Highlights of Myanmar

Upon arrival, meet your tour guide and begin your sightseeing tour of Yangon. Highlights include the old colonial-style city centre and the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2000 years. Visit Bogyoke Market to see the wide range of traditional handicrafts on offer and Chauk Htat Gyi, a huge reclining Buddha. Finally enjoy a photo stop at Karaweik Hall royal floating barge, where you can walk on the wooden bridge over Kandawgyi Lake and enjoy the views of the park and Shwedagon.

This morning, cross the Yangon River by local ferry (10 minutes) for Dalla. Upon arrival at the other side, trishaw drivers are waiting to drive you over dusty roads through local villages as you enjoy the scenery. This is real rural life and provides a stark contrast to the busy streets of Yangon. Stop at the Indian market, before taking a ride on the circular train (30-45 minutes). Opened in 1961, the train carries 15,000-20,000 people a day starting and ending at the Central Station in Yangon. There are several stops along the journey where you can take photos, buy drinks from locals or simply stretch your legs. Later, visit Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments, where you will enjoy the sunset.

Early morning transfer to Yangon Airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, enjoy a sightseeing tour starting with visits to a local market and a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Shwezigon Pagoda. Continue to Kyansittha cave temple and Gubyaukgyi cave temple before visiting Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan and Ananda Temple with four huge standing Buddha images. Check-in to your hotel late morning and in the afternoon, visit a lacquer craft workshop in nearby Myinkaba village. Your sightseeing continues with visits to Manuha Temple, Nanbaya Temple and Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple.

Today you will visit Min Nan Thu Village area by horse and cart. Visit Tayokepyay Temple, Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples, noted for exquisite 13th century murals, and Kyat Kan Cave monastery, a famous meditation centre. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the nostalgic Nat Htaung Kyaung, a monastery famous for woodcarvings, built in 1781. Afterwards, visit Maung Aung Myin Lacquerware factory to watch craftsmen skilfully making the most famous of Bagan's handicrafts.

Transfer to Bagan Airport for your flight to Mandalay. From the airport, start your morning Mandalay sightseeing tour with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Stop to see stone carving and later see gold leaf being beaten into thin pieces. Check in to your hotel late morning. In the afternoon, visit Shwenandaw Monastery, an ancient wooden building with intricate carvings, which was once King Mindon's home. Continue to Kuthodaw Pagoda and Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda and enjoy spectacular views at sunset from Mandalay Hill. Afterwards, visit Shwe Kyin Monastery and observe the evening prayers.

In the morning, visit the Jade Market before taking the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava), located on an island between the Ayeyarwaddy and Myitnge Rivers. You will visit Innwa by horse and cart, passing through the ancient city walls to visit Maha Aungme Bozan Monastery and the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. In the afternoon drive to Sagaing and visit the picturesque Sagaing Hill, dotted with numerous pagoda's and monasteries. Return to Amarapura and continue to the 150 year old U Bein teak Bridge, built in 1851. The bridge is over 1 kilometre long and from here you can walk along and enjoy the spectacular views at sunset.

Transfer to Mandalay airport for your domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival, drive to Nyaung Shwe, visiting Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery on the way. Board a local boat to take you to your hotel on the edge of Inle Lake. This is a photographer's dream - the calm waters of the lake are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes. See the lake's unique "leg rowers" - the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped round an oar. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan state. Continue to visit Lae Gyae Village where Buddha images are made out of saw dust and see the century old monastery, before continuing by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. The boat ride back to your hotel passes via the floating gardens.

Today explore one of the five day markets, where you can get an insight into the lifestyle of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants who come to these markets to sell their goods. Arrive at the village of Maing Thauk on the edge of Inle Lake by boat. Walk up a track through the village and continue up the hill to a stupa which has fantastic views out over the lake and surrounding hills. The walk takes around two hours round trip and although uphill, is not steep. In the afternoon, enjoy another boat tour to Indaing at the western end of the lake. The boat takes you through a long channel where farmers cultivate their produce. This is one of the most scenic boat tours on Inle Lake.

In the morning, transfer to Heho Airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, a car and guide is at your disposal until it is time to transfer to Yangon Airport for your onward journey, or alternatively extend your stay in Myanmar.