Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Mandalay
Day 2: Mandalay → Amarapura
Day 3: Mandalay → Bagan
Day 4: Bagan
Day 5: Bagan → Heho → Inle Lake
Day 6: Nyaung Shwe → Yangon
Day 7: Yangon → City Tour
Day 8: Yangon → Ngwesaung Beach
Day 9: Ngwesaung Beach
Day 10: Ngwesaung Beach
Day 11: Ngwesaung Beach → Yangon
Day 12: Yangon → Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Mandalay
Welcome to Myanmar.
Upon arrival in Mandalay, meet your local guide and private driver for the transfer to your hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, begin your introduction to the city with Mandalay Hill, offering panoramic views across the city and surrounding Shan hills. Continue to Kuthodaw Pagoda, known for its collection of marble slabs containing Buddhist teachings, and Shwenandaw Monastery, one of the finest surviving examples of traditional Burmese teak architecture.
Check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Optional: Early check-in, subject to hotel availability.
Suggested Experience: Enjoy sunset views from Mandalay Hill.
- Travel style: Easy start / Arrival day
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: English-speaking local guide
- Meals: No meals included
- Overnight: Mandalay
Day 2: Mandalay & Amarapura | Royal Heritage & U Bein Bridge
After breakfast, visit Mahamuni Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s most revered Buddhist sites.
Continue to explore Mandalay’s traditional craft scene. Depending on time and availability, visit a local workshop producing gold leaf, wood carvings, tapestries or marionettes.
Continue to Amarapura, one of Myanmar’s former royal capitals. Visit Mahagandayon Monastery, an important centre of monastic study, before continuing to the legendary U Bein Bridge.
Walk across the teak bridge and enjoy the atmosphere around Taungthaman Lake.
Optional: Visit an additional traditional craft workshop, subject to time.
Suggested Experience: Stay at U Bein Bridge around sunset for photography and local life.
- Travel style: Royal heritage / Buddhist culture / Traditional crafts / Local life
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Mandalay
Day 3: Mandalay → Bagan | Ancient Temples & Sunset
After breakfast, depart Mandalay by private vehicle for Bagan, a journey of approximately four hours.
On arrival, begin exploring the ancient archaeological landscape of Bagan.
Visit Ananda Temple, one of the finest temples in Bagan, followed by Thatbyinnyu, the tallest temple in the archaeological zone, and Dhammayangyi Temple, renowned for its massive brickwork.
As the afternoon fades, enjoy a beautiful sunset over the Bagan plains.
Suggested Experience: Enjoy sunset from an approved viewpoint overlooking the Bagan temple landscape.
- Travel style: Ancient heritage / Temple exploration / Scenic landscapes
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Bagan
Day 4: Bagan → Temples, Villages & Lacquerware
Start the day with a visit to Nyaung Oo Market, where local residents trade fresh produce and everyday goods.
Continue to Shwezigon Pagoda, one of Bagan’s important religious monuments.
Travel through the quieter countryside to Minnanthu Village, where you can discover less-visited temples and experience a more peaceful side of Bagan.
Continue to Myinkaba Village and learn about traditional lacquerware, one of Bagan’s best-known crafts. Visit local workshops and observe artisans using techniques passed down through generations.
Continue to Gu Byaukgyi Temple, Manuha Temple and Nanpaya Temple before returning to your hotel.
Optional: Hot-air balloon ride over Bagan, subject to current seasonal operation, weather conditions, availability and local regulations.
Suggested Experience: Spend time with a local lacquerware artisan and learn how traditional pieces are made.
- Travel style: Cultural heritage / Local crafts / Rural life / Temple exploration
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Bagan
Day 5: Bagan → Heho → Inle Lake
Transfer to Bagan Airport for your flight to Heho.
Upon arrival, continue towards Nyaung Shwe, with a stop at local workshops producing traditional Shan paper and handcrafted umbrellas, subject to opening and local conditions.
Continue to Inle Lake and board a private motorboat.
Cruise across the tranquil lake, passing stilted villages, floating gardens and traditional fishing boats. Watch the famous Intha leg-rowing fishermen at work and visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda.
Depending on time and availability, visit a traditional craft workshop such as lotus-silk weaving, boat building, cigar making, blacksmithing or silver work.
Optional: Additional traditional craft workshop visits, depending on time and availability.
Suggested Experience: Cruise quietly through the floating gardens in the late afternoon.
- Travel style: Lake experience / Local life / Traditional crafts / Nature
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle / Flight
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Inle Lake
Day 6: Inle Lake → Nyaung → Yagon
After breakfast, transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe and explore the town during its lively morning hours.
Visit the Nyaung Shwe Morning Market, where local people trade produce from the lake and surrounding countryside.
Continue by local trishaw through the town and along the canal, observing boats unloading tomatoes and other agricultural produce. Visit a local tomato sorting and trading centre before continuing to Heho Airport.
Take your flight to Yangon.
On arrival, meet your guide and private driver and transfer to your hotel.
Suggested Experience: Explore Nyaung Shwe early in the morning when local market activity is at its liveliest.
- Travel style: Local life / Market experience / Cultural discovery
- Transfer: No transfer included
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Yagon
Day 7: Yagon → Colonial Heritage → Shwedagon Pagoda
Explore the historic centre of Yangon on foot, discovering its colonial architecture, local markets and lively streets.
Walk along Mahanbandola Road, Pansodan Street and Strand Road, passing historic buildings and traditional neighbourhoods.
Continue to Sule Pagoda, Independence Monument, Mahabandoola Garden, Sri Kali Temple and Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a huge reclining Buddha.
Visit Kandawgyi Park and enjoy views of Karaweik Hall.
In the late afternoon, visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s most important Buddhist landmarks, and experience the golden stupa as the city moves towards sunset.
Optional: Evening Yangon street-food experience.
Suggested Experience: Visit Shwedagon Pagoda around sunset and stay into the evening when the pagoda becomes beautifully illuminated.
- Travel style: Colonial heritage / Buddhist culture / Walking / Local life
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Yagon
Day 8: Yangon → Ngwe Saung Beach | Coastal Escape
After breakfast,
Leave Yangon by private vehicle for Ngwe Saung Beach, a journey of approximately five hours.
Upon arrival, check in to your beach resort and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Relax on the beach, swim, enjoy the resort facilities or simply unwind after the cultural touring of the previous days.
Suggested Experience: Enjoy a sunset walk along the beach.
- Travel style: Beach relaxation / Beach relaxation
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: Local English-speaking guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Ngwe Saung Beach
Day 9: Ngwe Saung Beach | Free Day
After breakfast, enjoy a full free day at Ngwe Saung Beach.
Relax beside the sea, swim in the warm waters or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.
For a more active experience, cycle towards nearby villages and observe local life and fishing activities.
Optional: Bicycle rental or selected resort activities, subject to availability.
Suggested Experience: Cycle to a nearby village and experience the quieter coastal side of Myanmar.
- Travel style: Local life / Beach relaxation / Free time
- Transfer: At leisure
- Local guide: No guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Ngwe Saung Beach
Day 10: Ngwe Saung Beach | Free Day
A second full day to relax at Ngwe Saung Beach.
Spend the day swimming, reading, enjoying the resort or simply taking time away from sightseeing.
Optional: Resort spa treatment or additional beach activities, subject to availability.
Suggested Experience: Enjoy a slow morning by the sea followed by a sunset beach walk.
- Travel style: Beach relaxation / Leisure
- Transfer: At leisure
- Local guide: No guide
- Meals: Breakfas
- Overnight: Ngwe Saung Beach
Day 11: Ngwe Saung → Yangon
Enjoy a relaxed morning at the beach before your private transfer back to Yangon.
The journey takes approximately five hours. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Optional: Late check-out at Ngwe Saung or Yangon, subject to availability and supplement.
Suggested Experience: Enjoy a final Burmese dinner in Yangon.
- Travel style: Beach relaxation / Scenic journey
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: No guide
- Meals: Breakfast
- Overnight: Yangon
Day 12: Yangon → Departure
After breakfast, enjoy some free time until your private transfer to Yangon International Airport for your onward flight.
Your Myanmar journey ends here.
Your Myanmar Highlights & Beach Escape – 12 Days journey ends with wonderful memories.
The itinerary can also be arranged in reverse, beginning in Yangon and ending in Mandalay.
Optional: Late check-out or additional Yangon sightseeing depending on your flight time.
- Travel style: Free time / Departure
- Transfer: Private modern AC vehicle
- Local guide: No guide.
- Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
- Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Private tours and services as mentioned in the itinerary
- Private air-conditioned transportation
- 02 domestic flights: Bagan/Nyaung U → Heho and Heho → Yangon
- English-speaking local guides during sightseeing days
- Private boat excursion on Inle Lake
- Entrance fees for included sightseeing
- Airport transfers
- Drinking water and tissues during touring days
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Early check-in and late check-out
- Optional hot-air balloon ride in Bagan
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and drinks
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Travel insurance
- Christmas and New Year compulsory gala dinners, if required by hotels
- Myanmar visa fees
- Any service not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
Lukas & Beatrix Meier (Switzerland) –
Exceptional Cultural Immersion & Coastal Relaxation!
Traveling 12 days from Mandalay all the way to Ngwesaung Beach was an unforgettable experience. The route provided a brilliant mix of deep cultural sights—like the ancient temples of Bagan, the tranquil leg-rowers on Inle Lake, and Yangon’s golden pagodas—followed by a pristine beach escape in Ngwesaung. Having a private tour just for our party made the long transfers surprisingly smooth and relaxed. Every detail was organized to Swiss standards of efficiency!
Julien & Sophie Dubois (France) –
A Magical & Romantic Journey Through Myanmar
We chose this tour for our anniversary trip and it surpassed all expectations. The contrast between the historical heritage in Mandalay and Bagan versus the secluded white sands of Ngwesaung Beach gave us the best of both worlds. We loved the flexibility to customize our itinerary and choose our preferred hotel tier. Having our own private driver and guide in each destination meant we could explore at our own peaceful pace. Merci beaucoup!
Catherine Miller (USA) –
Seamless Reverse Itinerary from Yangon to Mandalay!
We requested to take the route in reverse, starting with Yangon and Ngwesaung Beach before heading north to Inle Lake, Bagan, and Mandalay to align with our flight tickets. The team customized the route effortlessly! Unwinding at the beach first and then diving deep into the rich Buddhist culture and architecture of Myanmar was fantastic. Truly a 5-star private holiday!
Liam & Hannah Thorne (Australia) –
Perfectly Balanced Heritage & Beach Vacation
If you want to explore Myanmar’s iconic landmarks without feeling exhausted, this 12-day, 11-night itinerary is ideal. Exploring the temples of Bagan and boating around Inle Lake were absolute highlights, but ending the trip with three relaxing days by the ocean at Ngwesaung Beach was pure bliss. Flawless organization from start to finish—everything ran like clockwork!
Anouk van der Meer (Netherlands) –
Off the Beaten Track Magic in Myanmar!
Our group of friends booked this 12-day private tour. The transition from exploring cultural gems in Heho and Nyaung Shwe to unwinding on the tranquil beaches of Ngwesaung was pure perfection. Exceptional local guides, seamless door-to-door private transport, and friendly hospitality throughout!