The Melting Pot of Myanmar

Yangon is a city of extremes. There are tons of examples of colonial architecture standing right next to glamorous high-rises. Buddhist pagodas dot the skyline and street food vendors line the busy roads. You will be treated to a tour of the Shwedagon Paya; a massive pagoda complex that will make your jaw drop. Your experienced guide will give you an insider’s perspective into what makes the complex so special. You will also see a number of Buddhist relics.

It’s time to take to the skies and take the 1.5-hour flight to Bagan. This ancient city is one of the highlights of Myanmar and boasts a phenomenal skyline as well as impressive ancient architecture like the Htilominlo Temple. You’ll spend the day at the giant Nyaung U Market where you can soak up the local culture and buy some amazing souvenirs for back home.

Your afternoon will be spent enjoying some of Myanmar’s impressive food culture with a local guide that can explain the complex flavors to you. Right as the sun is setting you’ll prepare yourself for a special treat; a hot air balloon ride over the city of Bagan.

You will spend today wandering through Bagan’s old town. This ancient city is full of monuments and old temples. It is a truly historic and amazing place to visit. You will also get to have a traditional picnic lunch on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River.

The afternoon is free to do some shopping at one of Bagan’s amazing markets.

Today you will take the 3-hour train ride to Mandalay. Mandalay was the seat of the Konbaung Dynasty and remains an important religious and political site in Myanmar to this day. The relics of Mandalay are amazing, and you’ll have the day to wander through the temples and take as many pictures as you want.

Take some time to savor the food culture of Mandalay also! You can find some incredible street foods in this epic city.

Today, you’ll be traveling to Amarapura to see the Mahagandayon Monastery. This monastery is fully operational and you’ll have the chance to get a glimpse of what life is like for the holy men and women who study Buddhist teachings there. 

Amarapura is an easy day trip from Mandalay, and you’ll get a chance to see some of the fantastic Burmese countryside. You’ll take a 90-minute flight into Yangon at night.

The trip from Yangon to Golden Rock takes roughly 3 hours, so in order to see this iconic attraction you will need to leave early in the morning. Fortunately, there is a private shuttle available for your convenience. 

Anyone who loves history will not want to miss a trip to Golden Rock. This impressive Buddhist monument is perched on the side of a mountain and is said to contain a strand of Buddha’s hair. There is nothing that quite matches the majesty of watching the mid-day sun reflect off Golden Rock. You’ll want to take plenty of pictures at this epic site.

Your trip concludes in Yangon where you’ll take a full tour of the city with a local guide. They will escort you on a two-hour trek through some of Yangon’s most interesting sights, and you’ll see things that are definitely off the beaten path. You’ll walk away with a much better understanding of what this incredible country has to offer.