Myanmar's cultural and natural highlights, experienced in complete style and luxury

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

What's included

  • Completely private tours of Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon and U Bein Bridge
  • Private tour options in Ngapali Beach
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Meet and greet airport service
  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

The perfect introduction to Myanmar, this classic and luxurious journey shows you the best of this fascinating country. Visit its natural wonders and authentic cultural gems alongside your expert guide on seamless bespoke tours.

Arriving in religious Mandalay, you have two nights here to acquaint yourself with the traditional culture and history of Myanmar, before being surrounded by the countless temples and stupas of Bagan where, as well as a sun rise hot air balloon flight, you’ll visit local markets and villages.

Next are the calm waters of Inle Lake where you can watch fishermen use their distinctive leg rowing technique and discover floating villages and even a vineyard. Hop south to laid back Ngapali for some relaxing beach time on beautiful Bay of Bengal, before rounding off with a few more touches of intriguing Buddhist culture, street food and art in bustling Yangon.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-3

Mandalay

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Meet and greet at Mandalay airport

Transfer

Private transfer from Mandalay airport to hotel

Accommodation in Mandalay

view of Mandalay from the top of Mandalay Hill,Myanmar
Two nights in Mandalay Two nights in Mandalay

Immortalised by Rudyard Kipling’s romantic poem, Burma’s second-largest city Mandalay is filled with exotic temples and pretty pagodas, and is regarded as the traditional and religious heart of the country. The vast number of monasteries make this former royal city a haven for Buddhism, with Mandalay’s Kuthodaw Pagoda harbouring the complete Buddhist scriptures, the largest book in the world.

Sunset over Mandalay Hill Sunset over Mandalay Hill

This evening you will head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.

Private Tour of Former Capitals - Ava, Sagaing and Amarapura Private Tour of Former Capitals - Ava, Sagaing and Amarapura

Your expert guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning to begin a full day's private excursion to discover the beguiling history, culture, religion and local life of Mandalay's royal capitals.

U Bein Bridge U Bein Bridge

The famous U Bein bridge was constructed in around 1850 out of 984 teak posts that were once part of the deserted Inwa Palace. Its 1.2 kilometers (1300 yards) length make it the world’s longest teak span. Enjoy a sunset stroll along the bridge and the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Mandalay airport

Flight

Flight from Mandalay to Bagan

Days 3-5

Bagan (Pagan)

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Bagan airport to your hotel

Accommodation in Bagan (Pagan)

Two nights in Bagan Two nights in Bagan

Just as magnificent as the world’s most famous archaeological sites, but with distinctly less visitors, Bagan is an astonishing ancient city and one of Myanmar’s top highlights. Its green plains are strewn with thousands of temples and pagodas, the spires of which rise majestically above the tree tops.

Built by kings during the 11th and 12th centuries, these age-old wonders which sit by the Irrawaddy River, are unforgettable when experienced from a hot air balloon as the sun rises over the temple spires and the rural villages come into view below.

Half Day Tour of Bagan Half Day Tour of Bagan

Start your tour of Bagan with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction in to Bagan’s rich history. Continue to a number of famous temples. Then travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Full-day Nyaung Oo Market, Minnanthu village and Irrawaddy River cruise Full-day Nyaung Oo Market, Minnanthu village and Irrawaddy River cruise

Start the day with visit to the colourful Nyaung Oo Market where villagers gather every day to buy and sell their produce and other goods. Continue to Myinkaba village and take a short walking tour to explore the temples of Manuha and Nan Paya.

Later this afternoon, after a rest back at your hotel, continue to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s least visited areas. Here you will explore temples such as Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya before heading to the riverside pier. Board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Irrawaddy River. As you cruise the waters, observe the lifestyle of the fishermen and riverside villagers as well as enjoying the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples.

Hot Air Balloons Bagan
Early morning hot air ballooning over Bagan Early morning hot air ballooning over Bagan

Start your morning one of the most iconic travel experiences in Myanmar, a hot-air balloon flight over the plains of Bagan. Enjoy the fabulous views as the sun rises over the endless stupas and Irrawaddy River.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Bagan airport

Flight

Flight from Bagan to Heho

Days 5-8

Inle Lake

Transfer from Heho Airport to Inle Lake, visiting Pindaya en route Transfer from Heho Airport to Inle Lake, visiting Pindaya en route

Transfer from Heho Airport to Inle Lake, visiting Pindaya en route, an impressive cave that is home to over 8000 golden buddha statues.

Accommodation in Inle Lake

Three nights by Inle Lake Three nights by Inle Lake

This scenic highland lake naturally attracts many who seek to spend a couple of nights relaxing by the tranquil waters and mountainous surroundings, while discovering the unique, local traditions.

Known for their unusual leg-rowing technique, the regional Intha people use traditional boats for transport and live in wooden stilt-house villages. Moving along the water, you can visit some of the lake’s floating markets to buy locally woven blankets and other keepsakes.

Inle Lake, Myanmar
Morning half day to Nyaung Shwe Morning half day to Nyaung Shwe

This morning you’ll be transferred to Nyaung Shwe to visit temples and nunneries in town around the town. Explore the local market, temples and nunneries before heading out of the town centre towards the lake’s rural eastern shores. There are many fields in this area and, depending on the time of year, you will be able to see farmers planting or harvesting their crops.

Red Mountain Vineyard Red Mountain Vineyard

Your guide will collect and transfer you to Red Mountain Estate, one of Myanmar’s finest vineyards. Along the drive look out for farmers who may be planting or harvesting depending on the time of year. At the vineyard you will enjoy a wine tasting, lunch and wonderful panoramic lake and mountain views.

Full day tour of Inle Lake Full day tour of Inle Lake

After breakfast, visit the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. Continue past villages inhabited by the Intha people who build their houses on stilts and floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. You will also see the leg rowing fishermen of the lake who steer their boats with incredible balance. The trip will also include some sightseeing at some of the lake’s most renowned sites. Stop at the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery famous for its dozens of Shan Buddha statues as well as the resident cats which have been trained to jump through hoops. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains 5 sacred Buddha images, and proceed to the village of Inpawkhone to observe the traditional silk weaving techniques of Innthar people. Inpawkhone is also known for its weaving from the stems of lotus flowers, a time consuming process that results in high quality materials famous throughout the country. We will also visit a cheroot factory where the local Burmese cigars are rolled by hand.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Heho airport

Flight

Flight from Bagan to Thandwe airport

Days 8-10

Ngapali Beach

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Thandwe to Ngapali Beach

Accommodation in Ngapali Beach

Three nights relaxing by Ngapali Beach Three nights relaxing by Ngapali Beach

A beach retreat might not be what you first think of when considering a holiday in Myanmar, but arriving in Ngapali, you'll find a wonderful stretch of palm trees and fine, white sand lining the clear, azure-blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. The main draw of Ngapali is the serene, unspoiled beach, which is blissfully devoid of piles of resorts and noisy bars, making this a real hidden gem of Southeast Asia.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Ngapali Beach to Thandwe airport

Flight

Flight from Thandwe airport to Yangon

Days 10-12

Yangon (Rangoon)

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Yangon airport to your hotel

Accommodation in Yangon (Rangoon)

Yangon Myanmar Skyline
Two nights in Yangon Two nights in Yangon

The gateway to Myanmar, Yangon is the country’s main hub for business, transport and culture, dotted with lush parks and pretty lakes. Though this is a vibrant and busy city, Yangon has not yet been infiltrated with global brands or corporations, and instead boasts friendly locals and lively street markets, amid the grand old buildings of the colonial era with the golden Shwedagon Pagoda its centrepiece

Named ‘The Garden City of the East’, Yangon blends a wealth of activity and tradition with verdant pockets of tropical trees and evergreen scenery. As night falls, the scents and flavours of Chinatown seem to intensify, making this a fantastic place to wander and explore, while daytime visits to the shaded parks and museums offer a welcome respite from the heat.

yangon-colonial-building
Architectural walking tour of Yangon Architectural walking tour of Yangon

Explore Yangon on this half-day walking tour around the central districts of downtown. Highlights include City Hall, the old railway station and the former Minister’s office where General Aung San was assassinated. Interspersed in the guided walk are various religious sites such as the St Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1899, and the Buddhist landmarks of Sule Paya and Botataung Pagoda.

By walking through the streets you’ll also have a chance to witness the lifestyles of the locals - from the busy bus and boat stations to the tea shops and hidden street markets. There are plenty of chances to interact with Yangon residents and learn more about the Burmese culture. Finally, stop for a cup of tea or coffee at a popular local tea shop.

shwedagon-pagoda-yangon
Evening visit to Shwedagon Pagoda with oil lamps Evening visit to Shwedagon Pagoda with oil lamps

This evening you will be taken to the Shwedagon Pagoda to see it glitter in the light of oil lamps. This special lighting ceremony takes place with the locals as night falls and incense and seemingly endless rows of golden light fills the air.

Yangon Art and Antiques Full Day Tour Yangon Art and Antiques Full Day Tour

Step back in time and discover the rich culture and past of Myanmar with this guided day trip through Yangon's art and antiques scene. Visit shops filled with remnants of Myanmar's past and seek out hidden gems, enjoy lunch at a 100 year old colonial mansion and explore the city's art galleries.

An evening in Yangon's Chinatown An evening in Yangon's Chinatown

The Chinatown neighborhood is extremely lively in the evening and we’ll take a short walking tour along 19th Street, famous for its barbeque restaurants. Dozens of vendors set up satay stalls and other snack stalls here in the evening and it is a popular spot for locals to gather, have a drink and chat with friends. Enjoy a dinner of delicious grilled meats, seafood and vegetable dishes with traditional dipping sauces and side dishes

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from hotel to Yangon airport

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12-Day Example Trip
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Every trip helps support Conservation.

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