Meeting Tribes in Myanmar

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, meet with the guide and driver and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city with an impressive colonial and spiritual heritage. It’s a great starting point for a Myanmar holiday.

After freshening up, set off for a tour of the city’s highlights. First, visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which is home to a 70-meter-long reclining Buddha. Continue through the city, stopping periodically to take photos or relax with a drink at a local tea shop. 

From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, the locals believe that the original structure was built 2500 years ago and renovated several times before taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 99-meters tall, gilded with gold leaf, and surrounded by 64 smaller stupas. 

Continue to a local tea shop for a chance to experience an integral part of Burmese life: drinking tea! Select from an array of snacks and enjoy a coffee or tea while sitting amongst businessmen, friends and families who gather at the tea shop to socialize or conduct business.

Transfer to airport and fly to Bagan. 

Upon arrival, tour starts with a private car trip to Kanpetlet. And then, taking about one hour you will drive along Ayeyarwaddy River to Chauk, where you can have a sightseeing of morning market. 

The next route is to cross Ayeyarwaddy River via Chauk Bridge to Seikphyu Village. After that, proceed to one of the big Burmese villages, called Kazunma Village, in Magwe Division. 

After lunch, drive on among the forested mountains and make many stops for photos. Driving in the dry zone takes about 3 hours before we arrive at Saw, a small administrative town, where you can pause your drive for tea break. At that time visit to Thit Taw Village to meet Uppo Chin Tribe with black face tattooed. 

Then proceed for 12 miles to Kanpetlet, which seems to be a big Chin village though it is a small town. you can visit there in the town to villages of the women with tattoos on their faces. In the evening, go on to hotel, situated on the pine hill 3000 ft above sea level, for night stop. The cool climatic condition on the hill will be lovely for you while seizing enjoyable dinner and night stay at hotel.

Drive to the base camp of Mt. Victoria, 16 miles away from the hotel, under the rising sun. The beauty pine forest and sweet bird calls add the beauty to the morning’s glory. This area is the most famous for Bird-watching in Myanmar with many endangered species. 

Begin our hiking from the base camp, 6500 ft above sea level, to the top, 10200 ft. 

At the first 45 minutes of the 3-hour-trek, the steps will be difficult. Enjoy taking photos at the top during the break of tea and snacks, and then return to car within 2 hours. The trek down is much easier than the way up. 

Continue to Htet Shwe Village, 6 miles far away from the base camp, 3 hours trek. After sightseeing in the village, in which women with tattooed faces live, in the evening, catch pleasurable dinner and overnight in the village

After simple breakfast, starts trekking to Aye Village. It is a small Chin village and it has cool atmosphere in accordance with her name, sitting on the cliff of the hill. Once it was one of the British hill camps, there are still some colonial, old and dinky buildings in the icy cold climate.  

The beginning of today is to take the jeep for two hours before we start our interesting trek to Kyardo Village. Enjoy an hour trek along the trail down to a stream first and then another hour trekking to the intended Kyardo Village.

There you can visit the villagers’ houses take a look at their traditional costumes and observe ways of living. One thing interesting to mention here is their religion, that is, the animism and their beliefs on Shamaing, the spiritual leader of the village and Nats, as well as fortune telling by Shamaing is really enjoyable and enjoy Chin traditional dance. 

After lunch and a short rest, continue trekking toward Lote Pe Village, an old Chin village situated on the top of the hill. There you can talk to tattoo-faced women.   
 

After simple breakfast, one and a half hour down trekking to Check Chaung Stream

Then an hour drive up to Mindat by the time we meet our jeep on the bank of the stream. Check-in to your hotel. 

After refreshment, visit Makan Chin Tribe Village and Makyan Village of the hunters. Then, drive to Taung Pu Lu hill to enjoy the sunset. 
 

A morning filled with different cultures will make us refreshing when we do sightseeing around Mindat morning market. 

After that drive back to Bagan and on the way, we can have excellent stops for photos among the pine forest hills.

Also, a short stop at the top of the Ponetaung Ponenyar mountain range, with small stupas and Nat shrines at the summit, taking some photos as well as having tea at a tiny tea shop there are the activities on our way of driving back to Bagan. After lunch, we can visit some more Burmese villages on the way. 

At the sunset time we could be taking the boat to cross the river from Kyaung Chaung to Bagan. 

Visit the colorful Nyaung Oo Market where villagers gather every day to buy and sell their produce and other goods. Continue to Myinkaba Village and take a short walking tour to explore the temples of Manuha and Nan Paya. 

Explore more temples in the area, visit more craft shops or return to the hotel for a break to relax from the midday heat.

In the afternoon, continue to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s least-visited areas.  Here, explore temples such as Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya before heading to the riverside pier.  Board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Irrawaddy River.  While cruising, observe the lifestyle of fishermen and riverside villagers and take in the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples.

Return to the hotel in the evening.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Balloon Experience Over Bagan - Start the morning with an unforgettable hot-air balloon flight over Bagan’s temple-studded plains -widely considered to be one of the most iconic experiences in Asia. Pastries, croissants, coffee and tea are provided while the balloon is inflated.  Climb aboard before gently rising above thousands of gilded stupas and earthen temples all back-dropped by the impressive Irrawaddy River.  Be sure to bring a camera, as this will surely prove to be one of the best photo opportunities of the entire trip.  (Note: available only from late- October to late-March; all flights weather permitting)

After breakfast, we pay a visit to a traditional lacquerware workshop and observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distances from which they are viewed.

From here, travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, Dhammayangyi Temple, a massive temple noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple.

In the afternoon, take flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, check-in to your hotel.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Mahamuni Face Washing - Wake up early in the morning (around 04:00) and catch a local taxi to Mahamuni Pagoda (without guide). Every morning before dawn, monks wash the face of the ‘lumpy’ Buddha image with special fragrant water and brush its teeth. The ritual takes around an hour and is a unique insight into Buddhism. Return to the hotel around 07:30 for breakfast.

First, cross a bridge over the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar.  It is home to more than 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. Visit pagodas such as Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae.

Then, visit Sagaing’s local market, a typical Burmese market that few tourists visit. Here, one can find a range of items for sale including locally made pottery, silver and other handicrafts. We will also stop at a small pottery village to see the process of making the ubiquitous water pots found throughout Myanmar.

Then continue south of the city to Ava, the Burmese capital from the 14th to 18th centuries, where a short ferry ride will head across the river to a waiting horse and carriage. While taking this charming form of transportation, visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and Fort. There are many small villages located amid Ava’s ruins and, while travelling by horse and cart, get a glimpse of local life in the Burmese countryside. We’ll stop for lunch in Ava before returning to our car.

Return toward the city and stop at Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. First visit a silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products. After touring this tranquil site, continue to U Bein Bridge for a walk along this 200-year-old teak wood bridge. The bridge was constructed of 984 teak wood posts that were once part of the deserted Inwa Palace. At 1.2 kilometres in length, it’s the world’s longest teak wood construction. That’s not what the bridge is most famous for, though. As the sun begins to dip below the horizon, get ready for a truly unforgettable experience. The entire area becomes bathed in a vivid golden light. As traditionally-dressed locals pass over the bridge, be sure to snap some photos of the bridge’s iconic silhouette -widely considered to be one of Asia’s best photo opportunities. Afterwards, head back to the hotel in Mandalay.
 

This morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Heho in Shan State. Upon arrival, drive one hour to the beautiful lakeside town of Pindaya. 

Just outside of the town, visit the famous Shwe-Oo-Minn limestone caves with their thousands of Buddha images etched into the cave’s inner wall. 

Afterwards, visit a small-scale traditional Shan paper workshop to observe the making of this unique and colorful paper using mulberry tree fiber and flower petals. Shan paper is used to make various products such as notebooks, envelopes and the famous Burmese parasols which make for great souvenirs to take home.

Lunch at a lovely local restaurant by the lake in Pindaya.

After lunch, briefly visit Pone-Ta-Lok Lake to see local ways of life and then proceed on another 1-hour drive to Kalaw to explore the former British hill station’s colonial architecture before the sun sets.

Trekking starts from hotel. Walk slowly uphill along the pine forest for two and half hours, then arrive to a Danu village called Lutpyin. Lunch in Lutpyin. 

Proceed half an hour to Shapin, another Danu village. Along the trail, there are fruit trees such as avocado, papaya, banana and vegetable farm. They have also animals (water buffaloes and cows) for working in the fields. 

And continue 1-hour trek to Nanthelai The where you would overnight stay. Overnight at monastery 
 

After a simple breakfast start walking for the village of Bawninkhon and Kone Hla. You will enjoy to see the ways of life for Danu and Pa 0 people (ethnic minority of the region). 

Lunch will be served on the way at one of the local family. 

After lunch continue walking to the village of Hti Thein and you will see the beautiful landscape of the region, working people on their vegetable’s fields.

Dinner and overnight stay at the monastery of the village.  
 

After breakfast at the monastery start walking through the hilly and forested area of the region, visit several villages on the way and finally you will reach to the village of Than Thaung, located on the western shore of Inle Lake. 

And you will be transferred to the hotel in Inle Lake by boat.  
 

Visit the lake’s bustling morning market for unique insight into the local cultures of the area. The market rotates its location every day in 5-day cycles.  Villagers from the surrounding hill tribes come to the market to sell and trade their wares -making it the perfect place to witness the uniquely diverse population of people in Inle Lake’s surrounding areas all in the same place. (Note: the market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon day).

From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the village of Indein.  Explore the area on foot and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area.  From here, climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill covered with picturesque ancient stupas. Enjoy magnificent views of the lake below from this vantage point.

After enjoying the visit to Indein, return to the boat. Continue along the lake for additional sightseeing before returning to Inle Lake in the late afternoon. 

This morning, transfer to the airport to go to Kengtung which is well known for its scenic beauty and many colorful ethnic minority groups called Akha, Lahu, Loi, Lahu, Palaung and so forth. 

Kengtung is one of the largest town of the Shan States in Kingdom of Myanmar. It is a historical town with its glorious past in which the rulers (Sawbwas) or the kings and people of Kyaing Tong once stood as staunch supporters of the kings from Myanmar. 

Explore around the city and famous places and guide will explain you about the things you see on the way.  Visit to standing Buddha Image, Long tree Hill, Nang Tong Lake, Shan Traditional Lacquerware Production at Zom Kham. 

After breakfast, visit to Kengtung colorful market and then visit Pin Tauk which is one of the most famous trekking places in Kengtung area. 

We can see different hill tribes in there which make you pleased and happy within a day. It's not difficult to walk and not very hard. The tribes you can see there are Akha, Ann and Lahu. It takes about 45 mins drive. 

Prepared picnic lunch will be served on rout. 

After visiting the villages just come back to car, after driving about 15 mins. 

Then stop on the way back to go and visit Shan Traditional Rice Alcohol Production. 

Late in the afternoon, return to Kengtung.

This morning, drive about 2 hours to Wan Nyant, Wan Sheng direction. As the rules and regulations change very often, the local guide will inform you what to do before going there.

It situates on the half way to Mong lar city which is called Special Region Four, the Chinese Border. The tribe which lives at Wan Nyant, Wan Sheng is Loi tribe. They are very religious and content with what they have. Wan Nyaunt, Wan Sheng is famous for its old-style decoration with different design. After the visit, drive back to hotel.  

After breakfast visit Kengtung’s local market. This daily market is visited by villagers from the surrounding area who come to sell their products and barter for goods.  Visiting the market, you will see minority hilltribes in their traditional dresses.

Then transfer to the airport to take flight to Yangon.

Upon arrival, if you wish, we can visit Post Office – a lovely historic building- and walk to Sule Paya in the middle of downtown. Along the way, pass by Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument. Then visit Little India and Chinatown, a colorful cacophony of restaurants, temples and markets.

Depending on flight time, there is an option to take a ride on Yangon’s Circle Train in the morning.

This unique ride passes through the outskirts of town (20-30 minutes ride), and gives unique insight into the lively, colorful lifestyles of local people in Yangon’s rural areas.  Disembark at the Kyi Myin Daing Market and peruse various stalls and interact with friendly vendors before transferring back to Yangon. 

In the afternoon, if time allows, visit Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, and browse through the wide selection of Burmese handicrafts and other goods before transferring to Yangon International Airport for the onward flight. (Note: Market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays)