Myanmar 2024/2025: the center of Asian power

Flight to Yangon

We begin our journey with passport and baggage check-in and a flight to Yangon – a city where golden pagodas, English colonial architecture, and modernity blend together.

Yangon

Upon arrival in Yangon and a short rest at the hotel, we will head to the city center. We’ll take a leisurely stroll through streets filled with historic buildings adorned with captivating colonial facades, unlike anywhere else in Asia. We’ll see landmarks such as the Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden, Independence Monument, and Chauk Htat Kyi – a 70-meter Buddha statue.

We’ll make a stop to admire one of Yangon’s most popular attractions – the Karaweik Hall (Royal Barge). We’ll also visit one of the oldest pagodas in the world, the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is a significant symbol of Buddhism.

Our journey will be rewarded with a breathtaking sunset viewed from the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Yangon - Mandalay

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Mandalay, the former royal capital of Myanmar. It is one of the oldest cities in the country and an important spiritual and cultural center. We’ll visit Mahamuni Pagoda, which houses the most revered Buddha image.

Next, we’ll explore local workshops and craft studios where artisans produce gold leaf, tapestries, and marble sculptures. Many of these techniques have been passed down since the time of the royal court.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the only surviving building from the 19th century – the Golden Palace Monastery. Then we’ll see the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the “largest book of Buddhism.” We’ll pause for a while on the 200-year-old U-Bein Bridge to admire the sunset.

Mandalay - Bagan

After breakfast, we’ll spend some final moments in Mandalay before heading to Bagan. On the way, we’ll visit nearby local villages. Bagan will enchant us with its abundance of temples, each one a masterpiece in its own right.

BAGAN

Today we’ll visit a local market to immerse ourselves in the lively atmosphere of the bustling bazaar. Then, we’ll explore a nearby village to observe the way of life of the people of Myanmar.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit one of the lacquerware workshops to witness the production of local masterpieces. Afterwards, we’ll head to the Ananda Temple, the most beautiful architectural marvel of Bagan.

Bagan

Today, we’ll get a closer look at the lives of the local residents by visiting villages around Bagan. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the jetty where a private riverboat awaits us. On this boat, we’ll enjoy a mesmerizing sunset and marvel at the local scenery.

Bagan - Lake Inle

Today, we’ll embark on a car journey from Bagan to Heho. During the 6-hour drive, we’ll witness beautiful scenery. We’ll make a stop at a local village to enhance our experience. Upon reaching Inle Lake, we’ll enjoy a boat ride on this fascinating lake.

Lake Inle

Today, we have a full-day boat trip on Inle Lake ahead of us. We will visit the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, a sacred site in the southern Shan State. Along the way, we’ll admire local crafts such as weaving, silk, and metalwork.

Exploring Inle Lake is not just about being on the water and enjoying the views but also about discovering the Shan and Intha villages along the lake’s shore. We’ll marvel at the floating gardens, unique houses, and monasteries standing on stilts over the lake. Our itinerary also includes a visit to the village of Nampan and a stop at a local cigar factory.

lake Inle - Heho - Yangon

After the transfer and arrival in Yangon, we will visit the 75-year-old Scott Market, where you can find many Burmese souvenirs and see the influences of other cultures in the region. During the tour, we’ll see how different places of religious worship intertwine, such as the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception from 1899, as well as the Buddhist landmarks Sule Paya and the over 100-year-old Yangon Synagogue. There will be an opportunity to meet with the Custodian of the Synagogue and learn about the life of the Jewish minority in the land of Pagodas.

We will end the day with a visit to Little India and Chinatown, where vendors will welcome us and showcase their products.

Departure from Yangon

After breakfast, it’s time to relax until the transfer to the airport, from where we will return home and start planning our next trips with Rek Travel Adventure.

Myanmar

Zapraszamy do zwiedzania innych kierunków w Azji z Rek Travel Adventure: Korei Południowej, Tajlandii, itp.