The Ultimate 10 Day Myanmar Itinerary

Below is The Ultimate 10 Day Myanmar Itinerary for busy first-time visitors, including the must-see sights of Yangon, Inle Lake, Bagan, and Mandalay. It allows you to explore Myanmar's landscape, culture, and people. Get the chance to contemplate numerous pagodas and temples, spectacular sightseeing as well as learn more about the daily lives of local people covered in the main destinations throughout the country.

 

Myanmar is a beautiful, but, still less discovered country in South East Asia. Travellers started there not so long ago after half-century isolation because of the “isolation” policy. However, the number of foreign tourists coming to visit this country increases rapidly, because there are many reasons for visiting Myanmar now. Let's review our 10 days Myanmar itinerary for first time traveller below.

Day 1: Yangon arrival

Yangon International Airport is the only airport into which you can fly directly from your country. Thirty minutes from the airport to the city centre, you will be able to see breathtaking Yangon. There are lots of things to do and see in this city, one of which is Shwedagon Pagoda, the most important pilgrimage site in the entire country, a symbol of Yangon and all Myanmar. The pagoda sits atop a hill and is 99 meters.

The main gold-plated dome is topped by a stupa containing over 7,000 diamonds, rubies, topaz, and sapphires. (Opening Time: 4:00-22:00, Entrance ticket: 8USD/person). After a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, do not forget to have dinner at Karaweik Palace. You can enjoy a variety of Burmese, Chinese and Thai dishes while watching the special cultural show there. (Opening Time: 18:00-20:30, Entrance ticket: 25USD/adult).

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

 

Day 2: Yangon – City Tour

On the 2nd day in Yangon, you have more time to explore this city. Be sure to visit Sule Pagoda - a sacred pagoda that is more than 2500 years old. Other places to visit are City Hall, Emmanuel Church, Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htet Gyi, the National Museum, Botataung Pagoda, Chaukhtatgyi Reclining Buddha… Kandawgyi Lake is closed to the city centre and a good place for a walk.

No Myanmar trip could be complete without visiting Bogyoke Market, which used to be called Scott Markets. You can spend your afternoon shopping here. You can buy almost everything from antique, Burmese handicrafts, jewellery shops, art galleries, clothing stores to medicine, foodstuffs, garments. You can even change money here. Do not forget to buy souvenirs for your beloved at home.

Bogyoke Market in Yangon

 

Day 3: Yangon – Bagan

After and a half hour flight, you will reach Bagan, the city of the temple. Start your sightseeing at Nyaung Oo Market to know more daily life of local people. Continue to visit Shwezigon Pagoda - one of the oldest and most impressive monuments of Bagan, Gubyaukgyi Temple - the temple is famous for its frescoes and stucco works and Htilominlo Temple - a large majestic structure towering 46 meters high.

Next places are Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, the highest temple in Bagan, Ananda Temple - the masterpiece of Bagan, Dhammayangyi - the biggest temple, Lacquerware Factory and enjoy the beautiful sunset at Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Ananda Pagoda in Bagan

 

Day 4: Bagan - Mt.Popa – Bagan

A day trip to Mt. Popa is also highly recommended. It takes 1:30 hrs from the city center to Mount Popa - an extinct volcano which is known as "Home of the Spirits". Then you will be able to observe the life of the rural area and the cottage industry such as producing palm sweets. You may stop at several places for taking photos and knowing the countryside. It’s time to climb 777 steps to the top and enjoy the landscapes, the panoramic view of the extinct volcano, and the plain of Bagan. At the end of the day, enjoy the amazing sunset view.

Mt.Popa in Bagan

 

Day 5: Bagan – Cruise to Mandalay

There are few ways to travel from Bagan to Mandalay: Flights takes only 30 minutes, but expensive; Train takes 7 hours, affordable and quite comfortable; Bus takes 5 hours, but far from comfortable; Boat takes 10 hours and I strongly recommend you take a boat between these two cities if you have the time. Traveling along the Irrawaddy River is spectacularly scenic.

The commuter ferry boats were not designed for high comfort but they are cheap, however, we’d recommend spending a bit more to be sure you are comfortable. There are several different companies running the boat. The ticket price is more than the trains or the buses, but for the price you do get food included – breakfast, lunch, and snacks, so you’re saving money there.

 

Day 6: Mandalay full-day tour

Starting your touring in Mandalay - the second largest and the last royal capital of Myanmar by visiting U Bein Bridge - believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, then Mahagandayon Buddhist Monastery to see the daily life of the monks. Continue the trip to Mahamuni - a Buddhist temple and major pilgrimage site.

In the afternoon, you can visit gold leaf making work-place to see how to gold leaf by hand in the traditional way, Shwenandaw Kyaung - the Golden Teak Monastery completely built of teak, Kuthodaw Paya - the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the teachings of the Buddha. Enjoying the panoramic view and sunset from Mandalay Hill is a great way to end a full-day tour.

U Bein Bridge

 

Day 7: Mandalay – Mingun – Innwa – Sagaing

The next day in Mandalay, I would recommend driving to the jetty to visit Mingun by boat (approx: 1hr). On arrival, there are three main things to see: The Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, the Mingun Bell, and the Myatheindan Pagoda. The Pahtodawgyi Pagoda is an unfinished huge pagoda that was supposed to have 150 m high. Mingun Bell has about 90 tons in weight and the world’s biggest bell among the ringing ones. Myatheindan Pagoda is among the pagodas with the most beautiful archaeological style.

You then continue your tour to Inwa by boat. It lies at the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and the Dohtawati rivers just a few miles south of Mandalay. Get on the horse-cart to visit Maha Aung Myae Bonsan, Mai Nu Oak Kyaung (Brick Monastery), the 30m high masonry watchtower (Nan Myint), learning tower of Inwa, and Bagaya Monastery made of 267 teak pillars. Keep going sightseeing to Sagaing hill, a religious center for Buddhist devotees, and visiting Umin Thonesae and the 97ft high Soon Oo Ponya Shin Paya built-in 1312. You can also watch the sunset there.

Hsinbyume Pagoda

 

Day 8: Mandalay – Heho – Inle Lake

After a 35 minutes flight to Heho airport and 50 minutes drive, you will be able to reach Inle Lake, known as the most beautiful lake in Myanmar. It is a freshwater lake, home to a number of endemic species that could not be found anywhere else in the world. A trip to Inle Lake by boat with sightseeing to Native Method of fishing, Floating Gardens, Floating Islands, Weaving Village, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Jumping Cats Monastery (Nga Phae Chaung) would be a great experience.

Inle Lake

 

Day 9: Indein – Heho - Yangon

Spending your last day in Mandalay on an excursion boat trip to Indein Pagoda Complex. It is situated on the western shore of the Lake, where you can find the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden Indein Pagoda Complex, one of the most wonderful sights on the shore of the lake consisting of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and green. Take a short flight to Yangon.

 

Day 10: Yangon Departure

Free to explore Yangon on your last day. There are few options for you to choose such as: taking the circle train to see the daily lives of the locals in Yangon, wandering in Chinatown, or having a cocktail at the Strand Hotel before your flight out of Myanmar.

Basically, you spend 2 nights in each city, that is the ideal amount of time for you to explore a new place. Are you ready for a trip to discover the best of Myanmar? Don’t hesitate to book a tour with us to have an unforgettable experience in old Burma. Click the link Best Myanmar Tours to choose a tour or Contact Us for further support.

Jenny Tran

Image Source: Internet