Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Myanmar - Yangon - Bagan - Inle Lake - Pindaya - Ngapali
100% customisable for you
Overnight flight, arriving the next day.
Private transfer and two-night stay in a trendy hotel with a prime location - soak up the mix of simplicity and New York vibes.
Included in the itinerary - Private half-day tour of Yangon. A visit that starts at Le Planteur, a beautiful colonial house nestled in a tropical garden that has retained refined culinary know-how from the British Empire era, transporting guests back to the Burma of Kipling during an afternoon tea in the pure English tradition. Then, board the circular railway that connects Yangon to its outskirts - onboard, school children sit alongside street vendors and workers returning home after a day's work. And in the city centre, stroll between ancient colonial neighbourhoods and art galleries that are testament to the city's revival.
Private transfer and flight to Bagan. Three-night stay in a hotel in New Bagan - children will love the spacious swimming pool in the garden.
Bagan is home to over 2,724 temples, stupas and pagodas, erected between the 11th and 13th centuries, which span over 16 square miles. It's the largest concentration of Buddhist monuments in the world.
Included in the itinerary - Cycling through the Bagan countryside, on dirt trails and along the Irrawaddy River. This is the perfect opportunity to meet the inhabitants of the city's neighbouring villages, from stalls to picturesque cinemas, from village hairdressers to cabinetmaking workshops. And at the end of the day, a private sunset cruise on the Irrawaddy River, aboard a small wooden boat.
Included in the itinerary - A day visiting Bagan's must-see attractions. The day includes a tour of the lively Nyaung U Market; the must-see Shwezigon Pagoda and its stunning golden stupa; the grand Ananda Temple, jewel of Burmese architecture and one of the major places of Burmese pilgrimage; the murals of Wetkyi-in's Gubyaukgyi Temple and Dhammayangyi Temple. Bagan is also renowned for its lacquerware workshops that are also included on the tour.
Optional - Hot air balloon flight over Bagan: flying over Bagan's plains, temples, and pagodas, and the Irrawaddy River, is an unforgettable experience. With a private guide, learn to play 'Chinlone' - a traditional and very popular team sport, played with a wicker or bamboo ball. The ball is played with the feet, knees or head; the rules are simple: keep the ball up for as long as possible, without letting it touch the ground. The game can result in breathtaking acrobatic performances. The next day, electric bikes are availablefor exploring the charms of the city at your own pace.
Private transfer, flight to Heho, meet your guide before heading out to Pindaya, the legendary Buddhist pilgrimage site, a cave that houses more than 8,000 Buddha statues made of teak, bronze, lacquer, marble and gold leaf: it's a staggering sight.
Spend the night in a simple, comfortable hotel at the entrance to Pindaya.
In Myanmar, there are 5,500 elephants living in captivity, employed in the forests to carry timber and precious wood - it's the world's largest herd. Green Hill Valley takes in and cares for injured elephants or ones that are too old to work. Here, the retired elephants roam freely for most of the day and night in the sprawling estate. Each day, they are brought in for a few hours, to be fed, washed and looked after. Help to feed and groom them, before meeting the vet. Green Hill Valley also aims to raise visitors' awareness of deforestation: before leaving, plant a tree.
Private transfer to Inle Lake and a three-night stay in a hotel on the lake, where at its heart lies a small wooden slice of paradise, perched on stilts, housing only six bungalows, to preserve the tranquil surroundings. The rooms are spacious and elegant, there is fine cuisine (especially breakfast), the staff cater for every whim. The establishment also has a training programme for young people looking to work in the hospitality industry, coupled with a commitment to be environmentally-friendly.
Inle Lake is a world of its own. The Intha villages on stilts, fringed with floating gardens, make it a truly special place. The peace and quiet is only disturbed by the gentle swish of the fishing boats on the water.
Included in the itinerary - Spend the day crisscrossing the lake in a traditional canoe, exploring the stilt houses, floating gardens, markets and pagodas. The Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery is a place to stretch your legs and admire its collection of ancient images of Buddha; meeting its inhabitants, with your guide, is an interesting and enriching experience.
Included in the itinerary - Half-day cycling tour. Reach Kyay Zar Kone village by canoe, for an 11-mile bike ride to Indein, along a narrow channel that connects the lake with the inland area, before crossing a dense bamboo forest, to reach the road that leads up to the top of a hill and Indein's splendid Buddhist complex.
The day ends with a wooden canoe trip to the village of Yetha; those feeling more adventurous can continue on to the famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's main shrine, housing five sacred images of Buddha covered in gold leaf.
This day in a traditional canoe takes you from villages made of wood and plant mesh, to markets, pagodas and floating gardens. Along the way, admire the well-rehearsed artistry of the fishermen with their conical nets. Then, reach the village of Indein where, at the end of a long, covered gallery, lies the Alaungsithu Monastery and its forest of ten thousand stupas, built by the inhabitants of the region since the 12th century.
One of Ngapali's main attractions is its stunning beach, which is still very much unspoiled; its white sand lapped by crystal clear waters. In short, a little slice of Burmese paradise in the waters of the Bay of Bengal. There are no frenetic watersports like you see on tourist beaches. The fishermen set out onto the water early in the morning with their nets in hand. That's about it in terms of activity. Cheap, local places to eat on the water's edge, coconuts to quench your thirst, ball games with children and monks... This is how you fill your days in Ngapali.
Transfer to the airport and fly to Yangon. Private transfer to your day-use hotel; a car with driver available for the day, to continue to explore Yangon at your own pace.
Things to see and do - Roam through former colonial buildings: the prestigious Balthazar Building, now home to dozens of families, the Accountant-General's Office, the Central Post Office, the former Myanmar Railways Headquarters - Visit the National Museum - Shop for 'longyis' or canvas and bamboo flip flops at the Bogyoke Aung San Market - Stroll through Chinatown.
Private transfer to the airport and catch your flight home.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
