General Information
Duration: 14 Days/13 Nights
Tour Type: Sightseeing, Culture, Adventure
Travel dates: No fixed, up to your schedule
Start/End: Yangon/Yangon
Tour Route: Yangon – Inle Lake – Kalaw – Mandalay– Bagan – Mandalay
Experience this 14-day Myanmar Family Adventure Tour With:
- Guides: hand-picked best tour guides with deep knowledge, humor, profession (English speaking guides, other languages upon request)
- Drivers: polite, friendly, responsible, reliable with many years of driving experience
- Vehicles: comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned & clean
- Meals: meals are arranged at local restaurants so you can taste authentic Burmese cuisine
- Accommodation: well-chosen accommodation is listed below. Besides, various types of accommodation are available, from 5-star hotels, 4-star hotels in the best location, good value 3-star hotels, to boutique hotels reflect the style of the region
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Yangon (D)
Day 2: Yangon – Fly to Inle Lake (B, L)
Day 3: Bike & Boat Inle Lake 25km (B, L)
Day 4: Cycle to Indein 25km, Transfer to Kalaw(B, L, D))
Day 5: Kalaw – Trek to Elephant Sanctuary (B, L, D)
Day 6: Kalaw – Fly to Mandalay (B)
Day 7: Cycle the Mandalay Countryside 20km (B, L)
Day 8: Cycle to U Bein Bridge 25km, Transfer to Myingyan (B, L)
Day 9: Transfer & Cycle to Mount Popa 25km (B, L, D)
Day 10: Transfer & Cycle to Bagan 25km (B, L, D)
Day 11: Cycle the Pagodas of Bagan 25km (B, L, D)
Day 12: Free Day in Bagan (B, L, D)
Day 13: Bagan – Mandalay (B)
Day 14: Mandalay Departure (B)
Recommended Hotel List
Location | Hotels & Ratings |
Yangon | Summit Park View |
Bagan | Ayeyar River View |
Kalaw | Dream Mountain Resort |
Mandalay | Yuan Sheng Hotel |
Inle Lake | Paradise NS |
Please note that every element of the tour below can be tailored. Tell us your specific interest and we will be happy to make adjustments for you. This inquiry is totally free and you are under no obligation!
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Yangon (D)
You can arrive at any time before 3:00 pm today. A driver will meet you on arrival and bring you to the hotel. We meet in the late afternoon for a briefing, followed by a visit to the most important religious monument in Myanmar, the Shwedagon Pagoda. We learn about the intricate history and significance of this towering, gold-covered pagoda and enjoy an unforgettable sunset here. A delicious Burmese dinner awaits.
Day 2: Yangon - Fly to Inle Lake (B, L)
After an early morning walking tour of downtown Yangon, we take a late morning flight to Heho and a short drive onto Nyang Shwe, the main Inle Lake Town. We will be staying on the dry land next to the lake rather than on it. This gives you the freedom to explore the area by bike in the afternoon with your guide.
Day 3: Bike & Boat Inle Lake 25 km (B, L)
We take a ride around the area to learn a little about the local culture and the farming habits of the people here. We then cycle along the western bank of the lake, before taking a boat trip on the lake itself. Here we will see leg-rowing fishermen, silk weaving, silversmiths and whole communities that exist in stilt houses on the lake. Everything from schools, shops, even basketball courts can be found out here, all within a short boat ride of each other.
Day 4: Cycle to Indein 25km, Transfer to Kalaw (B, L, D)
Today we make our way into the Shan Hills but not without one last ride along the lake where we'll have little traffic and the chance to see local villages and perhaps even a rotating market. We'll pack up the bikes and drive 2 hours to Kalaw, a former British Hill Station and home to an astounding mix of people, from descendants of Gurkha soldiers to Bangladeshi immigrants, ethnic Pao O and Burmese. All share this picturesque setting with a small, but fascinating market at its center.
We explore the market on foot and then if you wish, jump back on the bikes for a pedal around the town to see some of the remaining British influenced buildings. The Shan Hills are noted for their fresh produce and tonight you'll have a chance to try it at a family run restaurant.
Day 5: Kalaw - Trek to Elephant Sanctuary (B, L, D)
After a short drive, we start our walk on well-worn trails through the forest. We pass small villages as we descend, eventually arriving at the Elephant Sanctuary. Here a dedicated team has established a natural reserve for working Elephants to retire to. The sanctuary, in its third year of operation, also serves as a reforestation project to provide further habitat to the elephants. We take a walk here and hope to see some of the residents. After spending some time with these majestic creatures, we have lunch at the sanctuary HQ and then return to Kalaw by car.
Day 6: Kalaw - Fly to Mandalay (B)
Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar and was the first city to be ransacked by the advancing British forces. The former Royal complex was destroyed in a fire during World War II, but you can still see the impressive walls and moat. The city of Mandalay is now a bustling commercial center with fascinating local markets. We touch down in the late morning and then have the afternoon to wander on foot and explore the town.
Day 7: Cycle the Mandalay Countryside 20 km (B, L)
We take a bike ride beyond the bustle of Mandalay to see the villages that exist around the periphery. Here we find a peaceful way of life, centered around the cycle of the farming seasons and traditional life. In the dry season, while the land lays fallow, the villagers dedicate their time to traditional crafts such as making robes for monks, snacks to sell in the market or other skills that have been passed down to them. After lunch, the rest of the day is free for you to relax and enjoy the pool or explore on your own.
Day 8: Cycle to U Bein Bridge 25 km, Transfer to Myingyan (B, D)
We take to the bikes and ride the back trails of the Mandalay region this morning. We pass by ruined pagodas dating back to the heyday of Amarapura and we discover the Muslim enclave that is home to the descendants of Mayor U Bein who built the longest teakwood bridge in the world. We finish at this bridge where we have lunch before driving onto Myingyan, a small town of little note, but perfectly located for us to break our journey for the night.
Day 9: Transfer & Cycle to Mount Popa 25 km (B, L, D)
After driving some way towards our destination, we find our bikes and detour through the villages surrounding Mount Popa. Depending on the time of year, you will see various crops, maybe even sunflowers or tamarind. We are then back into the vehicle for the drive up to volcanic Mount Popa, home of the 37 Nat. Our hotel is the Mount Popa Resort with a clear, fresh pool and a view of the hill-top temple. In the afternoon, those wanting to get up close and personal with the tales of the Nat spirits can join your tour leader for a visit to Taung Kalat.
Day 10: Transfer & Cycle to Bagan 25 km (B, L, D)
Those who enjoy big downhills may like to enjoy this one before we drive onto the Bagan area where we cut short and take a lovely ride through the villages of the dry zone area. We encounter palm sugar production and various other food and craft production as we pedal the sandy trails into Bagan proper with its beautiful panorama of the pagoda speckled plain.
Day 11: Cycle the Pagodas of Bagan 25 km (B, L, D)
the morning of day 11 delivers you a wonderful activity: This early morning is the ideal timing for Balloons Over Bagan, a professional ballooning operation based in Bagan. They run sunrise balloon flights that are considered some of the best ballooning in the world. We can arrange this for you. Prices are approximately $330 per person. Please inquire when booking on the tour if this interests you.
The pagodas of the Bagan Plain are best visited early in the morning as the sandy landscape heats up by the middle of the day. We make good use of an early start and focus our visit on the temples that were built between the 14th and 19th centuries: Shwezigon, Sulamani, Htilominlo, Dhammayazika. In the late morning, we find a shady tree to enjoy lunch under and then have an afternoon for free time before we find a quiet view at the sunset hill to enjoy a peaceful sunset overlooking the pagodas.
Day 12: Free Day in Bagan (B, L, D)
A free day for you to relax, take stock of the great adventure and enjoy this enchanting location. The hotel is well located for more exploration and has a nice pool for those who have had enough exploration for the time being. Burmese massage is also highly recommended.
Day 13: Bagan - Mandalay (B)
We make an early start for our five-hour drive to Mandalay. Those departing today can be taken straight to the airport. For those wanting to spend more time in Mandalay, we will take you to your hotel.
Day 14: Mandalay Departure (B)
Time will be free until our car arrives at the hotel to take us to the airport in good time for our homeward departure flight. Tour ends. We hope that you love the itinerary we design for Myanmar itinerary 2 weeks. Thank you for making your trip with Go Myanmar Tours!