5 DAYS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES TOUR (PHT-005A)

YANGON – BAGAN - 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 and lunch at hotel.

In the afternoon, start your sightseeing with drive through the COLONIAL STYLE BUILDINGS downtown, the Chinatown area and the Indian quarter. Then visit SULE PAGODA situated in the centre of Yangon, which makes a useful landmark in downtown. Then drive to KANDAWGYI (ROYAL) LAKE, for photo stop to wards Shwe Dagon Pagoda. 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. Enjoy Myanmar Dinner at Green Elephant Restaurant. Accommodation at hotel, Yangon.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast at hotel. Then transfer to Yangon Airport for flight to Bagan.  From the airport, start your full day BAGAN sightseeing tour with a visit to see the golden stupa of SHWEZIGON PAGODA, where the 37 pre-Buddhist 'nets' were first officially endorsed by the Barmar monarchy. The 12^th Century originals were spirited away by a collector and are now reportedly somewhere in Italy. Then visit KYANSITTHA UMIN 'Cave' Temple. Although officially credited to Kyansittha, this cave temple may actualy date back to Anawrahta. 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. Continue to ANANDA TEMPLE, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery with beautiful, well-preserved 18^th century murals.   Make a photo stop at THATBYINNYU 'Omniscient' TEMPLE, one of the highest in Bagan, rises to 61m and was built by Alaungsithu around the mid-12^th Century. Then check into your hotel. Lunch at hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM (if open).  Continue to DHAMMAYANGYI, a massive-looking temple dating from 1170 which is famous for its interlocking mortarless brickwork. Then visit, MINGALAZEDI built in 1277 by Narathihapati and it was the very last or the large late period, thus representing the final flowering of Bagan's architectural skills. Then stop at MYAZEDI STUPA to see Myanmar's "Rosetta Stone", bearing inscriptions written in four languages.  Stop at MOE MOE LACQUER WARE FACTORY to watch craftsmen skilfully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts. Enjoy magnificent sunset over Bagan's temples and the Ayeyarwaddy River from one of the Bagan monument. Dinner and puppet Show at Nanda Restaurant. Accommodation at hotel, Bagan.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, drive out of Bagan to visit MOUNT POPA, home to Myanmar's intriguing 37 'nats' and major pilgrimage destination. The steps and path climb steeply up Mount Popa - an energetic climb rewarded by fabulous views from the top. Enjoy your lunch at very nice Popa Mountain Resort with fabulous view.

In the afternoon, drive to SALAY and visit YOKESONE MONASTERY, which is the oldest surviving wooden monastery hall built on 154 teak posts with beautiful wood carvings decorating the outer walls.  Continue to PAYATHONZU, a complex of three brick shrines with mural paintings from the Bagan period, and see MAN PAYA - a large lacquer Buddha image, said to date from the 13^th century.  Return to Bagan through Chauk, where you will see old Burma Oil installations ('nodding donkeys'), and along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River. Dinner at The Beach Restaurant. Accommodation at hotel, Bagan.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, transfer to Bagan Airport. Domestic flight from Bagan to Yangon. Arrive at Yangon  Airport and transfer to your hotel. Lunch at hotel.

In the afternoon, visit to BOGYOKE (SCOTT) MARKET (closed on Public Holidays) and it has the largest selection of Burmese handicrafts. Visit to the reclining Buddha at CHAUK HTAT GYI PAGODA, is almost as large at he enormous figure in Bago Shwethalyaung. Then visit to BOTATHAUNG PAGODA close to the Yangon Wharves. Then transfer back to your for refreshment before dinner. In the evening transfer to White Rice Restaurant, in Bogyoke Park for Dinner. Accommodation at hotel, Yangon. 

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, transfer to Yangon Airport for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast