Tour:

Meet on arrival at Yangon International Airport and transfer to hotel. Start your sightseeing with a drive to the famous Strand Road and visit the bustling Yangon harbour, where ferries leave for Pathein in the Delta and upcountry towns along the Ayeyarwady River. Continue to Botathaung Pagoda, close to Yangon River and said to contain Buddha relics. You then drive through the colonial-historical district, Chinatown, and the Indian quarter. Make a photo stop at the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years, and a landmark in central Yangon. In the afternoon, reach the Bogyoke (Scott) Market (closed on Mondays and Public Holidays), which gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar's wide range of handicrafts and souvenirs. Stop alongside Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake to take photographs over the lake towards Karaweik Hall and the Shwedagon.
Enjoy a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide. Its golden stupa is the heart for all Buddhists in Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. Firstly, drive to the Eastern entrance of the Shwedagon pagoda at Bahan and walk along the small shops where monk accessories, Buddha statues, flowers etc. are sold. The entrance is always very busy with sellers and local pilgrims. You will learn about the daily life of the local people who reside in the immediate surroundings and gain a deeper insight into the Buddhist religion as you provide offerings to the monks. Then, walk up the staircase where many vendors sell artefacts for peoples own shrine at home. Continue to walk along the pagoda platform clockwise, as is tradition, around the main Pagoda. During this interactive walking tour of the pagoda, explore walkways and hidden gems that are unknown to most visitors. Stopping in one of the pavilions to prayer, you might get a chance to meet a Buddhist monk and talk about Buddhism and meditation or simply contemplate. Continue through the back door of Shwedagon Pagoda and discover its fascinating history. It is always full of people praying and making offerings, and is a fascinating place to spend time watching the world goes by.
Accommodation: Rose Garden hotel ( Superior room or) or similar, Yangon
Meals included: lunch at local restaurant

Transfer to Yangon Airport for an early domestic flight to Bagan. Pick up from the airport from where you start your tour (private tour after arrival).

Bike the temples of Bagan:
No holiday to Myanmar would be complete without a visit to the temple-studded plains of Bagan. The lanes which wind around the 9th-13th century structures and the mighty Irrawaddy River running alongside are an awe-inspiring setting for a bike ride, away from the crowds and bus tourists. Gather at the meeting point in New Bagan, from where you start and ride through the back lanes to get into the temple plains. You quickly leave the sealed, busy roads behind and venture off onto dirt tracks, only accessible to bikes and horses.
A plain of temples:
It's not long before you are pedalling alongside ancient brick structures, pausing to visit some of the most famous monuments like Shwesandaw, Ananda and Shwezigon as well as several hidden gems. When biking you will often be greeted by friendly farmers working in the fields next to your bike lanes and you will be sure to seek out an elevated temple to climb up for a different view of the Bagan Plain.
Village Life:
Aside from temples, Bagan is still a buzzing little town and you will be sure to explore some of the traditions and lifestyles of its people. The village roads are lined with single-story bamboo houses standing adjacent to unique 1950s, brick warehouses. Kids on a break from school, snack vendors and a menagerie of pigs, cows and the occasional horse greet us along the way. You'll stop to see the production of local treats and pay a visit to the friendly neighbours. You cap off the morning with a visit to a tea shop where you will sample unique snacks and, of course sip a cup of sweet Myanmar tea. Then you will travel by local truck or van back to your hotel.
Note: you start your bike tour around 9:30 am, after your flight.
Included: top quality Merida mountain bikes with a helmet and water bottle, delicious local snacks and fresh fruit, English speaking local guide.
Accommodation: Areindmar Hotel (Deluxe room) or similar, Bagan
Meals included:  breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

Pick up from your hotel and you drive out into the country side. The road leads through stunning land scenery, where depending on season peanuts, sesame, soya beans and other crops are planted. Each field is protected by palm trees which give shade to the farmers and which protect the fields from the wind. Stop in Sel Village and enjoy a walk through this wonderful quiet place. Wooden slippers are also produced here – people use them for showering or working in the fields. Many people here produce Soya Paste, a welcome ingredient to make a tasteful dinner. From Sel, you continue driving to Nga Thayouk village. Walk through this village and amongst many interesting things you can see families making cooking pots. Meet with the vehicle at Shwe let Pyan monastery.
The next village is famous for the children’s hairstyle which is the same like centuries ago where the top hair is not cut and kept in a knot. Children up to teenager age keep this style under the supervision of the head monk of the village. Walk through this village and talk to the head master of the school and learn about village life in general. Picnic lunch will be taken in the monastery. In the afternoon, drive one hour back to Kyauk Ku U Min Temple and visit.The temple is famous for its amazing sandstone figures, gigantic Buddha statues and fine square frescoes. The temple itself was built against the side of a cliff; there is a cave behind the main hall. In the upper storey, there are some square niches on both sides of the inner and outer walls of the vaulted corridor. These niches are believed to show unfinished painted scenes from 550 Jatakas. These several small niches were dedicated to practice individual meditation. Afterwards, take the boat for a relaxing cruise back to Bagan (around one hour) along the Ayeyarwaddy River. Transfer back to your hotel upon reaching Bagan
Accommodation: Areindmar Hotel (Deluxe room) or similar, Bagan
Meals included: breakfast, pic nic style lunch

Transfer to Bagan Airport for domestic flight to Mandalay. Pick up from airport and start enjoying a comprehensive tour of Mandalay, a highlight of which is the Mahamuni Pagoda, home to a spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Near the river, visit Shwe-im-bin, a wooden monastery over 100 years’ old which is known for its lovely carving. Stop at local workshops to see kalaga tapestries being made, and gold leaf being beaten into paper-thin pieces, stone carving and bronze casting.  Mid-afternoon, you will visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, where the Theravada Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 729 marble slabs, giving rise to its nickname 'the world’s largest book'. Next visit beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery, the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing. At Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda you’ll see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Atop Mandalay Hill lie glittering glass-studded temple walls which reflect the evening glow as you watch the sunset. Afterwards, visit Shwe Kyin Monastery to observe student monks start their evening prayers. After that, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Shwe Pyi Thar (Deluxe Room) or similar, Mandalay
Meals included:  breakfast, lunch at local restaurant

You start in the early afternoon with a pickup from your hotel. You then drive south from Mandalay to get out of the traffic. As the sprawl lessens, you will find ourselves in the dry zone where, thanks to ancient canals, the inhabitants can sustain an agricultural livelihood.

On Your Bike
You hit the bikes and take a leisurely ride through farmland and villages where locals will be pleasantly surprised to see you and call out with greetings.

U Bein - the Man & the Bridge
Along the way you stop in the little known hometown of the Mayor U Bein after whom the bridge is named and learn about a Muslim community that has lived here for the last two hundred years or so. You explore the shady paths through the ancient capital of Ava and finish your ride at U Bein Bridge. The bridge spans 1.2 km and was reportedly built by Mayor U Bein from salvaged teak wood that was left behind in the move of the capital from Amarapura to Mandalay in 1859. Whilst the bridge has been repaired from time to time, the pillars are still the original wood. A local row boat will take you on the waters to catch the last light of the day before driving back to Mandalay, arriving around 7-7:30pm.
Accommodation: Hotel Shwe Pyi Thar (Deluxe Room) or similar, Mandalay
Meals included: breakfast

Note: you start early afternoon until 7-7:30 pm. The starting time varies throughout the year to adjust for the timing of sunset so we will communicate the actual start time to you before the tour. It is a 20 km ride - This is a ride that anyone can do.

Transfer to Mandalay airport for your flight to Heho. You are picked up from the airport at Heho and driven to the former British hill station of Kalaw (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes) a charming town featuring British-style bungalows set in leafy surroundings.
Visit the tiny railway station, the market and drive along the leafy lanes of British-era bungalows, red brick and half-timbered.
Accommodation: Kalaw Heritage (Classic Room with Mountain View) or similar, Kalaw
Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Today there is a full day drive to Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State. On your way through scenic countryside, you’ll enjoy a midday lunch at the Green Tea Forest Restaurant in Pinlong.  The owner is a known photographer who has a wonderful exhibition of his work in the restaurant.  Late afternoon arrival in Loikaw.  The town is in the Karen Hills, near the State's northern tip, just above an embayment on the Pilu River. The inhabitants are mostly Kayah (also known as Karen).
Accommodation: Kayah Resort ( Deluxe Room) or similar, Loikaw
Meals included: breakfst, lunch

Spend the day exploring Loikaw and the surrounding area. This quiet city has a charming morning market which should not be missed.  Another attraction is the Kayah State Cultural Museum which displays bronze drums used in wedding and funeral occasions, traditional dress, silverware and musical instruments of the Kayah people.  In the centre of town there is an impressive rock on which stands the Thirimingala Pagoda (Taung Kwe Zedi).  The climb up (over various steep steps) is worthwhile, for a great view over the city and the nearby hills. Next, drive about 45 minutes towards the Padaung villages of Pan Pae.  Padaung women, sometimes known as ‘giraffe women’ or ‘long-necked women’, traditionally wear a great many brass rings around their necks and ankles, starting from the age of six or seven, and added each year.  The original purpose was to repel prospective kidnappers. Today only elderly women still wear these rings, as the younger generation no longer follows the tradition. From the road an easy 45-minute walk on a track brings you to the first village where you’ll see Padaung women. Visit the Taungdaing Standing Posts at Chikel village, which celebrate ancient fertility rituals.  You can also continue another 45 minutes on foot to the next village, depending on the time available and your interest.  Return to the car (1½ hours) and drive back to Loikaw for the evening.
Accommodation: Kayah Resort ( Deluxe Room) or similar, Loikaw
Meals included: breakfast, lunch

This morning you can visit one of Loikaw’s weaving centres, where beautiful Kayah longyi patterns are made.  Mid-morning you’ll travel 30 minutes by road for Phekhone, where you board a boat for the village of Sagar, in the southern part of Inle Lake, a journey of about 1½ hours through a beautiful landscape.  This route is not often taken by travellers and is unspoiled. This pretty village is known for its wheelwrights, and this afternoon you’ll visit a workshop and see how wagon wheels are made. Stroll through the village, observing daily life, and meeting friendly locals of the Pa-O, Shan and Intha ethnic groups.  Visit Tha Gaung Relic Pagoda, where numerous stupas make an impressive sight, and see other ancient religious monuments.
Accommodation:  Little Lodge in Samkar ( Sagar house) or similar, Sagar
Meals included: breakfast, lunch

In the morning, continue by boat to Inle Lake, a voyage of about two hours, so long as the channel is not blocked by water hyacinth, in which case an overland drive will be arranged.
Accommodation: Novotel Hotel Inle Lake (Junior Suite Room) or similar, Inle Lake
Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Day at your leisure.
Accommodation:  Novotel Hotel Inle Lake (Junior Suite Room) or similar, Inle Lake
Meals included: breakfast, lunch

Transfer to proceed to Heho Airport (25 km - 1 hour). Return domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon, the tour guide and car remain at the clients’ disposal until transfer back to Yangon International Airport for departure flight.
Meals included: breakfast