Culture Tours in Myanmar

( Bagan – Mt.Popa – Salay – Mandalay – Sagaing )

“He who has not visited Bagan has not visited Myanmar yet.””

Ancient City of Myanmar

Bagan was the first imperial capital of ancient Myanmar. The end of the 13th century witnessed the fall of Bagan dynasty in the reign of King Narathihapate or King Tayotpaye. Bagan had been ruled over by 55 kings 12th century. The ruins of Bagan cover a tract of country, measuring about 16 square miles along the east bank of mighty Ayeyarwady. The monuments which are now in all stages of decay were erected mostly from the 11th – 13th centuries AD, during which Bagan was in its heydays. Nowadays, Bagan is the ideal site for historical, cultural and archaeological studies.

True! Myanmar people used to say regarding Bagan of which they are much proud. Bagan is the cradle of Myanmar history and Buddhist culture. King Thamudrit built Bagan at the very place of the settlement called Paukkan. The mighty King Anawrahta (1044-77) welded into one kingdom a group of formerly independent states and became king of the Ayeyarwady River in the 11th century. He extended his sovereignty down to the south. He was the first unifier of Myanmar and the introducer of the Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar.

The air of Bagan is filled not only with the fragrance of vachellia, but also with war-cries of spear-slinging heroes on horsebacks. The study of the history and culture of Began means the study of the history and culture of Myanmar. Thanks to the good irrigation system of Bagan kings, the wealth of Bagan increased rapidly and the people of Bagan erected about 10,000 pagodas and temples in Bagan area. But today they are ruined except some famous pagodas and temples. However, Bagan succumbed to the onslaught of the Mongols in 1287, and Myanmar split up into small principalities. Bagan period was the period of affluence, creativity and glory—- the period the rained gold and sliver, as Myanmar people usually put it. It was a period like that of the renaissance period in Italy.

Mt.Popa Culture Tour Program

Mt. Popa, some 50 km south east of Bagan, is 1500 meters high. It is said to be the core of an extinct volcano. It is highly for being the home of Nats or Spirits, considered the most important Nats worship center. The area has also been designated as a National Park, a perfect for eco-tourism.

Day 1. Yangon on arrival
Day 2. Yangon-Mandalay (by flight) – Amarapura-Sagaing-U being bridge-Mandalay
Day 3. Mandalay-Mingun (by boat) -Mandalay hill
Day 4. Mandalay-Monywa (by car)
Day 5. Monywa- Pakkoku (by car) – Bagan (by boat)
Day 6. Bagan sightseeing
Day 7. Bagan
Day 8. Bagan-Mt.Popa-Kalaw (by car)
Day 9. Kalaw -trekking dayreturn-Inle (by car)
Day 10. Inle sightseeing-Indein (by boat) – Inle
Day 11. Inle-Kakku-Nyaungshwe (by car)
Day 12. Inle-Heho(by flight)-Yangon
Day 13. Departure

Salay Culture Tour Program

Salay is an ancient town rich in Myanmar culture. Salay has ancient pagodas which date from the Bagan Period. Visitors to the ancient capital Bagan often make a 20 miles (15 kilometers) trip south to see Salay, an ancient town rich in Myanmar culture. Salay is also on the great Ayeyawady River, like Bagan, another pleasurable way to get there is to go by one of the small motor boats available for hire and which usually leave Bagan from the Bu-Hpaya jetty. Sitting in comfortable cushioned chairs you can watch the river crafts on the big waterway, once the only real life-line of Myanmar, with all the old towns lining its banks.”

Day 1. Arrival in Yangon
Day 2. Yangon-Bagan (by flight) – Bagan
Day 3. Bagan- Sale- Mt.Popa – Bagan
Day 4. Bagan- Mandalay (by flight)- Amarapura- Sagaing- U Being Bridge- Mandalay
Day 5. Mandalay- Mingun (by boat)- Mandalay
Day 6. Mandalay- Heho (by flight)- Inle Lake
Day 7. Inle-Heho-Yangon-Departure

Mandalay Culture Tour

Mandalay was the capital of the last Myanmar Empire and is the second largest city after Yangon. It is about 620 km north of Yangon and is reachable by land, waterway and flight. It is also the gateway to upper Myanmar. It is the seat of Myanmar handicrafts and culture. King Mindon built the present Palace City in 1858. Before that time, it was known as Yadanabon, or the City of Gems. The three most impressive are handicraft–makings, the gold-leaf making and the bronze casting in Myanmar way and Myanmar style. To know Mandalay is to know Myanmar. Most-visited tourists spots and its environs are Mingun, Inwa (Ava), Amarapura, and U Bein bridge.”

Day 1 Arrival in Yangon
Day 2 Yangon-Bagan (by flight)-Bagan
Day 3 Bagan- Sale- Mt.Popa -Bagan
Day 4 Bagan- Mandalay(by flight)- Amarapura- Sagaing- U Being Bridge- Mandalay
Day 5 Mandalay- Mingun(by boat)- Mandalay
Day 6 Mandalay- Heho(by flight) – Inle Lake
Day 7 Inle-Heho-Yangon-Departure

Sagaing Culture Tour

It is an ancient capital of royal Myanmar. In the rolling hills are countless hermitages for hermits and monasteries for monks, rest houses for nuns and laymen. It is an ideal place or peace of mind, away from the fast pace of city life. It is sublime to wander in these hills beneath a canopy of green and lush trees, amidst the murmur of religious recitations by monks. White-washed pagodas of different sizes dot the hills-hence Saganing ridge like the white feather of paddy bird.”

Day 1. Mandalay on arrival
Day 2. Mandalay-Amarapura-Sagaing-Ava-U Being Bridge-Mandalay
Day 3. Mandalay-Mingun(by boat)-Bagan(by flight)
Day 4. Bagan sightseeing
Day 5. Bagan-Salay-Mt.Popa-Bagan
Day 6. Bagan-Heho(by flight)-Pindaya cave-Kalaw(by car)
Day 7. Kalaw-Trekking (Homestay)
Day 8. Trekking (Home stay)
Day 9. Trekking-Indein-Inle lake(by boat)
Day 10. Inle lake (by boat)
Day 11. Inle-Heho(by flight)-Mandalay
Day 12. Departure

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