Yangon and the Shan State Adventure – 5 days
Experience the contrasts of Myanmar in just five days with this adventure in Yangon and the Shan State. Highlights include a visit to glittering Shwedagon Pagoda and the bustling street markets of the capital, interaction with ethnic groups in the town of Pindaya, a day trekking in the highlands, and a bike ride along the shores of Inle Lake.
Day 1
Yangon Arrival & Downtown Exploring
Welcome to Myanmar! After clearing customs at Yangon International Airport, your guide will be waiting to greet you. Transfer into town (30-50 minutes depending on traffic) and check in to your hotel. In the afternoon, discover the diversity of downtown with its colonial buildings, leafy side streets, and bustling markets. Learn about the fascinating history of the city and get a taste for its modern side by popping into a tea shop popular with locals.
DAY 3
Trek Highland Villages – Drive to Inle Lake
Hit the trails and spend a full day trekking around Pindaya. Pass by tea plantations, fruit orchids and more as you wind your way higher in hills. Along the way, you will explore villages inhabited by the Danu people, getting a chance to learn about their customs and traditions.
After lunch, return to town along a different path, arriving mid-afternoon. Make a quick visit to Pindaya’s Caves, a maze-like limestone cavern filled with thousands of Buddha statues, then continue by car to Nyaung Shwe, the nearest town to Inle Lake.
DAY 5
Fly to Yangon; International Departure
Say farewell to the Shan State this morning. Transfer to the Heho airport and board a domestic flight to Yangon, where you’ll connect to your international destination. Connect onwards to your international flight.
Day 2
Yangon: Explore Shwedagon Pagoda- Transfer to Pindaya
Spend an insightful morning in and around Myanmar’s most holy site: Shwedagon Pagoda. More than just seeing the monument, this insider’s excursion will teach you about the beliefs of the Myanmar people. After lunch, transfer to Yangon airport for a late afternoon flight to Heho. Your Shan guide will be waiting to greet you for the scenic drive to Pindaya, a small town in the hills.
Day 4
Inle Lake: Bike & Boat
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before setting off on a full-day discovery of Inle Lake by bike and boat. Pedal from your hotel through Nyaung Shwe, stopping near the northern canal to see longtail boats unloading piles of tomatoes that will then be sorted and distributed throughout the country. Continue riding out of town, passing by a stretch of rice paddies before turning south toward the village of Indein. The road passes by several small villages, giving you the opportunity to see what life is like for those who live on the shores of Inle Lake. When you reach Indein, hop off the bike. Explore the stupa-covered hills of this charming village, then board a boat to head out on to Inle Lake. Cruise past villages built on stilts and floating gardens, getting a chance to learn about the life and culture of the lake’s residents. You may wish to visit workshops where natives make hand-woven silks and fabrics using the fibers of the lotus flower. Alternatively, visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda.
A special lunch is arranged in a family house at mid-day day. Later in the afternoon, return to the shores of Nyaung Shwe and enjoy a short bike ride back to the hotel.
