Page 64 - Asia & North Pacific

Myanmar Delights
11 days
Yangon, Bagan, Monwya, Mandalay, Inle Lake
MYANMAR Downtown Providing Fascinating Travel Experiences
Day 1: Yangon
Mingalar Bar! You will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Start your Sightseeing of Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon. Visit to the massive reclining Buddha at Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda; Kandawgyi Park; the royal floating barge named Karaweik Palace; and the world- famous golden stupa, Shwedagon Pagoda, whose golden dome rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Stay over- night in Yangon. [D]
Day 2: Yangon, Bagan
After breakfast we fly to Bagan for a comprehensive tour of this beautiful city, one of Myanmar’s premier historical and cultural centers, home to more than 2,000 temples and pagodas ! Our tour includes shrines such as Ananda, Htilominlo, Thatbyinnyu, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Shwezigon Pagoda, plus secular sights such as Nyaung U market and traditional workshops. Stay overnight at Bagan. [B/L]
Day 3: Bagan, Mt. Popa
Today we rise early to enjoy the sunrise from the upper terrace of one of the temples. After breakfast, we proceed to the Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views and shrines associated with Myanmar Nats spirits, said to be born here, making this
volcano a major center of pilgrimage. On the way back we visit a palm tree plantation and a typical village. In the evening, enjoy a relaxing horse cart ride through the less visited temple area. Overnight stay in Bagan. [B/L]
Option: Sunrise hot air balloon flight, Horse Cart Tour
Day 4: Bagan, Pakokku, Monywa
After Breakfast drive to the Jetty and to board a private local boat across the Irrawaddy River. Disembark in Pakkoku, the quiet and traditional country town and well-known for the production of Tobacco. Continue to
Monywa by road (3 hrs drive) with the scenery of the Central Myanmar. Upon arrival we’ll visit the Bodhi Tahtaung site containing thousands of Buddha statues beneath thousands of Bo trees, the massive reclining Buddha and the Giant Standing Buddha statue. Overnight in Monywa. [B/L]
Option: Pakhangyi Monastery
Day 5: Monywa (Pho Win Taung)
After breakfast, cross the Chindwin River and drive to Phowintaung, a Buddhist cave complex located 25 km west of Monywa. The complex con- tains 947 small and large richly deco- rated caves and numerous carved Buddha statues and mural paintings of geometric patterns. Then continue
to Shwe Ba Taung where temples are carved in stony slender cliffs. Hotel check-out anddrivetoMandalay.On the way, we will visit Thanboddhay Pagoda where you will see fifty thousands of Buddha images deco- rating every wall, archway and niche. Check-in and overnight at hotel in Mandalay. [B/L]
Day 6: Mandalay (Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing)
After breakfast, we will start the sightseeing to the religious hub of Myanmar, Sagaing which has over 600 Buddhist monasteries where monks and nuns study and meditate. Visit pagodas such as Swan Oo Pon Nya
64 For prices and other details visit www.holidayswithdowntown.com