Flight: PG721 Bangkok - Naypyidaw 17.00 - 19.00

Meet & greet: Upon arrival in Naypyidaw, you will be welcomed to Myanmar by your guide and driver, and taken to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aureum Hotel & Resort (Executive Deluxe Bungalow)

Full day tour of Naypyidaw: Today, you will take a tour of Naypyidaw's rather obscure collection of sights. These include the enormous Parliament Building (fronted by a deserted 11-lane highway), the equally-large Uppatasanti Pagoda (a replica of Yangon's Shwedagon), a gems museum, as well as the Zoological Gardens, National Herbal Park, and Safari Park. After time to explore the capital in depth, return to your hotel to spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aureum Hotel & Resort (Executive Deluxe Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Naypyidaw to Mandalay: Depart Naypyidaw this morning, heading north along the newly-built National Highway 1 to Mandalay. This road journey, along the sparsely-used open highway, will take around 3 hours. On arrival in Mandalay you will head straight to your hotel for check-in.

Boat trip to Mingun: After checking in, you will take an hour's trip by boat up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun. Here you will visit the magnificent Mingun Bell, which is the world's largest un-cracked bell and weighs in at an impressive 90 tons. Afterwards, visit Hsinbyume Paya as well as the unfinished Mingun Paya, which was intended to be one of the world's largest chedis and was built, at least in part, by King Bodaw Paya.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Amazing Mandalay (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour Amarapura, Ava, & Sagaing: After breakfast, leave Mandalay for Amarapura, 10 miles out of the city, to visit Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to the 200 year old U Bein teak bridge which was built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the capital. The Bagaya Monastery will fascinate you with its intriguing collection of Buddha statues. This afternoon, a short drive brings you to Myitnge River for the short boat trip across the river to the former Royal Capital of Inwa (Ava) where a horse-drawn carriage is waiting. You will visit Nanmyint Watch Tower, the remains of a palace building nicknamed "the leaning tower of Ava"; the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, built of brick and stucco and Bargayar Monastery, famous for its ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Today's excursion ends with a visit to the Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, in time for sunset.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Amazing Mandalay (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin: Set off from Mandalay on the scenic drive to the former British hill station of Pyin-U-Lwin (formerly Maymyo), a journey of around 2 hours.

Guided tour of Pyin Oo Lwin: After checking in to your hotel, you will set out to explore the town of Pyin U Lwin which has an elevated position in the hills close to Mandalay. Formerly known as Maymyo the town is home to a host of colonial era buildings which are reminiscent of an English suburban town. In the afternoon you will visit the excellent botanical gardens which were founded by the British in 1915 and which are home to a magnificent collection of tropical plants ranging from bamboo groves to rare orchids.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aureum Resort at Governor's House (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Pyin Oo Lwin & surrounds: After breakfast, visit the local market by horse cart and get a sense of a bygone era as you travel through the town in a traditional horse-drawn carriage which still serves as a local taxi. Later make a visit to the Maha Ant Htoo Kan Thar Pagoda which is home to a large marble Buddha. In the afternoon venture out to visit the Peik Khyin Myaung Caves, which are almost as old as the land itself, and then proceed to the Pwe Kyauk Falls, a favorite picnic spot for local people. Pyin U Lwin is also famous for its organic ground coffee from local plantations and you will have a chance to enjoy the famous local coffee at a coffee shop in town before returning to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aureum Resort at Governor's House (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Journey by rail & road from Pyin Oo Lwin to Mogok: After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the railway station in Pyin U Lwin where you will board the morning train towards Lashio which departs at 08.30. This train used to be the infamous black-market train which, in the past, transported goods to and from China. You will travel through charming scenery and the train will cross the famous 700m long Gokteik Bridge, built in 1900 by the American Pennsylvania Steel Co. The impressive height from the bridge to the bottom of the valley is nearly 300m. Please note that it is not permitted to photograph or video bridges in Myanmar. After crossing the bridge the train will stop at a small station where you will meet your driver; once re-united leave the Burma Road behind, heading north through rolling hills towards the ruby-mining centre of Mogok. This route is much improved in recent years, but the journey will remain around 2-3 hours along poorly-surfaced roads. Arrive in Mogok and head straight to your hotel to check-in, with the remainder of the day spent at leisure to acclimatise to your new surroundings.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Golden Butterfly Hotel (Suite Room)

Hotel: Breakfast

Full day tour around Mogok: After breakfast, set out to explore Mogok and the surrounding area. Today will include a thorough examination of Mogok's chief industry - its rubies. You will be able to visit the mines themselves, observe how the stones are brought from mine to market, and then visit the trading centres themselves. Additional sights in Mogok include a pair of picturesque pagodas, and a colonial British cemetery - all of which will be introduced to you by your guide. The surrounding hills and forests are also rich with a variety of treks - a great way to spend the afternoon (or longer)  if so inclined. Please let us know if you would like to use Mogok as a base for trekking and we would be happy to suggest possible routes.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Golden Butterfly Hotel (Suite Room)

Hotel: Breakfast

Second morning in Mogok: Begin your day with a visit to Mogok's morning ruby market to see the precious stone ferociously traded. Time-willing, you may also like to consider taking an additional short trek this morning.

Road journey from Mogok to Hsipaw: Head back south this afternoon, re-joining the Burma Road at Kyaukme and continuing on to the lazy riverside town of Hsipaw. This will be a journey of approximately 4-5 hours, and on arrival you will take in the sunset from Nine Buddha Hill. Later, proceed to your hotel to check in and spend the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riverside @ Hsipaw Resort (Bungalow Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day waterfalls and villages trek: After breakfast, you will be met at the riverbank by your trekking guide, and will begin your journey up the serene Dokhtawaddy River. After around 30 minutes, you will stop at a riverside village, disembark, and begin a light trek through the countryside towards the 170-year old Taishan Monastery. Passing through pineapple and mango plantations en route, you will arrive at the monastery in the mid-morning, stopping for refreshments and perhaps chatting to the monks. Trek back down to the river bank through more plantations and villages, and meet up with your boat and driver a short distance upstream from where you set off. Head further upstream where you will find the river splits, creating a set of natural waterfalls which make an excellent spot for a cooling dip (November to March only) and a picnic lunch. From here, you can either be transferred back to your hotel, or continue on walking through the Shan countryside around Hsipaw.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riverside @ Hsipaw Resort (Bungalow Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Drive from Hsipaw to Lashio, with sightseeing: Depart Hsipaw this morning, heading further towards the Chinese border and the busy trading town of Lashio. Time allowing, you may be able to visit some extremely rural Palaung villages out in the surrounding countryside. Around lunchtime arrive at Lashio - a large city, and the administrative capital of Northern Shan. Lashio is an interesting visit and has a number of sights, including a lively market (a hub for Chinese-Myanmar commerce), and a couple of picturesque, historic pagodas. After a short time to explore the city you will be dropped at the airport in time to take your flight down to Yangon.

Flight: 7Y708 Lashio - Yangon 14.50 - 16.30

Private transfer: On arrival in Yangon, you will be met by your private guide and driver and taken to your hotel to check-in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jasmine Palace Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Full day tour of Yangon: Your journey begins with a guided tour through Yangon's city centre, starting on Pansodan Street which is famous for some of Yangon's most impressive colonial buildings. Continue to Pansodan jetty to observe the frenetic daily life on the Yangon River, and on to Sule Pagoda which dates back some 2,000 years. You will then have the chance to see the magnificent reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi; followed by the Karaweik Hall, a 'hamsa bird shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. Continue on to 31st Street which is well known for second hand book shops as well as typical historical shop houses and later stroll through Bogyoke (Scotts) Market which has hundreds of stalls selling food, clothes, handicrafts and gems. In the afternoon drive to the landmark Strand Hotel, close to Pansodan Jetty where you can observe the busy life on the Yangon River. Start your walking tour at Mahabandoola Road from where you have the perfect view of Sule Pagoda, City Hall and the High Court. Pass by the greens of Mahabandoola Garden before discovering the gold shops of Shwe Bontha Street. Walk on to Kon Zay Dan Street and Shwedagon Pagoda Road before crossing through the animated Indian District of Anawrahta Road to reach the Hindu temple. Finish the day with an extended visit to one of the world's most spectacular monuments, the shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Jasmine Palace Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast