12 DAYS WITH KYAING TONG

Yangon – Bagan – Popa – Mandalay – Amarapura – Sagaing – Mingun – Pindaya – Inie Lake-Kyaing Tong – Yangon

Day 1 Yangon / Arrival

In the morning arrive at Yangon International Airport. Meet with your guide and transfer to hotel for check-in. Then in the afternoon visit Yangon sightseeing including Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda, downtown area, Botahtaung pagoda and the most famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2 Yangon-Bagan

In the morning transfer to Yangon airport to take the flight to Bagan (appro:1:15 hours). On arrival transfer to hotel and check-in. And then start Bagan sightseeing included Nyaung.U market, Shwezigon pagoda, Gubyaukkyi temple, Htilominlo temple, Shwegugyi temple, Ananda temple. Lunch. In the afternoon visit the famous lacquer ware workshop. Then visit Manuha temple, Nanpapaya, Gubyaukkyi temple. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 3 Bagan-Mt.Popa-Bagan

After break drive to Mt.Popa (about 1:15 hours). Mt.Popa is an extinct vocalno and also known as the home of 37 Myanmar Nats. Mt.Popa area is like the oasic in the dry region of Myanmar. On arrival of Mt.Popa we visit the shrine of 37 Nats. Then have to go up over 700 steps to reach the top of table-mountain. On the way back to Bagan, we can visit the farms beside the rode to see how to produce the brown sugar from palm juice, penut oil, seasam. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4 Bagan-Mandalay-Amarapura-Sagaing-Mandalay

After breakfast drive to Nyaung U airport to take the flight to Mandalay (appr:25 minutes). On arrival drive to Amarapura and visit famous U Pein bridge, Mahagandaryon Monastery, famous silk weaving factory. And then drive to Mandalay for check-in hotel. Then drive to Sagaing (about 25minutes), one ancient capital site before Mandalay in 13th century. There are hundreds of meditation centers, monasteries and nunaries around Sagaing hill. In Sagaing visit Umin Thonese Pagodas, Ponnyashin Pagpda at the top of Sagaing Hill. We can visit also the silver smith workshop. In the afternoon back to Mandalay and visit including Shwenanday monastery,Kuthoday pagoda, Atumashi monastery, Mandalay Hill. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 5 Mandalay-Mingun-Mandalay

In the morning drive to jetty to take the boat trip to Mingun (appr:1 hour). On arrival Mingun, visit Mingun Pagoda, Mingun bell, the biggest ringing bell of the world, Myatheintan pagoda. Then take boat back to Mandalay. In the afternoon visit Mahamuni Buddha image, the most famous Buddha of Mandalay and people believe that Buddha image alive. Zaycho market. Overnight in Mandalay..

Day 6 Mandalay-Heho-Pindaya – Inle Lake

After breakfast drive to Mandalay airport to take the flight to Heho (appr:20 minutes). On arrival drive to Pindaya (appro:1:30 hours). The landscape to Pindaya is very nice. Beside of the road, there are different colours of plantations like the gallery of Shan Hills. In Pindaya, visit famous pindaya cave which is famous for its over 8000 old buddha images inside. In the afternoon continue to Nyaung Shwe (appro: 2 hours). Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 7 Inle Lake

In the morning visit in Inle lake including famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, floating gardens, Ywa Ma village where we can see some long necked tribe people from other region, paper umbrella making, Inn Paw Knone Village where can see the silk and cotton weaving. Famous Nga Phae Chaung monastery, one of the old monasteries around Inle Lake and now like museum of old Buddha alters. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 8 Inle Lake-Kyaing Tong

In the morning transfer to Heho airport to take the flight to Kyaing Tong (appr:45 minutes). Kyaing Tong is the capital of Eastern Shan area and also the capital city of the Golden Triangle region. Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Then visit Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, housing Mandalay style Buddha image and near by a monastery where the monks learn “Khun” language, which is very similar to that used in the Northern Thailand. Proceed to the Shan lacquer ware making home industry to learn embossing method lacquer ware making. Evening visit around famous Naung Tong lake. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 9 Kyaing Tong – Ho Kyin 4 villages (trekking) – Kyaing Tong

IAfter breakfast, drive to Ho Kyin mountain to visit four Akah tribe villages (appr. 1½ hr drive). There are so many different groups of people living in the area around Kyaing Tong. Akha, Akhu, Lisu, Lahu, Shan, Wa and Eng are the larger groups and more easily to visit. Akha people still wearing traditional costumes with silver coils. If an Akhar woman wants to have her complete costume, it will take about more than one hour. Then walk to near by 3 villages of Akha tribes to see their daily life in those rural areas. Akha people are Buddhist, Christian, and also Animists. In the afternoon, come back to Kyaing Tong and overnight.

Day 10 Kyaing Tong – Pin Tauk (Akha & Ann Tribe) – Kyaing Tong

After breakfast start hiking tour into the Pin Tauk area. Lush mixed monsoon forest with a view to the plain rice fields looking like a huge, green patchwork blanket shimmering in the water of the flooded paddy fields. Your local guide will introduce you to the villagers of Aka and An tribes. Some are baptized, some tribes still animists. Ann people, known to be the kindest tribe, as there is no case up to nowadays where an Ann member has ever been violent. It will take about 6 hours to visit the villages, including visits of the houses. Late afternoon come back to Kyaing Tong and overnight.

Day 11 Kyaing Tong – Yangon

In the morning visit Kyaing Tong market offering a mixture of local products, handicraft wares of the tribal folk and merchandise from Thailand and China, Wat In Monastery, Lone tree hill to see the view of the town. Then transfer to Kyaing Tong airport for your flight back to Yangon.

Day 12 Yangon / departure

In the morning visit famous Bogyoke market, downtown area, Kandawgyi park. Evening transfer to Yangon airport to take the departure flight.