Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Mingalabar (traditional greeting) welcome to Myanmar - where the landscape is scattered with gilded pagodas & the traditional ways of Asia endure.

‘This is Burma', wrote Rudyard Kipling. ‘It will be quite unlike any land you know about.’ Amazingly, over a century later, Myanmar retains the power to surprise & delight even the most jaded of travellers. In a nation of multiple ethnic groups, exploring Myanmar can sometimes feel like you have stumbled into a living edition of National Geographic, c 1910.

Arrive in the dynamic & vibrant Yangon, by far the most exciting place in the country, a commercial & artistic hub reflecting the changes that have occurred since the country recently reopened to the world.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? – Yangon International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Ancient Civilisations|Golden Wonders|Traditional Life|Simple Pleasures 

Yangon (formerly Rangoon) is the largest city in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Since the 17^th century, Yangon has been a cosmopolitan city with a polyglot mixture of peoples. Portuguese businessmen, Dutch fortune hunters, Englishmen of all sorts, Chinese seeking refuge from the upheavals in the Yunnan & many Indians who arrived in several waves during colonial times. Most of these people are now gone & Yangon is now a predominantly Bamar city with a large Indian minority & a growing Chinese minority. Still, there are traces of the old Yangon still visible, whether it is in the crowded Indian dominated parts of Anawratha Street, or in the occasional Anglo-Burmese or Anglo-Indian who walks up & says hello.

In some ways, the biggest change in modern Yangon is the loss of the Indians, who arrived with the British as soldiers & labourers (though Indian traders have always been a part of the Burmese landscape) & then left in 2 large waves of migration (during the Japanese occupation and again, in 1963, when they were forced to leave by Ne Win's government). Ethnic groups such as the Shan & Karen are also present. Kabya, or persons of mixed heritage, are common in Yangon.

The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese & Indian influences, and is known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying & beyond appreciation, remains an almost unique example of a 19^th century British colonial capital. New high-rise buildings were constructed from the 1990s (& some are scarily unoccupied and left as ghost skyscrapers & hotels as seen along Upper Pansodan Rd) as the government began to allow private investment (while former national government buildings such as the massive Secretariat Building, as the capital is shifted to Naypyidaw, have been left to rot). However, Yangon continues to be a city of the past, as seen by its longyi-wearing, betel nut chewing & spitting pedestrians, their friendly or even familial attitude towards strangers, its street vendors & its pungent smells.

A mix of colonial architecture, modern high-rises & gilded Buddhist pagodas define its skyline. Its famed Shwedagon Paya, a huge, shimmering pagoda complex, draws thousands of pilgrims annually. The city's other notable religious sites include the Botataung & Sule pagodas, both housing Buddhist relics. In 2006, the capital was moved to Naypyidaw but Yangon remains the business, cultural & intellectual capital of modern Burma. 

Later in the afternoon around 4:00 pm, meet the Tour-guide & proceed to the iconic hotel - The Strand to enjoy High Tea. (if you have opted for ‘Deluxe’ category of accommodation for this journey, you will be staying in this hotel only, so you just walk up to the restaurant).

Situated on the edge of the Yangon River, this classical British-era hotel built in 1901 became the centre of expat life during the 1900s & the High Tea at The Strand Cafe has become a Yangon institution & an iconic Myanmar experience.

It offers a nice retreat from the heat & buzz of the city & the dining room features original teak-framed windows, with polished flooring throughout & lacquered fans hang from the high ceiling. Reminiscent of a bygone era, with vintage photographs adorning the walls, reflective of the country’s Colonial past, embraced by the warmth and kindness so synonymous of the people of Myanmar.

Relax in the casual yet elegant cafe while enjoying a full service High Tea with a selection of classic sweets & savouries, as well as some traditional Myanmar delicacies from 02.00 pm - 05.00 pm.

Relax at the hotel or walk around & explore the town before proceeding to the Pier at the artificial Kandawgyi Lake (also known as Royal Lake), built by the British as a reservoir, to board a River Boat to enjoy a Burmese Welcome Dinner as you cruise on the Lake looking at the glittering Shwedagon reflected in its calm waters against the sunset..

After disembarking from the 2 hour Dinner cruise, you may want to enjoy a stroll on the attractive boardwalk, which runs along the southern & western sides of the lake.

Transfer back to the hotel.

This particular art journey is centered on traditional & contemporary Myanmar fine arts & rich collection of antiques in the country. After the tour today, you will gain a much deeper insight & understanding into the regional arts & culture scene. .

Meet the Tour-guide at around 09:00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour experience to discover the culture & art scene of Yangon.

Begin downtown at Pansodan Gallery, a small but impressive gallery hidden downtown. Pansodan is a good introduction to the art scene here, as its collection includes Traditional, Realism, Surrealism & Classic Paintings by celebrated Myanmar artists.

Then head to New Zero Art Space, a not-for-profit gallery that nurtures emerging artists & also provides opportunities to the children at Orphanages, children living with HIV, Charity & Monastic Schools in Yangon & nearby townships to give the voluntary art trainings & meet with & study under international visual (& performance) artists invited from Asia, Europe & North America to the Artist-in-Residency Program.

The program is an opportunity to support artists from around the world who have a keen interest in Myanmar art & culture. To provide future opportunities for the young artists in Myanmar, ‘New Zero Art Space’ promotes contemporary art & artists with an intention of promoting the new young art spirits of the next generation. The philosophy of the program also encourages an ongoing exchange with the art & culture from the artist’s host country.

Next, stop is River Gallery - the heart of Myanmar's blossoming contemporary art scene - showcasing works by 20-30 of Myanmar's leading contemporary artists - established & emerging - at any given time and a source for news & views about Myanmar's art scene.

Around mid-day, walk up to the ‘Golden Valley’ the gentrified residential district of Yangon close to the gorgeous Lake Inya - where you will enjoy lunch at the House of Memories restaurant, an ‘antique’ colonial manor set in a gorgeous garden.

This structure was once used as the headquarters for the Burmese army; the building itself is full of the memories left there from the people who helped Myanmar gain its independence. Meander through the place and wonder at the historic miscellany on exhibit together with a room named after General Aung San, which was his office and still contains some of his personal items such as his typewriter.

Later you may also visit in the same neighbourhood, - Mangosteen Mansion - home of internationally famous French interior designer & architect Patrick Robert (at the discretion of the Tour-guide & subject to availability & approval of Roberts).

His works appear regularly in international design books & magazines, have received several distinctions & awards worldwide. His artwork consisting of original collections, porcelain, tribes’ artifacts, rare lacquer ware, old bronze & terracotta, painting are displayed at his vast residence.

The home is a design gem, where the lush plants rule. Patrick Robert began his long career as a designer for the Christian Dior fashion house in 1960s, where he styled negligees. Later he worked as scenographer, curating exhibitions from the Centre Pompidou to the Guggenheim to then retire - initially for a short time - to a nation that was very hard to get into at the time: Burma, now Myanmar.

Despite the political situation, with a military dictatorship that has only allowed a civilian government in very recently Burma immediately won him over: the nation itself, a woman who became his wife & a 1920s building - former home to the ruler of Myanmar's southern states, in Yangon. Robert received a permit to work because he was married to a Burmese woman & he converted his colonial-style timber mansion into Myanmar's most exclusive hotel, “Belmond Governor's Residence”.

The origins of this home are hard to date, but it welcomes visitors into its gardens - or rather its lush urban jungle with palms & creepers climbing higher than 15 metres upwards, providing a refuge for tropical birds. A tribute to the endless shades of green, because as Patrick Robert explains “green is the colour whose shades we humans perceive the most”. For 2 years, he collected plants from the various regions of Myanmar for a breath-taking result in a composition that writer Martin Schacht describes as a lot like a Henri Rousseau painting. It is hard to describe Mangosteen Mansion with its exotic charm & more importantly, the harmonious blend of plants & architecture, of garden & interior design.

Having now seen the symbols of the city’s colonial era past, you will procced to Augustine’s Antiques which has one of the largest selections of antiques & antique furniture in all of Myanmar. A virtual museum of Myanmar antiques, there is a particular emphasis on wooden items, including carved figures, chests & wall hangings. The knowledgeable owner will explain the history of various items ranging from old Buddhist scripts to British advertising signs.

Nearby are a myriad of shops with piles of items through which you need to hunt to find treasures.

While travelling abroad, a good way to experience & assimilate with the local culture is by browsing through endless valleys of shops filled with various & colorful ethnic handicraft, lacquerware & other craft items. It is a wonderful eye-opener to gain a deeper insight into the style of Lacquer & Handicrafts in Myanmar which are very different from Thai, Vietnam or China’s style.

Some classic Myanmar handicrafts are good choices for souvenirs such as painted & engraved bowls, cups & other ornaments.

A unique place to visit in Yangon is the Chuchu workshop, part of The Chu Chu Project, which turns rubbish collected from Yangon’s streets into recycled crafts with an objective to encourage a different thinking about waste. The shop’s shelves are lined with belts made from bicycle tires & baskets woven from empty tea packets. One half of the space is a Workshop where women work at sewing machines, fashioning purses from rubber inner-tubes & necklaces from the pull tabs of soft-drink cans.

For people interested in looking at or buying ethnic textile, there is YoYa May that specializes in producing contemporary Chin textiles & collecting vintage material cultures of ethnic Chin, Naga, Kachin, Karen (Kayin), Akha, Burman & other Tribes. YoYa May mainly reproduces Asho & Khumi-Khami-Mru contemporary textiles.

If you want to play your part in contributing to support the community, there are many ‘fair-trade’ shops which offer ‘quality’ stuff & help the disadvantaged people in the community. For example, there is Pomelo that offers good quality modern hand-made products such as colorful papier-mache dogs & bags featuring bold graphic images, as well as the exquisite Chin weaving & jewelry made from recycled materials. While working with dozens of disadvantaged groups, developing their business & administration skills as well as providing design insight thus improving the Artisan partner’s lives & enabling them to support their families.

The experience concludes & you are driven back to the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09:00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour sightseeing tour of the city.

The Tour commences at Mahanbandola Road where the Immanuel Baptist Church, originally built in 1830, is located.

Continue east passing a couple of alleyways crammed with food stalls & markets. Turn right onto Pansodan Street with its many stalls selling second-hand & photocopied books. You will pass the High Court building, the grand Inland Water Transport offices & even grander Myanmar Port Authority building until you’ll reach Strand Road.

Next stop will be outside of the majestic Strand Hotel. Walk along Strand Road until you see the Customs House & the Law Court, an impressive-looking colonnaded building. Turn north onto boisterous Bank Street & up onto Sule Pagoda Road, where you can consult one of the many fortune tellers who hang out under the trees. Be sure to make a photo stop at Sule Pagoda, downtown’s symbol whose construction dates back to over 2,000 years ago. Brief photo stops at the Independence Monument & Mahabandoola Garden.

After a complete rotation seeing the twice rebuilt City Hall, continue west down Mahanbandoola Road through the chaotic Indian & Chinese quarters. Explore the gold shops of Shwe Bontha Street and have a look from outside at the Moseh Yeshua Synagogue on 26^th street.

You will reach Theingyi Zei market, where you can engage in a little pickled-snake hunting. Exit onto Anawratha Road until you reach the Sri Kali temple, Yangon’s most colourful Hindu temples.

On the way, you will make a stop at Yangon Heritage Trust office, a local NGO working on preserving Yangon’s rich heritage & architectural buildings.

Visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda to see a 70 meter long reclining Buddha statue around the size of a blue whale. You will continue uptown in order to make a quick stop by the Royal Lake located in Kandawgyi Park which is very popular with local residents, especially in the early morning & around sunset. Catch a view of Karaweik Hall, a reproduction of a royal barge & enjoy a spectacular view of the Golden Shwedagon Pagoda.

No Myanmar journey can be considered complete if it lacks a visit to the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda.

The visual delights present there alone, are worth the trip.

Ready for an amazing experience? Begin at the eastern entrance to find a row of shops at the base of the temple selling various religious items. Here, you will find monks robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense & other unique Buddhist objects. The flower & book stalls, peddlers of religious souvenirs & tea shops do a brisk trade during the Shwedagon's long hours of opening.

As you browse the stalls, the Tour-guide will explain the use & rituals of Myanmar’s Buddhist people. Then continue up the stairs to the main platform. Witness the colors transform on the 100 meter Chedi which is literally enclosed in over 40 tons of gold leaf. The 2,600 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw (also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda & the Golden Pagoda) is a gilded Stupa considered to be the most important religious site for the Burmese as it is believed to contain relics of the 4 previous Buddhas of the present kalpa. (best time to visit Shwedagon Pagoda is at sunset when its gilded stupa is bathed in the fading rays of the sun & takes on a magical glow).

Standing imposingly on the top of a hill, the 99 meters high Shwedagon Pagoda can be seen from most places of Yangon day & night as the golden roof illuminates the city. The main gold-plated dome is topped by a Stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz & sapphires, the whole giddy concoction offset by a massive emerald positioned to reflect the last rays of the setting sun. There is little wonder that the Shwedagon is referred to in Myanmar as "The crown of Burma." The Pagoda is said to contain 8 hairs of the Buddha, a fact that only adds to its prestige.

As Myanmar's most revered shrine it has always been customary for families, mendicants & followers of the Buddha to make the pilgrimage to the Shwedagon in much the same way that Muslims feel compelled to visit the Kaaba at Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Visitors are required to remove their shoes upon entering the Shwedagon & negotiating the scalding floor tiles between the shaded sanctuaries is not an easy process. The stairways & bridges leading into the main sanctuary serve the thousands of pilgrim who flock here,

Travelers will see temples everywhere they go in Myanmar and will doubtless be struck by the wealth & profusion of building styles. At Pagan for example, there is an ancient plain containing over 2,000 temples & pagodas, surely one of the most remarkable ensembles in the world. Yet still, assessed on their individual merits, the Shwedagon Pagoda remains unrivaled as temple, meeting place & symbol of national identity.

The tour finishes & you come back to the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs & make arrangements).

Morning, you will be transferred to the Airport for your short flight to Bagan.

Arrive at the temple town - one of Myanmar’s main attractions.

As you exit from the Arrival Terminal? - Bagan Nyaung U Airport, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

An ancient city, Bagan, located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, was once the capital of a powerful Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar.

The UNESCO World Heritage listed ‘Bagan Archaeological Zone’ occupying an impressive 26 square mile plain, part-covered in stands of palm & tamarind caught in a bend of the lazy-flowing Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) river, framed by the hazy silver-grey of distant mountains, is home to the largest & densest concentration of Buddhist Temples, Pagodas, Stupas & ruins in the world with many dating from the 11^th & 12^th centuries. The monarchs built multitudes of massive stupas & pagodas, scores of which are still present on the shores of the Irrawaddy River.

People draw a comparison between this immense archeological site & the other significant archeological gem of Southeast Asia, the Angkor Wat in Cambodia. This analogy may be illustrative: Angkor ruins are like a Chinese Lauriat banquet where food is presented in spectacular servings with a suspenseful wait between items which are hidden beneath curtains of forests. On the other hand, Bagan is served in Spanish Tapas style, the ingredients exposed to the customer & shown in small bite-size servings, with the next attraction close & visible at hand, in shorter intervals.

Shortly after, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at ??? & proceed for an 8 hour excursion to visit some of the Temples.

Rising from the plain’s (of the size of Manhattan Island) canopy of green are red brick temples, dozens of them, hundreds of them, beautiful, other-worldly silhouettes that were built by the kings of Bagan between 1057 & 1287, when their kingdom was swept away by earthquakes and Kublai Khan & his invading Mongols. Some 2,230 of an original 4,450 temples survive, a legacy of the Buddhist belief that to build a temple was to earn merit.

What makes the Temples look romantic is the process of graceful aging. The shape & construction of each building is highly significant in Buddhism with each component part taking on spiritual meaning. Most are superbly preserved or have been restored by UNESCO, among others, and many contain frescoes, carvings & statues of Buddha, big & small.

For some reason, there are no windbreakers around as shown by the barren, desert-dry mountain range to the west past the river, spinning occasional micro twisters that spawn loose dust particles everywhere from the eroded earth to the structures. This phenomenon had peeled off so much the stucco coating of the temples to reveal the brick structural blocks with its rusty, reddish & sometimes golden brown-like patina when hit by the sun's rays.

Traveling amid the temples on vehicle, ox cart or horse cart, you will get a taste of rural Bagan life in this ‘living museum’ setting where farmers & families work amongst the monuments.

Start with an elevated temple where you can climb atop to see panoramic views of the Bagan plains. This viewpoint will give you a taste of the sheer number of temples as well as some of their distinctive styles.

Continue to various other temples dotted around the temple plains, including highlights such as Ananda & Shwesandaw, to experience a variety of architectural styles & artistic wonder of a bygone era.   Traveling amid the temples you will get a taste of rural Bagan life in this ‘living museum’ setting where farmers & families work amongst the monuments.

Have a look around Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11^th century as a religious memorial.

You will also visit the Central Market & Myinkaba - a village famous for it’s distinctive traditional Mon-style lacquerware & wood craft, some of the most common cottage industries in Bagan. Learn more about the local culture with a visit to 2 workshops producing Bagan’s most famous products. All over Myinkaba village, you will see lots of giant stacks of bamboo, which is the main raw material of the plaited matting used for the walls of houses all over Myanmar. Watch in amazement as the skilled craftsmen use traditional techniques passed down through generations to create beautiful items.

On the outskirts, just off the main road, you will find many attractive sites including Mingalazedi Paya which represents the final flowering of Bagan’s architectural outburst ; Gubyaukgyi attracting many visitors with its well-preserved, richly, colored painting, Manuha Paya, named after King Manuha whose reign is one of the most admirable part of Burmese history, etc.

Later in the afternoon, you will be transferred to the jetty where a private wooden river boat awaits you & embark on a 1 hour cruise down the Irrawaddy River towards KyaukGu UMin - the "Rock cave tunnel".

Sitting either under the shade or on the open-deck, you will be treated to fabulous views as you cruise past several small villages, fishermen, local boats & of course many of the ubiquitous Myanmar Buddhist temples. The views of Bagan from the river are particularly spectacular and offer a different perspective from the land based tours.

There will be a stop at a riverside village to allow you go ashore for a short stroll and observe the lives of the river’s residents. The friendly people work as farmers and fishermen, living a simple but happy life.

The Cruise continues to KyaukGu UMin on the eastern side of the river from where it is only a short 10 minute walk to the Temple. It is an interesting place because of the use it has made to the natural topographical features, The Temple is built into the side of a cliff in a deep ravine and consist of a high ground storey surmounted by two receding terraces on which stands a small pagoda. This beautiful masterpiece has exquisite stone carvings depicting religious figures & flowers. Behind the main hall is access to a quiet & tranquil cave. Inside the cave, there are several small recessed alcoves which are ideal for meditation. Legend has it that the cave was built during the 13^th century for the locals to hide from the invading Mongols.

After your exploration of KyaukGu UMin, return to the boat for a relaxing cruise back to Bagan.

As the sun begins to sink slowly from view, you will prepare to disembark before being driven back, greatly relaxed, to your hotel for the evening. The perfect end to a busy day of sightseeing in Bagan!

Later in the evening, enjoy an authentic Burmese cuisine dinner in a local restaurant as you are entertained by local Puppeteers.

Return to the hotel.

Early morning around 08:00 am, you will be met by the Tour-guide & proceed for 6 hour of sightseeing.

It’s off to the vibrant Nyaung Oo Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce & other goods daily.

From here you will have a look around Old Bagan starting with a visit of the renowned Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed by King Anawrahta in the early 11^th century as a religious memorial. Travel over dusty lanes & tree shaded roads past temples & monasteries to a small village. Walk around the village, catching a glimpse of local lifestyles of Bagan’s residents.

At one of the Monasteries, you will participate in a special traditional Buddhist ceremony. You will also witness around 10:30 am, an alms procession where, alongside locals, you will donate offerings of food to the monks. Afterwards you will receive a special blessing from the monks to ensure good luck & happiness

Continue to more lesser-known monuments, selected based on your interest, in the area for the remainder of the morning. If you wish, a short walk can be arranged through a series of smaller monuments which allows for a unique perspective of Bagan.

Journey by horse cart for an excursion that passes through the city’s most important pagodas & temples such as Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in Bagan, gigantic Dhammayangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, Sulamani Temple & Gu Byaukgyi Temple. Depending on the time, you can enjoy an extraordinary sunset view from the upper terrace of one of the surrounding temples. 

Come back to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

At dawn, depart for Mandalay, driving along winding roads & passing through picturesque rural landscapes.

Arrive at Mandalay by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

Mandalay, the very name evokes the splendours of the Burma of old. But, most people will be surprised to learn that Mandalay is not an old city, not even a medieval one, but rather a new city that was created by King Mingdon Min of Burma in 1857 as the new capital of the kingdom of Ava. The city is the economic & religious hub of upper Myanmar & is centred around the Royal Palace. It has wide lanes filled with bicycles & motorcycles and is known for its cultural diversity. Half of Burma's monks reside in Mandalay & the surrounding areas.

Only two Burmese kings ruled from there, King Mingdon & King Thibaw, before the British conquest of Upper Burma in 1885. It was a city of splendour between 1858 -1885 but most of the magnificence is gone, destroyed by the fire that consumed wooden structures & by intensive bombing by the Allies during the Second World War. The city, neatly planned with its lettered roads and numbered streets, is a British creation. The once magnificent Royal Palace & the great Atumashi (incomparable) pagoda, King Mingdon Min's finest creations, are modern reconstructions. Today, Mandalay lies at the end of the Lashio Road & it is, by Burmese standards, relatively prosperous as a centre for trade with China & for the growing trade with India. Despite the capital having been moved to Naypyidaw, Mandalay remains by far the main commercial centre of Upper Myanmar.

Later in the afternoon around 02.00 pm, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby & proceed for a 4 hour tour.

Head to Mandalay Hill, rising 240 meter above the city. At the top the reward is a full panoramic view, the hazy blue outline of the Shan Hills to the east, the Mandalay Palace (& the city sprawl) to the south & Irrawaddy River to the west.

Directly south of Mandalay Hill stands the Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda with a giant Buddha carved from a single block of marble. It is said that the colossal pale green marble block took 10,000 men almost 2 weeks to transport it from the riverside Sagyin quarry 12 miles away to its current location.

A long covered corridor with multi-tiered Pyatthat roofs leads through the garden of arhats to the structure housing the Buddha. Along the way devotees can buy flowers to pay homage. On each of the 4 sides, there are 20 shrines with figures representing the arhats, the 80 Great Disciples of the Buddha. At the bottom of the stairs to the Temple’s entrance are the ferocious looking heads of giant Naga, a serpent from Buddhist & Hindu mythology. The snakes’ bodies extend on the balustrades. At the stop of the stairway is a pair of giant white & gold Chinthe lions often seen guarding Burmese temples

The 37 feet tall, 24 feet wide & weighing over 600 tonnes, the seated Buddha statue, enclosed in a climate controlled glass case, is enshrined in a large hall adorned with elaborate ornamentations & topped with a Pyatthat (a multi-tiered Burmese style roof), supported by elaborate golden columns.

Walk next door to Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as 'The World’s Biggest Book' for its collection of 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings, built during the reign of King Mindon.

Call it Anti-Kindle or call it the “world’s largest book,” or call it “really hard to read,” there is no disputing that the expansive tome etched on over 700 stone slabs surrounding Myanmar’s glittering Kuthodaw Pagoda form a volume that would test even the most ardent book lover.

The gorgeous temple building is completely gilded on the exterior, giving it the look of a solid gold spectacle. However, the true spectacle lies within the stark white stupas that surround its base. Beneath the pinnacled roofs of the squat little structures, are 730 marble tablets (729 contain body of the text, while the 730th tablet describes their creation) covered on both sides with dense script. Taken all together, these comprise the entirety of Theravada Buddhism’s religious canon, its tipitaka (a phrase meaning “3 baskets” ”which is a reference to the baskets in which the original Buddhist teachings were held). The thick stone tablets each stand over 5 feet tall & 5 inches thick.

When the Tablets were unveiled in 1868, each line of writing had been filled with golden ink & the stones were decorated with precious stones including rubies & diamonds. Unfortunately after the British invaded in the mid-1880s, the troops looted the temple site, stripping the slabs of their gold ink & gems.

Today, the sprawling book still stands & the writing has been refilled with simple black ink so that while the opulent glory may have disappeared, the messages of the writings themselves live on for future generations. It might not be light reading, but it is assuredly enlightening.

Proceed to the adjacent Shwenandaw Kyaung Temple, a grand example of the 19^th century Burmese teak architecture & one of the most significant of Mandalay's historic buildings, since this 'Golden Palace Monastery' remains the sole major survivor of the former wooden Royal Palace built by King Mindon in the mid-19^th century.

Originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura, it was moved to Mandalay, & became the northern section of the Glass Palace and part of the king's royal apartments. When King Mindon died in this structure in 1878, his son & successor, King Thibaw (r. 1878-1885), often went there to meditate.  He soon became convinced, however, that Mindon's spirit was haunting the building & so in October 1878, he ordered it dismantled & removed from the Royal City.

Over the next 5 years, it was reconstructed as a Monastery & dedicated as a work of merit to the memory of King Mindon on a plot adjoining the Atumashi Monastery near the northeast corner of the Royal City. The rest of the old Royal Palace within the old Royal City (now Mandalay Fort) was burned during the latter stages of the Second World War as a result of allied bombing of the Japanese ensconced in the old Royal Palace. King Thibow's superstition thus had preserved a significant remnant of the Royal Palace.

The Shwenandaw is a wonderfully fragile yet grand example of Burmese teak architecture & a significant masterpiece of the wood-carver's art. The structure was once gilded & covered with glass mosaics. Rich carvings on the bargeboards & balustrades/parapets and wooden entries further hint at the glory of the former royal palace.

It is a large multi-tiered building with four separate zei-ta-wun roof levels. Newly recarved or restored a-saw, flame-like decorations define the roof lines, which also contain profuse sein-taung ("mountains of relief work") embellishment & daung corner roof ornaments as well as numerous avian creatures.

Surrounding the building at the main entry level is an imposing teak platform with elaborate carvings & marble finials on the parapets.  There are rich ornamental carvings, wonderful serpentine dragons, lively figures at dance, mythical animals, flowers & vines on carved teak panels both on the outside & the inside. The main hall features massive teak pillars, an imposing ceiling, replica of the Lion Throne & the rich carvings of the nats, spirit beings, worshiping the Buddha image.

Continue your guided tour with a visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda. This Pagoda houses one of the country’s most honored Buddha images, completely covered in gold leaves that are applied “daily” to the statue by male devotees. 

There are also many craft workshops in Mandalay &, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making gold leaf, tapestries, wood carvings or marionettes if you are interested & if time allows.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs & make arrangements).

Today, get up very early, meet he Tour-guide at 06:00 am & proceed for a full day 8 hour tour visiting the previous capitals of Amarapura, Ava & Sagaing.

Proceed across the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing, the Buddhist centre of Myanmar. With 600 ivory colored Pagodas & Monasteries, Sagaing Hill claims residence to around 3,000 Monks & nearly 100 meditation shrines. You will visit some of the more famous Pagodas on the outskirts such as Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin, U Min Thone Sae & Shin Pin Nan Gyaing & enjoy spectacular views from the top of Sagaing Hill before returning to the small town.

Move on to  Sagaing’s vibrant morning market - a hive of activity in the morning with vendors selling mainly fresh produce & meat but there is an array of other goods including spices, local ‘slippers’ & Buddhist donation items. You will be amazed at the colors & sounds as deals are made. Here, you will shop a few biscuits, shampoo, candles, juice, toothbrushes & tooth paste etc. to donate to the nuns at the Monastery.

Also see the magnificent Mahagandayon monastery founded in 1914, one of the largest in Mandalay & renowned as a centre for monastic study & strict religious discipline. At times, there are more than 3,000 Monks living & studying here.

Temples & Monasteries are an integral part of life in Myanmar & accommodate about half a million males, who are either vocational Monks or young novices & around 50,000 Nuns, all of whom are completely dependent on faithful parishioners for providing their material needs. Theravada Buddhist monastic life has a strict daily routine revolving around prayers & religious study, but it is the silent alms-rounds which are both surreal & serene.

Every morning at 10:30 am, hundreds of Monks wait silently & systematically in long queues for their Swan (meals). At the same time, hordes of tourists stand watching & photographing them & even in the refectory, they cannot escape from the curious & often intrusive gaze of the visitors.

The, head over to Nwenyein – a small pottery village of some 2,000 households, which is recognized for manufacturing ubiquitous water pots in high demand, especially at Pagoda festivals. The Pottery industry here is based on centuries-old techniques handed down from generation to generation, since the times of King Alaungphaya, who founded Yangon in 1755.

Pottery factories here may be considered double-traditional. In essence, not only the process is entirely manual, but the wares made are also old-school: large water jars, used in households with no plumbing.

The demand for Kyaukmyaung jars in Myanmar is high enough to support 4 large co-operative manufactures & a changing number of small private workshops. Curiously, one of the main factors undermining this demand is the superior quality of the jars. They are sturdy & durable enough to serve a family for generations, with no need to purchase new ones.

Pottery craft in Myanmar has been preserved & developed for centuries. Two types of clay are combined to produce the jars: red from the bottom of Irrawady River & yellow from a separate natural deposit. The process of manufacturing the vessels is sophisticated & entirely manual.

First, half of the jar is thrown on a wheel, usually by two people, since the jars are too big for one man both to spin the wheel & reach into the rising cylinder of clay. Next, it is dried, often by putting hot embers inside the vessel to augment the heat of the sun. The process is then repeated to complete the jar. The glaze is applied with a brush once the clay dries. Finally, the ready items are placed in the wood fired kilns. About 80 jars can be fired at once, but since they take a long time to finish, 4 big kilns cope well with the load.

Burmese people are deservedly known for their hospitality, however, and in off the beaten track locations like this, natural curiosity enhances it. The Artisans are friendly & curious, they have not seen many Western tourists yet, so you can wonder around freely even if you do not speak Burmese - and if you do, they may share a few secrets of their traditional craft.

Next, you will proceed to the Nunnery to see & learn about the way of life of Nuns in Myanmar. You will gracefully donate the items you bought in the market. In gratitude, the Nuns will prepare a delicious lunch in their small kitchen.

Next, drive on to Ava (or Inwa) which was the standing capital from the 14^th to 18^th centuries known for religious structures left over from several reigns. Recognized as the significant capital, Inwa was the name of which Burma was recognized to Europeans until the 19^th century. When the British occupied Lower Myanmar, after the Second Anglo-Burmese War, the Upper Myanmar was popularly referred to as the Kingdom of Inwa. The heart of government & royal power on 5 separate occasions, Inwa was finally abandoned in 1839 after a series of devastating earthquakes. Even after having been destroyed & rebuilt numerous times over the centuries, Ava continues to exude a regal sort of charm.

Today, a visit to Inwa is a fascinating trip back in time, allowing you to explore the remains of an ancient city full of old watchtowers, city walls, monasteries & temples that feel a world away from the hustle & bustle of Mandalay.

The most popular way to visit Inwa is by horse cart & you will see dozens waiting at Inwa's eastern jetty. Horse-cart tours are a major part of the Inwa experience – carriages generate no noise pollution and create picturesque scenes along the tree-lined tracks. Sit back & travel in style to some of the city’s most significant destinations.

Cross the small river by ferry & travel in a traditional horse & carriage to the wooden the 19^th century Bagaya Kyaung, working Monastery made of teak, renowned for its extraordinarily elaborate woodcarvings. Be sure to check out the Nanmyint Watch Tower - also called “the leaning tower of Ava“ - which is what’s left from the remnants of the ancient palace & Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery.

Later, drive to Amarapura (means City of Immortality) - Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital for a relatively brief period that lasted less than 70 years (from 1783). In 1857, King Mindon began dismantling most of the palace buildings, shipping them 7 miles north to Mandalay, which was to become the new capital in line with a Buddhist prophecy. These days leafy Amarapura is essentially a spread-out suburb of Mandalay, attractively set on a wide, shallow lake, named for an Ogre who supposedly came looking for the Buddha here. Amarapura lies along the Rangoon-Mandalay railway & also serves as the junction for neighbouring districts.

An attraction here is an iconic wooden footbridge that crosses the lake. Once the sun starts to set, you will want to stroll along the legendary U Bein Bridge, which was built in 1782 when Amarapura was the Royal center of attention. Spanning 1.2 km across the shallow Taungthaman Lake, it is said to be the longest teakwood bridge worldwide. Enjoy this very special atmosphere as the late afternoon sun casts long shadows & illuminates the bridge & local people heading home.

However, the main feature of this charming little town is its many workshops.

Amarapura has long been known for its silk weaving, a thriving cottage industry that is still one of the main professions of the local Amarapura people. Amarapura is also the site of a Weaving School.

Through much of Myanmar’s history, every household had at least one resident Weaver to provide clothing for the family & this ancient time honored tradition is continued in the numerous silk weaving workshops in the city of Amarapura.,

From practically every house throughout the town, you can hear hundreds of looms click-clack all day as they produce the beautiful distinctive heavy silk or cotton with intricate design & patterns, used to make the most exquisite colourful sweeps of cloth for scarves & Longyis (traditional sarong-style lower garment worn by both sexes) in a range of colors. Especially finely embroidered Longyis are worn for special occasions like religious ceremonies, weddings etc. or by the VIPs.

These workshops offer a plethora of fine wares crafted by hand using techniques that have been passed down through the centuries. While some of the large workshops have incorporated some modern machinery to help with the production of garments, the majority of workshops still produce their wares entirely by hand.

Stop at one of the silk weaving workshop known for their exquisite merchandise, for a first hand glimpse of Burmese silk being crafted by hand.

You will see local artisans completing the process. First, they work on dyeing the silk in a variety of vibrant colours. Then, the dry silk is wound on reels which are given to the girls who sit at the old style looms & weave the elaborately patterned silk garments.

In the sales shop, you can purchase either the men’s or women’s longyis or any of the beautiful scarves, table runners, pillow cases etc. It is possible to buy lengths of either plain or patterned material by the metre here if you want to take some home to sew your own creations.

There are also many long-established bronze foundries & woodcarvers providing devotional objects such as Buddha images, bells & gongs for the lucrative market in nearby Mandalay. Tile, pottery & baskets are also manufactured here.

As a stunning day comes to an end, head back to the hotel in Mandalay.

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

Early morning, you will be transferred to Mandalay Airport for your flight to Heho.

Arrive in the small beautiful Heho, the primary air gateway to tourist areas such as Inle Lake region in Central Myanmar, a must-see destination where you can see firsthand the unique leg-rowers.

The best time to visit Heho is in the festival season when the Shin Pyu Festival, also referred to the Buddhist Orders Festival, is held annually by the town’s locals. It is the special ceremony of the locals in which the Master will admit the Son of some families to be a Monk for a new life without possession & worrying.

On arrival at Heho International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Rep who will ensure your comfort, discuss the program for the next few days & see you off for the drive to Inle Lake.

Along the way, you will have an opportunity to stop at rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper & unique handcrafted umbrellas. Also, be sure to stop in at the teak monastery of Shweyanpyay to witness the intricate wood carving artwork & craftsmanship of the monks there.

Check-in on arrival at the hotel in Nyaung Shwe, the small gateway village for Inle Lake, with its narrow streets dotted with temples, monasteries, tea shops & of course, houses. 

Shortly after, accompanied by a Tour-guide, proceed for a short orientation tour around the village.

Start with the Nyaung Shwe market where locals gather every morning to buy & sell fresh produce from the lake & its surroundings.

Continue by local trishaw down to the bustling canal which is a hive of activity in the morning as boats from the lake come in to unload tomatoes & other vegetables for distribution to the markets around the country. Watch as baskets laden with produce are transferred from boats to trucks & bikes.

Hop back on the trishaw & wind through the quiet streets. Make a stop at the ‘tomato house’, a warehouse like structure where the tomatoes are sorted & priced for sale. Then continue past some of the many Monasteries & Nunneries in the town, stopping for photos as you go.

Enjoy a delicious traditional Shan lunch at View Point, the best restaurant around Inle Lake.

Then, board a private motorboat & head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular & breathtaking sights. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation & fishing canoes, to which the scenic hills provide a perfect backdrop.  Along the way you will pass several villages that are built on stilts over the lake, which are inhabited by the local Intha people

Enjoy the spectacular scenery & observe the daily activities of the skilled local fishermen using their leg-rowing technique to propel themselves around the lake. See their ‘floating gardens’, which are built up from strips of water hyacinth, earth & anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo poles which rise & fall with the tides to avoid flooding.

You will visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses loads of early Shan Buddha Images. In the past, this temple was known for its ‘jumping cats’ but these days there are only a few felines roaming around & none are jumping any more. Yet the Buddha images are still well worth the visit.

You will then proceed to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's main sanctuary, which contains 5 sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf.

There are also many traditional crafts originating on Inle Lake &, should you wish, we can stop for a visit to one making incredible woven items from lotus silk, boat builders (depending on the time of year), a cigar making workshop where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand, blacksmiths or even silver smiths.

The experience comes to a close with a return trip by boat to the hotel.

Balance of the evening at leisure.

 Early morning at 06:00 am, meet the Tour-guide & continue your exploration of Inle Lake.

Visit the morning market (open every day apart from dark moon and full moon calendar days) where you can meet local hill tribe people who gather from the surrounding area. The Market is a hive of activity, visited daily by the lake’s inhabitants as well as the surrounding natives who also come to sell & trade their wares. Its location rotates between the lake’s villages in a 5 day schedule.

Later, embark on a 1 hour boat ride down a small canal, that will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indein, positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake.

The Indein Pagoda complex is undoubtedly one of the most amazing sites around the shore of the lake.

Take a leisurely stroll around the village before ascending the moss-covered stairway to the top of a hill.

Once you have arrived at the summit, you will be greeted buy an iconic Buddha image which sits enshrined among hundreds of stupa ruins and overgrown shrubbery.

Then it is time to embark on a 45 minute trek to Sae Ma village. Along the way, you will enjoy the natural beauty & panoramic vistas of the area while basking under the shade of the bamboo grooves in the area.

Upon arrival at the village, observe the daily lifestyles of the rural inhabitants.

Should time allow, you will stop at Inthar Heritage House to learn more about the history & culture of the lake's indigenous people.

The day will come to a close with a return trip by boat back to the hotel.

Balance of the evening at leisure.

Early morning at 06:00 am, meet the Tour-guide & continue your exploration to another portion of Inle Lake.

Embark on a 3 hour boat ride that will allow you fabulous views of the many unique species of birds, both indigenous & migratory. Sit back, relax & enjoy the ride, passing one of the most beautiful places in the Shan State with the mountains forming a backdrop for the small villages & fishermen on the water. .

Upon arriving in Sagar area, there are several stops that will be made (the order will depend on the time, other tourist boats & activity in the villages). The main highlight here re the 'sunken' stupas of Sagar- 108 stupas from the 16-17^th centuries that are partially underwater for a few months a year. There is also a local Monastery & village that can be visited here.

Continue to the village of Thaya Gone, home to Pa-Oh, Shan & Inthar people & known for its production of local rice wine. Watch the process of distillation & then sample some of the local brew if you wish. In Thaya Gone there is also the chance to climb to the top of a small hill from where you can get great views of the lake & surrounding villages.

Another stop will be made in Sae Khaung Pottery Village to see the crafting of oil & water pots as well as the natural, underground kilns used by the villagers. On the western shores of the Sagar area is Tar Kaung, a series of more than 200 stupas which also make a fabulous photo stop. 

The return boat journey back to the hotel area will begin around 02:30 pm.

Travelling back in the afternoon the light has shifted and the route looks much different on the return, with different activities occurring on the water and in the villages. Rice noodles can be seen drying in the sun, spun cotton is hung out to dry and kids are returning from school at this time of day.

Reach the hotel in time to freshen up & watch the spectacular sunset.

Rest of the evening at leisure.

Early morning, you will be transferred by boat & car to Heho Airport, where you will board the short flight for Yangon.

Meeting on arrival by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & obtain your feedback about the arrangements for the tour and transfer to the hotel.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Alas, this wonderful glimpse of Myanmar comes to end & it is time to say good-bye & go home. But, we sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of the "Land of the Golden Pagodas" on your next visit.

Check-out by 12:00 pm or earlier (if required, we will request the hotel for complimentary late Check-out, but cannot be guaranteed. However, the luggage can be left at the Bell Desk & you are allowed to use the hotel facilities).   

In time, you will be met by The Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Yangon International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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