7 days in Myanmar itinerary

January 15, 2024 - 669 views

One week in Myanmar is such a short time to fully experience the breadth and depth of this beautiful country. However, if that's all the time you have, do not worry. With this 7 days in Myanmar itinerary, you can still get acquainted with some of Myanmar's highlights, including the famed city of Bagan, the gorgeous Inle Lake area, the old royal capital Mandalay and breathtaking Yangon.

Highlights of the tour:

  • Yangon: Visit the most attractive places: Chauktatgy Reclining Buddha, Shwedagon Pagoda, shop at Bogyoke Market (Scott’s Market), wander at China Town
  • Bagan: Visit Shwezigon Pagoda, Thatbyinnyu Temple, Htilominlo Temple ..., see the local people life at Nyaung Oo Market
  • Mandalay: Visit Amarapura, Mahagandayon Monastery, U Bein Bridge, Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw "Golden Palace Monastery, Atumashi Monastery
  • Inle Lake: Enjoy a boat ride on the lake, visit nearby monasteries, and look for the distinct woven bags and silk fabrics made in the area. Travel to In Paw Khan village to observe the silk weaving, jumping cats monastery.

Day 1: Yangon Arrival & Sightseeing tour

Our Myanmar itinerary starts in Yangon, the country’s former capital and main economic hub city. With five million people, Yangon is Myanmar’s largest city and a cultural melting pot, with a mixture of Burmese, British, Indian and Chinese culture. You can start your sightseeing tour in this city by visiting the city hall, Mahabandoola Park with Independence Monument, Strand Road, and Yangon Jetty. Other must-see places are Botahtaung Pagoda, Ahma Mya Nan Nwe, a devotee to the Botahtaung Pagoda.

Myanmar Itinerary

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

Do not miss Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market, the most popular market, where you can buy luxury items, handicrafts, foodstuff, clothing, jewelry, fashion, and consumer goods. Chaukhtatgyi (Reclining Buddha) Pagoda a colossal reclining Buddha, Karaweik Hall Royal barge on the Royal lake, the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda are highly recommended. Do not forget to visit the world-famous Shwedagon Pagoda Colonial building and Strand Hotel for drinking tea or coffee there.

 

Day 2: Yangon - Fly to Bagan – Bagan full day tour

After a one-and-a-half-hour flight, you will reach Bagan, the city of the temple, one of Asia’s most popular archeological destinations. 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.

 

Day 3: Bagan exploration on horse cart & cruise

On the 2nd day in Bagan, I would recommend using a horse cart to explore Bagan. This is the classic way to tour the temples. The roads connecting the Pagodas are not paved, and a horse cart provides the perfect opportunity to absorb and soak in the beauty of the region. At night, you can take a cruise trip on the Ayeyarwaddy River.

 

Day 4: Bagan – Fly to Mandalay- Mandalay full day tour

After 30 min flight from Bagan, you reach Mandalay - the second largest and the last royal capital of Myanmar. It is an interesting city with several fascinating religious sites, including Mahagandayon Monastery, Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda…Start your touring by a visit to Amarapura. You will be able to see Mahagandayon Monastery which is a school for young monks and observe the lunch process in the morning. U Bein Bridge is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km longest teakwood span in the world. On the way, stop at the traditional hand-weaving silk workshop.

 

After your lunch, spend your whole afternoon exploring Mandalay: Mahamuni Pagoda, gold of hammering, Mandalay Palace, Kuthodaw Pagoda by surrounding 729 inscribed marble slabs, known as “the world’s largest book”, Shwenandaw "Golden Palace Monastery" to observe the finest Myanmar wooden architecture, and Atumashi Monastery. Watching the sunset from Mandalay Hill is also a great experience.

 

Day 5: Mandalay – Fly to Heho – Inle Lake full-day tour

After 35 mins flight, you arrive at Heho airport. Start your tour to the hills and across the Shan Plateau to visit Pindaya Cave, which is the natural limestone cave. Shwe U Min Paya is full of Buddha images of about 8000. You then continue to visit the picturesque Boutaloke Lake and local handicraft workshop in which making traditional Shan Paper and Umbrella. On the way back to your hotel in Inle Lake center, you can stop at the base of Pindaya Hill to take photos of beautiful big banyan trees.

 

Day 6: Inle Lake Exploration by boat

Today is the full day to explore the lake which is home to tens of thousands of people & a biological wonder, one of Myanmar’s most important breeding and migration sites for thousands of birds.


The highlight of the trip is watching the fisherman rowing in the one-legged style characteristic of Inle Lake boatmen and the gardens of grass and earth floating on the surface of this shallow lake used for growing vegetables. Besides the enjoyment of the scenery, you can also visit the holiest religious site Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, Silk Weaving Village of Inphawkhon, Burmese Cats House, Cheroot making, and other cottage industries. A must-see place here is Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, a beautiful old teak wood building.

 

Day 7: Heho-Yangon Departure

On day seven, it’s time to pack up and head back to Yangon. There are numerous flights from Heho Airport to Yangon daily, with the trip taking just over one hour. If you leave from Heho on one of the earlier flights, you’ll have several hours of free time for extra sightseeing in Yangon.

Hope that you enjoy one week in Myanmar with must-see places and recommended activities. If you are looking for good food there, click the link for some suggestions: Top 9 Must-try Foods in Myanmar

Let's book your Myanmar tour with us now!

 

Jenny Tran

Image source (Internet)

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