Myanmar with Ease - 14 Days
Tour Code: DF-14D13N-2
This leisurely “MYANMAR WITH EASE – 14 DAYS” trip is perfect for first time visitors, taking in Myanmar’s main highlights – Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, InLe Lake with a day cruise along country’s mighty Irrawaddy river and leisure time at the country’s magical Ngapali beach.
Start ~ Yangon, Myanmar
Finish ~ Yangon, Myanmar
Physical rating: 2 out of 5
The Itinerary
“Mingalabar” – “Welcome to Myanmar” at the airport by your tour guide and your EMH – Enjoy Myanmar Holiday’s transfer team. We then transfer you to the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Meal is not included on this day.
After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll set off to explore Yangon city.
The highlights are:
- Walk around the city center to enjoy the city being busy with the sellers on the street and also the pedestrians and Colonial Style buildings.
- Next, Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, the colossal reclining Buddha
- Karaweik Hall & Royal Lake for Photo stop
- Explore Bogyoke Market (Scott Market) which is the best place for shopping in the country.
- Enjoy sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, the soul of Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a short flight to Bagan. Once at Bagan, your tour guide will take you around its wonderful scenery and architecture.
Bagan is a truly mesmerizing destination, and a favourite of many travellers. Renowned as the city of four million pagodas, this is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. Today there are more than 2,000 pagodas, temples and monasteries — most built during the Bagan Dynasty, founded by King Anawrahta in 1044.
Firstly:
- we’ll go to lively Nyaung U Market. This Nyaung U Market provides a great photo opportunity, and also the chance for tourists to mingle with the local Myanmar people, and watch how they conduct their daily lives.
Next, we will start sightseeing as below:
- Ananda Temple (the architectural masterpiece of a millennium)
- Hti-Lo-Min-Lo Temple (a double-storied building with artistic stucco works)
- Shwe-Zi-Gon Pagoda (considered a prototype of all future such temples)
If time allows, we will visit more places of this UNESCO world heritage site.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, join your guide for an e-bike tour of Bagan.
We’ll start our adventure by exploring the village of Taungbe. We’ll have about half an hour to ride around the village, and you’ll get to visit a small morning market and meet with a local family, who will share with you their story of local life in Myanmar. We’ll also visit a 150-year-old wooden monastery that’s in the village.
After another short ride, we’ll arrive at the spectacular Shwegugyi Paya. Its name translates to “Great Golden Cave,” so we’re going to say it’s pretty spectacular.
We’ll then ride to reach the next village, Myingabar, which is famous for its bamboo products. From there, it’s a 10-minute ride past toddy palm trees to reach Dhammayangyi Pagoda — the largest Buddhist temple in Bagan.
We’ll ride back to Nyaung U for lunch at the local restaurant, cost is at your own, before riding back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Your day will start with a beautiful sunrise from the upper deck of RV PANORAMA, enjoying breakfast on the upper deck under the warm sunlight and gentle breeze. Upstream from Bagan to Mandalay, exploring the Ayeyarwaddy will give you unforgettable memories. Delicious Myanmar cuisine will be served to you for lunch and you will have a relaxing time for sunbathing in the sun deck. As an additional service, our crew team will demonstrate different ways of wearing Myanmar Traditional Longyi (garment worn by Myanmar people) and Thanatkha (fragrant paste made from the bark of Thanatkha tree). Enjoy the gorgeous sunset moment and arrive at your destination.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to a promenade U Bein teak bridge, the world’s longest teak structure at 1.2 km / 3.4 mile long.
Next, you will visit MaharGandarYone monastery, where you can see a thousand Buddhist monks and novices line up every morning, at 10:30 am, to receive their meal of the day at MaharGandarYone Monastery.
Then, go to a “must visit in Mandalay” Mahamuni Buddha Temple. Learn more about the craftwork for which Mandalay is famous by visiting workshops and cottage industries. You’ll see gold-leaf techniques, wood carving and kalaga tapestry weaving.
For lunch, we’ll go to a popular tea house. Tea houses are the centre of social and commercial life in Myanmar. You can see all kinds of people here, from business people and brokers to students and families all doing their daily business or just relaxing and socializing.
After lunch, we’ll visit:
- Mandalay Royal Palace, the last royal palace of the last Burmese monarchy
- KuThoDaw Pagoda, known as the world’s biggest book;
- ShweNanDaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery), famous for its wood carving;
- Evening highlight is Mandalay Hill where you can enjoy 360 – degree view of Mandalay from the top.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, take the short flight to Heho. Once at Heho, meet your transfer team. From here, it is a scenic one-hour drive to the village of Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to the magnificent Inle Lake. Upon arrival, check in the hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Looking down over the lake from the Taunggyi road, Inle lies in an enormous carpet of greenery. Dotted around the lake are the stilt-house villages and floating gardens of the Intha tribe. The Intha technique of leg rowing – where one leg is wrapped around the paddle to drive the blade through the water in a snake-like motion – is unique.
With our Inle Lake boat tour, you will experience a unique way of life that has lived on through generations, whilst exploring the culturally significant surrounds that form part of this beautiful region of Myanmar.
You will be provided with a life jacket and easy seat for each person on the boat. This early morning tour offers magnificent scenery and the chance to observe the daily life of locals, who are mostly fishermen and plantation farmers. Take good photos of leg rowers of Intha (people from Inlay) situated only in this part of the world.
Visit to the Phaung Daw Oo, the four revered golden Buddha images from the pagoda, which are ferried around the lake in a gilded barge shaped like a Hintha (the golden swan of Burmese legend) visiting all the pagodas in the area.
Visit to the Silver Smith Shops, Silk Weaving Workshops and the Lotus Weaving Workshop; all unique features of Inle Lake. Also visit a cheroot factory, where the cigars are still made by hand in the traditional way.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, it’s back on the water, sailing in a southerly direction along the western bank towards InDein. Passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the Lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts; enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers cultivate their land against the backdrop of the Shan Hills.
Disembark at the central marketplace and follow the old covered path that leads to a 13th century monastery, and the very impressive ruins of over a hundred ancient pagodas, some still well hidden by the lush deep vegetation all around.
Upon reaching the main stupa atop a hill, stop to enjoy sensational views of the surrounding mountains, and down the valley to Inle Lake in the distance. Return to the lake and transfer back to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight to Ngapali Beach. The flight time will approximately be 1 and half hour. Upon your arrival, you will be met and transferred to the airport. The rest of the day is at leisure in Ngapali Beach.
Without doubt one of the most impressive beaches in South-East Asia, let alone Myanmar, Ngapali Beach is a series of long bays of fine white sand leading down to crystal clear water. Until recently served by a small handful of decent hotels, more are now being built as the country’s tourist industry flourishes. Although this means that Myanmar’s best known seaside village is more developed than it used to be, the greater choice of good quality accommodation is undeniably welcome.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy your day at leisure in Ngapali beach. You can simply relax on the beach, swim in the waters or take a biking excursion to nearby villages to meet local fishermen and observe their daily lifestyles. If you are seeking a more adventurous experience, take a boat trip to swim, snorkel or dive around the surrounding islands.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Spend another leisure day at the beach. You can simply relax on the beach, swim in the waters or take a biking excursion to nearby villages to meet local fishermen and observe their daily lifestyles. If you are seeking a more adventurous experience, take a boat trip to swim, snorkel or dive around the surrounding islands.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport to fly back to Yangon. The flight time will approximately be an hour. Upon your arrival in Yangon, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is your own day at leisure in Yangon.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast and free time until time to go to the airport for departure flight. Then, transfer you to the Yangon International Airport three hours prior according to your flight departure time.
Meals: Breakfast
~ 13 nights accommodation: Standard Option (3 Star Hotels) or Premium Option (4 Star Hotels)
~ enjoy daily breakfast at hotels
~ lunch on day ferry cruise
~ 4 internal flights
~ professional English speaking tour guides
~ sightseeing tours by air-conditioned private vehicles
~ ferry cruise trip from Bagan to Mandalay
~ private boat to explore the InLe Lake
~ 3 days at leisure in Ngapali beach
~ return airport transfers
~ enjoy exploring Myanmar as per itinerary
~ Visa fee
~ Entrance fees, approx. AUD $70 per person for an entire trip
~ Meals not specified in the “Inclusions” section
~ Personal insurance and other personal expense
Do I need a visa to visit Myanmar?
It’s far easier these days to obtain a visa for Myanmar via the new online e-visa system. It takes about 3 business days to process your visa, after the payment is made. Your eVisa will be emailed to you. You just have to print it and show it at immigration.
Over 100 countries are eligible for an e-visa, to view a full list of e-visa countries via this official link – https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/.
E-visa for Myanmar costs US $50, and are valid for 28 days.
From 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020, Australian passport holders are eligible to apply for tourist Visa on arrival. Fee for Visa on Arrival (Tourist) is US$ 50 in cash and the duration of stay in Myanmar is 30 days. You will also need to bring two recent colored passport size photos taken within the past 6 months. More information for the Visa on Arrival can be found via this link – https://tourism.gov.mm/visa-requirements/visa-on-arrival/.
Alternatively, you can apply for this visa via Myanmar e-visa Official Government Website, https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/,with $50 USD per person. Please Note: approval time can take up to 3 business days.
Do I need any vaccinations before visiting Myanmar?
No vaccines are required in order to enter Myanmar but some are recommended for protection against disease. You should seek medical advice from your local health practitioner before travelling to Myanmar and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.
Can I drink the tap water in Myanmar?
As drinking tap water isn’t safe in Myanmar, only drink bottled mineral water, which is readily available in hotels, shops and restaurants. You can help the environment and try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle with filtered water. Your tour guides and your hotels can tell you where to find filtered water at hotels. Remember to avoid drinks with ice and peel fruit before eating it.
What is currency in Myanmar?
KYAT is the Myanmar currency. While in the country, you’ll use a mix of US dollars and Myanmar kyat. Most hotels and domestic airfares, travel companies, tour guides, some entrance fees will be in USD, while everything else (food, souvenirs, uses etc) will be in Kyat.
Along with USD, it is easy to exchange Australian Dollars, Euro, British Pounds at the banks and the registered money changers. Please note, the money changers at the airports may not accept Australian dollars or British pounds to change. You will visit the money changers in towns to exchange them.
It is essential that bills are in first class, good condition, with no folds, rips or writing. New is best and keep them flat, maybe between two pieces of card. 100’s and 50’s will get the best exchange rate.
When you leave the country, you can exchange your kyat at the airport or banks before you take off. Keep in mind that no where outside of Myanmar will be interested in exchanging your extra Kyat, make sure you get rid of your extra before you leave.
ATM’s: There are now over 2000 ATM’s in Myanmar with a choice at major airports and widespread availability at downtown Banks. 24 hours ATM are in all major tourist destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and InLe Lake. They only dispense kyat. Do note that there is a fixed charge of 5000 kyat, plus your own Bank’s charge and a maximum withdrawal of 300,000 kyat, up to three times daily.
Many smaller villages and small towns have yet to get an ATM but those that have a Bank branch in town will either have one or get one soon.
There have been reports that Banks in some countries still follow the outdated US embargo so do check with your Bank that your card will be accepted.
Credit cards: Credit cards are accepted by some hotels, restaurants and shops, but Myanmar is largely a cash economy. It’s best to carry cash for purchases.
As always, it’s best to call your credit card company and bank in advance to let them know you’ll be traveling, so the chance of your card being blocked is reduced.
What do foods and drinks cost in Myanmar?
Most travelers will find that a budget of USD $8 per lunch or per dinner for food is more than enough, especially if daily breakfast at hotel is included on your tour. Bottle of beer in a bar or restaurant is 2000-2500 MMK.
What’s the food like in Myanmar?
Myanmar cuisine shares many similarities with neighbouring southeast Asian countries. Rice is the cornerstone of most meals and curries are common, though typically more oily and less spicy. Pickled vegetables and tea leaves feature prominently in Myanmar dishes, as well as fish and seafood from the country’s numerous lakes and extensive coastline.
Is tipping customary in Myanmar?
Tipping isn’t mandatory or expected in Myanmar, however if you would like to offer a tip to show your gratitude for the service, you can do so.
What’re the toilets like in Myanmar?
Although Western-style flushable toilets can be found in your hotels and tourist areas, squat toilets are most common in Myanmar. Please ensure that you carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer, as they are usually not provided.
Is WiFi widely available in Myanmar?
Internet can be accessed at most hotels, but be aware, the speed may be slower than what you are used to, particularly in rural areas.
Can I use my mobile phone while in Myanmar?
International roaming in Myanmar is now possible with a growing number of mobile network providers. Check with your service provider before leaving home. Local SIM cards can be purchased for about USD $2. Pre-paid cell service included data service is affordable with decent coverage throughout the country.
Is it not appropriate for me to wear shorts in Myanmar?
Knee-length shorts are fine, however trustees at some pagodas will ban short trousers and skirts showing knees from the pagodas’ platforms. Longyi, a long fabric piece running down to the feet and worn by wrapping and knotting around the waist, can be borrowed with a few costs at the pagoda’s entrance.
What sort of sockets are used in Myanmar and what is the voltage?
Standard voltage is 220 – 240 volts. Primary sockets generally require 2 flat prong plugs, 2 round pin plugs, and 3 fat round pin plugs. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor.
Most of the international hotels have their own generators. Other places may experience power cuts and voltage fluctuation so it’s best to pack a voltage regulator or stabilizer to protect electrical items.
Weather overview
Like much of South-East Asia, Myanmar’s dry season runs from October through to May, and the wet season from May/June through to early October, when the south-west monsoon starts to blow. Within each season, there are variations in temperature; April and May are usually being the hottest of the year (temperatures can reach over 40ºC).
The colder months follow the end of the rains, from October to December/January. The driest regions of the country, avoiding much of the annual rain, are the plains surrounding Bagan and Mandalay, which remain relatively dry aside from the odd heavy downpour, all the way through to August.
Temperatures throughout the country are greatly affected by altitude, and therefore the hill stations, lakes and Himalayan foothills are far cooler than the southern lowland and coastal regions.
The very best months to visit Myanmar are from November to February.
Don’t forget you can modify this tour. Whether you enjoy travelling as a part of a small group with other like-minded travellers, or perhaps you are looking for your very own private journey, we have the right option for you. Click on talk to us button to send us your enquiry.