Burma Classic Value
Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

This extensive 14 night tour covers Burma's key sights: explore the social, educational, political and cultural hubs of Yangon and Mandalay both of which provide a glimpse into Burma today; spend 3 nights relaxing on the waters of Lake Inle in one of the country's most stunningly beautiful areas; and finally experience the glory of ancient Bagan, with its hundreds of temples and stupas spread out throughout the jungle. Accommodation is Value level, and so we include some simple but great value hotels throughout.

The tour begins with a flight into Yangon, the former capital. Enjoy the atmospheric and bustling city with its colonial buildings, a legacy of the British imperial rule. You then move from Yangon to Lake Inle, a massive 11km expanse of water in the heart of the Shan state and a hub of both human and animal life in the region.

Then move on to Mandalay, Burma's second largest city and key centre for Burmese culture.  before moving onto the world-famous Bagan temple complex, which along with Angkor Wat is one of mainland Southeast Asia's largest ancient religious complexes. An optional climb to the summit of Mount Popa (dubbed “Burma’s Mount Olympus”) is included, where you can see views of the surrounding countryside and the extraordinary Taung Kalat Monastery, built atop a rocky outcrop.

A beach extension is also possible – talk to us about including this in your trip!

For pricing and tailor made options please enquire here. 

Day 1:

Depart from the UK

Day 2:

Arrive in Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur, the gateways for flying into Burma. Then catch a flight into Yangon, the former capital of Burma. Depending on your flight times, an overnight in Bangkok may be necessary in order to connect to a flight to Yangon.

In Yangon stay in the Hotel East, a small, modern and functional hotel in the city centre.

Day 3:

Today start your full-day tour in Yangon: one of Yangon's key sights is the spectacular Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda), an enormous golden stupa surrounded by various other temple complexes. The stupa itself is covered in real gold leaf and the very top is coated in real diamonds and is the heart of Buddhism in Burma. Thousands of pilgrims come here to make offerings and you can see local Burmese people visiting to pray and worship every day.

Day 3:

Transfer to Yangon airport and catch a short 30 minute flight to Heho airport in Burma's eastern Shan state. On arrival transfer to Lake Inle passing through beautiful mountainous and lush jungle scenery.

Here we recommend the excellent value Golden Island Cottages II, a resort perched serenely over the dark water of the lake and a wonderful quite place to relax and just soak up the landscape.

Day 4:

Today you can have a full day tour of the Lake Inle area with highlights that include the hundreds of golden stupas at the Indein Temple complex and the slightly surreal Jumping cat Monastery! 

 Day 5:

More touring on Lake Inle today allows you to explore the Lake's extraordinary stilted villages and "floating gardens": vegetable patches where produce is grown on thick layers of compacted algae floating on the surface of the Lake. Also pay a visit to the "5 Day Rotating Market", a bustling market that changes location every day where you can buy souvenirs, longyis (Burmese loin cloths), and locally grown fruits and vegetables.

 Day 6:

Transfer to Heho airport for another short flight to Mandalay. On arrival in Mandalay transfer to the Hotel Queen, perfectly located in the heart of town where you can explore all the city has to offer on foot. Unlike Yangon where traffic is fairly organised, Mandalay streets are busy and bustling with motorbikes, traffic and pedestrians and it is an excellent spot for people watching! Mandalay was the seat of the last Royal Kingdom of Burma before it was annexed by the British and so was seen as the heart of Burmese sovereignty during the colonial period. Even today the city has a strong, proudly "Burmese" feel as the country's most important centre for Burmese culture.

Accommodation here is at the simple but quality Hotel Queen: a slightly quirky hotel with jolly service and a fantastic location right in the heart of town.

Day 7:

Today visit Mandalay's key sights: many important temples in the city are located an hour's boat ride away up the Ayewaddy (Irrawaddy) river at Mingun. Here you can see the remnants of what was planned to be the largest stupa in the country, but was destroyed by an earthquake before it could be completed. In town visit the beautiful intricately wood-carved Shwenandaw Monastery and Kuthodaw Paya (pagoda), home to the world's largest book, filled with Buddhist scriptures.

 Day 8:

Today we really recommend a free day in Mandalay in order to explore the city's shopping and culinary delights independently on foot. This can of course be omitted if you would prefer.

 Day 9:

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Nyaung-U to begin your exploration of the world-famous Bagan temples. On arrival transfer to your hotel: the peaceful riverside Bagan Thande Hotel, terraced bungalows set in a prime riverside location with lovely gardens and a nice pool too.

 Day 10:

Spend today touring the key temples and some hidden gems too. There are just so many different temples, each with their own character and personality and with different design elements too.

 Day 11:

Today we suggest taking a short drive one hour from Bagan to the spectacular Mount Popa, an extinct volcano surrounded by rolling green valleys and clad in tropical jungle. It is an optional 5 hour trek to the summit and although it is mildly strenuous at points it is a walk that can be attempted by even newcomers to trekking. If you don't think trekking would interest you, talk to us about your options for today.

 Day 12:

Transfer to Nyaung-U airport for your flight to Yangon. On arrival transfer to hotel and the rest of the evening is at leisure in Yangon.

 Day 13:

This morning you are picked up from your hotel and transferred to Yangon international airport for your flight back to Bangkok.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...