Hidden Treasures of Myanmar

Fly to the vibrant city of Yangon. Depending on your time of arrival, the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Head downtown to the Central Post Office from where we will begin our tour. Encompassing the colonial highlights and more traditional architecture, stroll Strand Road and Pansodan Street. Visit the National Museum before exploring the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda whose huge golden stupa dominates the city’s skyline. The apex of the stupa is studded with hundreds of priceless gems that glint in the sunshine. This is Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist site and is purported to have four relics of former Buddhas enshrined within.

Drive to the lively port town of Pyay, with a stop for lunch. In Pyay, visit the local museum before a visit to Shwe San Taw Pagoda and its viewing platform with spectacular views of the town and river.

Travelling by ox cart, explore the spectacular ruins of the Pyu Kingdom's former capital. Later, visit Hmawzar village to get a glimpse of local life. Return to Yangon.

Fly to Mandalay and transfer to Amarapura to visit Mahagandayon Temple, a place of monastic study and home to several thousand young monks. Continue to the U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak wood bridge, and make your way across it, walking with the locals. Head to Sagaing, and explore the hills around the town, which are dotted with temples and pagodas. Continue to Inwa to explore the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery.

Mandalay is considered the epicentre of Myanmar’s culture and so there is much to explore. Visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe Inbin Monastery, the Golden Palace Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book – each page is inscribed in marble. Visit a traditional handloom silk workshop before finishing the day on Mandalay Hill.

Set sail up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun to visit one of the world’s largest bells, the Mingun Bell, and the Mingun Pagoda – had it been completed it would have been Myanmar’s largest. Though incomplete, it is still a monumental structure – 50 metres-tall, 72 metres-wide and constructed entirely of brick. Return to Mandalay and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Leave Mandalay for the Thanboddhay Pagoda, said to contain over half a million colourful images of Buddha. Continue to the Bodhi Taung where a thousand Buddha images rest at the feet of beautiful Banyan trees. In the afternoon see the Aung Setkya Pagoda and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside, as you travel to Monywa.

Take a boat trip across the Chindwin River to visit Pho Win Taung, a network of sandstone caves full of statues, carvings and murals of Buddha. Drive on to the port city of Pakokku. Visit the lively local market by traditional trishaw and observe the production process of cotton blankets. Continue by boat down the Irrawaddy to Bagan, arriving in time to catch the sunset.

Visit Htilominlo Pagoda, the Ananda Temple and Shwezigon Pagoda, the latter considered one of the most important pagodas in Bagan. You'll also visit Htilominlo Pagoda. This afternoon, head to a lacquer workshop in the village of Myinkaba before enjoying a spectacular sunset over Bagan's templestrewn plains.

Travel to Mount Popa and visit the temple that sits on top of a unique volcanic 'plug'. Return to Bagan and discover more of its wonderful temples and pagodas.

Fly to Heho and transfer to Pindaya to visit the Shwe U Min limestone caves. The caves are a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site. Continue to a local workshop that manufactures umbrellas from mulberry paper. Arrive in Kalaw.

Drive to Nyaung Shwe and take a boat trip to Inle Lake. The lake is best known for the extraordinary Intha people, who live on and around the water, and their unique rowing technique. Visit a local market and see the floating gardens, village life and magnificent scenery. See Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, Nga Phe Chaung Monastery and the weaving village of Inpawkhon.

Cruise on Inle Lake to the crumbling Indein Pagoda complex. Built in the 17th-century, it is home to nearly 1,000 stupas and pagodas. Walk through the rice paddies to Sae Ma village.

Fly to Yangon. Upon arrival browse the famous Bogyoke market, perfect for souvenirs. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure before a late afternoon visit to Botataung Pagoda. This evening, stroll around Chinatown before a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Australia, arriving home to same or following day.