Flight: TG2309 Bangkok - Mandalay  09.50 - 11.15

Private transfer: On arrival at Mandalay Airport, you will be welcomed to Myanmar by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon at leisure: Having checked in, you have the rest of the day to recover from the long flight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yadarnarpon Dynasty Hotel (Villa Room)

Morning boat trip to Mingun: After breakfast, you will take an hour's trip by boat up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun. Here, you will visit the magnificent Mingun Bell, which is the world's largest un-cracked bell and weighs in at an impressive 90 tons. Afterwards, visit with Hsinbyume Paya as well as the unfinished Mingun Paya, which was intended to be one of the world's largest chedis and was built, at least in part, by King Bodaw Paya. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant before cruising back to Mandalay.

Afternoon tour of Mandalay: On arrival back in the city, set off this afternoon to experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay, including one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the Mahamuni Pagoda; the Shwe Inbin Monastery; the Golden Palace Monastery, a superb example of a traditional wooden building and Kuthodaw Pagoda the world's largest ‘book', made of marble. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop, as well as a Kalaga tapestry craftsman's shop, before heading to Mandalay Hill to view the sunset.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yadanarpon Dynasty Hotel (Villa Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the jetty to board your boat to Bagan.

Irrawaddy River Cruise from Mandalay to Bagan on the RV Panorama: Depart Mandalay on a memorable river journey down the Irrawaddy to Bagan. This full day cruise (8-10 hours) provides an opportunity to see one of the most interesting areas in Myanmar whilst relaxing on board. The Panorama is equipped with comfortable indoor seating on the main deck, and chairs on the observation and sundeck, a great place to relax and enjoy spectacular views of historical monuments and the locals going about their daily lives. Other facilities on board include a restaurant & bar.

Private transfer: Upon your arrival in Bagan, you will be met by your private guide and driver, who will transfer you to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shwe Yee Pwint (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch (packed)

Guided tour of Bagan: After breakfast at your hotel, set out to explore the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; Ku Byanuk Gyi, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; Khay Min Ga Temple, noted for its panoramic views and Ananda Temple, with its four standing Buddha images. This afternoon, see one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts being made at a lacquerware craftsman's workshop in nearby Myinkaba village. You will continue to Manuha Temple, built in the Mon style in 1059 and follow on to Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. As the afternoon draws to a close, your guide will advise on the pagodas offering the best viewpoints to watch the sunset over the plains of Bagan and famous Irrawaddy River.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shwe Yee Pwint (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Optional sunrise hot air balloon flight: You may wish to rise early this morning, to experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan' will take you on a sunrise champagne flight over the ancient pagodas of Bagan (please note this will be a shared trip with other passengers). Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Please note: The cost of this balloon flight is not included, and is quoted separately at the time of booking. 

Half day tour of Mount Popa: Set off from your hotel and drive for around 2 hours to visit Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, offering spectacular views over the surrounding countryside from its summit. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as "nats" and you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. Afterwards, you will have lunch at a local restaurant and later, you will return to Bagan, stopping off en route to observe the workings of a toddy palm plantation.

Afternoon at leisure: After returning to Bagan, the rest of the day is yours at leisure to explore the vast temple site independently. Bikes can be hired locally and are an excellent way to get around.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Shwe Yee Pwint (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Bagan's airport for your flight to Heho.

Flight: K7242 Bagan - Heho 08.20 - 09.00

Road journey from Heho to Kalaw, via the Pindaya Caves: On arrival in Heho, you will be met by your guide before proceeding by road to Pindaya (40 miles) for a visit to the Pindaya Caves, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries. After visiting the caves, continue on the narrow, bumpy road to Kalaw (30 miles), a delightful hill station on the rim of the Shan Plateau and market centre for ethnic minorities.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pine Hill Resort (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day minority villages trek: After breakfast at your hotel, set out with your guide on a gentle trek to the hill villages around Kalaw. Head for the Palaung villages of Ywa Thit and Tar Yaw located west of Kalaw on the rim of the mountains. Take time to look around the villages, visit their mountain plantations and enjoy the scenic surroundings. The animist Palaungs were amongst the earliest inhabitants in Myanmar and traditionally used to live with several families in ‘long-houses’. These days, the villages are more modern but they still cultivate cash crops and tanapet for Burmese cheroot cigars. Proceed to a view point which overlooks the whole mountain range. Time permitting, proceed to the Palaung village of Hin Khar Khan, before returning to your hotel in Kalaw.

Please note: Today’s walk is a combination of ascending and descending across pine forests and mountain plantations with the elevation varying between 1,100 to 1,200 meters. The trek is a bit steep in some sections but there are no extreme conditions and it should be fine for someone of a reasonable fitness level.

For those seeking a more active tour, there is the option of an overnight trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake, staying overnight at a remote monastery in the Shan Hills - please ask for more details.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pine Hill Resort (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Kalaw to Nyaung Shwe: Set off by road for Nyaung Shwe, a drive of around 40 miles. On arrival, check-in to your hotel.

Red Mountain Vineyard tour and cycle ride to Inle Lake: Upon arrival in Nyaung Shwe, there is the option to take a tour of the Red Mountain vineyard, owned by Pao ethnic group organization employing a genuine French wine maker to create some magnificent wines which are recognized as the best produced in Asia. After visiting the vineyard, you can take a bicycle tour through sugar cane and corn plantations and stop at some hot springs, before heading back to your hotel to spend the remainder of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Viewpoint Lodge (Cottage Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day guided tour of Inle Lake: After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and depart by boat for the western shore of the lake, where you will find the beginning of a long stair path leading to the well-hidden Inn Thein Pagoda complex. Here, you will see one of the most amazing historical sights on the shore of the lake, consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and vegetation. Continue on foot to a village nearby, where several crops are grown in traditional ways. Walk in an easy pace along one of the many creeks, passing through rice fields to the village of Sae Ma. In the afternoon, meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. There may also be the opportunity to visit the weaving village of Inpawkhon and one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). Later, return to the hotel by boat.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Viewpoint Lodge (Cottage Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided boat & walking tour of Sagar and local villages: After breakfast, you will set off by boat to visit Nampan Village. From here, continue on a 2-3 hour boat journey passing lake and river sceneries in the southern part of Inle Lake, where time has stood still and the ethnic population of Pa-O, Inthar, Shan and Padaung have remained untouched by modern civilization. On arrival, walk through several villages that produce local goods such as pottery, bamboo ware, sugar cane, weaving, alcohol, fishery products and much more. Visit the ancient pagoda site of Sagar and Tha Kong built in the 17th century in typical Shan style. Later, return to your hotel by boat.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Viewpoint Lodge (Cottage Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Nyaung Shwe to Heho: After a leisurely morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel for the road journey Heho Airport, a drive of around 45-60 minutes.

Flight: K7267 Heho - Yangon 11.10 - 12.25

Private transfer: On arrival in Yangon, you will be met by your local guide and taken to your hotel for a two-night stay.

Afternoon at leisure: Once arrived in the capital, the rest of the day is yours at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore independently.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Loft (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Yangon: Today, you will be taken on a guided tour through Yangon's city centre, starting on Pansodan Street which is famous for some of Yangon's most impressive colonial buildings. Continue to Pansodan jetty to observe the frenetic daily life on the Yangon River, and on to Sule Pagoda, which dates back some 2,000 years. You will then have the chance to see the magnificent reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi; followed by the Karaweik Hall, a 'hamsa bird shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. Complete the tour at sunset with an extended visit to one of the world's most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Loft (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast