Myanmar is Indochina's hidden gem, a destination bursting with magnificent monuments, glittering golden stupas and enigmatic ruins. Myanmar cannot help but invoke images of mysterious wonder.
Our Hidden Treasures of Myanmar tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine.
Explore the spiritual and Buddhist architecture of Myanmar's largest city
Cruise on this idyllic river which runs north to south through Myanmar
Venture through the city known as Myanmar's colonial capital
See the Intha People fishing on this magnificent lake
Our Hidden Treasures of Myanmar Tour has been thoughtfully designed and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Enjoy a relaxing cruise down the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar's most important waterway, to gaze over the majestic temples of Bagan at the most beautiful time of day – as the sun sets.
Wander the charming hill station of Kalaw, enjoying the beautiful scenery, cool climate and the delightful colonial architecture, a legacy of Myanmar's time as part of the British Empire.
On the banks of Inle Lake, explore a lush hillside strewn with overgrown stupas and pagodas, that make up the beautiful and atmospheric ruins of Indein.
This tour is ideal for those looking for a comprehensive tour of Burma’s main cities and scenic areas. This Burma tour is for those with a reasonable amount of time and wish to explore some more off the beaten track destinations in Burma. We have designed this tour to make the most of the time available to showcase the main highlights of the country, important religious sites and Burma's stunning natural scenery. This tour also includes a short cruise on the Irrawaddy River.
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.
We draw from a wide range of hotels on our holidays, each one is chosen to suit the tour you are travelling on meaning your accommodation can range from a smart business hotel in one city to a family run guesthouse in a smaller town. Here are some examples of the type of hotel you can expect to find on this tour.
In a quiet spot between the airport and city centre, the Inya Lake Hotel sits in gardens on the edge of a lake. Rooms are spacious with a balcony and ensuite bathroom with bath/shower and a range of toiletries. The swimming pool is a welcome respite after a day of touring and there is also a fitness centre, restaurant and lounge. The hotel’s foyer exudes the glamour of the orient and has a café serving snacks, cakes and drinks.
The Mingalar Garden Resort offers enchanting bungalows which are built around a natural spring lake and are surrounded by tropical trees. All of the en-suite rooms are fully furnished with modern facilities including a mini-bar and satellite television, some offering lake views. Wifi is also available.
The Win Unity Hotel is surrounded by lush greenery and the serene Kan Thar Yar Lake. Decorated with Myanmar paintings and handmade lotus furniture, the hotel offers comfortable, en-suite rooms and bungalows with air conditioning, flat screen satellite tv, Wifi and a refrigerator. There is also a traditional Burmese onsite restaurant.
Well-located in New Bagan for Bagan’s temples and the airport, the Thazin Garden Hotel sits in lovely gardens and even has an old pagoda in its grounds. There is a lovely outdoor pool, spa treatments and massage, a bar and a restaurant serving local cuisine. Rooms are spacious and full of Burmese character. They also have garden of pagoda views, an en suite bathroom with bath, Wi-Fi, a seating area, air-conditioning and a minibar.
Located in a quiet spot on the edge of Mandalay, just 10 minutes from the city centre, the Shwe Pyi Thar offers comfortable accommodation in the traditional style. Full of tastefully furnishings and modern amenities, there is a swimming pool, spa and fitness centre and a restaurant serving Asian and European dishes. There is also free Wi-Fi. Rooms are bright and spacious, and have a television, kettle, safe and stylish, modern bathroom with bathtub.
Dream Mountain Resort is a small, classic hotel, set on the hillside with panoramic views across the country's scenic hill region. Hotel facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, a sun terrace and sauna. Wi-Fi is available in shared areas.
Amata Garden Resort is a mid-size hotel encompassing 18 acres of private gardens, nestled between the green Shan Hills and the vast, peaceful Inle Lake. The hotel's Lotus Spa offers a sauna, steam bath and variety of natural treatments. Guests can enjoy views of the lake from the open-air swimming pool or the indoor-outdoor sunset bar. Rooms have Wi-Fi access.
Places Visited: Australia - Yangon (4N) - Pyay (1N) - Mandalay (3N) - Monywa (1N) - Bagan (3N) - Inle Lake (2N) - Kalaw (1N) - Australia
All of our tour departures (Excluding Antarctica and Australia tours) include international flights and taxes in the price. If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Tour would be more ideal. If your tour departs in less than 30 days, please call our travel experts to book.
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There are no dedicated Solo departures for this year. You can enjoy any of our tours with no Single Supplement on our Happy to Share option or explore the solo departures in other years.
Extend your holiday or break up your journey with one of our extensions and stopovers. Choose from city breaks or some beach time, or spend more time in your chosen destination.
