Day 1: Arrive Yangon 
This afternoon start your adventure with a tour of the bustling streets of Yangon, lined with old colonial buildings that tell a story of days gone by.  Wander through the old harbor district where merchants are going about their daily business of trading and doing deals. In the evening take in the spectacular view of Shwedagon Pagoda all lit up.  This is the most important Buddhist site in the country and is said to hold strands of Buddha’s hair and other relics. The spire reaches up to 110m and is encrusted with diamonds and covered by gold plate.

Day 2:  Yangon – Inle Lake 
Fly to Heho Airport the entrance to Inle Lake.  Drive about an hour to reach the lake where you will board a small boat to cross the waterway.  Watch the impressive boatmen plying the water with their one-legged rowing style as you pass the many floating gardens filled with vegetables and plants.  The lake is also home to many species of birdlife that use the area as a breeding ground or a stop on their migration routes.

Day 3:  Inle Lake - Indien
This morning, cruise to Indien Village on a far bank of the lake to see the 16th century stupas that have a mysterious and spooky appeal.  Explore the local village where artisans continue to produce their wares using the same techniques handed down through the generations.  Watch as Burmese cigars are hand rolled, powder from dried flowers is pressed into Buddhist images, and boats are built from local materials.

Day 4:  Inle Lake – Kengtung   
Drive back to Heho and fly to Kengtung, a large city in the east of the Shan State.  Kengtung is a great place to visit ethnic tribes and minorities to take a peek into their way of life. Take a guided walk around town and journey to Nyaung Tong Lake to meet the Palaung people, where the women’s clothes are accessorized with waist belts made of red cloth and silver.

Day 5:  Kengtung
Get set for a day of trekking to explore the surrounding countryside on the way to Pin Tauk. Pass by Anh tribal villages and then on to Akha villages, set high in the mountains and where the women wear striking headdresses adorned with silver, coins and embroidery. The life here is very simple with families supporting themselves through farming and labour.  Stop for a picnic lunch by a waterfall and dip your toes in the pools.  Then try the local homemade rice wine a medicinal cure-all, perfect for any sore feet!

Day 6:  Kengtung – Mandalay 
Enjoy a leisurely start to the day or  take a walk to the morning market always a hive of activity, before driving to the airport for a flight to Mandalay.  This last royal capital lies in the shadow of Mandalay Hill and its focal point is the reconstructed palace which is surrounded by a large moat.  Mandalay also serves as a hub for smaller ancient cities which have played an important part in the history and landscape of the region. 

Day 7:  Mandalay - Amarapura
This morning take a short drive to reach Amarapura, a former capital and centre of learning since 1783. The city was ravaged by fire and an earthquake and rebuilt several times, and today the monastery is still an active teaching facility and home to hundreds of young monks.  Then, take a stroll with the locals across the rickety U Bein Bridge, said to be the longest teak wood bridge in the world! Back in Mandalay see the Mahamuni Pagoda with its statues created in Buddha’s true likeness, and then see the largest book in the world at Kuthodaw Pagoda, where stories are etched upon 79 stone tablets. End the day with a visit to an artisanal gold leaf workshop and admire the sunset from high up on Mandalay Hill.

Day 8:  Mandalay – Monywa
Travel about four hours by road to reach the town of Monywa. On the way, stop off at Sagaing, a former capital city with a collection of stupas and monasteries that dot the surrounding hills. The main monastery has spectacular views over the Irrawaddy River.  Continue on to Monywa and the 14th century Thanboddhay Pagoda, where thousands of Buddhist images adorn the walls inside and out, then head to the unique pagoda of Bodditatuang where hundreds of Buddha’s sit under the shade of Banyan trees.  Later in the afternoon, watch artisans weave cotton blankets and make lacquer ware, then watch the sunset from atop of a pagoda.
 
Day 9:  Monywa – Bagan  
Hop aboard a boat and cross the Chindwin River to the cave temple of Pow Win Taung. Marvel at the impressive 17th century paintings that decorate the walls and the Buddhist statues that are seated on shelves hewn from the rock.  A short distance away is Shwe Ba Taung where more temples have been carved out of the narrow cliffs.  Then cruise along the Irrawaddy River to Bagan arriving later in the afternoon.

Day 10:  Bagan
Grab your bike and cycle around the hundreds of temples that makes up the landscape of Bagan. More than 10,000 temples and religious structures were built over a 250 year period when Bagan was at the heart of the ancient empire of Pagan. Today, there are just over 2,200 remaining temples and pagodas in surprisingly good condition! Go at your own pace as the roads are quite flat which makes it an easy and enjoyable ride.

Day 11:  Bagan - Mt Popa - Yangon
This morning, drive to Mt Popa a temple perched high on top of a dormant volcano. Climb the 777 steps to reach the monastery which is dedicated to the 37 ancient Nats (spirits). There are many folklore tales and myths surrounding Mt Popa, and on a clear day you can see out to the plains of Bagan.  Later this afternoon fly to Yangon. 

Day 12: Depart Yangon 
Today is the end of your Myanmar Adventure!  Later you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services.

Please click on CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIPS and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!

Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suite your requirements, but may incur price changes

WHAT'S INCLUDED?
• Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels 
• Private Vehicles and Drivers
• Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
• All domestic flights
• Airport Taxes and Fuel charges
• Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
• Drinking water available on the vehicles.
• Service Charge & Government Taxes
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
• Your International Flights
• Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
• Any bank fees or charges at your end
• Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Tips for tour guide and driver in each region
• Peak season or public holidays surcharge if any
• Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
• Other services not mentioned above

HOTEL SELECTION:

The hotels listed below are our suggestions for the best value on this tour.  However, Asia Essence Tours offers many more options of hand-picked hotels, with different "star ratings", allowing you to customize the vacation to meet your taste and budget.

LOCATIONS	FIRST CLASS CATEGORY	SUPERIOR CATEGORY	DELUXE CATEGORY
Yangon	New Aye Yar Hotel	Rose Garden Hotel	Sule Shangri La Hotel
Bagan	Bawga Theddi Hotel	Thiripyitsayar Sanctuary	Bagan Lodge
Inle Lake	Royal Inle Lake	Inle Resort	Inle Princess
Golden Rock	Mountain Top Hotel	Mountain Top Hotel	N/A
Mandalay	Mandalay City Hotel	Amazing Mandalay	Mandalay Hill Resort

ABOUT HOTELS:

We, at Asia Essence Tours, are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. As the hotel cost will be the major expense of your vacation in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, it is essential that all of the hotels chosen by us are the highest quality for the price paid. All of our prices are based on twin, double or queen shared rooms.

BELOW IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE HOTEL "STAR" RATINGS:

First Class/ 3 Star (from US$ 40 - US$ 60 per room/night)

The First Class/ 3 Star Hotels are good value and normally centrally located. They all have comfortable en-suite rooms, good amenities and public areas to relax in. They are usually family run hotels, so offer great personalized service for your enjoyment and comfort. Most first class properties offer an in-house restaurant, and some may even have a swimming pool!

Superior/ 4 star (from US$ 80 - US$ 110/ per room/night)

The 4* superior Hotels offer a wide range of services. Many superior hotels feature a choice of several in-house restaurants. In addition virtually all of them have a swimming pool. Some may even feature a spa or health club. This grade of hotel offers more for your enjoyment and comfort, while still remaining affordable.

Deluxe/ 5 Star (from US$120 - US$ 180++/ per room/night)

These 5* Deluxe hotels are usually owned by Worldwide, well known Hotel chains. The deluxe hotels feature excellent locations, offer the highest standards of service and facilities, and are known as the best hotels in each region. Facilities such as swimming pools and spas are the norm, and guest rooms are luxurious. These hotels offer first class service and amenities throughout.

ASIA ESSENCE TOURS™ BESPOKE STYLE SUITS EVERYONE

Flexibility: The sample itinerary can be modified to suit your interests, budget as well as your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination.

Tailor-Made Journey: This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of the trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.

Commitment to Excellence: We enjoys excellent relationships with all of the highly regarded hotels and finest properties in our destinations as well as with service suppliers so that we are able to negotiate the most attractive prices for our clients, which enables us to provide exclusive holidays and affordable special offers. We create one-of-a-kind vacations for groups and individuals. We love our destinations and do our best to make sure that our customers feel the same way. Our job is to make sure that everyone gets the right balance of comfort and excitement to enjoy the experience of a lifetime.