Myanmar Golden Land 9 Days

Tour Overview

Discover the Golden Land of Myanmar on this comprehensive 9-day journey, from the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon to the thousands of ancient temples of Bagan, the royal city of Mandalay, the serene beauty of Inle Lake, and the precariously perched Golden Rock. Experience the rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality of this fascinating Southeast Asian country.

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Yangon

Arrive at Yangon International Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Explore Yangon: visit the Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda), the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, a 99-meter-tall stupa covered in over 60 tons of gold leaf, enshrining relics of the Buddha including eight hairs of the Gautama Buddha. Visit at sunset for the most magical experience as the golden stupa glows in the evening light. Explore the bustling Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) for shopping for jade, rubies, sapphires, traditional textiles, and handicrafts. Evening welcome dinner with Burmese cuisine including mohinga (fish noodle soup, the national dish), tea leaf salad, and curries. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon & Bago

Morning explore Yangon: visit the Sule Pagoda (a 2,500-year-old pagoda in the city center, encircled by a busy roundabout), the National Museum of Myanmar (with its collection of royal artifacts including the Lion Throne of the last Burmese king), the Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple (with its massive 65-meter-long reclining Buddha, one of the largest in the world), the Kandawgyi Lake (with the famous Karaweik Palace, a replica of a royal barge), and the colonial architecture in the downtown area including the Secretariat Building, the High Court, and the Strand Hotel. After lunch, take a day trip to Bago (Pegu), the former capital of the Mon Kingdom, approximately 1.5 hours from Yangon. Visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda (the tallest pagoda in Myanmar at 114 meters, taller than the Shwedagon), the Kyaik Pun Pagoda (with its four giant seated Buddhas, each 27 meters high, sitting back to back), the Kanbawzathadi Palace (the reconstructed royal palace of King Bayinnaung, with its beautiful teak buildings and golden spires), and the Mahazedi Pagoda. Visit the nearby reclining Buddha at Shwethalyaung (a 55-meter-long reclining Buddha, one of the largest in the world). Evening return to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 3: Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo)

Full day excursion to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock), one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar, approximately 4-5 hours from Yangon. The Golden Rock is a massive 7.6-meter-tall granite boulder covered in gold leaf by devotees, perched precariously on the edge of a cliff at an altitude of 1,100 meters, seemingly defying gravity. According to legend, the rock is held in place by a single hair of the Buddha. Visit the pagoda and the surrounding temples, and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and forests. The site is particularly beautiful at sunset and sunrise, when the golden rock glows in the light. Visit the nearby Kyaikhtiyo Wildlife Sanctuary. After the visit, return to Yangon or overnight near the Golden Rock. Overnight in Yangon/Kyaiktiyo.

Day 4: Yangon to Bagan (Flight)

Morning fly from Yangon to Bagan (Nyaung U Airport, approximately 1.5 hours), the ancient capital of the Bagan Kingdom, home to over 2,200 temples, pagodas, and stupas scattered across the plains, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, start exploring the temples: visit the Shwezigon Pagoda (a beautiful golden pagoda, the prototype for later Burmese stupas, built by King Anawrahta in the 11th century, enshrining a bone and a tooth of the Buddha), the Ananda Temple (one of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Bagan, built in 1105, with its four standing Buddhas facing the cardinal directions, beautiful frescoes, and a stunning exterior), the Thatbyinnyu Temple (the tallest temple in Bagan at 61 meters, built in 1144, meaning Omniscience), and the Dhammayangyi Temple (the largest temple in Bagan, built in 1167, with its massive brick structure and mysterious interior passages). Sunset at a temple (the Shwesandaw Pagoda is the most popular sunset spot, with its terraces offering panoramic views over the plains of temples). Overnight in Bagan/Nyaung U.

Day 5: Bagan Temple Exploration

Full day exploring Bagan by e-bike (electric bicycle), horse cart, or hot air balloon (optional, at sunrise, one of the most magical experiences in Bagan, floating over the thousands of temples as the sun rises). Early morning sunrise at the Shwesandaw Pagoda or a lesser-known temple for a more peaceful experience. Visit the less-visited temples: the Sulamani Temple (known as the Crown Jewel of Bagan for its beautiful frescoes, ornate architecture, and well-preserved interior, built in 1183), the Htilominlo Temple (a beautiful temple built in 1211, with its distinctive red brick and stucco decoration), the Gawdawpalin Temple (the second-tallest temple in Bagan, built in the 12th century), the Payathonzu Temple (three connected temples with beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from the Jataka tales, the life of the Buddha), the Nandamanya Temple, and the many smaller temples scattered across the plains. Visit the Myinkaba Village and the Abeyadana Temple (with its beautiful frescoes). After lunch, visit the lacquerware workshops in Bagan and watch artisans at work creating beautiful lacquerware bowls, boxes, and vessels using traditional techniques (Bagan is famous for its lacquerware). Visit the Bagan Archaeological Museum. Take a sunset cruise on the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, watching the temples glow in the evening light as you sail down the river. Evening enjoy a traditional Burmese dinner with a puppet show (Yokthei Pwe, traditional Burmese marionette theater). Overnight in Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan to Mandalay (Flight or boat)

Morning take a slow boat down the Ayeyarwady River to Mandalay (approximately 9-10 hours, a scenic and relaxing journey through the Myanmar countryside, passing by small villages, temples, and golden pagodas along the riverbanks) or fly (30 minutes). If flying, visit the Mount Popa area on the way: Mount Popa, an extinct volcano 1,518 meters high, with a monastery perched on top of a volcanic plug, known as the Mount Olympus of Myanmar for its association with nat (spirit) worship. Climb the 777 steps to the top, passing by macaque monkeys, for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Popa Taung Kalat monastery. Upon arrival in Mandalay, the last royal capital of Myanmar (the capital of the Konbaung Dynasty from 1857 to 1885), check into your hotel. Visit the Mandalay Palace (the last royal palace of the Konbaung Dynasty, originally built in 1857 by King Mindon, destroyed during WWII and reconstructed, with its beautiful teak buildings, golden spires, and the royal throne hall). Visit the Mandalay Hill (a 240-meter-high hill with a pagoda at the top, offering panoramic views of the city, the Ayeyarwady River, and the surrounding mountains, particularly beautiful at sunset). Evening enjoy Mandalay cuisine. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay & Amarapura & Inwa

Full day exploring Mandalay and the former royal capitals around it. Visit the Mahamuni Buddha Temple (the most sacred Buddha image in Mandalay, a 4-meter-tall bronze Buddha image cast in 1784, covered in gold leaf by devotees – only men are allowed to approach the image to apply gold leaf, while women can view it from a separate area). Visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda (home to the world’s largest book, 729 marble slabs each inscribed with a page of the Buddhist scriptures, the Tripitaka, each housed in its own small stupa, created by King Mindon in 1868 after the Fifth Buddhist Council). Visit the Sandamuni Pagoda (with its 1,774 marble slabs inscribed with commentaries on the scriptures, and a large iron Buddha image). Visit the Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery, a beautiful teak monastery with intricate wood carvings, the only surviving building of the original Mandalay Palace, moved from the palace grounds after King Mindon’s death). After lunch, visit Amarapura (the former royal capital from 1782 to 1821, meaning City of Immortality), famous for the U Bein Bridge (the longest teakwood bridge in the world, 1.2 kilometers long, spanning Taungthaman Lake, built in 1849 with over 1,000 teak posts, beautiful at sunset when the bridge is silhouetted against the orange sky). Walk across the bridge and visit the Bagaya Monastery (a beautiful teak monastery built in 1834, with its intricate wood carvings and six-tiered pyatthat roof) and the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (with its massive 9-meter-tall marble Buddha image). Visit Inwa (Ava, the former royal capital from 1364 to 1841, accessible by boat across the Myitnge River), with its beautiful ruins including the Bagaya Monastery, the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery (a beautiful brick monastery with stucco decoration), the Nanmyin Watchtower (a leaning watchtower, the remains of the royal palace), and the beautiful countryside. Evening return to Mandalay. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 8: Mandalay to Inle Lake

Morning fly from Mandalay to Heho (approximately 1 hour) and drive to Inle Lake (approximately 45 minutes), a beautiful freshwater lake in the Shan Highlands at an altitude of 880 meters, famous for its unique leg-rowing fishermen (who row with one leg wrapped around the oar while standing on the stern of the boat, a technique unique to Inle Lake, allowing them to see over the reeds while fishing), floating gardens (where farmers grow tomatoes, flowers, and other vegetables on floating mats of vegetation anchored to the lake bottom), stilt-house villages, and beautiful mountain scenery. Check into your lakeside hotel. Afternoon take a boat tour on Inle Lake: visit the leg-rowing fishermen in action, the floating gardens, the stilt-house villages of Ywama and Nyaung Shwe, the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda (the most sacred pagoda on the lake, with five golden Buddha images so covered in gold leaf that their original shapes are no longer recognizable, housed in a beautiful pagoda on the lake), the Nga Hpe Kyaung Monastery (Jumping Cat Monastery, where monks once trained cats to jump through hoops, now a beautiful old monastery with cats lounging around), and the floating markets (where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, and handicrafts from their boats). Sunset on the lake, watching the fishermen and the golden light on the water. Evening enjoy Shan cuisine (Shan food is known for its fresh herbs, noodles, and mild curries). Overnight in Inle Lake/Nyaung Shwe.

Day 9: Inle Lake & Departure

Morning continue exploring Inle Lake: visit the Indein Village (with its stunning Shwe Indein Pagoda, a forest of over 1,000 ancient stupas covered in moss and vegetation, dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, one of the most atmospheric and beautiful sites in Myanmar, with the crumbling stupas creating a magical and mysterious atmosphere). Visit the local markets (the five-day rotating market, if it is in session at one of the villages around the lake). Visit the silk and cotton weaving workshops (where weavers create beautiful textiles using traditional looms, including lotus silk weaving, a unique craft where silk is made from the fibers of the lotus stem) and the cheroot (cigar) rolling workshops (where women roll traditional Burmese cigars by hand). After lunch, drive to Heho Airport (approximately 45 minutes) for your flight to Yangon (approximately 1.5 hours) and onward international departure, or fly directly to your next destination. Concluding your 9-day Myanmar Golden Land tour.

What’s Included

• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Driver
• Fuel Cost, Parking Fee, Toll Fee
• Accommodation in selected hotels
• Daily breakfast

What’s Not Included

• Entrance fees to attractions
• Tour Guide
• Meal (lunch and dinner)
• International flights
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses