ETHNIC MINORITIES OF SHAN STATE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
Yangon - Pindaya- Inle Lake - Kengtung - Mandalay - Cruise - Bagan – Yangon

Duration: 13 Days / 12 nights
(Cruise: 2 Nights downriver – Pre & Post Cruise Tour: 11 days / 10 nights)

DAY 01 YANGON ARRIVAL

Arrive at the Yangon International Airport. Afternoon, excursion to Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha and Shwe Dagon Pagoda, one of the wonders of the world and the most venerated Buddhist Monument in Myanmar, where one can see the lifestyle of Myanmar People.

DAY 02 YANGON/ HEHO (BY FLIGHT) – HEHO - PINDAYA (BY CAR)

Drive to the airport for the flight to Heho in the Shan State known for its colourful markets, scenery, country sides and especially its people, a mixture of tribal races. Arrive Heho and proceed to Pindaya, a small quite town. On the way you can enjoy the scenic beauty of the country side. Visit famous Pindaya cave with its numerous Buddha images in different styles from different periods.

DAY 03 PINDAYA – INLE (BY CAR)

In the morning drive to Inle Lake well known for its scenic beauty and its unique leg rower. Highlights include Phaung Daw U Pagoda; Ngaphae Chaung typical Shan Monastery of jumping cats; wonderful floating gardens; native method of fishing; traditional weaving villages; and village life in the lake (Please note that the floating market is once every 5 days, but may vary according to the Buddhist Sabathday).

DAY 04 INLE – HEHO (BY CAR) - HEHO/ KENGTUNG (BY FLIGHT)

Drive to the Heho airport for the flight to Keng Tung, the most scenic tour in Shan State.Afternoon visit Phara Sao Long or Maha Myat Muni, a Shan Monastery and Sunset and panoramic scenery of KengTung from "One Tree Hill".

DAY 05 KENGTUNG

Morning visit KengTung Market, which is the meeting place of various hill tribes in traditional costumes from nearby villages carrying on age old tradition of their petty trades. Excursion to Lahu, Akha, and Shan villages, 30 km northwest of KengTung and explore their way of life. Return to KengTung and visit traditional Shan Lacquer ware factory.

DAY 06 KENGTUNG / MANDALAY (BY FLIGHT)

Morning visit of Ann village; Ah Khu village and Shan village located North East of Kengtung. Afternoon flight to Mandalay. Overnight in Mandalay.

DAY 07 MANDALAY – ESCURSIONS TO AVA AND AMARAPURA

In the morning you cross the Myitnge River with a ferry boat to reach Ancient Capital Ava. The siteseeing in horse-cart includes Maenu brick monastery, ancient Bargayar monastery famous for its hundreds of teak pillars and the wood curving and Nan Myint tilting watching tower. In the afternoon visit Amarapura, 11 Kilometers south of Mandalay visiting Mahagandayon monastery, 1.2 kilometer long U Bein Wooden Bridge and visit silk-weaving factory.Return to Mandalay.

DAY 08 MANDALAY / CRUISE

In the morning visit Maha Muni Buddha Image and handy crafts workshops such as making gold leaves, woodcarvings, marble carvings etc. Then proceed to Shwe Kyaung, a monastery once King Mindon's royal palace apartment for meditation, incomparable Atumashi monastery. Drive to Gawein Jetty to board the ship at 12.30 hrs. Welcome Cocktail in the Saloon. Lunch will be served at 13.00. The sailing time to Mingun is about 2 hours. Our English speaking manager (or your private guide) will assist the guests during the visit of the Mingun Pagoda Complex. Moor Overnight at a sandbank mid-stream. After dinner guests can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck.

DAY 09 CRUISE

Early in the morning cruise downstream during the 2 hours journey the passengers can enjoy the natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or just sitting outside their own cabin. Sunrise over Sagaing Hill. Enjoy the sunrise. After an early breakfast passengers can go ashore to visit Sagaing with the assistance of our Ship Manager or their own guide (in the meantime the 1 Night cruise passengers will embark). The cast off time is at 11.15 hrs. Lunch will be served at 13.00. In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo, a village specialize in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Cruise all day and moor overnight near a typical river village or a sandbank. Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint.

DAY 10 CRUISE – BAGAN

Early in the morning we proceed downriver to Bagan. After breakfast (if time permits) we visit another typical river village. Enjoy the sunrise near Bagan. Passengers will disembark near Wetkyi-Inn Village 4 km. North of Old Bagan at around 10.15 hrs.
Check in Hotel. Lunch. Afternoon visit Myinkaba Gubyaukkyi Temple, a typical Mon style temple; Manuha Temple, a captured king's impression of life in prison; Nanpaya Temple; an earliest masterpiece with its fine stone carvings; photo stop at Seinnyet Nyima Pagodas, a temple and a stupa with exquisite design and Mingala zedi pagoda, on of the last ones built in pagan; sunset from a suitable temple or pagoda.

DAY 11 BAGAN

Morning sightseeing begins with visit to the Nyaung Oo Market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar satupas; Wetkyi-in Gubyakkyi Temple, with fine mural paintings of jataka scenes; Htilominlo Temple, noted for its plaster carvings and visit lacquerware factory. Afternoon excursion to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek Cross; and Thatbyinnyu, the highest of Bagan Temples ; and Bypaya, a Pyu style pagoda on the brink of the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River.

DAY 12 BAGAN/ YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

Drive to the airport for the flight back to Yangon. Afternoon visit Sule Paya,Yangon City certre and shopping.

DAY 13 YANGON DEPARTURE

International Departure Flight.