The Artful Traveler

Itinerary

01.01.2015    ARRIVE YANGON

Overnight in Yangon.

 

02.01.2015    YANGON

Yangon city orientation tour including the gilded Sule Pagoda -dating back over 2,000 years, old colonial style city centre. Maha Bandoola Park, Independent Monument, Town Hall, Supreme Court are Yangon's famous attractions for beautiful photo spots.

Afternoon shopping  at Bogyoke Aung San Market ( also known as Scott Market ), the city's busiest and most colorful bazaar where gems & jewelleries, lacquer ware, woodcarvings, silverware, paintings and other handicrafts are available.

Evening visit the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda ;a 98 meters high golden stupa believed to have been built about 2,500 years ago one of the world's most spectacular monuments  in sunset time.   

 

03.01.2015      YANGON

The National museum display of exhibits including Royal Regalia & 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne of last monarch in 19th Century. Visit to Boatataung Pagoda- located close to Yangon River and said to contain Buddha relics and walk along Yangon River to see the busy harbor area.  Dinner at Leplanteur Restaurant.( French cuisine).

 

04.01.2015      YANGON – KYAIKHTIYO (Golden Rock) via Bago

After early breakfast at hotel,  (04-05hrs drive)  to Kyaikhtiyo, one of the holiest pilgrimage sites in the country situated about 160 km from Yangon and crossing the Sittaung Bridge via Bago, an ancient city of the 15th century Mon Kingdom. Highlights include Shwemawdaw Pagoda, over a thousand years old, the 55 meter long Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha, Kyaik Pun Pagodas, famous for its four giant Buddhas. Lunch at Hanthawaddy Restaurant.

Proceed to Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock). The stupa believed to enshrine a hair relic of the Buddha is set atop a huge gold-leafed boulder which is finely balancing on the edge of a cliff rising 1100 meter above sea level. Arrive at Kimpun base camp transfer to pick-up truck for one hour ride to the bus terminal near the Golden Rock Pagoda. Just a few minutes walk to the Golden Rock Pagoda to your hotel at the top of Mt. Kyaikhtiyo .The Mountain Top Hotel is ideally situated for those who wish to make frequent visits to the pagoda while in Kyaikhtiyo.

 

05.01.2015    KYAIKTIYO (Golden Rock) – YANGON (CH)

Return back to the base camp same way.  Arrive Kimpun base camp drive back to Yangon. Lunch at local restaurant. En route visit an Allied War Graves Cemetery near Htauk Kyant .

 

06.01.2015    YANGON  / MANDALAY – Pandaw ship

Fly from Yangon airport to Mandalay. Transfer to the ship.\

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2015-01-06: Mandalay and Amarapura

Embark the ship at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, Mandalay.Tour central Mandalay- the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery and Amarapura with the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung and crossing the U Bein Bridge.

2015-01-07: Ava and Yandabo

Explore the ancient capitals of Ava and cruise downstream. Yandabo, a small rural village specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

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2015-01-08: Pagan Monuments

We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments in this important World Heritage Site and visit lacquer workshops.

 

2015-01-09: Tan KyiTaung Mountain and Sale

Ascend Tan-chi-taung mountain by foot or by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunrise over Pagan. In Sale we visit a number of teak monasteries including the Yout-saun-kyaung with its spectacular wood carvings and we explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses.

Day 5 : Magwe Gold Bricks

We climb the river bank and wind our way through a labyrinth of passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda. This pagoda is constructed with solid gold bricks.

2015-01-11: Minhla Forts and Thayetmyo Frontier Post

We visit Minhla Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. Thayetmyo, this pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar War of 1855. Many of the buildings including the covered market date from this period. We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horsecart to see the countryside and golf club.

2015-01-12: Prome

Visit the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculpture

2015-01-13: A KuakTaung

Stop at the famous A KaukTaung to explore the spectacular stone carving on the cliff.

2015-01-14: Danupyu

Continue our exploration of Delta creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town with a busy port and bustling markets.

2015-01-15: Twante-Rangoon

Sail through the Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on route at the Twante in the afternoon. Enter to the Yangon river port.

2015-01-16: Disembark at Rangoon

Moor at Rangoon river and disembark at Rangoon (Yangon)

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