Treasures of the Golden Land

Meet your guide at the airport in Yangon and transfer  to your hotel. Along the way, observe Yangon's colonial-style red-brick buildings. The cultural and spiritual heritage make Yangon one of the most fascinating capitals of Southeast Asia. You'll meet the other group members for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant and, afterward, perhaps take a walk around the market area with the guide.

After breakfast, head out on a full-day city tour of Yangon, beginning with a visit to Karaweik, a colorfully-decorated royal barge on the lake, followed by a visit to lively fish and vegetable markets. Next, stop at Chaukhtatgyi, the colossal reclining Buddha and Botataung Pagoda, which is said to enshrine the Buddha's hair relics. A stop at the famous Strand Hotel for coffee or tea is included in today's tour. In the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, more than 2,500 years old, and claimed to be the world's richest golden stupa. The golden dome rises roughly 322 feet above its base, and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold along with numerous precious stones, including a 76-carat diamond on the top. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Mandalay, the last capital of the Burmese monarchy, and one of the most impressive market cities in Asia. Mandalay is the spiritual, cultural, and traditional capital, as well as the commercial heart of central Burma. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel, then depart for Kyawzun Jetty to board a boat for a ride across the Irrawadhy River to Mingun (approx. 1 hr). In Burma, the river is the highway, especially between Mandalay and Rangoon, and being out on the river is an excellent way to observe Burmese life. Look for water buffalo lugging teakwood or locals using bamboo rafts to carry supplies. In Mingun,  visit the Mingun Bell, the world's largest uncracked, functioning bell. Other sights here include the Settawya Pagoda, a hollow shrine that contains a footprint of Buddha, the Mingun Temple, which has a huge crack caused by an earthquake running down its side, and the Shinbume Pagoda, built in the 19th century. Its whitewashed terraces represent the seven mountain ranges around Mt. Meru, also known as Sumeru, the mythological sacred mountain at the center of the universe. Return to Mandalay to visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which houses the "world's largest book" and the entire Buddhist Canon, recorded on stone tablets in Pali script. Also visit Shwenandaw “Golden Monastery,” built of wood in traditional Myanmar style. If you're up to it, you may enjoy a sunset from atop distinctive Mandalay Hill.

Depart for the ancient city of Amarapura, also known as the "City of Immortality." Along the way,  stop to observe traditional handicraft workshops. In Amarapura, visit Mahagandayon Monastery for a chance to witness food being served to hundreds of Buddhist monks, and see how the monks at this famous learning center play a major role in the daily life of the people. Observe the 14th century capital of Ava and visit its unique monasteries and monuments, including the Bargaya Teak Monastery, famous for its 267 teak pillars and the remains of the royal palace and fort. Your next stop will be Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Saiging Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Enjoy fantastic sunset views from the 200-year-old U Bein Teak Bridge before returning to your hotel in Mandalay.

After a leisurely breakfast,  transfer to the jetty and board the RV Paukan at around 10:00 a.m. Enjoy a refreshing beverage from the saloon while casting off at around 10:30 a.m. You'll spend the day cruising along the Irrawady River, stopping at Yandabo village, which specializes in making terra cotta pottery, and where the first Anglo-Burmese war peace treaty was signed in 1826. You'll dock near the village of Shwenanntint for the night.

After an early breakfast, watch the sunrise  as you near Bagan. You'll then disembark from the boat around 9:00 a.m. in Bagan. Though comparable to sites of worldwide importance such as Jerusalem and Rome, Bagan remains virtually unknown. Merely 2,200 temples remain of the 13,000 that once stood here. Some were destroyed by invaders, others by earthquake and decay, but internationally-funded restoration is underway, and the major temples are in excellent condition. Your Bagan exploration begins at Gawdawpalin, one of the largest and most imposing monuments in Bagan. Next, visit the Anandar Temple, one of the best-preserved masterpieces of Mon architecture. The nearby brick monastery contains brightly-painted frescos depicting daily life of the Bagan people and the king. Your visit continues at Thabyinnyu, the tallest ancient monument in Bagan; Natlyaunhkyaung, believed to have been built around 930 AD by Indian architects; and Dhammyangyi, temple of the evil king from which there are panoramic views of the Shwesandaw Temple. This pyramid-shaped temple is the largest in Bagan. In the afternoon, visit a traditional lacquerware workshop to observe the process of making unique Myanmar bowls and trays. Later, you'll have the  opportunity to enjoy sunset from one of the ruins.

If you're up early, enjoy the fantastic sunrise view from the ruins or, for the more adventurous traveler, take a hot air balloon ride over Bagan (not included in land cost -- $275 additional). This is the best way to get exceptional aerial views of Bagan with the sunrise in the background. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then depart on a two hour drive to Mt. Popa, located about 30 miles from Bagan. Along the way, stop at a palm village where you will see the locals making palm tree products such as palm liquor, palm sugar and palm furniture. Mt. Popa is actually an extinct volcano, about 4900 feet above the sea-level. You'll enjoy lunch from a lodge over views of Mt. Popa. When you return to Bagan, you'll visit Wetkyi Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple to see some original 12th century mural paintings, frescoes, and bas relief works depicting the life of Buddha and his disciples. You'll also see more frescoes at Htilominlo Temple. The paintings here represent the 28 Buddhas of the future. You will end the temple tour at Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype for later Myanmar stupas. Your next stop will be the enchanting Nyaung Oo Market. This is a great place to mingle with the locals and perhaps purchase items such as rattan hats, tea, or clothing.

After a leisure breakfast, you'll visit the Bagan Archaeological Museum, which contains artifacts collected from the stupas, pagodas, and ruins around Bagan. You'll spend the afternoon as you choose. Perhaps stroll to the nearby village or spend more time exploring the fascinating pagodas and temples of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Heho, where you'll meet your local driver. You will drive about one hour through rolling hills to Inle Lake. Here, on the Shan Plateau, you'll see colorful mustard seed and wheat fields. After freshening up at the hotel, board a traditional motorized boat for a sightseeing tour of the lake. Visit the Indian Ruins, whose pagodas and stupas were built in the eighth century. There are a number of shops along the hill for you to enjoy, or for trekking enthusiasts, climb up Mt. Shwe U Daung at about 3,000 feet above sea level.

Today you'll board a private long lake boat and be treated to an insider's view of life in this unique community. Villages, farms, and a monastery perch over the water on stilts and float on pads of reeds and earth. Observe the awkward-looking leg-rowers as they maneuver, balancing precariously on the tails of their narrow craft. Depending on market dates, you'll see the famous floating market, allowing you another angle on local life. You'll also visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which houses five sacred and almost shapeless Buddha images. (This part of the itinerary may be altered in order to see the tribal markets, which rotate from village to village.)

This morning, your driver takes you back to Heho in time for the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, you'll visit the National Museum to see the lion throne of King Thibaw, the last king of Myanmar. At the museum, you will also see many historical items, including jewelry, photos of the royal palace, ornate court costumes, and old royal furniture. If there is time, you will visit the Bogyoke Market, a sprawling 75-year-old shopping area noted for its variety of handicrafts.

Alternatively, if you prefer just to relax at a beach for a few days, consider an extension to Ngapali Beach, located on the Bay of Bengal. This is an isolated, relatively wild beach with little development -- in contrast to the resort beaches of Thailand.

The morning will be spent doing some last-minute sightseeing or shopping before you are transferred to the airport for your flight onward.