4 Days / 3 Nights Itinerary (AM arrival – Afternoon departure)
Yangon – Bagan – Yangon
Day 1 Arrival Yangon
—- Hours arrive at Yangon airport in the morning. Meet with your guide at Yangon international Arrival Hall after clearing immigration and custom formalities. He or she will welcome you or your group with welcome signboard. Then transfer to your hotel for check-in (if early check-in is available). If early check-in is not available then drive through the Colonial Style Buildings downtown, the Chinatown area and the Indian quarter. Enjoy your photo stop at Sule Pagoda and City Hall.
In the afternoon, drive around the Kandawgyi Park and pass through the Karaweik Royal Barge. Then visit to the reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, is almost as large as the enormous figure in Bago Shwethalyaung. Enjoy sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, the ‘heart’ of Buddhist Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and there are always full with many people praying and making offerings at Shwedagon and especially on Full Mon days and religious days. Accommodation at hotel, Yangon.
Day 2 Yangon – Bagan
Breakfast at hotel. This morning transfer to Yangon Airport for your domestic flight from Yangon to Bagan. From the airport, start your full-day Bagan sightseeing tour with a visit to Nyaung Local Market. Then visit to see the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, where the 37 pre-Buddhist ‘nets’ were first officially endorsed by the Barmar monarchy. The 12th Century originals were spirited away by a collector and are now reportedly somewhere in Italy. Then visit to Gubyaukgyi Temple, Wetgyi-Inn Village between Bagan and Nyaung-U. It was built in early 13th century, on the model of Maha Bodhi Zedi. Next stop is Htilominlo situated close to the road between Nyaung U and Bagan, built by king Nantaungmya in 1218 and traces of old murals are also still visible. Take photo around the temples.
In the afternoon, then visit Nanpaya Temple, built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings, and said once to have been Manuha’s residence. See the four Buddha images in Manuha Pagoda. Then stop at Myazedi Stupa to see Myanmar’s “Rosetta Stone”, bearing inscriptions written in four languages. Continue to the Myinkaba area and visit Gubyaukgyi Temple, this temple was built in 1113 by Kyansittha’s son Rajakumar, on his father’s death. The fine stuccowork on it exterior walls is in particularly good condition. Then visit to Lacquer Ware Factory to watch craftsmen skilfully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts.Experience small horse cart ride among the pagodas and temples in the evening.Enjoy Sunset at Shwe Sandaw Pagoda (or) Buu Pagoda. Accommodation at hotel, Bagan.
Day3 Bagan
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, visit to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery with beautiful, well-preserved 18th century murals. Then visit to Tharabar Gate, is part of the ancient 9th century wall. There are two niches containing images of the nats (protective spirits) or guardians of the gate, most of the locals stop here to present small offerings to prevent traffic accidents. Then visit to Shwegugyi Pagoda, was built by King Alaung Sithu during A.D 1141. This pagoda is located near the entrance of the Royal Palace therefore also known as Nan Oo Paya in Myanmar. Continue visit to Thatbyinnyu ‘Omniscient’ Temple, one of the highest in Bagan, rises to 61m and was built by Alaungsithu around the mid-12th Century. Then visit Dhammayangyi, a massive-looking temple dating from 1170, which is famous for its interlocking mortar-less brickwork. Then visit Sulamani, more sophisticate temple styles, with better internal lighting. Constructed circa 1181 by Narapatisithu and the temple features two storeys standing on broad terraces assembled to create a pyramid effect. Continue visit to Dhammayazika Temple, was built by King Narapati Sithu. The name of the pagoda, Dhammayazika or Dhammarajika in Pali means “Pertaining the King of Law. The structure of Dhammayazika Pagoda has pentagonal terraces instead of the usual Bagan pagodas, the square base.
In the afternoon, visit to Lemyethna Temple built in 1222, topped by and Indian-style spire like that on Ananda. Continue to Payathonzu (the name literally means Three Stupas) design is remarkably similar to Khmer Buddhist ruins in Thailand and two of the shrines contain vaguely Chinese or Tibetan-looking mural paintings that contain Bodhisattva figures. Visit Nandamannya Temple, dating from the mid-13th Century with fine frescoes and an unexpectedly erotic mural. Take a break from temples and wander through the village of Minnanthu to see how the local people live. Enjoy sunset at Pyathadar Temple, is a double-cave type monument. Accommodation at Hotel, Bagan.
Day 4 Bagan-Yangon departure
Breakfast at hotel. Morning flight to Yangon. Upon arrival transfer to the Yangon International airport according to your flight timing.