Flight: TG2309 Bangkok - Mandalay 09.55 - 11.20

Private transfer to your hotel: Upon arrival at Mandalay airport, you will be welcomed to Myanmar by your guide and transferred to your hotel in a private chauffeur driven car.

Sunset on Mandalay Hill: In the late afternoon, head up to the top of Mandalay Hill, to watch the sunset with your guide. From the top, you will get a panoramic view of the city, the Irrawaddy river and the surrounding countryside. You can discuss with your guide, whether you want to walk the whole way up the hill or drive to the car park closer to the top (the walk is quite steep and takes 45 minutes or more, depending on stops). After taking in the view, return to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort (Superior Room)

Morning cycling tour around Mandalay: This morning, you will be met early at your hotel and transferred to the Grasshopper cycling shop in Mandalay for a bike fitting and safety briefing. Set off and ride through leafy side streets and quiet lanes for a chance to see daily life up close and personal. On the way, you will stop to chat with locals, learning more about their lifestyles, and tasting some local snacks! Your guide will also introduce you to cottage industries such as bamboo weaving, fan making, basketry and other livelihoods that are part of the local heritage. The cycle ride will finish with lunch at one of Mandalay’s tea shops.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon is at leisure in Mandalay. Relax at the hotel, tuck into the surrounding markets, or arrange further excursions through your guide. The main sights in Mandalay and surrounds are dispersed over a very large area, so guided sightseeing is recommended.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Irrawaddy River Cruise from Mandalay to Yandabo: Depart Mandalay early this morning on a memorable river journey down the Irrawaddy to Yandabo. This cruise provides an opportunity to see one of the most interesting areas in Myanmar whilst relaxing on board. The journey to Yandabo takes around 4-5 hours.

Sightseeing around Yandabo: This afternoon, you will visit Yandabo Village. Now a picturesque village specialising in pot-making, this is where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese War was signed in 1826. Walk around the village and stop at some pot-making workshops, and visit the school and the monastery. Continue along the riverbank to Pan Nyo Village, where around 1,000 water buffalo cultivate rice paddies and plant seasonal vegetables and fruits. In the early evening, walk out to the Ayarwaddy riverbank to enjoy the sunset.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Yandabo Home (Chalet)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Cruise from Yandabo to Bagan: After breakfast, re-board your boat and continue on the scenic journey downstream to Bagan, a journey of around 4-5 hours.

Afternoon horse and cart tour of Bagan: After transferring to your hotel to check-in and freshen up, this afternoon you will see some of the amazing ruins of Bagan and the villages around the ruins, travelling by horse and cart, a fun experience for all ages!

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Areindmar Hotel (Grand Acacia Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided bicycle tour around Bagan: After breakfast, you will set off from your hotel with your guide by bicycle. Today’s itinerary is flexible and your guide can recommend particular temples or other sights that you may wish to visit. Please speak to your guide if you would like to stop anywhere specific.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Areindmar Hotel (Grand Acacia Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning Pennywort Cooking Class: This morning, you will join a shared cooking class hosted by the friendly Ms May. The class begins with an early morning visit to the New Bagan market (on market days only), before you are welcomed back to Ms May's home and garden, where she will teach you how to prepare some delicious Burmese recipes. Ms May graduated in bio-gardening in Thailand and is an ardent promoter of agriculture free from pesticides and fertilizers. The class uses local cooking equipment and follows traditional recipies, with a mixture of demonstrations and hands-on activity, to create a menu of soup, salad and a main course, which you will then enjoy for lunch.  A percentage of profits from the class go towards the Kuthodaw Library, a community project supported by Ms May.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon, you are at leisure to relax at the hotel or explore independently. For the adventurous, we recommend hiring bikes or e-bikes from your hotel and setting off to explore the majestic ruins independently. Alternatively, you could shop for souvenirs in local lacquer-ware stores, or arrange a side-trip to Sale through your guide.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Areindmar Hotel (Grand Acacia Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Kalaw, via Mt Popa: Set off from your hotel early this morning and drive for around 2 hours to visit Mount Popa. You will arrive in time to climb this extinct volcano and take in the spectacular views over the surrounding countryside from its summit. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as “nats” and you will have the option to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. After you have explored more of the area, hit the road again and continue to Kalaw, arriving late in the afternoon. Lunch today is included at a local restaurant en route.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kalaw Heritage Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Visit the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp: After breakfast, you will be driven away from Kalaw to the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp. The camp is located around 25km from Kalaw, a journey of approximately 45 minutes. Many of the elephants here are retired performing elephants. There are no shows, and riding the elephants is not permitted, the camp instead focuses on conservation and responsible tourism. You will spend all day at the camp, caring for and playing with the elephants, before returning to your hotel late in the afternoon.  As well as bathing the elephants, you will get to meet and talk with their mahouts to learn about their methods of care. Treks of varying difficulty can be taken in the countryside around the camp, providing an opportunity to encounter the multiple birds, butterflies, and orchids in and around the conservation area. The camp is also heavily involved in the re-planting and recovery of indigenous tree species from their onsite nursery, something you may also enjoy getting involved in. A lunch will be provided at the camp, and you will return to your hotel in Kalaw in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kalaw Heritage Hotel (Deluxe Garden View Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Train journey to Shwe Nyaung: After breakfast and a chance to wander around Kalaw independently, you will be taken to the mock-tudor colonial style railway station for your scenic rail journey to Shwe Nyaung. On this 3 hour journey you will travel through rural villages and observe local Shan life through the wide open windows. The train will meander slowly through the countryside and zigzag across hilly terrain before arriving at Shwe Nyaung in the mid afternoon. The train will stop a number of times at other small stations en route, where you will be able to buy interesting snacks and other goods from the local ladies and children. Please note that the facilities on board the train are poor and the seats will not be as comfortable as you are used to on western trains.

Road journey to Inle Lake: On arrival at the charmingly dilapidated old colonial station at Shwe Nyaung, you will be shown around the small town by your guide, before being transferred to your hotel in Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake around 30 minute drive away.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Maison Birmane Inn (Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Inle Lake: After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and depart by boat for the western shore of the lake, where you will find the beginning of a long stair path leading to the well-hidden Inn Thein Pagoda complex. Here, you will see one of the most amazing historical sights on the shore of the lake, consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and vegetation. Continue on foot to a village nearby where several crops are grown in traditional ways. Walk at an easy pace along one of the many creeks, passing through rice fields to the village of Sae Ma. In the afternoon, meet the people in the villages on the lake and travel to one of the monasteries to observe the monastic activities. There may also be the opportunity to visit the weaving village of Inpawkhon and one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (in the morning on market days only). Later, return to the hotel by boat.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Maison Birmane Inn (Villa)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Vineyard & cycling tour: At the agrered time today, you will be taken on a tour of the Red Mountain vineyard, owned by Pao ethnic group organization employing a genuine French wine maker to create some magnificent wines which are recognized as the best produced in Asia. After visiting the vineyard, you can take a bicycle tour through sugar cane and corn plantations and stop at some hot springs, before continuing back to Nyang Shwe. The rest of the day is free to explore independently or arrange further sightseeing through your guide or hotel (payable locally).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Maison Birmane Inn (Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today is your own to relax in the lakeside town of Nyaung Shwe or explore independently. Unwind at the hotel, take a stroll through the town, or set off on a trek in the surrounding countryside.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the La Maison Birmane Inn (Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Heho Airport: At the advised time this morning, your guide will pick you up from your hotel for the drive to Heho Airport, a journey of around 45 minutes.

Flight: K7243 Heho - Yangon 10.00 - 12.05

Guide & driver at your disposal: On arrival in Yangon, you will be met by a guide and driver, who will be at your disposal to take you around Yangon, sightseeing, shopping or dining as you wish, until it is time to return to the airport for your flight home. As an alternative, you may prefer for us to book you a room for day use at a hotel near the airport, so you can relax by the pool for a few hours, have lunch and minimize time in the car - please discuss these options with your consultant at the time of booking.

Flight: TG306 Yangon - Bangkok 19.50 - 21.45

Meals: Breakfast