Epic journey to Kyaikhtiyo from Yangon

Welcome to Yangon - the biggest and most bustling city in Myanmar, a unique city in Southeast Asia with all nostalgic colors of time and culture reserved over centuries. If you are interested in colonial era architecture, a stroll down Yangon's colonial buildings will definitely blow you away by well-reserved images from the 20th century, with decaying facades filled with old paint and small trees squeezing through those little cracks. Moreover, proud of rich cultural tradition, Yangon will amaze you with plenty of spiritual relics where you can experience the importance of Buddhism to the Burmese’s lives: tranquil Chaukhtatgyi Temple containing an over-200-feet-long reclining Buddha, the octagonal-shaped 2500 year old pagoda Sule Pagoda located in the heart of the city, and especially the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda - the massive 99 meter high gold plated pagoda with the diamond studded spire on top of a small hill in downtown Yangon. And don’t miss chance to meditate in pagoda’s mystical atmosphere beautifully lit up after dark.

Just about 60 km north from Yangon, for any nature and amimal lovers, dont miss a natural setting in Bago region called Winga Baw Elephant camp, also known as one of few important elephant orphanage of Myanmar. Here you could get some heartwarming experiences with friendly young elephants who used to live in different remote forests around the country. Beside watching elephant dancing show at 8:30 am, enjoy your time playing with these gentle giants or feeding them with milk, canes or corns before witnessing them in their natural habitat as the they roam over the nearby jungle. Be prepared for surprise as sometimes they could apprear out of no where after a while hiding away among the bushes. Just slow down and have your sense put in turn for nature and wild beloved friends. 

Known as one of the most sacred sites in devout Buddhist Myanmar, Golden Rock pagoda is rather outstanding and attractive for its special location and bizzare look with a giant golden rock precariously balancing on the edge of a cliff on the top of Kyaikhtiyo mountain. In order to visit the rock pagoda, you are to join a thrilling open truck ride up on the winding road through the forest mountain. Just like a special roller coaster trip, 45-minute driving up mountain will surely get you into the feeling of free and exhilarated before reaching the Golden rock and admire the breath-taking scene of the majestic gilded rock between the spectacular nature surrounding.

Over the cold stay on top mountain of Kyaikhtiyo, a soft trek meandering the lush jungle-covered mountain and its little villages will make your Golden Rock trip more highlighted and extensive. Grasp an excellent chance to capture and live up the simple nature beauty in perfect harmony with vibrant hill tribe culture in which authentic Mon people spend most of the time together farming, weaving and having fun in their unique thatched houses. Feel free to stop at anywhere for stunning pictures or random chat with any passing friendly villagers.