Arrive in Mandalay. After checking in at your hotel, visit the last royal palace of the Konbaung dynasty and recount the days of Thibaw and his queen, Supayalat, before they were expelled by the British into India. Visit the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda and then climb the 1729 steps up Mandalay Hill to be rewarded with a stunning sunset over the city. 

Depart from Myitkyina for the flight to Putao. Situated in the far north of Myanmar, and only accessible by air, Putao is a small and picturesque town with mostly ethnic Kachin and Lisu population, from which you can see the Himalayas on the far horizon.

Your white water rafting  adventure will be organized through your luxurious lodge - this itinerary is based 4 day/3 night visit to Putao, but there are other shorter and longer options available here. To find out more, fill out the ‘Any further queries’ box after you have clicked on the ‘Book Tour’ button. Note that travel options are restricted by the days on which there are flights to and from Putao, and accommodation is shut during the low season (May-Sep).

Fly back to Mandalay.

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. The next day you make the 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.

The next stop is Mindat, 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.