On the way back to the hotel in Nyaung Shwe, you can make a stop along the way at some small simple family workshops that for generations have developed special techniques in the silver, gold and textile industries. (F )
Day 8: From Heho to Thandwe by plane
After some fantastic days with lots of cultural and nature experiences, the journey continues to Ngapali Beach. You will be picked up after breakfast and driven to Heho Airport for the flight to Thandwe. On arrival you will be driven to your hotel at Ngapali Beach. Although Ngapali, once a quiet fishing village, is today the most famous beach in Myanmar and thus a popular tourist destination, it is still surprisingly quiet here compared to other beach areas in Southeast Asia. Myanmar has no less than 2,000 km of beach on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, and most of these beaches are still relatively pristine. Here you will find all the peace and quiet you can dream of – sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and wonderful water as far as the eye can see. ( F )
Day 9-10: Ngapali Beach – days at the beach
Enjoy your days at the beach, rent a bike or go for a walk along the beach. A slightly different experience is to visit the fishing villages early in the morning, when fishermen return with the night’s catch of giant prawns, lobster, octopus and barracudas – delicacies that can then be found on the menus of the local restaurants! Another nice excursion is to rent a small boat and sail out to some of the small islands along the coast to snorkel or sunbathe. In the sea off Ngapali there is blue marlin “and barracuda which is popular with those who enjoy deep sea fishing. Inland there is the opportunity to visit local villages or go for a round on the 18-hole golf course. In short there is plenty to fill the days with until is time to relax near the water to enjoy another incomparably beautiful sunset over the Bay of Bengal. (F )
Day 11: From Thandwe to Yangon by plane
After breakfast you will be picked up and driven to Thandwe Airport to fly to Yangon (formerly Rangoon). Upon arrival, you will be met by a driver who will drive you to your hotel. The rest of the day you can explore the city on your own. Yangon offers an exciting contrast of past and present – exotic scents from the many fast food restaurants find their way into the old buildings from the colonial era, all while today’s modern society has an increasingly strong impact on the city. Do not be surprised if, for example, you see a Buddhist monk with a smartphone! Due to its lush, tropical vegetation and its many beautiful parks and lakes, the city has been nicknamed “Garden of the East”. Visit Sakura Tower where you can experience Yangon from above and treat yourself to a meal in the restaurant on the 22nd floor where a beautiful view of the city meets you. (F )
Day 12: Yangon City Tour
The day begins with breakfast at the hotel and then you embark on an exciting city tour of Yangon. The excursion starts at Kandawgyi Lake, an oasis surrounded by a large and lush park and is a very popular excursion destination among the locals. Next stop is the Botataung Pagoda which is beautifully situated in the tranquil atmosphere of the banks of the Yangon River. The city tour continues with a visit to the famous Scott market where you can buy everything from food and clothes to crafts and precious stones. The day ends with a visit to the huge reclining Buddha and Yangon’s main attraction – the golden Shwedagon Pagoda which rises majestically above the city. ( F )
Day 13: Departure from Yangon
After a couple of eventful weeks, it’s time to leave Myanmar. ( F )
Day 14: Arrival in Scandinavia
Today you come back to Scandinavia. The timing depends on your airline.
Overnight stays
Eleven nights in a standard hotel
