Overnight international flight to Bangkok.

Reception at airport and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, drive to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' morning chanting ritual. One of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Pho is home to the famous 45m Reclining Buddha. It is also the original school of traditional Thai massage. From here, take a tuk-tuk ride through Pak Klong Taland Flower Market to the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace is the most important and spectacular royal palace in Thailand. The mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, is now housed here.

Continue with a walk to the pier for a long-tailed boat ride along the "klongs" (canals) of Thonburi and stop at Wat Arun, once the grand royal temple to King Rama II. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, cross the river again, and drive to Chinatown for a first-hand look at old Bangkok. Walk along the shops on Yaworat Road and have a cup of Chinese tea with the locals at a very old teashop. Proceed with a visit to the bustling Talad Kao Market, where a variety of food, fresh and dry fruits, and Chinese herbs are available. Return to the hotel afterwards.

Note: Wat Arun Temple will be under renovation until further notice. Then visit the temple and walk around it, but the constructions are ongoing and climbing the stupa is prohibited. Ladies should wear a short-sleeved top with pants or a knee-length skirt, and gentlemen should wear pants and a short-sleeved shirt for religious reasons. No sandals or flip-flops are allowed.
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Transfer to the airport for a flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Enjoy a full day city tour of Yangon's most important historical and cultural sites with a private guide. Beginning at the Sule Pagoda in the city center, continue through the streets of the downtown area. Home to some of the most splendidly kept colonial buildings meshed with ancient pagodas, Yangon still encapsulates its colonial past. Continue to visit the Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha. Said to be one of the largest images of its kind, the huge reclining Buddha stretches over 223 feet. Next visit Botahtaung Pagoda, named after the one thousand military leaders who are said to have brought relics of the Buddha from India thousands of years ago. From there, continue to Kandawgyi Park and the amazing Karraweik Royal Barge.

Then, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant for a taste of Myanmar (Burma) cuisine. Undoubtedly the best time to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda is in the early evening as the sun begins to fall over the city. Testament to the faith of the Burmese, the Shwedagon stands at 326 feet and is covered with hundreds of gold plates; the top of the Stupa is encrusted with 4,531 diamonds – the largest of which is a single 76 carat diamond. Enjoy dinner at another local restaurant before returning to the hotel for the night.
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Morning visit to the Kalaywa Monastery, which is home to approximately 1,000 monks. Here experience one of the most auspicious moments one can hope to experience in this mystical land. Each morning Myanmar (Burma) is scattered with thousands of monks roaming the streets collecting alms for their meals. Observe this traditional procession before continuing to the National Museum to learn about the rich culture and heritage of Myanmar (Burma).

Enjoy lunch at at a local restaurant. Afterwards, visit the Scott Market, a sprawling 80 year old market that is home to a variety of interesting Burmese goods, from lacquer ware to gems and jewelry. To gain a sense of the everyday life of the Burmese, continue to Chinatown and the local fruit market. Again, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before returning to the hotel for the night.
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Transfer to the airport for a flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. After check-in, visit the Bagan Pagodas that are the most culturally significant and best preserved, including the Shwezigon, Ku Byauk Gyi temple for its exquisite murals, Khay Min Ga Temple, Htilo Minlo and the amazing Ananda Temple.

Bagan is not only famous for its profusion of pagodas but also for its artistic handicrafts and lacquer ware. Master craftsmanship of lacquer ware has been the pride of Bagan since the days of the Bagan Empire. After lunch (not included), visit a local lacquer ware store to see the process of making each piece from start to finish.

In the afternoon, take a pony cart and explore the areas that cars are unable to enter. The only way to truly appreciate the beauty of Bagan is to watch the sunset from the top of a pagoda. Sit back, relax and be amazed by the panoramic views while watching the sun slowly set behind the ancient pagodas. Return to the hotel for the evening.
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Early this morning, take the unique opportunity to see one of the most remarkable sights in Asia, while drifting over the enchanting landscape dotted with ancient temples. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors for many centuries and Marco Polo once described it as 'one of the finest sights in the world'. Riding in a hot air balloon allows for a spectacular vantage point of this celebrated landscape.

While drifting over a panorama of ancient pagodas scattered beneath, the fabulous spires begin to glow with the dawn and then blaze with vibrant color as the sun rises over the far horizon. See the long lines of red-robed monks weaving through the streets collecting early morning alms and children delighted at the sight of a hot air balloon waving up. After returning from the balloon ride, enjoy a glass of champagne before returning to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views located an hour away. It's considered the abode of Myanmar's most powerful Nat (Spirits) and the remains of a petrified forest here produce a profusion of trees, flowering plants and herbs. En route, visit some palm tree plantations to enjoy a relaxing break and experience the local plantation lifestyle. Enjoy lunch at Popa Mountain Resort and begin exploration of Mount Popa.

At the foot of the mountain, observe the major pilgrimage destination, the Nat Shrine, which contains a display of mannequin-like figures representing the 37 Nat. Then there will be a choice to visit the summit, the Sandalwood Forest or the local museum and medicinal herbs garden. Afterwards, drive to Mandalay and check in to the hotel.

Note: Light winds and stable weather conditions are needed for the balloon ride. The length of the ride is governed by these conditions. The experience lasts about 3 hours with an average of 45 minutes of flight time. A portion from each flight is donated to community programs that benefit the local population.
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Transfer to the jetty for a morning excursion to Mingun. Take a one hour boat trip up the Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy) River, a major river that bisects the country. Journey to Mingun to visit the unfinished Mingun Paya (Pagoda), begun in 1790 by King Bodawpaya, and the Myatheindan Paya with its seven circular terraces. Then continue to the 90 ton Mingun Bell, built by King Bodawpaya in 1808. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.


This afternoon's sightseeing will be to the Mahamuni Pagoda, named after the holy image "Maha Muni" housed within. The image is said to have been cast in the lifetime of the Gautama Buddha and that Buddha embraced it 7 times thereby bringing it to life. Consequently, devout Buddhists hold it to be alive and refer to it as the Maha Muni Sacred Living Image.


Next visit Shwe Kyaung (Golden Palace Monastery), a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Palace where it was originally housed before being moved to its current location in 1880. After this visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is known as the world's largest book due to the Buddhist scripture carved on 729 marble slabs. A drive to the top of Mandalay Hill will provide a beautiful atmosphere for sunset over Mandalay. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and then transfer back to the hotel.
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This morning's activities start with a drive to Amarapura, situated about 11 kilometers (about 7 miles) south of Mandalay. Here visit U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in the world. It crosses the Taungthaman Lake and is curved to withstand the wind and waves. The next stop will be the Mahagandayone Monastery. In his lifetime, a Myanmar male is expected to spend some of his life serving as a Monk to learn the ways of Buddhism. Each morning Myanmar is scattered with thousands of Monks roaming the streets collecting alms for their meals. This morning bear witness to this procession.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then continue to Ava. A few kilometers south of Amarapura, Ava was the capital of the Burmese Kingdom for nearly 400 years during the Second Myanmar Empire. Here visit picturesque ruins, villages and a quaint country monastery by pony cart.

Continue to the surrounding area of Sagaing Hills. Sagaing is considered to be the living center of the Buddhist faith in Burma and the hundreds of monasteries reverberate with the echoes of cymbals, gongs and pagoda bells. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and then return to the hotel for the night.
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Transfer to the airport for a connecting flight to Thandwe, where Ngapali Beach is located. Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Spend the day relaxing on the beach or exploring the surrounding villages. Overnight in Ngapali.

Enjoy the full day at leisure. Take a boat to a nearby island, do some snorkeling, or try out sailing.

Transfer to the airport for a connecting flight to Bangkok, to connect with a flight home or continue with an optional Yampu Tours add-on.