Our “Cultural & Culinary Tour” offer our travelers an absolute indulgence of all five senses. When embarking on one of these fascinating journeys, you will have a unique opportunity to not only experience the priceless wonders of Myanmar, but also a chance to bring back Myanmar’s best-kept culinary treasures to share with family and friends at home.
Day 1: Yangon
Upon arrival at Yangon Airport you will be welcomed by our tour guide and transfer to your Hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy a Yangon city tour. Begin with a tour of busy downtown Yangon highlighting the most important historical and cultural sites. Yangon is home to some of the most splendidly kept colonial buildings meshed with ancient Pagoda’s; Yangon still encapsulates its colonial past. Stop at China town and India quarter to walk around and see the local vendors on the street. The tour continues to Chauk Htat Kyi, a huge reclining Buddha image, followed by a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge.
From there we continue on foot, reaching the top of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Rudyard Kipling called Shwedagon "a golden mystery...a beautiful twinkling wonder." The 2,500-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda is said to be the world's richest golden stupa, or Buddhist spiritual monument. Enjoy the amazing sunset view at Shwedagon pagoda.
Dinner at Royal Floating Restaurant with Burmese traditional dance show Overnight stay at: Grand Plaza Park Royal
Day 2: Yangon
After breakfast tour guide will take you to the Governor’s Residence where you will meet Executive Chef Peter James Waters then tour of the local markets to experience the local way of life, opportunity to interact with the local sellers and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will provide you with details of the vegetables, herbs and other produce found in the markets for you to take home with you and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.
Next its back to the hotel for a refreshing drink and then the cooking lesson begins upstairs in the Mindon bar. You will learn to cook an entrée of a traditional fish cake salad followed by a classic Myanmar curry and a local dessert.
Finish the afternoon with a delicious buffet of the dishes that have been part of the lessons. We will give you the recipes you have learnt to take home with you so you can recreate the dishes for your friends and family.
In the late afternoon, visit Scott Market (Bogyoke Aung San Market) the sprawling 70-year-old Market. At the market you will find a whole variety of interesting Burmese souvenirs from lacquer ware to gems & jewelry and local food - bargain at the stores to fully experience the Burmese market atmosphere!
Dinner at Sandy Restaurant: famous for local Burmese Cuisine Overnight stay at: Grand Plaza Park Royal
Day 3: Mandalay
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrive in Mandalay visit Amarapura including photo stop at U Bein Bridge, which made out of teak wood across the Lake and Mahagandayone Monastery, home to over 1,000 monks.
Visit the second most sacred image in Myanmar next to the Shwedagon Pagoda is the Mahamuni Pagoda. The Image is said to have cast in the lifetime of the Buddha and that Buddha embraced it 7 times thereby bringing it to life. Next visit Golden palace Monastery famous for its intricate woodcarvings. Continue to the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which is known as the world largest book due to the Buddhist scripture carved on 729 marble slabs. Then climb up to the Mandalay Hill and see the best view of Mandalay
from the top of Mandalay hill as the sun slowly sets.
'International' buffet dinner at Mandalay Hill Resort. Overnight at: Sedona Hotel
Day 4: Maymyo - Mandalay
In the morning instead of eating breakfast at the hotel, we will go for Mandalay's best la pey yay tea and breakfast at local tea shop. Then drive (80 km - 2 hours) on a scenic route to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), principal hill station and summer retreat during the British colonial period, with its lovely lake, waterfalls, botanical garden and colonial era-buildings.
Sightseeing in Pyin Oo Lwin starts with a visit to downtown colonial-era buildings and the central market; the rear part of the market is rich with green and fresh seasonal vegetables. Unique, brightly painted miniature stagecoaches, drawn by lively teams of horses, are waiting to carry travelers to the National Kandawgyi Gardens, the beautiful botanical gardens of Maymyo. The journey by stagecoaches takes approximately 25 minutes. Visit the botanical gardens. The cooler weather allows many flowers and fruits, commonly found in temperate climates, to thrive here. After lunch proceed to Peik Chin Myaung Cave, since ancient times a Buddhist shrine. Stop at a winemaking workshop before returning by road to Mandalay.
Dinner at Green Elephant Restaurant. Overnight at: Sedona Hotel
Day 5: Bagan
After breakfast, fly to Bagan considered one of the greatest sights of Asia! Located on the lush delta plain, Bagan was once a great royal city with over 13,000 temples. Although the majority of the temples have been destroyed, ancient temples still dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of temples and pagodas, from simple to magnificent, spread over 40 square kilometers.
Begin our exploration of Bagan by visiting a busy local market to see the vast variety of fresh fruit and vegetables for sale and gain an insight into the bustling market atmosphere in Bagan and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as Ananda Temple, one of the largest, best preserved, and most revered temples in Bagan. Also visit a local lacquerware workshop, where we watch men and women ply their craft using traditional methods.
Lunch on local specialties at the beautiful outdoor Riverview Restaurant, then visit a local family-run rice noodle factory in the afternoon followed by a mohinga(famous Burmese typical food) tasting at a local restaurant. Enjoy a late afternoon horse cart tour of surrounding temples and climb to the top of the Temple for sunset views. Sit back relax and be amazed by the beauty of Bagan as you watch the sun slowly set behind the ancient Pagodas.
Dinner at Riverside Restaurant on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Overnight stay at Bagan Hotel
Day 6: Bagan & Villages
After breakfast at the hotel, participate in a morning hands-on cooking class of mohinga, curries and fish crackers with the hotel chef.
After that see the real way of life for most Myanmar people by visiting Phwar Saw Village. This village is a perfect example of how locals live, but most importantly you will be able to see the intimacy of the villagers toward one another, and any foreign guests. We will visit local home and observe their daily home cooking style. Late afternoon, you will explore Bagan from a different perspective as you explore the area by Pony cart. The cart can explore areas that cars are unable to enter giving a different feel of Bagan. This evening take a relaxing at Bupaya on the banks of the Irrawaddy to watch the life on the river as the sun slowly sets in the background. Dinner and Overnight stay at Bagan hotel
Day 7: Bagan- Heho - Inle Lake
After breakfast, fly to Heho, our gateway to Inle Lake. Known as the most beautiful lake in Myanmar, Inle Lake's calm waters are surrounded by high hills and dotted with floating gardens and stilted villages. From Heho airport drive for a stunning drive (approximate 1- hour drive) which winds though heavily forested hills where we see a variety of trees including banyan, jacaranda, acacia, and rubber trees.
Late morning we arrive at a small jetty where we pick up our private boat for a 30-minute ride to our hotel, located on the shores of the lake. Lunch on simple, yet satisfying, bowls of Shan noodles -- the regional specialty. After lunch enjoy a tour of Inle Lake. The five Buddha images of Phaung Daw U Pagoda are the holiest in Inle Lake. The images have been covered in so much gold they look like balls of solid gold. Next, visit a unique Monastery on the Lake where the local Monks have trained the cats to jump through hoops, it is now affectionately known as the jumping cat Monastery. Proceed to Nampan village and see local cigar [cheroot] making and canoe carving. Visit local homes and observe different life styles. Dinner and Overnight stay at: Inle Princess Hotel
Day 8: Inle Lake - Indein
Morning visit to a village where a 5-day market is held to witness Shan ethnic tribes who come to buy and sell a variety of goods. Also visit the beautiful temples of Indein and the village – situated through covered passage to the summit overlooking the lake – it is a peaceful and tranquil place. Time permitting; we'll stop for a typical la phet salad made from fermented tea leaves, and a light Chinese tea. This evening, enjoy a canoe ride to floating villages.
Dinner at Traditional Shan Restaurant on the lake. Overnight stay at: Inle Princess Hotel
Day 9: Inle Lake – Yangon
Enjoy the morning at leisure.Return to Nyaung Shwe and continue to Heho for the flight to Yangon. Upon arrival to Yangon, visit the over 100 year old beautiful Rangoon Synagogue. In there you will have the opportunity to meet with Trustee of the Synagogue to hear the brief history of Burmese Jewish Community and some interesting stories. Other amazing features of this incredible synagogue are the 120 years two old Torah from Baghdad, Iraq, Souvenir shop where you can see Burmese handmade Jewish items and historical photos of the Synagogue and community.
After lunch at restaurant, visit to the Gem Museum. The Gem Museum is meant to impress - and does! It is home to the world's largest sapphire, the world's largest natural pearl, the world’s largest rough ruby, and much more. The museum also contain three floors of licensed gem stalls selling both precious and semiprecious jewelry and loose stones as well as souvenir pieces.
For dinner, head directly to Le Planteur, arguably Yangon's best restaurant. Run by Swiss-French chef owner Boris Legrange, we cannot fault its food -- and setting! The eatery is in new digs since last April, when it moved into town from its suburban garden. Before returning to the hotel, we'll stop briefly for an evening walking tour through the city's Chinatown.
Day 10: Yangon - Departure
After breakfast, day at leisure until transfer to airport for International departure flight.
* The itinerary above is designed to give you a flavor of what is possible and can be tailor-made to suit your preferences. This is simply a suggested itinerary, and can easily be customized to suit your schedule, budget, and interests.
