Myanmar Starter

Day 1: arrive Yangon in the morning and transfer to your hotel. All day tour of Yangon including Bo-Ka-Lay Market, the Gems Museum, the National Museum, Chinatown and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. In the evening complimentary dinner with magnificent cultural show at Karaweik Hall floating restaurant on Kandawgyi Lake

Day 2: depart for Bagan early morning followed by all day tour of Bagan including visits to Nyaung-U market; Shwezigon Paya which was started by King Anawrahta and completed by King Kyansittha; Kyansittha Umin Paya built into a cliff face; Gubyaukgyi Paya in Wetgyi Inn Village built in the 13th century and with fine stuccowork on the exterior walls; Htilominlo temple from 12th century and Upali Thein Ordination Hall named after a famous Monk called Upali. Afternoon visit the Bagan Museum; Gawdawpalin Pahto one of the largest of Bagan's Temples; Ananda Patho with four 9.5 meter Buddha Images and four 10.6 meter high teakwood gates; lacquerware workshops; and see the sunset from the upper terrace of Shwesandaw Paya which was the first Stupa built in Myanmar. Overnight Bagan.

Day 3: all day tour of Bagan; morning visit the famous Izagonna temple famous for paintings and from where you can see a panoramic view of the Bagan area; Toyoke Pay temple (13th century); Payathonzu temple which is famous for mural paintings from the 13th century. Also visit Phwasaw village, Dhamarazika Stupa (12th century) the largest Pentagonal Stupa in Bagan. After lunch visit Manuha Temple (end of 11th century) and Nanphaya Temple dating from the early 12th century to see one of the best stone carvings of Hindugod Bramin; Gubyauk gyi Temple (early 12 century) in Myinkapar village which was preserved by UNESCO about 20 years ago and which has beautiful colourful paintings; Mingalar Zedi the last of the Payas to be built before the decline of the Bagan Era; Dhamayangyi Temple; Shwegugyi temple from 12th century. Late afternoon take a sunset cruise by from boat from Pyathatgyi Temple. Overnight Bagan

Day 4: fly to Mandalay in morning: all day sightseeing in Mandalay including handicraft workshops, visits to the famous Mahamuni Pagoda, Amarapura and Sagaing. In the evening see the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Overnight Mandalay

Day 5: morning take a leisurely boat ride across the Ayeyawady to Mingun and see the world's largest ringing bell cast in 1808, the massive unfinished Mingun Paya and the wonderful Mingun Buddhist Home for the Aged founded in 1915; then on to the Mya Thein Dan Zedi before returning to Mandalay. In the afternoon visit Innwa ("Ava"), the World's biggest book and Hman Kyaung ("Glass Hall Monastery"). Overnight Mandalay.

Day 6: morning fly to Heho and transfer to Inle Lake. All day tour of the lake (which is the size of Singapore!) including a visit to Indein Village to see the ancient Indein Pagoda, the famous Nga Phe Kyaung or “Jumping Cat” Monastery, Ywama Village to see the silversmiths, goldsmiths and weaving workshops and Phaung Daw U Kyaung, the holiest religious site in the Southern Shan State. Overnight Inle Lake

Day 7: leave your hotel early morning for your boat-ride to Sagar the old capital of the Shan people and which is now home to Shan, Pa-O and Intha peoples - this journey is very scenic; see the villagers make pots and alcohol and visit the very nice Pagoda. Overnight Inle Lake

Day 8: fly to Yangon in morning; visit the famous Scotts Market,  the White Elephants at Min-Da-Ma hill, Kyauk-Taw-Gyi Pagoda which houses the largest marble Buddha Image in Myanmar and the Botataung Paya on the Yangon River; international departures