Lovers of the great outdoors will be in their element in dramatic and untouched Chin State, which offers hikes amongst beautiful mountains and fascinating tribal villages. Explore the plains of Bagan and the ancient capitals that surround Mandalay, and then head east for treks in the cool Shan hills.
Tour Overview
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Finish:
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Accommodation:
Deluxe Hotel Supplement:
US$36 per day
US$2,5371
US$1691
Arrive in Yangon and head to the Buddhist heart of Myanmar – the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda.
Wander downtown during the balmy evening and explore the many restaurants and bars now cropping up in increasingly cosmopolitan Yangon.
Fly up to Bagan and begin the day exploring the Ananda pagoda, dating from the 12th century and famed for its gilded sikhara tower at its peak; choose from bicycle, car or horse and cart for your preferred mode of transport around the temples. Later in the day, climb the Gawdawpalin or Bupaya pagodas for perfect sunset panorama views of the temples and plain.
Drive 8 hours west of Bagan to the small Chin mountain town of Kanpetlet and wander around the simple homesteads and churches of this quiet rural backwater; you will stay at one of the eco lodges higher up the mountain.
Next day, make the straightforward hike up Mount Victoria (known as Nat Ma Taung in Burmese or Khonuamthung in the local Chin language), witnessing beautiful mountain vistas and variety of colourful flora on the way. If you would like to take a longer hike, including overnight stays in tribal mountain villages, let our booking staff know and we can provide you with further options.
The next stop is the Mindat, a town dramatically perched on a mountain ridge. Here, you will find members of the indigenous Dai, Upu and Ya tribes, of which the older womenfolk all have distinctive full facial tattoos. Explore the local market and mountainside villages and then return to Bagan for the chance to explore some more temples and enjoy some Myanmar wine over dinner by the pagodas.
Fly to Mandalay and visit the last royal palace of the Konbaung dynasty, recalling the days of Thibaw and his queen, Supayalat, before they were expelled to India by the British. Just to the south of Mandalay, take a stroll down the longest teak bridge in the world, the iconic U Bein bridge in Amarapura. The town of Amarapura is full of textiles stores and small metal works factories, where you can watch master craftsmen cast Buddha statues in bronze or visit a weaving factory to see how fabrics are made.
At Inwa, you can take a horse and cart around the quiet meandering roads that once made up a powerful kingdom’s capital city. Across the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay, the Mingun Bell is reputed to be the heaviest and largest working bell in the world. If you’ve worked up a hunger wandering around Mingun and its massive unfinished stupa, reward yourself by purchasing some freshly steamed corn on one of the many roadside stalls – it’ll be the sweetest you’ve tried.
Depart Mandalay to Heho by plane, then to Pindaya by car. Feel refreshed by the cool mountain air after the heat of the lowlands, and discover this scenic lakeside town with its nearby caves filled with thousands of golden Buddhas. There are numerous hiking options in this area, taking you through the beautiful and unspoilt Shan hills and affording you the chance to spend the night at a local monastery or homestay.
Explore the bustling old colonial outpost of Kalaw, with its large population of Nepali guides whose families remained here after the Second World War and arrive at the serenely picturesque Inle Lake via the crumbling mass of pagodas at Indein. Heading to your hotel – if you go for the superior hotel option, a boat will take you to your hotel on the lake (standard hotels are located in the characterful town of Nyaung Shwe, at the northern end of the lake). Finish up your day with well-deserved sunset wine tasting at Red Mountain Estate vineyard and then dinner on the lakeshore.
Sightseeing around the lake to see the local Intha fishermen employing their traditional one-leg rowing technique and witness handicrafts in Nampan village. If the time is right, see the floating markets that are a photographer’s dream.
Fly back to Yangon and there’ll be time for a bit more exploration and a visit to Bogyoke Market for those last minute presents.
Would you like to extend your tour to the beautiful and relaxing Ngapali Beach? Our travel advisors will be able to arrange this for you, along with any other travel, accommodation or activity requirements you may have. Just fill out the ‘Any further queries’ box after you have clicked on the ‘Book Tour’ button.
| Standard hotels | Deluxe hotels |
| Yangon - Clover Hotel | Yangon - Chatrium Hotel |
| Bagan - Floral Breeze Hotel | Bagan - Bagan Lodge |
| Kanpetlet - Mount Oasis Resort (Kanpetlet) | Kanpetlet - Sky Palace Villa |
| Mindat - Mount Oasis Resort (Mindat) | Mindat - Mount Oasis Resort (Mindat) |
| Mandalay - Hotel Rama | Mandalay - Mandalay Hill Resort |
| Kalaw - Dream Villa Hotel | Kalaw - Amara Mountain Resort |
| Inle Lake (Nyaung Shwe) - Hupin Hotel | Inle Lake - Amata Garden Resort |
To get prices for this tour with luxury accommodation or basic accommodation, please enter a query in the ‘Any further queries’ field when you submit your tour booking form (link below).
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Important Notes:
The above itinerary is indicative and some details may change according to conditions and availability; you will always be informed of such changes.
There may be changes to estimated prices depending on air fuel cost, domestic airfares, US$ exchange rates and festive season surcharge. All supplemental cost to be advised.
[1] Price per person based on two person tour (twin hotel room sharing basis) during high season (October to April). Larger groups will pay less per person, single person purchase will mean a higher price.
