Burma Highlights + Ngapali Beach Extension




Overview
Highlights
- Rangoon (Yangon) - British colonial heritage and the golden Shwedagon Pagoda
- Inle Lake - Floating gardens, stilted villages and leg-rowing fishermen
- Shan State Highlands - Walk in the countryside around the former British hill station of Kalaw
- Mandalay - Cruise on Irrawaddy River and visit nearby U-Bein Bridge
- Bagan - Vast plain studded with thousands of ancient temples
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Itinerary

Although not the capital, Yangon is the cultural and commercial heart of Myanmar. Colonial architecture faces onto the bustling streets, which are often filled with markets and tasty pop-up street food stands. Interspersed within all of this are the glittering golden ...
This morning's sightseeing takes us by foot and vehicle to Rangoon's major sights, starting with the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda - the most revered temple in the country, which all Burmese Buddhists hope to visit at least once in their lifetime. Containing the relics...
Inle Lake enjoys a picturesque, high-altitude setting on the Shan Plateau, surrounded by hills and home to the Intha people, as well as some Shan, Taungyo, Pa-o and Danu ethnicities. Local communities are devout Buddhists that live in simple houses of wood and woven b...
This morning's boat trip takes us up a small creek in the western part of the lake to Indein village. Here, we visit a complex of about 1,000 stupas of varying sizes built between the 17th and 18th centuries. We can enjoy wandering around these overgrown ruins before ...
This morning we will enjoy a colourful train journey sitting among the locals to the town of Aung Ban. Although scheduled to take two hours, a relaxed timetable and frequent delays sometimes result in the journey taking longer, but this is all part of the experience a...
Today we can look forward to a gentle four-hour trek through the Kalaw tribal heartlands. Starting in the village of Say Wingabar, we ascend through pine forest to Lu Pyi village. Our trail passes through rural countryside and provides us with views of the valley - a ...
Leaving the Shan mountain scenery behind us, we embark on an interesting land journey to Mandalay, making our own version of Kipling's famous journey to the gateway to the north. The condition of the road can be poor in places, so we expect the 160 mile journey to tak...
We begin day by exploring Mandalay. Today we view the world's largest book at Kuthodaw Pagoda, where the entire Buddhist scripture sits on 729 marble slabs. Our next stop is the magnificent Shwenandaw Monastery, originally a 19th century royal palace and famed for its...
After a leisurely start this morning we drive four miles southwest of Mandalay, we visit the ancient capital of Inwa (Ava), which had the longest stint of any royal capital between the 15th and 19th centuries. Our visit is conducted by horse-drawn cart along bumpy dir...
Tours taking place from October to April plan to take the express boat service from Mandalay Port to Bagan. Although requiring an early start, we can look forward to a relaxed, full day's cruise down the fabled and mighty Irrawaddy River, observing the sights and soun...
Before visiting the temples today, we stop in Phya Saw village to gain an insight into the traditional ways of life that have changed little over the centuries. We are likely to engage with the local people as they go about their daily business - cotton weaving by han...
A tremendous panoramic view of the temple-studded plain provides a great photo opportunity to kick-start our day before we continue with our visits to the most interesting sites. This will include Manuha Temple - built by King Manuha to represent his displeasure of ca...
Today we leave the temples and pagodas of Bagan behind and fly to Thandwe. Our tour leader accompanies the group back to Rangoon so the beach extension is unescorted. From the airport you are met and driven to your hotel on sleepy Ngapali Beach.
The day is free and perhaps the ideal way to spend it is by simply relaxing on the unspoilt white sand beaches overlooking the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal.
Today is a further free day to relax on the beautiful Ngapali Beach.
Leaving the beach behind you return to Rangoon by plane. The remainder of the day is free for further sightseeing. You may like to visit the immense Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott's Market, for souvenir or gift hunting (closed on Mondays, full moons and publi...
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Yangon. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Yangon at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to...
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check current availability, prices, specials & more.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Explore! Reviews & Ratings
I enjoyed the trip and would say
I enjoyed the trip and would say that it was the best of the 3 we have done so far
I enjoyed the trip
I enjoyed the trip and would say that it was the best of the 3 we have done so far
I loved the beach extention at the
I loved the beach extention at the end. It's really great to end an every day program trip with 2 full days to relax. There were a few lunches included which I highl...
I loved the beach extention
I loved the beach extention at the end. It's really great to end an every day program trip with 2 full days to relax. There were a few lunches included which I highl...
I felt extremely safe and was happy to walk
Good standard of hotel, breakfast on every day and a huge variety of experiences and sights...what more could you expect. Also once out there food and souvenirs wer...
Other Explore! Reviews
Trusted Customer
Mar 2025
Bangkok to Saigon by Bike
We had a fantastic trip with explore! Starting with a brief intro to Thailand with professional friendly experienced guides Koi, Tri and the fab support Team (Bus dr...
Mel
Mar 2025
Walking in Madeira
Great tour - everything was well organised but offered enough flexibility for people wanting to do their own thing in the evenings after the guided tours. Most of th...
Darren
Mar 2025
Efficient and easy to navigate online booking
Booked online. Very easy to do with full information abou...
Tour Operator
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Accommodation
Transportation & Flights
Transportation & flights
- Breakfast : 16
- Lunch : 4
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations