Yangon - Inle Lake - Bagan - Mandalay
Golden pagodas, the life on the water of Inle Lake, Bagan's magical plain woven with thousands of temples, and Mandalay's royal heritage come together on a single route, with premium accommodation, select breakfasts, a domestic flight and the privilege of a professional photo shoot. Organized for a limited, select group of participants, this special-date tour is also supported by a pre-departure Zoom briefing and an academic country-introduction meeting in Yangon.
After meeting at the appointed time at Istanbul Airport and completing group check-in, we depart for our flight to Yangon via Bangkok. During the flight, a short briefing is given on the travel flow, the arrival day plan and group communication arrangements. Overnight on the plane.
✈ Departure: Istanbul - Arrival: Yangon (via Bangkok)
After being met by the local team at Yangon Airport, we transfer to our hotel by private vehicle and settle into our rooms. Following rest and free time after the long journey, a comprehensive academic introduction and country briefing meeting is held on Myanmar's history, cultural fabric, religious symbols and the overall meaning of the route.
We visit the 66-meter Chauk Htet Gyi Reclining Buddha, then walk through Downtown Yangon with its colonial architecture, Saint Mary's Cathedral and old-town atmosphere. At Bogyoke Aung San Market we browse local textiles and handicrafts, and observe local life with a ferry ride on the Yangon River. At sunset, we visit Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon's golden icon.
After breakfast, we take a domestic flight from Yangon to Heho. After being met in Heho, we travel to the Pindaya region and discover the mystic atmosphere created by thousands of Buddha statues inside a limestone cave. After visiting a traditional Shan paper and umbrella workshop, we head to our hotel near Inle Lake in the evening.
✈ Departure: Yangon - Arrival: Heho (Inle Lake)
Early in the morning we set out on a private boat tour on Inle Lake. We observe the traditional balancing art of the one-legged rowing fishermen, floating villages and houses built on stilts. We visit the floating tomato gardens, lotus-fiber weaving and silverwork workshops, and make respectful cultural contact with Padaung women.
After breakfast, we visit the Shwe Indein Pagoda area, hidden in the forest with its centuries-old ancient stupas. We then enjoy the panoramic view at Mount Popa, a volcanic hill known for the cult of the Nat spirits. In the evening, we travel to Bagan and settle into our hotel.
We spend a full day on a culture and photography route across Bagan's iconic temple plain: Shwezigon Pagoda with its golden architecture, Htilominlo Pagoda with its brickwork, and Ananda Temple, one of Bagan's most elegant structures, are on our route. We take photo stops at panoramic viewpoints where thousands of temples spread across the plain. For guests who wish, an optional hot air balloon experience can be arranged in suitable weather conditions.
We walk through a bamboo village away from the tourist crowds and visit one of Bagan's centuries-old lacquerware workshops. We visit Dhammayangyi, one of Bagan's largest brick temples, and Sulamani Temple, famous for its wall details.
After breakfast, we travel overland from Bagan to Mandalay. We visit Shwenandaw (Golden Palace) Monastery, one of the finest examples of teak wood carving; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as "the world's largest book" for its texts carved on marble slabs; and the white stupas of Sandamuni Pagoda. We end the day watching the sunset on the historic teak U Bein Bridge.
After breakfast, we set out on a day trip into nature around Mandalay. We take a nature walk amid untouched waterfalls and tropical vegetation, stopping for photos, making the most of the tour's last full day at a relaxed pace. In the evening we return to Mandalay for our final night.
After breakfast, we transfer to Mandalay Airport and begin our journey home with our flight to Istanbul via Bangkok.
✈ Departure: Mandalay - Arrival: Istanbul (via Bangkok)
With our arrival in Istanbul, we complete our Myanmar Premium Culture Tour. Details on the professional photo delivery process and digital album will be shared with our participants after the tour.
Our package price is 3,600 USD per person (double-room occupancy). The single-room supplement is +250 USD. The Myanmar visa and the mandatory travel health insurance fee of 75 USD per person are collected separately and are mandatory. An optional hot air balloon tour in Bagan can be arranged for an additional 175 USD.
Not Included in the Price: Lunches, dinners and extra drinks, gratuities for the guide and driver, hotel extras/minibar/laundry and personal expenses, the optional hot air balloon tour (175 USD), and personal document costs outside the visa/insurance package fee.
Cancellation Terms: As boutique hotel availability is limited, you may cancel free of charge up to 45 days before departure, with a full refund. A 50% cancellation fee applies between 44-21 days before departure, and 100% within 20 days. A 50% deposit is collected at the time of booking.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel. Turkish citizens require a visa to enter Myanmar; this is obtained as an e-Visa through an online application before departure, and the visa and mandatory travel health insurance fee (75 USD) are collected in addition to the package price. Due to limited boutique/premium hotel availability, the tour is organized for a select, small group of participants. Respectful clothing covering the shoulders and knees is required when visiting temples and pagodas, and shoes must be removed at many sites. Before departure, a dedicated communication group is set up with participants and a comprehensive Zoom briefing session is held; after arrival in Yangon, an academic introduction meeting is also held on the country's historical, cultural and political background.