Yangon – Pindaya – Inle Lake – Mandalay – Amarapura – Bagan

Highlights

Day 1: Yangon

After arriving Yangon Airport, you will be welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy a full day private tour to explore the colonial heritage of one of Southeast Asia’s most impressive capitals, basking in its unique spiritual atmosphere.  
Stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge for photos. Nothing will prepare you for Shwedagon Pagoda, with its glittering gold stupa that Rudyard Kipling called "a golden mystery...a beautiful twinkling wonder." At the pagoda we observe local pilgrims and monks offering their devotions and enjoy the amazing sunset view at Shwedagon pagoda.Overnight at: Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel

Day 2: Yangon

Visit the over 100 year old beautiful Rangoon Synagogue for Morning Prayer. 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. Have breakfast at the synagogue and visit neighborhoods that reflect Yangon's Burmese, British, Indian, Bangladeshi and indigenous influences. Then visit the 130 years old Jewish Cemetery with over 600 graves.
In the afternoon enjoy a visit to 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 - bargain at the stores to fully experience the Burmese market atmosphere!
In the late afternoon check in at the Hotel and prepare for Shabbat. The bus will take the group to the Synagogue for Friday night service.
Shabbat Dinner at the Hotel. Overnight at:  Park Royal Hotel

Day 3: Shabbat In Yangon

Morning Prayer at the Synagogue. Lunch at the Hotel. After lunch tour guide will take you to the walking tour to the Neighborhood (Sandwith Road, York Road) where many Jews from Rangoon used to live. (The Jewish School building in that area where once over 200 Jewish students attended is now changed to government High School building. Most of the houses in that area are now renovated and changed to new buildings.) Afternoon and evening prayers at the synagogue and dinner at the Hotel.
After dinner, "Searching for Baghdad - Iraqi Jews in Southeast Asia: A Daughter's Journey" documentary film will show at small theater room at the Hotel. (That documentary was shown in American Sephardic Federation Film festive opening night, Hong Kong Jewish Film festival other Jewish Film festivals. It’s about histories and stories of Iraqi Jews in Singapore, India, and Burma) Overnight at: Park Royal Hotel

Day 4: Yangon - Heho – Pindaya - Inle Lake

Transfer to airport for flight 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.  Upon arrival proceed to by road to Pindaya and visit Pinday Caves, a unique site housing thousand of Buddha images places there by pilgrims and devotes over the centuries. Then drive to NyaungShwe and transfer to your hotel for check in.
Dinner & Overnight at: Inle Resort Hotel

Day 5: Inle Lake

After breakfast you will tour around the lake with private boat. 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. Dinner & Overnight at: Inle Resort Hotel

Day 6: Inle - Mandalay

Transfer to the airport for your flight to legendary Mandalay, a city of great cultural importance. It was the last Burmese capital before the British took over and moved the capital to Yangon. Upon arrive in Mandalay visit a 200-year-old teak bridge and famous Buddhist monastery, home to over 1000 monks.
This afternoon visit the second most sacred image in Myanmar next to the Shwedagon Pagoda is the Mahamuni Pagoda. 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. Overnight at: Mandalay Hill Resort

Day 7: 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. 

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.

Mid-afternoon enjoy lunch by the pool before venturing out again for our afternoon walk. We end our walk by climbing 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 & Overnight at: Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel

Day 8: Bagan - Yangon

Sightseeing in Bagan and afternoon flight back to Yangon. Farewell dinner featuring a Burmese puppet show, cultural performance and guest speaker will talk about bilateral relations between Israel & Myanmar.
Overnight at: Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel )

Day 9: Yangon - Departure

After breakfast, day at leisure until transfer to airport for International departure flight.

All meals will be served with Kosher fishes & Vegetable
* 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.