The Experience

Discover Myanmar with a two-night stay at beautiful Inle Lake, three-nights on an Ayeyarwady River cruise, sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda and a hot air balloon ride over Bagan’s magical plains.

Day 1: Arrive Yangon, Myanmar Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. The Strand

Day 2: Yangon | Queen of the East Embark on a tour of profoundly Buddhist and traditional Yangon. Visit Botataung Pagoda and the Reclining Buddha, one of Myanmar’s largest icons at 230 feet long. Explore the colorful Chinatown and shop for Burmese handicrafts at Scott Market. The Strand | Meals: B L

Day 3: Heho to Inle Lake | Tranquil and Traditional This morning, board your flight to Heho, where you continue to Inle Lake, the second-largest in Myanmar and one of the highest. Travel by private boat to your resort. Aureum Resort & Spa Inle | Meals: B L D

Day 4: Inle Lake | The Five-Day Market After breakfast, head out onto the lake to visit the five-day market, a mobile market where regional hill tribes people dressed in traditional outfits barter for goods and produce. Later, watch local artisans at the Mya Set Kyar Ikat silk weaving workshop. Visit a blacksmith before trying your hand at making a cheroot (Burmese cigar) alongside a cigar maker. After lunch, admire the ingenious floating gardens that are typical of Inle Lake en route to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. Aureum Resort & Spa Inle | Meals: B L D

Day 5: Mandalay | Shwe Kyin Kyaung Monastery After breakfast, fly to Mandalay, the former royal Burmese capital and still the spiritual artery of a devoutly religious nation. Journey to ancient Inwa on the Ayeyarwady River, visiting the beautiful brick Maha Aung Myay Bon Zan Monastery and the ancient 90-foot Watch Tower (Nan Myint). Tonight, attend evening prayers at Shwe Kyin Kyaung Monastery. Sedona Hotel, Mandalay | Meals: B L D

Day 6: Mandalay | Artisan Workshops Discover Shwenandaw Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda. After a riverside lunch, explore the Jade and Flower market, followed by a visit to a marble and bronze casting workshops. Sedona Hotel, Mandalay | Meals: B L D

Days 7-9: Cruising the Ayeyarwady | ,˜Road To Mandalay” Visit Sagaing, the living center of the Buddhist faith in Myanmar. Board the luxury vessel ,˜Road To Mandalay’ in time for lunch, and then visit the wooden U Bein Bridge that crosses Taungthaman Lake. On your second day, rise early to witness alms giving before setting sail downstream. On day three, see the sunrise as ,˜Road To Mandalay” approaches Bagan, the 11th-century capital where more than 4,000 temples, pagodas and stupas (Buddhist memorials) reveal a treasure trove of Buddhist art history. ‘Road to Mandalay’ | Meals: B L D

Day 10: Bagan | Horse Carts & Nyaung U Market Take an early morning hot air balloon ride over Bagan as the rising sun illuminates the gold- and sand-colored stupas. After breakfast, disembark ,˜Road To Mandalay” and enjoy the thrill of a local horse and carriage ride to the 11th-century Ananda Temple. Explore Nyaung U market, visit a traditional brick factory and catch the sunset at Shwezigon Pagoda. Aureum Palace Hotel | Meals: B L

Day 11: Yangon | Awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda Fly to Yangon and venture off the beaten path on a tour of Musmeah Yeshua, the last remaining Jewish synagogue in Myanmar. After lunch, visit the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda a fantasy of golden stupas, serene Buddhas and mythical beasts just before sunset. Observe the devout praying before the images, the evocative fragrance of incense enveloping you. Later, transfer to the airport to board your homebound flight. The Strand (Dayroom) | Meals: B L