Meal: N/A | Accommodation: hotel in Yangon

Arrival to Yangon International Airport. Mingalabar, warm welcome to Myanmar and by Discovery DMC team and to your hotel. This afternoon guided walk through colonial-style city center of Yangon visiting city highlights.

Stop at the Bogyoke Aung San (Scott’s) Market, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color and complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda, a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Kalaw

Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the airport for the flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. Visit the bustling main Heho market, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). En route to Pindaya, we stop at a local family's house to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made by traditional methods using the fibres of the mulberry tree. We then transfer 1.5hrs to Pindaya for a visit to its limestone caves. According to local legends there is a blocked secret passage in the cave leading to the ancient kingdom of Bagan.

Another legend tells of seven princesses bathing in a lake and how they were captured by a giant spider and trapped in the cave to be rescued by Prince Kummabhaya of Yawnghwe. Sculptures of the spider and the prince aiming with his bow and arrow have been added in recent times at the entrance of the covered stairway to the caves. Unless you could find the secret passage we will continue with drive to Kalaw for overnight stop.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Kalaw

After breakfast at your hotel we transfer 25km/ 45min from Kalaw to the Magwe Elephant Camp on a winding road descending to forested valley. On arrival info briefing and refreshment before we walk to nearby river where you will have an opportunity to participate in feeding and washing the elephants. Participate in tree planting in reforestation efforts and walk around the conservation area and spot butterflies, birds, orchids. Enjoy lunch with panoramic views at the camp head quarter before transferring back to Kalaw in the afternoon. Rest of the day is free for exploring Kalaw town and surroundings.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Kalaw

Activities day in Kalaw. Hike to the viewpoint through forested track climbing to the summit ridge of mountain range near Kalaw and enjoy lunch at Nepalese family's hut. You could alternatively take bicycles or tuk tuk and explore the countryside roads around Kalaw, ride to a man-made lake in the middle of nearby forest reserve, or simply relax and enjoy facilities and slow paced life of Kalaw hill station town where many colonial era mansions still remain until today.

Optional extras:

Shan lifestyle tour – Just 10min drive out of Kalaw you will arrive to a small farming community village and Kalaw Hill Lodge by a green mountain and a stream. You will have the opportunity for a range of activities here feed the geese roaming around the organic garden of the resort. Join a farmer for couple hours “field trip” and learn how ox or water buffaloes plow fields. You can also join local host to milk cows or take horse riding walks around the valley.

This is great retreat for parents who wish to kick back and relax, or wish to do their own thing, and let the resort staff do the activities with kids.

You can enjoy yoga, pancha karma and other spa treatments in the resort, walk up the near-by mountain or have a picnic and a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the holiday.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Inle Lake

After breakfast 1.5 hr drive to Inn Thein passing through fertile farming region. Cabbages, gourds, courgettes, cauliflower and garlic grow well here. As we get closer to Inle Lake small hills grow to mountains and we will pass over them and descend down to Inle Lake valley and visit Inn Thein, a site that makes us feel as if we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. From Inn Thein we continue by boat to the lake following a winding river shadowed by bamboo groves and will have home cooked lunch in a house built on stilts over the lake. This afternoon we will do sightseeing on the lake and marvel at the skilled Inn Thar fishermen balancing on one foot on their canoes and locals tending their floating farms where most of Myanmar’s tomatoes come from. As extra treat we stop at a house for Burmese cats built over the lake, where we see the preservation efforts and reintroduction of this rare pure breed of felines to Myanmar. The Burmese are very friendly and like to climb, so don’t be scared if a cat will climb up to your shoulder to cuddle. We end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.

Meals: breakfast, lunch | Accommodation: hotel in Inle Lake

Wake up by the beautiful Inle Lake and get ready for the day’s activities. Enjoy hiking or cycling excursion by the lake there are several options depending how long and hard you want to go. We can organize catered picnics or special floating lunch on the lake or cooking classes in Nyaung Shwe where you will go with local chef to the Nyaung Shwe market and get back to the restaurant to prepare food. The two Myanmar’s premier wine estates are located near the lake and can be visited as part of days’ cycling excursion. Tasting and food is available at both Red Mountain and Ayethaya vineyards.

Meals: breakfast, dinner | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

After breakfast, transfer 1 to Heho airport for flight to Bagan. Bagan is the greatest of all Kingdoms in Myanmar. Thousands of brick constructed temples remain as a reminder of its by gone glory over thousand years ago. Our journey to Ancient Kingdoms of Bagan starts with a visit to the beautiful gold gilded Swezigon Stupa purported to contain a holy tooth relic of Buddha. The location of the stupa was chosen by royal white elephant. Next to the Shwezigon our guide will share the stories of Nat spirits who used to be real people that had faced sudden destiny and became saints. We continue to Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple to see best preserved mural paintings in Bagan and then continue to Nyaung Oo Market, the largest market in Bagan. Enjoy refreshment or a cup of Myanmar tea with your guide in a tea shop and get a feel of local life in Bagan. Next we continue to the Thanaka House. Thanaka make-up of Myanmar, the yellow tree bark paste that you will often see applied on the cheeks of ladies and children. In old Bagan we climb up to the terrace of SHWE SANDAR temple, the highest in Bagan, and delight with panoramic views over temple dotted plains of Bagan and the Ayeyarwaddy River.

From here we continue to one of the most impressive temples of Bagan the Dhammayangyi, known for its fine brick work and legends of cruel king who constructed it. In the afternoon we journey to Myingaba Village and learn how famous Bagan lacquer-ware crafts are produced and decorated with traditional methods.

Next we will visit the beautiful Htilominlo temple. If lucky you might be able to see local artists making sand paintings here. We conclude the day’s sightseeing with a visit to beautifully symmetric Ananda Temple with its four standing Buddha images inside and continue by decorated bullock cart to witness a magical sunset behind the temples (weather permitting). Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant with traditional Myanmar puppet show.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Bagan

This day has been reserved for own explorations. Relax by the swimming pool of your hotel or explore the back roads of Bagan by e-bike.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Ngapali Beach

After breakfast free at leisure until transfer to Bagan airport for 30min flight to Ngapali Beach.

Enjoy the pristine tropical beaches of Myanmar’s premier beach destination. Enjoy the authentic village that you find near the hotels and meet the friendly locals. Seafood is still bargain here and you can pre-order lobsters or check with different restaurants what is the days catch and recommendation.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Ngapali Beach

Relaxing by the beach, swimming, snorkeling, horse riding, cycling, learn coconut tree climbing skills from the local boys…

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Ngapali Beach

Relaxing by the beach, swimming, snorkeling, horse riding, cycling, learn coconut tree climbing skills from the local boys…

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: hotel in Yagoon

After breakfast flight to YANGON and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day is free for own explorations and shopping. At Junction square you can drop kid(s) to movies and enjoy Spa treatment or foot reflexology nearby.

Meals: breakfast | Accommodation: not included

Transfer to Yangon airport for your onward flight.