PROGRAM ITINERARY

FIRST WEEK

Days 00 & 01 & 02:  -  26-27-28 Dec’08
Depart San Francisco-Yangon at 1:40 AM on 27th. Arrive at Yangon International Airport. Meet and transfer to Hotel to check in. We should arrive in the afternoon of the 28 in Yangon. If so, we will do the program orientation, puppet show and dinner that night. Welcoming Dinner with cultural show at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel with a view to Karaweik Palace, built in the style of Myanmar old days king’s Royal Budge. Your first night is in Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.

Day 03: - 29 Dec’08
Yangon (Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast, start orientation tour of Yangon visiting Sule Pagoda, a beautiful octagonal golden stupa dating over 2,000 years; Botataung Pagoda - the landmark of Yangon’s waterfront, and Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda- a colossal reclining Buddha, and end the tour at Shwedagon Pagoda - over 2500 years old world famous stupa.

Day 04: - 30 Dec’08
Yangon-Mandalay-Amarapura-Mandalay (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) Breakfast at the Hotel. Leave Yangon for Mandalay by domestic flight. Drive to Mandalay- a seat of culture and centre of religious learning. On the way visit to Amarapura, an ancient capital built by the advice of astrologers and Mahagandaryone Monastery, where one may observe the daily life of the monks studying Buddha’s scriptures, U Bein Bridge- a 1.2 km long 200 years old wooden bridge. Silk weaving home cottage. Proceed to Mahamuni Image-a bronze Buddha Image showing the lifetime of Buddha then proceed to Tapestry works, Woods caving & Bronze casting workshops, Marble carving workshop, Gold leaf beating workshop, and proceed to Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carving. Atumashi Monastery, Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world biggest book. Evening visit to Mandalay Hill to watch the sunset scene and the panoramic view of the city. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Mandalay.

Day 05: - 31 Dec’08
Mandalay-Mingun- Sagaing (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast visit to Mingun with guide where the world largest ringing bell exist. Pahtodawgyi unfinished Pagoda, Mingun village and environs scene. After that sightseeing to Sagaing Hill, known as the center of meditation. Visit Kaungmudaw Pagoda, an enormous dome shaped pagoda built in 16th century: Pottery and Silver-smith workshops. On the way back to Mandalay, enjoy the beautiful sunset along the Ayeyarwaddy River. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 06: - 01 Jan’09
Mandalay-Bagan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast, transfer to the jetty for the boat trip to Bagan (0700-1730) with Shwe Kennery ferry. Afternoon, arrive at Nyaung Oo Jetty. Meet and transfer to hotel in Bagan, Burma’s ancient city and living treasure house of Buddhist architectural beauties. Dinner & overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

Day 07: - 02 Jan’09
Bagan-Salay-Mt. Tant Kyi-Bagan (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at hotel, drive to Salay - a small town about 15km south of Bagan, down the Ayeyawaddy River. Tour Highlight U Pone Nya Museum - formerly the Yoke Sone Monastery, exhibits antique, laquerwares, wooden reliefs and a large standing glided Buddha image. The figures carved outside the front of the building are worth seeing. Another place worth visiting is Tha-ta na Kyaung (Keythar Monastery) where Tipitaka texts are house in a large red lacquered cabinet. Then drive back to Bagan. Lunch at a local restaurant, boat trip cross the Ayeyarwaddy river reach to Tant Kyi Village, drive to top of the mountain with Jeep, have panoramic views to Bagan and Ayeyarwaddy River from Top of the mountain. Late evening time drive back to the village and visit the life of local people and witness the way of living in ancient Bagan. Sunset on Ayeyarwaddy River with boat for trip back to Bagan. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Day 08: - 03 Jan’09
BaganS/S (by bicycle) (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) We can have an option to go with bikes or have people go around for the day with the horse tonga taxis. After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing and visit around Bagan with bicycle per person and guide. Interesting places of Bagan are Kyansittha Umin, Htilominlo Temple - the largest temples of Bagan, Dhamanyangyi Temple, Myinkabar Gubyaukgyi Temple - known for its wall painting depicting scenes from the Jataka; Manuha Temple. After lunch at the restaurant and continue to Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigon Pagoda - built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, Lacquer-ware making home cottage, Ananda Temple - King Kyansittha’s masterpiece and the crowning achievement of the early style temple of architecture, Thatbyinnyu Temple - the highest building on the Bagan plain. Evening visit to Buphaya to watch the sunset scene over the Ayeyarwaddy River. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Bagan.

Day 09: - 04 Jan’09
Bagan-Heho-Inle (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport and flight to Heho. Drive to Nyaung Shwe jetty and take the boat transfer to the hotel at Inle, after check in start visit of Lake Inle. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Inle.

Day 10: - 05 Jan’09
Inle- Indein-Inle (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast, boat trip sightseeing to Lake Inle, the second biggest lake in Myanmar famous for its unique leg-rowers by boat. Tour highlights include visits to: Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda floating market (can available see on the market days only which is hold on every five days Inpawkhone Village, famous for its silk weaving hand looms, Ngaphechaung Monastery well known for jumping cats; traditional ways of fishing; and Floating Gardens. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then proceed to sightseeing to Indein village famous for its blacksmith and goldsmith work shop. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Inle.

Day 11: - 06 Jan’09
Inle Lake-Heho-Kyaing Tong (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Heho Airport for the departure to Kyaing Tong. Arrive at Kyaing Tong. Meet and transfer to hotel. After lunch, sightseeing tour of Kyaing Tong including visit to Thittapin Taung- the 245 years old dipterocarpus tree planted by King Alaungphaya, the founder of Third Myanmar Dynasty; Home made lacquer workshop ; and Kying Toung Natural Hot Spring. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Kyaing Tong.

Day 12: - 07 Jan’09
Kyaing Tong S/S (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at the hotel, visit to Akha village and proceed to Enn village. Then go to waterfall. Picnic lunch will be with lunch box. And then come back to Kyaing Tong. Then visit to Standing Pagoda and Naung Tung lake. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Kyaing Tong.

Day 13: - 08 Jan’09
Kyaing Tong -Yangon (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at the hotel, check out at the hotel. Then visit to Central Market, and RCM church in Nyaung Kan – which was famous for its 60 years (1923-1983) anti-leprosy service center in Myanmar. Then transfer to airport to fly back Yangon. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Day 14: - 09 Jan’09
Yangon (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) After breakfast at the hotel, start full day sightseeing at Yangon with guide. Strand Jetty to see the daily life of the local people. Local Glass Blowing Factory where can see all the fanciful objects of glass which were produced by ancient techniques. KabarAye (World Peace Pagoda) Then proceed to Gem Market where can browse the world famous Myanmar Rubies and Jades as well as various type of color stones. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch visit to Bogyoke Market used to called Scott Market, the largest market in Yangon with time to browse among the hundreds of stalls. Evening, take a walk to China Town where can see the many stalls along the sidewalk. Dinner & overnight at your hotel in Yangon.

Day 15: - 10 Jan’09
Yangon-Singapore departure (Breakfast) After breakfast transfer to airport to depart Yangon. Stopover in Singapore

Day 16 - 11 Jan ‘09
Fly from Singapore to USA and arrive home the same day.