The Highlights And Beyond
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This exciting three week tour of Myanmar takes in the main sights and some special destinations off the usual tourist route. You’ll experience the must-see sights of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Lake Inle in a customised way and you’ll discover less-visited spots like Loikaw, Kalaw and some remote villages along the Irrawaddy River.

Uniquely, this holiday is designed using alternatives to domestic flights on nearly all routes. This makes for a fantastic way to absorb the atmosphere and scenery of the country in a way that many visitors miss out on. Of course if you would prefer to fly, for speed or ease, then this can be arranged too.

Highlights include:

• Travelling by boat upstream from Loikaw towards Lake Inle; a great way to arrive at the lake and passing the peculiar sight of 100's of Buddhist stupas poking up out of the water en route.
• Rattling through the Shan Hills on a local train journery from Lake Inle to Kalaw.
• Climbing to the top of Popa Taung Kalut for superb views out towards Bagan and the extinct volcano of Mount Popa.
• Getting a flavour of remote village life along the Irrawaddy River. 
• Enjoying our distinctive twist on the main sites of Bagan, Yangon and Mandalay. 

As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers 
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK 

For more on our pricing policy read here.

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Yangon

Day 2 & 3 Yangon  The contrasts of city life 

On arrival in Yangon you’ll be met by your private guide for the transfer to your hotel. The first afternoon/evening is free to relax.

On the first full day you’ll join your guide to explore Yangon on an Experience Travel Group signature tour. This tour visits the main sites but also gives you a sense of the contrasts of local village life and urban life. You’ll enjoy a street food dinner with drinks before returning to your hotel in the evening.

Days 4 & 5 Loikaw   Exploring away from the tourist route

Your one and only domestic flight of the holiday takes you north-east to Loikaw, a remote area that few tourists visit. Your guide will meet you on arrival and you’ll spend two days getting a sense of the rural way of life and exploring the local countryside. Visit villages, explore the markets where the tribes meet to trade their wares, take in beautiful panoramas and marvel at the unique monuments.

Days 6-8 Lake Inle   travel by boat to the lake

With your guide you’ll board a local boat for the transfer upstream to Lake Inle. This is a wonderful, scenic way to get to Lake Inle, completely different to the route taken by most visitors. En route you’ll stop to visit Sankar where 100 Buddhist stupas rise out of the lake. 

Lake Inle has incredible scenery and many interesting sights to behold. Spend two days exploring the lake and its surroundings by boat; a highlight is pulling up at the rotating market atop the lake itself, and a peaceful sunset sail.  During your stay your guide will also take you to a local vineyard and to a Burmese cooking demonstration in a local home.

Day 9 &10  Kalaw   elephants and scenery in the hills

Today you’ll rattle through the Shan Hills by train towards nearby Kalaw, the former hill station of The British Raj. During your stay here you’ll visit the Green Hill Elephant Camp, a project that provides shelter for retired elephants. There will also be time to explore the sleepy colonial hill station by bicycle with your guide.

Day 11 – 13 Bagan and Mount Popa    

You’ll travel by road from Kalaw down to famous Bagan; this is one of the most scenic drives in Myanmar and a fantastic way to get a sense of the country's beauty (of course, if you would prefer the domestic flight option then that can also be arranged.) Along the way you’ll pass paddy fields and rolling hills before arriving at the extinct volcano of Mount Popa, where you’ll have the chance to climb the 777 steps to the top of adjacent Popa Taung Kalat - a tower like volcanic plug with a gilded temple on top. 

Once in Bagan there is plenty of time to explore the extraordinary archaeological zone with its amazing array of temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins, both independently and with your guide.  Your stay will also include a trip across to the unique island of  Kyun Thiri, time to take in river-life, explore caves and to catch a couple of glorious sunsets.

Day 14 & 15 Yandabo  Life in an Irrawaddy River Village

After a lunch in Bagan you’ll travel slowly up the river towards the village of Yandabo. Here you’ll stay in a cosy hotel on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. You’ll spend your time here getting a flavour of village life along the Irrawaddy, one of the most important rivers in Myanmar.  Pottery is a popular local craft and water buffalo harvest the land in this sleepy rural area. An interesting fact about Yandabo: this is where the treaty which ended the first Anglo Burmese War was signed in 1826.

 Day 16 – 18 Mandalay  explore the ancient capitals

Back in your boat you’ll continue the journey upstream to Mandalay. Simply sit back and absorb the fantastic scenery. When you get to Mandalay, two days are dedicated to exploring the ancient cities, the glittering pagodas and busy markets. Your guide will transport you to famous sites such as Ava and U Bein Bridge, with a few clever tricks to dodge the busiest times of the day.   

Day 19 Train  (or fly)    the voyage back to Yangon

Adventurers will love the unique experience of travelling from Mandalay to Yangon overnight aboard a local train, but a one- hour flight can be taken instead if time is limited or if such an adventure doesn’t appeal!  

Day 20 Yangon   City Life and the SHwedagon Pagoda

Before you fly home you’ll spend one last day and night in Yangon; there will be chance to get an insight into city life aboard the local circle train and to toast your epic tour of Myanmar with sunset at one of the country’s most famous landmarks the Shwedagon Pagoda.

Day 21 Fly Home

Depart Yangon for your flight back to the UK.