Romantic Honeymoon in Myanmar

U Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in Yangon.

Then in the afternoon, visit animated downtown area for presentation of Yangon busiest life and colonial buildings. Continue visiting the Reclining Buddha Image “Chaukhtetgyi” and then to Shwedagon Pagoda “masterpiece of Yangon”, feel the wonderful color of the reflection of sunset.

After breakfast in the morning, transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay.

Upon arrival, begin a sightseeing tour of Mandalay with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda is home to one of the country’s most revered Buddha images which, over the years, has been covered with so much gold leaf by revelers that it has attained a unique and iconic ‘lumpy’ texture. Get a good look at this famous Buddha image and walk around the temple grounds for a feel of its unique spiritual vibes.

Mandalay is well-known for its skilled craftsmen and, while touring traditional workshops, learn more about the city’s cottage industries. Observe the production of wood carvings, kalaga tapestries, and gold-leaf, where the techniques remained unchanged from those used centuries ago to craft items for the Royal Court.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY:   Make a marionette- Visit a local craft shop, choose a marionette’s design (clothes, face, body) and make a unique personalized souvenir. The entire process takes around 1 hour and is suitable for adults and children.

This afternoon, continue the tour of Mandalay with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak wood building is known for its exquisite woodcarving.

Then head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River from the highest vantage point in the area.

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. 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. 

Afterwards, head back to the hotel in Mandalay.

After breakfast, enjoy 8-hour river cruise from Mandalay to Bagan (from October to March)

The whole cruising day gives you the opportunity to see ways of life on Irrawaddy, famous River which originates at north of country at base of Himilaya and flows to the South to enter into Indian Ocean. With RV Panorama, one village will be visited on the way to observe ways of life of villagers. Arrive at Bagan in the evening.

Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Bagan

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.  

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.

In the morning, our journey begins with views of the magnificent plains of Bagan on the way to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction into Bagan’s rich history. Then, visit nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings, and the elegant Htilominlo Temple, noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

In the afternoon, 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.

Continue to an elevated viewpoint to watch an unforgettable sunset over the plains before returning to the hotel.

In the evening, taste of home cooked dinner in local home of New Bagan

After breakfast, drive to airport to fly to Heho. 

Then, leave by car towards Pindaya, passing through picturesque view of the page-work fields. You will arrive in the evening and visit Pindaya cave, natural cave which is home to over eight thousand of Buddha images. And then observe traditional Shan paper and umbrella production. 

Then, visit to Pindaya Lake where you can meet local people. Then, leave for Nyaung Shwe, the gate entrance of the Lake, famous for its nature and traditional leg-rowers and fishing. By 30 minutes –boat, transfer to your hotel resort in Inle Lake for check-in and refreshment

This morning, spend a full day aboard a boat exploring the breathtaking lake, which is surrounded on both sides by high hills. 

You will have an opportunity to visit the 5 days market, which is held once in every five days. It is the best opportunity to see hill tribes coming down to sell and buy their products. Visit floating villages scattered along the lake and floating firms, traditional fishing, traditional art and crafts. 

A romantic boat lunch in lake & cooking class in Thahara Inle will be arranged.

Visit silk/ Lotus weaving village of Inbawkhone village and Cheroot making and Ngephechaung monastery with its collection of Buddha Images.  

After breakfast set-off by motorboat across the main part of the lake to the village of Ywama, the setting for today’s traditional canoe boat tour on Inle Lake.

Upon reaching the village, step into a small but sturdy canoe boat along with one other passenger and the village guide. Enjoy the scenery while the village guide takes care of the paddling. It is also a lot of fun to try paddling for a while. Wind through the maze of canals and waterways that form the ‘streets’ of the village. Get up close to the famous stilted houses of Inle. Although the use of motorized boats on Inle Lake is ever-increasing, many people still use their non-motorized wooden canoes to get around and this tour provides a unique opportunity to step back into this traditional way of life on the lake. A pa yan (local straw cushion) is provided for comfort.
After around half an hour, give the village guide a break from paddling and go ashore for a village visit. Stop at a family-run workshops to see the traditional techniques used to make tofu, metal works and gold jewellery. There may even be a chance to learn about traditional medicine. This hour-long walk provides a fascinating insight into the deep-rooted heritage of the Intha people. 

Afterwards, return to the wooden canoes and explore another section of Ywama. See more fascinating scenes of local life and enjoy the tranquility of the quieter corners of Inle Lake. During the trip, stop at a stilted house to refuel with tea and snacks. Then loop back to the starting point, say goodbye to the village guide and transfer from canoe to motorboat.

After lunch at a local restaurant continue across the lake and down a narrow canal to the village of Indein. (Due to low water levels, Indein is often inaccessible by boat in April and May. The area can still be reached by road) Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village and wandering through the beautiful Alaung Sithu area. Walk up the hill to see its picturesque stupas and enjoy magnificent views of the lake

This morning, transfer to airport to fly to Ngapali beach, a pretty quiet white-sand beach and crystal-clear water for snorkeling, sailing or wind surfing, is the most popular destination in Myanmar. 

The villages around work on fishing and the promenade and visit the fishing villages are well worth exploring. You will be picked up at airport by hotel arrangement to transfer to hotel. 

Spend the rest of the day for your own relaxation.

Free at your own leisure. There are plenty of water activities on spot if you wish to spend your day. Overnight in Ngapali Beach

Free at your own leisure. There are plenty of water activities on spot if you wish to spend your day. Overnight in Ngapali Beach

Morning at your own relaxation.

Then transfer to airport for flight to Yangon.

Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

Morning at your own relaxation.

Then transfer to airport for your departure flight.