The gold leaf

Itinerary in details

687
Day 1: Arrival in Mandalay

Welcome to Myanmar!

We have conceived with care, itineraries comfortably designed to welcome wheelchair users, answering the needs of less mobile travelers to enable an exciting and serene visit of Burma.

We wish you a great trip to Myanmar, rich in encounters and discoveries. 

Your guide and your driver will be there to welcome you.

Drive to your hotel and time to relax and refresh.  

Your hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city.

Mandalay, formerly known as the « jewels city » is located in the north of the country, along the Irrawadi river. It is the second largest city of the country and the last royal capital dating from 1857.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Accomodation
688
Day 2: Mandalay

Breakfast at your hotel.

« Mingalaba, ! » (Hello !)

After a good night of rest and a delicious breakfast it is time to explore the country ! Let’s start with the amazing market of Zegyio for a first immersion into the local life.

Enjoy the colorful stands of tropical fruits, the smiling vendors and don’t be surprised to see most women with painted cheeks. The « Tanaka » powder is applied most of the time in cercles on cheeks as a beauty sign for over 2000 years.

Continue the visit of this morning at Mandalay hill. Your car will drive you all the way up to the hill dominating the city. From there, take a lift to access the top of the pagoda and enjoy an amazing view point over the whole rgion.

Back to the hotel to refresh before heading to the afternoon visits.

This afternoon, your driver drops you off at the Kyauktawgyi pagoda. A short walk will lead you to the Sandmuni pagoda and then to the spectacular Kuthodaw pagoda : in the middle of hundreds of bright white stupas, the main stupas named Kuthadow measures 57 meters high. The legend says it hides the largest book in the world. This site is also a spot which is appreciated by local families and friends to meet over a pic nic while kids play hide and seek behind the stupas !

Continue the exploration going to the King Mindon’s house : an architectural jewel. Meet your driver at King Mindon’s house and drive back to your hotel.

Overnight in Mandalay

Accomodation
689
Day 3: Mandalay

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning we start the visit at the jade market : buyers and sellers are meeting there daily to negotiate this green gem. Each stone is cautiously weighted and examined before starting the negotiations.

Continue with the visit of a gold leaf factory. Still nowadays, those gold leaf are applied on temples walls or statues all over the country. It is here in Mandalay that all those gold leaf are produced by hand with ancestral techniques.

Back to the hotel to refresh before heading to the afternoon visits.

This afternoon, visit of the Mahamuni temple and then of the well hidden Scwe in bin monastry. The main buyilding of the monastry is all made of teak wood ; it xas built in 1895 by rich burmese merchants to mary their daughters in a prestigious place. The inside of the main building is not accessible but the interest is to go all around it.
Mahamuni temple is a popular temple for pilgrimages as its main statue refers to Buddha’s existence.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Accomodation
690
Day 4: Mandalay - Amarapura Sagaing - U Bein - Mandalay

Breakfast at your hotel.

Today, departure to Amarapura aind Sagaing, located south of Mandalay.

Head to Amarapura. This city is still well know today for its Mahar Gandar Yone monastery (with 1200 monks living there).  During your visit, you will witness the daily life of a buddhist monastery. Take your time to chat with monks : they will be happy to asnwer your questions and even more happy to ask questions about you too !

From the monastry, have a quick walk to reach U Bein bridge so you can see it from the East bank of the river.

Get back in the car for a quick drive to Sagaing crosing the great river.

Sagaing is a former royal capital but above all it is the spiritual heart of the country with 600 buddhist monasteries where more than 3000 monks live.

Visit Soon U Ponya Shin. It is located on the top of a green hill, above the Ayeyarwaddy river. The view from there offers to see all the temples’ golden roofs : it is absolutely amazing !

Lunch in a restaurant in Sagaing.

After lunch, your car drives you to the West bank of the river. Drop off at Kyauktawgyi pagoda and from there walkl to the West side of U Bein bridge. Built in 1782, it is the longest teak-wood bridge in the world (1.2KM). In the afternoon the ligh there is absolutely magical with the bridge reflecting on the lake.

Back to Mandalay at the end of the visits.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Accomodation
691
Day 5: Mandalay - Bagan

Breakfast at your hotel.

Drive to Bagan : a highlight of your trip to Myanmar.

The landscape along the road is absolutely stunning, with huge palm trees, endless medows, and fields of sesame, coton, corn or rice.

Stop on the way to a manufactory of “cheroot” : the burmese cigars. Women seat on the ground in their traditional outfit, behind low tables covered with tobacco  leaves. They roll cigars at an amazing fast pace : each can roll over a thousand cheroot cigars per day !

Continue the journey and arrive in Bagan : this first Burmese empire is a large archeological site. It counts no less than 2 800 temples and pagodas.

A violent earthquake in 1975 has severely damaged some of those architectural jewels but in the past years many of them have been restored.

The landscapes surrounding this complex of temples is simply stunning.

Arrive in your very cute hotel in Bagan.

Overnight in Bagan.

Accomodation
692
Day 6: Bagan

Breakfast at your hotel.

Today is dedicated to the visits of Bagan’ temples and pagodas.

Quick car ride to drop you at Alotawpi temple. Frtom thre, have a short walk to reach the spectacular Htilominlo temple which is chronologically the last of the « great temples » of Bagan. IT was built between 1211 and 1218 by the king to honor his crowning.  4 amazing statues of Buddha are placed in the 4 cardinal points of this temple offering a quite unique architecture.

Continue to the site of Khe Ming which is very photogenic.

Back to your hotel for lunch at leisure followed by time at leisure to rest and refresh. It can be really hot in Bagan so the visits are concentrated in the mroning and second half of the afternoon in order to avoid the highest peak of heat.

This afternoon, visit the Shwesandaw pagoda, built to host some hair of Buddha.
End today’s visits with the de Buphaya pagoda with  its bulbous shaped dome.  It used to be painted in white but now the walls are entirely covered with gold leafs. From there you can enjoy a wondeful sunset on the river.

Continue to the very popular Bu Phaya with its great golden tupa overlooking the river : a great spot for sunset !

Overnight in Bagan.

Accomodation
693
Day 7: Bagan

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning, departure to the tradtional village of  Minnanthu  located in the heart of Bagan. Enjoy the traditional wood and bamboo houses where locals live of agriculture and handicraft.

From the village, walk to the supberp Thambula temple.

Time to refresh at the hotel.

Bagan is also famous for its laquer. Visit a manufactory : an ancestral art requiring high precision to produce unique pieces. A boutique sells those authentic pieces of art work.

This afternoon, visit the Ananda temple, one of the most spectacular buddhist temple of the site. Ananda temple was built by the king Kyanzittha in 1091 : this temple is dedicated to the « infinite wisdom » of buddha. According to the legend, the king has been inspired by the stories of Indian monks when describing the splendor of their temples in India.  The Ananda temple was partially destroyed by the earthquake in 1975 and then entirely restored in the 90’.

From there, get back in the car for a « car cruise » on the dust roads to admire all the temples when the sun light is the most amazing.

Overnight in Bagan

Accomodation
694
Day 8: Bagan

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning, start with the visit of Dhamma Ya Za Ka temple : this stunning pagoda has something special : a special feeling, a special atmosphere … it is hard to describe it verbally. For sure, this pagoda is probably the most photogenic of all.

Short car ride to reach the Lawkananda pagoda (which is not accessible) and from there, cross the market and continue for a short while to reach your lunch restaurant overlooking the river : you have from the restaurant a great view point to enjoy.

Lunch in a restauant located on the banks of the Irrawadi river.

Drive back to your hotel to rest and refresh.

Once the temperature cools down, depart to the Manuha temple : a buddhist sanctuary located in the village of Myinkaba. This temple hosts 3 statues of Buddha seating and another one of Buddha laying down. One says that only the laying Buddha smiles, showing that for the king Manuha only death could liberate him from his sufferings.

At sunset, reach the Nyaung Lat Phet sunset point for a great spot to enjoy the light fading.

Overnight in Bagan.

Accomodation
826
Day 9: Bagan

Breakfast at your hotel.

This morning starts with meeting a great cook at the market of Bagan.

Visit the market to learn more about the local products and purchase the necessary you will need to cook a meal with her. Her house is located a few minutes only from the market. Nonetheless you will learn how to cook a delicious Burmese meal but you will spend a great moment of authentic encounter with a friendly family.

After lunch at your cook’s house, go back to the hotel to refresh at the swimming pool or get some rest.

At the end of the day we head to a restaurant surrounded by pagodas and great trees. A traditional music and puppet show is performed during the meal.

Overnight in Bagan

Accomodation
695
Day 10: Bagan - Inle lake

Breakfast at your hotel.

Departure to another region of Myanmar. Embark a 45mn flight to Heho, the main city of Inle lake ‘ region.

Arrive in late morning. Have a first stop in an umbrella traditional workshop. Umbrellas are hand made in different colors and various sizes. You can awtch the fabrication process and why not purchase an umbrealla as a nice decorating souvenir.

Check-in at your hotel and time to refresh.

Your hotel is ideally located by the lake. Enjoy the peaceful atmoshpere of this great location !

Overnight in Inle.

Accomodation
696
Day 11: Inle Lake

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning, the visit starts on the other side of the lake. Visit « Khaug Dine » village. A typical Burmese village from this region where there is plenty to explore.

Continue to « In Dein » monastery, wich has been built on the top of a hill. This monastery counts no less than 1200 stupas of different sizes. In the ancient times, families of the region were offering a stupa to the monastery.

Back to your hotel at the end of the day.

Overnight in Inle.

Accomodation
697
Day 12: Inle Lake

Breakfast at your hotel.

Full day at leisure to enjoy your amazing hotel and relax.

Overnight in Inle.

Accomodation
698
Day 13: Inle Lake - Yangon

Breakfast at your hotel.

Transfer to the airport for a flight to the main city of Myanmar : Yangon (1hour flight).

Uppon arrival in Yangon, lunch in a local restaurant.

Visit of the national museum. The outisde of this building is not the nicest but the inside offers a great collection of Burmese art, celebrating the Burmese culture and history.

Check in at your hotel.

Overnight in Yangon.

Accomodation
699
Day 14: Yangon

Breakfast at your hotel.

This moring, head to the handicraft market of Yangon. This market offers a great variety of souvenirs, jewels, fabrics (you will find a great range of female or male « Longyis » which is the traditional long skirt which is still worn by most of the Burmese people).

Continue to the food market. Every day of the week, vendors sell colorful fruits, tasty vegetable but also fish, meat and spices.

Lunch in a local restaurant.

Back to your hotel to reresh and relax.

In the afternoon, departure to the most famous and probably the most amazing pagoda of the country : the Shwedagon pagoda. It is the first religious site of Myanmar.

Locals come here to pray and honor Buddha, to thank the « nats », and to please the gods for a good future. Water is much used in the offering rituals. The prayers are made in walking around the pagoda. But this pagoda is also a place where locals like to meet with friends or familiy to enjoy a wonderful sunset.

Overnight in Yangon.

Accomodation
700
Day 15: Yangon - Departure

Last sunrise of your trip to Myanmar !

Breakfast at your hotel.

Morning at leisure to pack your bags. Rooms have to be released before noon.

Transfer to the airport.

You leave the land of smiles and pagodas with plenty of amazing memories !

 

Accomodation
Price from
2.670 $ / Pers (2.420 €)
Price includes
  • Accessible or adapted accomodations
  • Expert Enlish speaking spot guide (supplement of 510 USD per person for a french/italian/german speaking guide)
  • 2 domestic flights
  • Private regular vehicle  (convenient for self transfers)
  • All breakfasts at the hotel + other meals as mentionned in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees for all sites mentionned in the itinerary
  • Roll in Asia' expertise to answer your specific needs.
Price doesn't include
  • International air tickets.