16 Days Myanmar and Bhutan Historic and Cultural Tour

Highlight: Arrive in Mandalay and get prepared for your wonderful discovery of Myanmar.

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will meet your guide and get transferred to your hotel for check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Stay overnight in Mandalay.

Mandalay Tour

Highlight: Discover Amarapura by visiting the U Bein Bridge, Mahagandayon Monastery, Bargaya Monastery, U Min Thoze Pagoda etc.

Today, we will enjoy a full day exploration of the Amarapura,"City of Immortality", the old capital of Myanmar. Start off your tour with a stop at U Bein Bridge, where you can watch locals walk through its entire length. Visit Mahagandayon Monastery and observe at least 1,500 monks going about their routines.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short but scenic boat ride from the Myitnge River towards Ava. Hop on a horse-drawn carriage and explore your surroundings, making stops at Bargaya Monastery and Maha Aung Mye Bonzan Monastery, filled with impressive ornate wood carvings and intricate stuccoed sculpture. Then see the 45 gilded Buddha statues at U Min Thoze Pagoda.

At last, enjoy the amazing view of the sunset at the Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, right before you head back to your hotel in Mandalay.

Stay overnight in Mandalay.

Visiting the U Bein Bridge

Highlight: visit Mahamuni Image, Shwenandaw Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay.

In the morning you will head to visit Mahamuni Image where you can to watch locals pray and place gold paper on the statue of Buddha for blessing. Then visit a gold paper factory to see how golden leaves are made, a staple in Burmese religious practices. Head to visit the 19^th-century Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery) famous for its teak carvings of Buddhist mythology. Next, see the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a Buddhist stupa that contains the world's largest book of Buddhism. 

After the sightseeing, we will drive to Bagan. It takes about 4 hours on the way.

Stay overnight in Bagan.

Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay

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

Today, we will enjoy a full day sightseeing in Bagan, the temple town of Myanmar. 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: Visit landmarks in Yangon including Sule Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda after arrival.

In the morning, we will first take a short flight to Yangon from Bagan. 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: Fly to Bangkok and take a rest for the following trip.

Today, we will leave for Bangkok by air. The flight from Yangon to Bangkok takes about 1 hour. Upon your arrival, you can take a good rest in your hotel.

Stay overnight in Bangkok.

Highlight: Visit Ta Dzong Museum and stroll around the town of Paro.

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.

In the afternoon, we will head to visit to 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.

Stay overnight in Paro.

Paro including Ta Dzong Museum

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

After breakfast, we will first drive towards Paro from Thimphu, following the Pachu River. It is a short drive of about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a sightseeing tour around 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: Take in the beautiful scenery along the drive towards Bumthang.   

You will set out in the early morning after breakfast and travel to Bumthang (2,700m). Covering a distance of 197 kilometers, it will take you 7 hours to get to Bumthang from Punakha.

The on-the-route scenery is amazing, the bus will take you to lush forests of oaks and pine trees and you can see view changes as you ascend the mountain. Meanwhile, the open green meadows with rhododendron ridden valleys will lead you to visit Chendebji Chorten, a large Nepalese style chorten sits quietly by the side of the road. The chorten is modeled after the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu. It is said that Chendebji Chorten was built in the 19th century by Lama Zhida to cover the remains of an evil spirit who was killed at this spot.

After arriving at Bumthang, your guide will help you check in the hotel.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Chendebji Chorten

Highlight: Visit landmarks in Bumthang like Tamshing Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang and Jakar Dzong.

Today, you will enjoy a sightseeing in Bumthang. Deep in the central regions of the country, Bumthang valley is broad and presents a different landscape you may not see in west Bhutan. You will first visit Tamshing Lhakhang, which famous for its collections of printings exemplifying the region’s style. Then crossing the suspension bridge to the Kurjey Lhakhang. Not far from Kurjey Lhakhang sits the Jambay Lhakhang, a temple built by the King Songtsen Goempo of Tibet in the 7th century. Next, you will continue to visit Jakar Dzong, a wonderful architecture in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 meters.

Stay overnight in Bumthang.

Bumthang Kurjey Lhakhang

Stay overnight in Thimphu.

Highlight: Explore Probjikha valley and visit Gangtey Monastery.

After breakfast, you will start your journey to Gangtey (2,890m). The distance between Bumthang and Gangtey is about 163 kilometers, which will take you 5 hours 30 minutes. Gangtey, also called Probjikha, is one of the most beautiful destinations in Bhutan. It is also the winter home to a group of globally endangered black-necked cranes that arrive every year from the Tibetan Plateau.

Upon your arrival, you will first visit Gangtey Monastery, generally known as Gangtey Goempa. Situated atop a hill at an altitude of 2800m, the monastery offers a stunning view of Phobjikha valley. Besides, it is the winter home to the rare Black Necked Cranes of Bhutan. 

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 leave for Paro to 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.