Family outing

Arrival at Yangon international airport, where we are welcomed and transferred to our hotel.

We set off without further delay to explore the former capital of Myanmar, which with its six million inhabitants is a sprawling city and the economic and cultural center of the country.

Among the most interesting sites, we stroll through the old colonial district where the buildings are laden with history. Foremost among these we do not miss The Secretariat where General Aung San, independence leader and father of the future Nobel Peace Prize winner, was assassinated on July 19, 1947.

For an immersion in the vibrant and colorful daily life of the country, Bogyoke Market is a highly recommended stop.

In the beautiful colors of late afternoon, let us head towards the city's most famous symbol, the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda, which is said to contain the relics of four buddhas. Entirely covered in gold, it is the most sacred pilgrimage site in Myanmar.

Mandalay, the country's 2nd largest city, is brimming with historic sites and temples. As a former kingdom capital, it is notably home to the 2nd most sacred pagoda in the country, the Mahamuni pagoda, as well as the imposing royal palace citadel.

Among the other remarkable sites in the city are the Shwenandaw Monastery, built entirely of teak wood, and nearby the Kuthodaw pagoda (the "royal merit"), whose 729 white stupas house the writings of the "world's largest book", the Tipitaka, a Buddhist canon in Pali language.

From Mandalay Hill, which offers a particularly photogenic panorama as sunset approaches, we can admire the exceptional geographical position of the city: nestled between the majestic Irrawaddy River and the foothills of the Shan Mountains. We reach the summit on foot or by car and discover several monasteries and pagodas along the way.

This morning we head south of the city to walk on one of its emblems, the famous U Bein wooden bridge, stretching 1.2 kilometers and entirely built in teak. Outside the city, on the banks of the Irrawaddy, we then reach the city of Ava, the former capital of the kingdom of the same name. It is by horse-drawn carriage that we discover the site, including its Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery and its Nanmyin tower, the only element of the royal palace that has survived to this day.

Change of transport, it is by private boat that we continue our journey, for 45 magical minutes sailing up the Irrawaddy river to the site of Mingun. Its imposing unfinished pagoda, built by King Bodowpaya, was supposed to be the largest in the world before its construction was halted upon the king's death. It is also known for its large crack resulting from the 1838 earthquake. The king had also commissioned an immense bell, visible on the site. The superb Hsinbyume pagoda, meanwhile, was built by King Bagyidam in tribute to his deceased wife.

After our visits and in the magnificent colors of sunset, we sail back down by boat towards Mandalay.

The morning is dedicated to discovering one of the greatest jewels of Myanmar and Asia: the exceptional plain of Bagan. More than 2000 temples of all sizes and conditions, from the most majestic to the most simple, built between the 11th and 13th centuries on a vast plain along the Irrawaddy river. The atmosphere and charm of the place are like nothing else, the temples are scattered throughout the vegetation, exploration is endless and fills us with wonder. Among the most famous, we can mention the Gu Byauk Gyi temple, the Manuha pagoda or the Nan Paya temple.

In the afternoon we head towards Old Bagan, ancient stronghold of which some sections of walls remain and housing many temples and pagodas, such as the Bu pagoda, the Shwegu Gyi temples, Maha Bodhi, That Byin Nyu and Dhammayan Gyi, or the Shwesandaw pagoda.

Free day in Bagan. Possibility to enjoy the hotel, stroll around the site, rent bikes, …

Optional : excursion with vehicle and guide to more remote sites, visit to workshops,

… Contact us for possibilities and rates.

The day is dedicated to discovering by boat the Inle Lake, its inhabitants and activities. At 1200m altitude, enjoying a pleasant climate and surrounded by lush hills, the setting is idyllic. The Intha ethnic group lives on the lake in stilt houses and cultivates fruits and vegetables in floating gardens.

The great Phaung Daw U Pagoda, located in the central part of the lake, is famous for its five Buddha statues, so covered with gold leaf by pilgrims that their original forms can no longer be distinguished today.

We end our wanderings on the water by visiting stilt monasteries and craft workshops and head back to our hotel in the afternoon.

This morning we blend into the daily life of the region's inhabitants and go for a stroll through one of its many markets. Floating or on the shores, it's an opportunity to see buyers and sellers going back and forth by boat. The markets are a specialty of the Inle Lake region and follow a particular cycle, so there are several markets around every day.

We then navigate towards the west of the lake, which we leave via various small canals in the middle of the fields before reaching the village of Indein. It's another facet of the lake that we discover and we never tire of observing the life and work in the fields of the villagers. Indein is home to an archaeological site of the Pao ethnic group nestled in vegetation and from which the views of the surroundings are very beautiful.

Free day at Inle Lake. We can rest, stroll through villages, rent bicycles, relax in hot springs, …

(Feel free to contact us to add scheduled activities)