Myanmar Culinary Journey

Welcome to Yangon, the city with fine colonial buildings and vivid pagodas and stupas can be found at its every corner. Upon airport arrival, meet our team and be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Head to the city center to visit Sule Pagoda and Mahabandoola Park and catch sight of city hall and other colonial buildings.

Lunch is served at a local tea shop named Shwe Yi. Dishes include Mohinga (rice vermicelli with fish sauce), Mont Pyar Tha Let (rice pancake), and Shwe Htamin (Golden sticky rice). Apart from enjoying meal, discover Myanmar's tea tradition. Because of British influence, the Burmese has drunk strong tea with sugar and condensed milk for over a century. Still, they also drink green tea to get rid of the sweet flavor. Also, the Shwe Yi teashop is renowned for Kyaukpadaung Paratha (flatbread); try some when you are there.

In the afternoon, let's head to Mawtin Jetty to see the life along Yangon River. Afterwards, move to Chinatown to try out delectable Myanmar foods, such as meat, vegetable satays, and Myanmar beer.

Spend the rest of the day at your leisure and stay overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, leave Yangon for the morning flight to Nyaung U and then transfer to Bagan. As you arrive, prepare to discover this most important archaeological site of Myanmar, with wonderful sceneries and architectures.

Firstly is a trip to Shwezigon Pagoda - the original structure for all later Burma stupas, Wetkyi-in's Gubyaukgyi Temple to see its elaborated frescoes depicting Jakata scenes, and Htilominlo Temple for four Buddha images facing four directions on its first floor. At lunch, savor meal at Shwe Myanmar Restaurant which is most known for its delicious curry.

In the afternoon, continue visiting Bagan's pagodas on horse cart. The first stop is Ananda Temple which is home to four Buddha standing statues; each faces one of the four cardinal directions. Within its complex is Ananda Okkyaung, one of the rare red brick monasteries still remained nowadays. End today visits with Bagan highest and largest pagodas: Thatbyinnyu Temple and Dhammayangyi Temple.

Stay overnight at your hotel in Bagan.

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will take you to the colorful Nyaung U Market and show you several kinds of herbs and vegetables used in cooking. After that, drop by a workshop manufacturing Pone Yay Gyi (black soybean paste) - Bagan is an important producer of this condiment. It can be mixed with sliced onions, beaten dry shrimp, salt, peanut oil, and may be some sliced chili to create a salad dish. At the workshop, you can learn how to transform raw soya beans into Pone Yay Gyi step by step. Next, come to another workshop to see another famous Bagan dish - Pe Chaung snack - is made from green beans.

Around lunch time, head to a family-owned palmyra garden out of the town, a good occasion for you to witness the daily routine of palm climber. Also, see how toddy is made, from fruit collecting to wine fermenting. Savor a delicious lunch prepared by the family.

In the afternoon, we will head back to Bagan, access a lacquer ware house and observe skilled artisans draw decorative patterns. Next, you will be driven to Ayeyarwaddy River and enjoy a boat ride sailing down the river, catching sight of antiquated temples and peaceful villages in the magnificent sunset.

Stay overnight in Bagan.

Note: From October to March, you can request a hot-air balloon ride which takes you above the charming Bagan plain and the impressive Ayeyarwaddy River to watch sunrise. Remember to get up early.

After having breakfast, you will be transferred to Nyaung U Airport for a flight to Mandalay, the cultural capital of Myanmar.

Our Mandalay sightseeing tour starts with Mahamuni Buddha Temple, the home for the gigantic gold-gilded Mahamuni statue. Next, come to traditional workshops creating marble, gold leaf, and Kalaga tapestry. Then, spend some time to discover Laphet Thoke, a kind of salad mainly made from fermented tea leaves, adding beans, sesames and peanuts. Another variation of Laphet Thoke is A Phoe Gyi Thoke, made by adding dried shrimp, green chili, garlic, sliced tomatoes and cabbages.

At lunch, stop at a popular teahouse of Myanmar named Min Thiha. There, two popular Mandalay dishes are served: Mandalay Monte and Khotaung Monte. Apart from enjoying lunch, you can also socialize with locals or do business.

In the afternoon, access Kuthodaw Pagoda which holds the world's biggest book and 729 slabs of marble carved with Buddhist scriptures.

Spend the evening as your wish and stay overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, leave Myanmar for a flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you will be driven to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake. Head to Nyaung Shwe's port and get on the private motorboat taking you to Inle Lake.

This fresh water lake is one of the most renowned destinations in Myanmar and also the habitat of the extraordinary one leg rower Intha people. Make your first Inle stop at a tomato garden, the main product of Inle grown in floating gardens. Check out on-water planting techniques, socialize with local farmers and see their life. Afterwards, at a traditional Intha house, prepare and enjoy lunch with local delights like Inle-style Tomato Salad.

In the afternoon, we will visit Nga Phe Kyaung, much known as 'Jumping Cat Monastery'. It is reported that the cats there are taught to jump through hoops; also, there are expressive Buddha images of different styles. Next, drop by the silk weaving village Inn Paw Khon and a cheroot making workshop (a kind of Burmese cigars).

Stay overnight at hotel in Inle.

Have breakfast early before joining in five day market, a typical activity in Shan State which takes place around the lake. Next, sail to the northwest part of Inle to visit Khaung Daing Village which is noted for the traditional Shan Tofu. You will be amazed by the delicious flavor of this dish.

Head to the northeastern coast of the lake and visit Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery. There, taste wines and also observe various kinds of grapes planted in the Red Mountain Estate. Drive back to Nyaung Shwe and enjoy lunch at View Point Restaurant with the best authentic Shan dishes. Shan State is the region possessing the most remarkable cuisine in Myanmar.

In the afternoon, access the 150-year-old Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery and contemplate bizzare windows in oval shape and impressive glass mosaic. Lastly, we will transfer you to Heho Airport for the returning flight to Yangon.

Spend the night sleep at hotel in Yangon.

After breakfast at the hotel, take a cooking lesson delivered by an experienced. He will be your company to a local market and help you choose ingredients to make popular Myanmar dishes. He will teach you the usage of various types of spices and vegetables. Head to Monsoon Restaurant and prepare your meal. Enjoy your achievement. Come back to your hotel for rest before joining in our sightseeing tour.

This afternoon, have a bit of a rest at your hotel and then continue with a visit to Chaukhtatgyi Temple which holds the biggest reclining Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Around sunset, experience the wonderful 99 meter Shwedagon Pagoda, being left breathless with its vivid color and sacred atmosphere. Then, head to Kandawgyi Park to enjoy fresh air and splendid settings of Karaweik Palace, Shwedagon Pagoda and the surrounding areas.

Stay overnight in Yangon.

Freely rest or explore the city on your own before taking the departure flight at Yangon International Airport.