14 Days Essential Myanmar Bhutan Tour

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Yangon including Sule Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda after arrival.

Upon your arrival in Yangon, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to a five-star hotel along the waterfront, one of the few colonial icons that has been restored to its old glory. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Yangon city.

The first landmark you will visit is the golden facade of Sule Pagoda, a compass point in the heart of the city. Wander through the nearby lanes of the Indian Quarter, atmospheric smells accompanying you through its vibrant market stalls. Then head to Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's greatest Buddhist landmarks. Glistening gold, and changing color with the sunset, the pagoda envelops you in the riches of a culture.  

Stay overnight in Yangon. 

Yangon City

Highlight: Tour Yangon to visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, Bogyoke Market, National Museum and Karaweik Hall etc.

After breakfast, we will start the day with a city walking tour of Yangon. You will stroll through the downtown Yangon to explore the colonial architecture. Make your first visit at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, which houses the massive reclining Buddha image of 65 meters long and 16 meters high. Then head to the vibrant local market of Bogyoke, the best shopping hub of the city. Later, transfer to the National Museum to view the collection of the finest Burmese art, history, and culture especially the 8-meter high Golden Lion Throne.

In the afternoon, we will head down to Kandawgyi Lake, one of the two major lakes in Yangon, located east of the Shwedagon Pagoda. There you will see Karaweik Hall, a reconstruction of a golden royal barge floating on the eastern side.

Stay overnight in Yangon.

Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda

Highlight: Explore the brilliant architectures and temples like Ananda and Htilominlo in Bagon.

After breakfast, you will take a domestic flight to Bagan, the temple town of Myanmar. Upon arrival, you will explore the architectural masterpiece of the amazing town through numerous outstanding temples in the region. You will visit Ananda, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved temples in Bagan built in Mon style; Dhammayangyi, the largest and considered a haunted temple noted for many tragedies in the history of Bagan Kingdom; Htilominlo, the majestic 46-meters tall sanctuary, etc.

If time allowed, you can also visit two workshops in Bagan which produce the most famous products in the region: lacquerware and woodcrafts. You will gain more about the local culture by talking with the local artisan and watching them using their techniques to create their unique items. 

Stay overnight in Bagan.

Bagon

Highlight: Enjoy the amazing trip to the Mt Popa.

Today, we will enjoy the excursion to the famous Mount Popa, an impressive extinct volcano where is said to be the birthplace of Myanmar Nats (Spirits). You will hike up to 777 steps to reach the pagoda on the top and gain a panoramic view of the area. After that, return to Bagan and visit the palm tree plantation and a local tranquil village to learn more about Myanmar culture. In the late afternoon, transfer to the Irrawaddy River to enjoy a boat trip along the riverside and appreciate the stunning sunset view.

Stay overnight in Bagan.

Mt Popa

Highlight: Enjoy a wonderful boat trip on Inle Lake and visit Ngaphechaung Monastery.

Today, we will take an early morning flight to Heho then drive to Inle Lake. There you will enjoy a boat trip to visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in Shan State where enshrines five 800-year-old Buddha images. Besides, you will get authentic experiences of watching the Floating Gardens, Unique Leg-rowers, Traditional Fishing Method, Silk Weaving, and Stilt house Villages on the lake.

Then transfer to Ngaphechaung Monastery, the beautiful teakwood monastery built on stilts over 200 years ago. The monastery provides a nice view of the mesmerizing floating garden surrounding.

Stay overnight in Inle Lake. 

Inle Lake

Highlight: Visit Indein village, Shwe Indein Pagoda and experience Shan Cheroot making during the full-day Inle Lake discovery.

Today we take a boat trip on Inle Lake by boat to visit Indein, a small village on the west of Inle Lake. There you will visit the Shwe Indein Pagoda, a complex of over 1600 ancient stupas dating back to the 16th century with different sizes and shapes. Spend your time to walk through the colonnade and observe the shop stalls which sell many interesting Burmese products. Then experience the Shan Cheroot making in the village before returning to the lake.

Stay overnight in Inle Lake.

Inle Lake Tour

Highlight: Fly from Inle lake to Bangkok and take a rest for the following trip.

Today, we will leave for Bangkok by air. The flight from Inle lake to Bangkok takes about 4.5 hours and will transfer in Yangon en route. Upon your arrival, you can take a good rest in your hotel or stroll around to explore the nearby.

Stay overnight in Bangkok.

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Paro including Ta Dzong Museum and Kyichu Lhakhang.

Upon your arrival in Paro by Druk Air, Bhutan’s national carrier, you will be picked up by your tour guide at the airport and then escorted to the hotel. After a short rest, you will go to tour the Paro city.

This first landmark in Paro you will visit is the Ta Dzong Museum, the national museum located on the hill behind the Paro Dzong. It houses many fine arts, religious relics, handicrafts, as well as textiles, jewelry etc., offering a great orientation into Bhutan’s historical, cultural, and religious past. Then head to visit the Kyichu Lhakhang, which is one of 108 temples constructed by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. Built in a manner similar to the Jokhang in Lhasa, Tibet, the temple has the great golden image of Buddha Shakyamuni.

Then, we will drive towards Paro from Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

Highlight: Explore Thimphu’s cultural wonders like National Memorial Chorten, National Textile Museum and Traditional Paper Making Factory etc.

Today, it will be a full-day sightseeing tour in Thimphu. You will first visit the National Memorial Chorten, constructed in memorial of the third King of Bhutan, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, in 1974. The King was generally regarded as the father of modern Bhutan and widely esteemed by the Bhutanese. Then head to National Textile Museum, which keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms. keeps the traditional art of waving preserved and exhibits a good collection of ancient colored textile in various forms.

After lunch, you will visit the National Institute of Traditional Medicine, to see the productive process of Bhutan’s traditional medicine, herbs mostly, and watch the medical practitioner training. Next, go to Traditional Paper Making Factory, which originated from the old tradition in the 8th century, Bhutan papermaking has been well preserved and listed as the valuable national heritage of Bhutanese culture.

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Thimphu National Memorial Chorten

Highlight: Explore celebrated Punakha Dzong and Chhimi Lhakhang.

In the morning, we will leave Thimphu for Punakha. The drive will take about 2 hours, following the steep road through lush forests. On the way, you can stop for a rest at scenic Dochu La Pass (3,100m). The pass is a perfect vintage point where you can have an unobstructed vista of the mighty Himalayas.  

Upon arrival, we will tour around the ancient capital city of Bhutan, Punakha. You will first visit the celebrated Punakha Dzong, the second largest Dzong in Bhutan, built in 1657 at the confluence of Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu Rivers. It is also the winter headquarters of the Je Khenpo and hundreds of monks who move together to this warm location from Thimphu.

Later in the afternoon, you will also visit the Chhimi Lhakhang, also known as Devine Madman’s Monastery. Located near Lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel.

Stay overnight in Punakha.

Chimi Lhakhang

Highlight: Explore Phobjikha valley and visit Gangtey Monastery and Black-Necked Crane Information Center.

After breakfast, we will drive to Phobjikha valley (3,000m). The distance between Punakha and Phobjikha is about 80 kilometers and will take you nearly 3 hours to finish this driving journey. On the way to Phobjikha, you will get amazed by the beauty and serenity of the rich flora and fauna. And you may see some Yaks grazing in high altitude bamboo shrub along the road when you arrive at Lawala Pass (3,300m).

After crossing the pass, you will head to visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. It is a very important monastery of Nyingmapa school. Thereafter, you will pay a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Information Center. The center is situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of Phobjikha valley. It has an observation room equipped with high power telescope and spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. If you travel to Phobjikha in November to January, you can have a chance to view many black-necked cranes here.

Stay overnight in Gangtey.

Gangtey Monastery

Highlight: Visit the ancient Simtokha Dzong and magnificent Paro Rinpung Dzong.

Today, you will get up early and say farewell to the charming Gangtey valley. About a 5-hour drive will bring you back to Paro. You will encounter the Simtokha Dzong en route. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Simtokha Dzong is often said to be the first dzong in Bhutan.

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you to visit the imposing Paro Rinpung Dzong (also named as Paro Dzong), a fortress once built to defend the valley from invasions. However, it now serves as an administration center and school for monks.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro Rinpung Dzong

Highlight: Enjoy the wonderful trekking to Tiger’s Nest.

Today, we will enjoy the exciting trek to the Taktshang Goemba, also known as Tiger's Nest. Standing incredibly on the side of a sheer cliff 900m above the Paro Valley, Taktshang Goemba (3210m) is the landmark of Bhutan and also the holiest temple of the country. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava (also known as Guru Rinpoche) had flied here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the caves on the cliffside for three months. The temple has therefore become the holy site worshipped by all Bhutanese devotees, and known as one of the world’s top ten temples. 

After the trek, we will head back to Paro.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Trek to Taktshang Monastery

Your tour guide will transfer you to Paro International Airport for your next destination. Tour service end.