| Tour Program Name
|
Silk Route Myanmar |
|
Type |
Myanmar
Odyssey |
|
Tour Code |
JNC # 06 |
|
Coverage |
Ruli - Muse -
Lasio - Mandalay - Bagan - Inle Lake - Yangon |
|
Duration |
14 Day / 13 Night |
|
Availability |
Round the year |
|
Itineraries:
Day 01 Arrival, Muse
Day 02 Muse – Lashio <coach>
Day 03 Lashio – Pyin Oo Lwin <train>
Day 04 Maymyo – Mandalay <coach>
Day 05 Mandalay - Mingun – Mandalay <boat>
Day 06 Amapura - Sagaing – Mandalay <coach>
Day 07 Mandalay – Bagan <ferry> |
Day
08 Bagan archaeological tour <coach>
Day 09 Bagan free
Day 10 Bagan - Kalaw <coach>
Day 11 Kalaw - Pindaya - Inle Lake <coach>
Day 13 Inle Lake – Heho <coach> – Yangon <coach/flight>
Day 14 Departure |
Sample itinerary, actual may vary
 Day
01 Arrival,
Muse
Upon arrival and check out at Gaegaung <Ruli> border point, Journeys
representative will meet you upon and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Muse.
Day 02 Muse -
Lashio <coach>
Breakfast at hotel and depart for Lashion <165 km, approx 4 hour> through
enchanting landscape and ethnic villages. Evening walking around and visit with
Lashio evening market. Overnight in Lashio.
 Day 03 Lashio -
Pyin Oo Lwin <train>
Early morning transfer to railways station for your train journey to the main
land. A leisurely train rides through mountains, valley, exciting tunnels and
bridges get you to Pyin Oo Lwin <approx 10 hour>. Train ride in this route can
be very much entertainment as it stops every small station where people load and
unload their farm products. Above all crossing through world famous Gokteik
viaduct will get you a thrilled experience. The historic Gokteik viaduct, built
by British in 1900. The unusual railway viaduct was built by Pennsylvania Steel
Co over the deep Gokteik gorge over 100 years ago, it was the second-highest
railway bridge in the world however was considered the greatest railway viaduct
in the world at the time. Gokteik was the only American-built span in the
British Raj. Upon arrival at Pyin Oo Lwin <formally known as May Myo> transfer
by horse drawn royal Pyin Oo Lwin is a popular hill station of the British
during colonial days in Myanmar. Pyin Oo Lwin impresses with its many churches,
colonial buildings with gables, turrets and chimneys etc. Overnight in Pyin Oo
Lwin.
 Day 04
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) <coach>
While you are in Maymyo you will use these horse-drawn royal carriages which
still play major role in transport means for your day transport mean. It will be
a worthwhile to visit botanical garden of 432 acres "laid out by Sir Harcourt
Butler, former Governor of Burma" to study a conservation of diverse botanical
species around the world. Visit enchanting Maymyo market with their multicolor
flowers and vegetables. Late afternoon return to Mandalay. Mandalay <founded
1857 by king Mindon> is the last kingdom as well as the center of the Myanma
cultural, tradition, arts and crafts has long been known as a centre of skilled
craftsmanship and in former times supplied the royal courts. A four of
traditional workshops includes crafts such as woodcarving, marble masonry,
Kalaga tapestry and gold leaf making etc. Overnight in Mandalay.
 Day 05 Mandalay -
Mingun - Mandalay <boat>
Breakfast at hotel and proceed to Mayan Chan jetty often busy with
buffaloes logging on the Myanma superlative teak and people working with the
Bamboo rafting etc. Board on a local fishermen boat for Mingun across Ayeyarwady
river <11 km, approx 1 hour> across Ayeyarwady river. Observe the world's
largest ringing bell casted by Bodawpaya in 1080 weighing 55555 viss which
calculated equal to 90 tons and Mingun Pahtodawgyi, an enormous pile of bricks
is all that remain of King Bodawpaya ambition to make it the world's largest
Buddhist stupa. Other tour highlights are Settawya Pagoda with a marble foot
print of Buddha and Shin Byu Me Pagoda built in 19 century by King Bagyidaw,
Bodawpaya's grandson in memory of one of his wives. Return to Mandalay and check
in at hotel. After a brief fresh up continue visit traditional handicraft making
process such as wood carving, tapestry weaving, gold leaf hammering etc. Late
afternoon visit foot of Mandalay hill to observe "the largest book" at Kuthodaw
Pagoda where entire Buddhist canon <Tripitaka> have been recorded on stone
tablets totaling 729 in number. Shwenandaw "Golden Palace Monastery" <ex-palace
complex of former Myanmar kings>, to observe finest Myanmar wooden architecture
and Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, a large Buddha Image carved out of single block of
marble. Overnight in Mandalay.
 Day 06 Amapura - Sagaing - Mandalay <coach>
Breakfast at hotel and visit Phayagyi to observe the most revered Mahamuni Image
brought by Kind Bodawpaya in 1784 from Rakhine. The 4 meter seated Image was
believed to have been casted in 1st century AD but over the year of offering
gold leaf offering the figure is 15 meter thicket by gold. There is daily
Mahamuni face washing ceremony held 4 am every day and is a good opportunity to
experience it. After a visit to stone carving, bronze casting and silk weaving
process continue to ancient capital of Amapura "meaning city of immortality".
Visit Mahagandayon Monastery, home to several thousand of Buddhist navies and
monks and observe the lunch process. Proceed to Sagaing, covered with 600
white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing hill is widely regarded as the
religious centre of Myanmar and is home of 6000 monks and nun, 100 meditation
centers. On your way visit traditional bronze casting, silver smith works which
Sagaing is famous for. Sagaing become the capital of independence of Shan around
1315 after fall of Bagan. Visit Tilawkaguru cave temple filled with impressive
mural painting date back from 1672, Umin Thounzeh cave temple with multitude of
seated Buddha statues and Kaungmudaw Paya, further west towards Monywar is
enormous white dome rise 64 meter. Enjoy fantastic sunset view from the 200 year
old U Bein teak bridge span across Thaungthaman Lake <built in 1782> at the time
when Amarapura was Royal capital. Return to Mandalay. Overnight in Mandalay. |
|
|
Day 07 Mandalay - Bagan <ferry>
Early
morning transfer to jetty for your Bagan bound cruise along majestic
Ayeyarwady river to Bagan. A journey on Myanmar Rivers is one of
life’s great travel experiences. It will be of a great opportunity
experience the most interesting areas in Myanmar some of which can
only be visited by river. Bagan, founded as early as in 849 on the
banks of the Ayeyarwady river was the capital of today Myanmar. The
11th century archaeological site is considered one of the richest
and most amazing site in Asia, comparable to the sites of worldwide
importance such as Jerusalem, and Rome however Bagan remain
virtually un-known. This once splendid and glorious capital of the
First Myanmar Empire, is now a 42 square km area dotted with
thousands of ancient pagodas, stupas, shrines, ordination halls and
monuments. Upon arrival at Bagan port meets and greets by Journeys
representative and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Bagan.
 Day
08 Bagan <coach>
Breakfast at hotel and explore Bagan archaeological zone.
Highlights; Gawdawpalin <built by King Narapati Sithu 1174-1211> one
of the largest and most imposing Monument in Bagan, Shwegugyi temple
of transitional in style between the early and late Bagan period
<built by king Alaungsithu 1113-1163>, Thabyinnyu temple <built by
King Alaung Sithu in 1113>, the highest monument of universal
science, Shwesandaw temple <built by king Anawratha 1044-1077> for
panoramic view of entire ruins, Dhammyangyi <built by king Narathu
1163-1165> unique of double Image of Buddha, Myingabar Gubyaukgyi ,
meaning "great painted cave temple" for its exquisite mural
paintings, Myazedi pillar inscribed in four language mainly Myanmar,
Mon, Pali and Pyu, Manhua temple with captive king's impression of
life imprisonment and Abeyadana temple famous for it’s fine mural
paintings on Mahayana Buddhism. Visit one of the lacquer ware
workshop to observe process of traditional Myanmar souvenir. Enjoy
sunset from either newly built watch tower or one of the ruins.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 09 Bagan <coach/horst cart>
If
you are enthusiastic enough you may enjoy the fantastic sunrise view
from one of the ruin.
Breakfast at hotel and visit attractive
Nyaung Oo market, continue visit 11 century Shwezigon Pagoda built
by King Anawratha <1044-1077> but finished by King Kyansittha
<1084-1113>. The Shwezigon derives its name from Jeyyabhumi 'Golden
Victory' with its magnificent golden stupa, Wetkyi Inn Gubyaukgyi
temple to observe original 12 century Mural paintings, frescoes and
base-relief works, Htilominlo, temple, a massive structure of 150 ft
height <built by king Htilominlo 1211-1234> where frescoes
representing 28 Buddha of the future and finally Anandar temple
<build in 1090 by King Kyansittha>, the best preserved masterpieces
of Mon architecture and near by brick monastery, one of the few
survived from Bagan period. Afternoon visit one of the local village
to observe daily life style and perhaps a social and cultural
interaction with the local through your guide. Enjoy sunset from
either newly built watch tower or one of the ruins. Overnight in
Bagan. |
|
|
Day 10 Bagan - Kalaw <coach>
Breakfast at hotel and overland drive to Kalaw <288 km, approx 8
hour> through the dry zone passing through small groves of toddy
palms, toddy climbers to harvest juice to produce an alcoholic
beverage and toddy shacks which lie amongst the groves etc. You will
notice Htanaung, Neem, Tamarind, Cotton and toddy palm,
characteristic dry zone trees are a constant feature along with
typical dry zone crops like maize, chilies, pulses, sesame, onions
and groundnuts. Clouds of dust rise from the bullock cart tracks
beside the road. As you pass Thazi Presently the road ascends ever
so slightly and then flattens again. Htanaung and rain trees are no
longer present. Instead clumps of bamboo and plum trees appear
beside the road. As you climb through twisting and turning winding
road more bamboo forests appear with smaller trees with darker green
interspersed on the hills. The road becomes even for some distance
then rises again on a steeper gradient. The vegetation is greener,
the trees larger with denser foliage as we advance. Small hamlets in
valleys and lowland along the wayside look fresh and verdant with
banana, coconut, mango and other trees. At an altitude of about 600
meters, the scenery is pleasant, the surroundings are lush and
green, the air is cooler and the rays of the sun struggling through
the mists bear down more gently. Kalaw, former British hills station
town situates 1400 meters above sea-level, on the rim of the Shan
Plateau in the Pineland. Cool, spring-like weather, pine forests,
tea plantations and colorfully clad hill tribes make this town to a
natural magnet. Overnight in Kalaw.
During your stay at this region you will come across one of the enchanting
regional 5 day market rotates among the villages. On these
particular days the market usually crowded with ethnic minorities
such as Shan, Palaung, Pa O, Dhanu etc trading their local product
in to other daily necessities.
Day 11 Kalaw - Pindaya - Inle Lake <coach>
Breakfast at hotel and depart for Pindaya cave <48 km, approx 1
hour>. Pindaya, situate at the foot of Mene-taung range is known to
the world as the home of the countless Buddha Images in its
extensive lime stone caves and picturesque lake. The road to Pindaya
winds over the rolling hills of the Shan plateau through colorful
mustard and whet field. The limestone caves contain a maze of
chambers with about 10000 Buddha statues. Some of them are tiny,
others are huge, and are made of white marble, bronze or plaster,
coated with gold leaf. Some of the smaller caves within the complex
serve as meditation chambers. Explore around wonder of the mystery
cave and near by Po O traditional paper umbrella making process.
Proceed to Inle Lake <91 km, approx 2 hour>. Inle Lake, the second
largest natural lake in Myanmar with 14 miles long and 7 miles wide,
situate 1320 meter above the sea level among the hazy blue
mountains. Overnight in Inle Lake.
 Day 12 Inle Lake
excursion <boat>
Traveling on the lake is an exhilarating
experience for nature lovers and a chance to observe the unique
traditions of the Intha people. Breakfast at hotel and board on a
traditional long and tall motorized boat for a sightseeing tour of
the lake. Traveling on the lake is an exhilarating experience for
nature lovers and a chance to observe the unique traditions of the
Intha people. Wonder unique leg rowing fishermen, floating firms
<built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud which anchored to
the bottom with bamboo poles>, houses and monasteries on the stilt
etc. Visit Indein ruins complex with pagoda and stupas built in the
8th century. Enjoy rows of shops along the corridor up hill. Return
to Inle and continue visit floating village of Ywama, the lake's
downtown and largest village on the Inlay Lake, 11 century Phaungdaw
Oo pagoda housing five sacred Buddha Images, the weaving village of
Inpawkhon, famous for traditional silk-weaving, Se Gaung Village,
famous for the blacksmith work and Nan Pan Village with cheroot
making and boat-building dockyards etc and end your day with a visit
famous Ngaphechaung, a museum like monastery where old belongings of
many monasteries are restored. Overnight in Inle Lake. |
|
|
Day 13 Inle - Heho - Yangon <coach
/ flight>
Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Heho <27
km, approx 1 hour> for Yangon bound flight. Upon arrival at Yangon
airport meet and greet by Journeys representative and transfer to
your hotel. Afternoon if free and best to explore Bogyoke market,
formally know as Scott Market, a sprawling 75 year old shopping
complex noted for its variety of handicrafts and other items which
provide an excellent opportunity for a shopping spree. Overnight in
Yangon.
Day 14 Departure
Breakfast at hotel
and transfer to airport for your onward departure to conclude this
unique experience. |
Price Request
|
|
