Temples and Island Retreat

Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Wa Ale Island

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This example itinerary from

$9,800pp

14 days

Highlights

Explore spectacular city, beach, and lakeside destinations throughout Myanmar
Tick off your bucket list with a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Bagan
Temple hop around Myanmar to see some of the most important sites of worship
Take a boat trip around Inle Lake to get a feel for local culture 
Finish with a secluded stay on a private island for the ultimate desert island experience

What’s Included

8 nights Bed & Breakfast
5 nights full board
All private guiding and entrance fees 
Cultural visits, boat trips, hot air balloon ride
Non-motorised water sports at Wa Ale
International Economy class flights
All domestic transfers and flights

Example Itinerary

Day 1-3 Day 3-5 Day 5-8 Day 8-9 Day 9-14

Day 1-3

YANGON, Myanmar

Admire the colonial architecture of downtown Yangon
Shop for handicrafts to take home from any of the city’s thriving markets

As a melting pot of British, Chinese, Indian, and Burmese cultures, Yangon is one of the country’s most exciting cities.

Fly into Yangon, where you’ll spend your first two nights at Belmond Governor’s Residence.
Once here, venture out on a heritage walking tour for you to see the spectacular old colonial-era buildings of downtown Yangon, and pagoda hop around some of the most important Buddhist sites in the country, stopping off at both Botahtaung and Shwedagon Pagoda. The following day, shop for local handicrafts at Scott Market before returning to Anawrahta Road Night Market in the evening to taste street food delicacies such as coconut chicken noodles.

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Day 3-5

BAGAN, Myanmar

Soar above Bagan’s skyline in a parade of hot air balloons
Watch a river sunset from onboard a hand-carved wooden boat

Considered an ancient, sacred city amongst the Burmese, Bagan is dotted with over 2,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas.

Take a domestic flight to Bagan, where you’ll spend two nights at Thiripyitsaya Resort. Once settled in, explore the celebrated pagodas and temples before learning how delicate art is made at Moe Moe Lacquerware Factory. Rise early for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise for a spectacular bird’s eye view over the ancient kingdom of Bagan. Following this, visit local farming houses by horse cart to learn about traditional Burmese farming techniques. One evening, we can arrange for you to watch the sunset over the Ayeyarwady River on a private wooden boat tour.

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Day 5-8

INLE LAKE, Myanmar

See the lake’s man-made floating gardens and tomato plantations
Watch the Intha fishermen catch fish on the lake with their hands as they control a single oar with their legs

Visit Inle Lake, an untouched and peaceful corner of the country, a world away from tourists and city life.

Take a flight to Heho, where you’ll be transferred to Villa Inle for three nights. Situated on Inle Lake, you’ll feel completely at peace surrounded by the lake’s calm waters, floating tomato plantations, and fishing canoes. Enjoy a full-day boat trip on Inle Lake where you’ll watch the Intha fishermen row with their legs and pass floating gardens of local dwellers fruit and vegetables. For a hands-on experience, take a visit to a silk-weaving workshop to try your hand at using a wooden handloom, or visit a five-day rotating market.

Day 8-9

MANDALAY, Myanmar

Temple hop your way around various different styles of Buddhist temples
See Myanmar’s famous gold leaf production, later used in the temples

Travel back in time to explore Mandalay’s incredible mix of colonial and Buddhist architecture.

Fly to Mandalay for a one night stay at Hotel by the Red Canal, an urban sanctuary surrounded by lush tropical greenery and calming waters. With a guide, pay a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda to see the famous gold leaf image of the Buddha. Following this, visit local workshops to watch as artisans pound gold leaf into paper-thin pieces. Read the ‘world’s largest book’ at Kuthodaw Pagoda, where Buddist scriptures are carved into the temple’s marble walls. Find peace atop Mandalay Hill as you watch a magical sunset on the final night before heading off to your island retreat.

Day 9-14

WA ALE ISLAND, Myanmar

Enjoy a stay on a private island to explore the best of the Andaman Sea’s marine life
Kayak through Lampi Marine National Park to see amphibious fish walking on land

Experience Myanmar’s wild island spirit as you dive, hike, and kayak around Wa Ale.

Fly back to Yangon, and you’ll be transferred to the Mergui Archipelago. Once here, you’ll spend your final five nights at Wa Ale, a private island paradise filled with aquatic and jungle adventures and lined with soft white sand. The resort can arrange for you to explore the archipelago’s hidden underwater caves and coral reefs whilst snorkelling and diving, as well as kayaking and paddleboarding excursions around the island’s mangrove forest and river. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy uncovering exotic marine life as well as venturing on exciting jungle trails. Before you leave, indulge in a relaxing spa treatment surrounded by jungle tranquillity.

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Monica

I am writing to thank you for arranging a most wonderful trip to Burma in January. Every part of it was perfect. The guides were excellent and they had different strengths. We enjoyed driving instead of flying from Bagan to Mandalay (we decided to change that en route and it was fine) as it exposed us to a bit more of the country. We loved the ballooning of course and washing Buddha’s face and the hotels. And the lacquer showroom and factory. In fact, everything. You did a fabulous job. Thanks so much; all three of us had a trip to remember and learned so much.