Day 1 YANGON
- Arrival in Yangon
- Transfer
- Visit Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset
SHWEDAGON PAGODA: the highlight of any visit to Yangon, this pagoda towers over the city and is the most sacred spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha. The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are particularly beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colors of twilight.
- Overnight in Yangon
Day 2 YANGON (Breakfast Included)
- Sightseeing in Yangon
- Visit Botataung Pagoda
BOTATAUNG PAGODA: this paya was named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India over 2000 years ago. This ancient monument was completely destroyed during WWII. It was then rebuilt in a very similar style to its predecessor, but the zedi is hollow and one can walk through it.
- Visit Chaukhtatgyi Paya
The reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi is almost as large as the enormous figure in Bago. It's housed in a large metal-roofed shed on Shwegondaing Lan, only short distance north-east beyond the Shwedagon Paya. Surprisingly,this huge figure is little known and hardly publicised at all- if you can't go to Bago to see the Shwethalyaung,then don't miss this colossal image.
- Visit National Museum
NATIONAL MUSEUM: a museum with several interesting exhibits, especially the 8 meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by King Thibaw Min, the last Burmese king, and returned to Burma in 1908 by Lord Mountbatten. The main floor contains jewellery, old black and white photos of Mandalay Palace and Yangon, royal relics, Hintha opium weights and inscribed tablets.
- Visit Buddhist Art Museum
BUDDHIST ART MUSEUM: housed in a 1952 Art Deco-style building. The dominant lotus window depicts all the attitudes of the Buddha. The museum's contents were collected by the archaeology department: begging bowls, palm leaf scriptures and 18th-20th century wooden Buddha images.
- Visit Sule Pagoda
SULE PAGODA: this 48 meter high golden dome was used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city when it was rebuilt in the 1880s. The pagoda's peculiarity is its octagonal-shaped stupa, which retains its shape as it tapers to the spire.
- Visit Maha Wizaya Pagoda
MAHA WIZAYA PAGODA: built by General Ne Win in the 1980s. The pagoda is hollow with a ceiling depicting Burmese constellations and a permanent display of pagoda styles through the ages.
- Overnight in Yangon
Day 3 SITTWE (Breakfast Included)
- Transfer
- Flight from Yangon to Sittwe
- Transfer
- Sightseeing in Sittwe
The port city of Sittwe sits at the mouth of the Kaladan river. Visit the highlights of this seaside town.
- MAHAKUTHALA BUDDHA MUSEUM: The most extensive collection of Rakhine-style Buddha images. The museum houses a grand, century-old British colonial mansion north to centre, collections of arts, bronze, notes and antique old coins from the Mrauk U and other ancient periods.
- SITTING BUDDHA (THET KYA MUNI PAGODA): One of the highlights of this seaside town is the big sitting Buddha image. This is located in the same area with U Ye Kyaw Thu Monastery.
FISHING PORT: The fishing port is quite interesting in the evening when boats are returning from the fishing.
- VIEW POINT: The view point is a lovely recreational spot with paranomic view of sunset over the Bay of Bengal.
- Overnight in Sittwe
Day 4 MRAUK U (Breakfast Included)
- By boat from Sittwe to Mrauk U
Visit local market in Sittwe. Journey by charter boat for part of the way moving against the current on the Kaladan River, then turn east onto the Theinganadi River, going with the current, and then turn upriver again on the Henyakaw River.
- Transfer
- Sightseeing in Mrauk U
Formerly one of Myanmar's most powerful kingdoms, Mrauk U is today one of the most impressive group of ruins in Southeast Asia.
- Spend the afternoon visiting the major temples. Visiting MRAUK U MUSEUM AND PALACE RUINS, the complex SHITTAUNG, where over 80,000 Buddha images ornament the terraces and stupas.
- Continue to the ANDAW THEIN PAYA, a smaller eight-sided monument surrounded by 16 zedis around the southern, northern and western platforms. Afterwards, visit the LAY MYATNAR PAYA before continuing to SHAKAMA THET VILLAGE where many of the older women still wear their distinctive oversized earrings and chat while smoking their traditional pipes. At the end of the day, relax atop DUK KAN THEIN PAYA for views of sunset over the plain.
- Overnight in Mrauk U
Day 5 MRAUK U (Breakfast Included)
- Excursion to Chin villages
Among other things, Chin women are famous for tattooing their faces. Although this practice is dying out among the younger generation, some elderly women still sport elaborate tattoos. According to legend, this tradition started as mothers attempted to disfigure their daughters' beauty, so that they would not be noticed by the King and taken as concubines.
- Visit a pagoda for sunset
- Overnight in Mrauk U
Day 6 MRAUK U (Breakfast Included)
- Visit Mrauk U market
- Excursion to Wethali and Mahamuni
WETHALI: according to Rakhaing chronicle, Wethali was founded in 327 AD by King Mahataing Chandra. Archaeologists believe that this kingdom lasted until the 8th century. Of the oval-shaped city boundaries that remain, only parts of the moat and walls are still visible amid the rice paddies.
- MAHAMUNI: location of the paya which sits at the north-eastern corner of the old Dhanyawady city site. This was the original site for Mandalay's famous Mahamuni Buddha, a huge and very old bronze image, which Rakhaing kings believed provided supernatural protection for their successive kingdoms.
- Sightseeing in Mrauk U
Spend the afternoon visiting the graceful KOE THAUNG PAGODA or temple of 90,000 images, one of the biggest temple in the Mrauk U. Continue to PAYSI PAYA and visit a village of traditional fan production, ZEE NAT MAN AUNG and ZINA MAN AUNG. Continue further to Harri Taung hill to enjoy sunset over the plain.
- Overnight in Mrauk U
Day 7 NGAPALI (Breakfast Included)
- By boat from Mrauk U to Sittwe
Journey south by charter boat. On the way, the boat stops at the town of Ponnagyun (Braham Island).
- Transfer
- Flight from Sittwe to Thandwe
- Transfer from Thandwe airport to Ngapali
- Overnight in Ngapali
Day 8 NGAPALI (Breakfast Included)
- Full day at leisure
- Overnight in Ngapali
Day 9 NGAPALI (Breakfast Included)
- Full day at leisure
- Overnight in Ngapali
Day 10 YANGON (Breakfast Included)
- Morning at leisure
- Transfer from Ngapali to Thandwe airport
- Flight from Thandwe to Yangon
- Transfer
- Overnight in Yangon
Day 11 YANGON (Breakfast Included)
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