- Sagaing Hill - In the morning at 07:30 A.M. pick up from your hotel in Mandalay and drive to Sagaing and visit picturesque Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living centre of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries.
- Soon U Ponya Shin Paya - Visit Soon U Ponnyashin Pagoda On the hill is the most famous shrine in the area, the originally built in 1312 and enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding area. Proceed to another hill to visit an interesting temple U Min Thonze Pagoda, which is built in a crescent shape and houses 45 sitting Buddhas in a vibrantly coloured colonnade.
After enjoying the scenery, drive down to the foot of the hill and visit to one of the Monasteries in Sagaing to study the daily life of the Buddhist monks. Then, visit Ywataung Silver Smith.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Sagaing (or) Innwa depending on time limit.
- Innwa - Then, drive to the former Royal Capital Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the Myitnge Rivers. A local ferry carries you to the island where your horse cart and driver waiting you.
You will visit Innwa by horse cart and pass through the ancient city walls to visit the brick and stucco monastery of Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung).
- Bagaya Monastery - Continue to Nanmyint Watch Tower
and then proceed to see also the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. Time permitting, visit some village homes to see local handicrafts, such as silk weaving, cane mats and alms bowls.
- U Bein Bridge - Return to Mandalay via the Ava Bridge, built by British engineers along the Ayeyarwaddy River and en-route visit Amarapura to take a stroll over the unique U Bein Bridge , a beautiful 1.2 kilometre-long structure built from teak planks and said to be the longest of its type in the world. In 1857, when the capital moved from nearby Amarapura to Mandalay, the local mayor (named U Bein) salvaged wood from pieces of the dismantled teak palace and reconstructed it into this magnificent bridge. Enjoy the sunset from the bridge. Transfer back to your hotel in Mandalay.
Meals included: Lunch
- Snow towel & 1 bottle of purified drinking water
- Private sightseeing with an English speaking guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle for the tour
- Entrance fees to Innwa & Sagaing included
- Lunch at a local restaurant
- Ferry boat to Innwa (Ava)
- Horse cart ride in Innwa (Ava)
- Hotel accommodation, Mandalay Zone Fee (MMK 10,000)
- Tips for your guide and driver (USD 8 for guide and USD 3 for driver)
- Camera Fee (MMK 1,000), Travel insurance (MMK 10,000)
Excursion to 3 Ancient Capitals nearby Mandalay: Sagaing, with numerous Buddhist monasteries, Innwa (Ava), an ancient imperial capital from 14th to 19th centuries and Amarapura, the capital of Myanmar twice in (1783–1821 and 1842–1859).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Exploring Sagaing Hills for numerous pagodas, monasteries and nunneries to learn daily life of Buddhist Nuns,
- Visit to Innwa (Ava) includes, Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery (or) Mei Nu Oke Kyaung (a brick stucco monastery) built by Nanmadaw Mei Nu, the chief queen of Bagyidaw, for her royal abbot U Bok in 1822.
- Bargaya Kyaung (or) Bame Kyaung, built in 1834, the entire monastery is supported by 267 teak posts (the largest measures 60 ft in height and 9 ft in circumference)
- Nanmyint Watch Tower – A remnant of the palace built by King Bagyidaw, at the center of old Innwa,
- A visit to Amarapura to take a stroll and have a nice photo stop at U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge nearly 200-years-old.
- As you will be visiting religious sites, please wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and remember to take off your shoes and socks when entering pagoda areas.
- This tour is not available during the Water Festival period between 12 to 18 Apr. During this time, everything in town is closed: restaurants, shops, markets, Museum, etc. Driving through Yangon is extremely difficult if not impossible because people celebrate the famous water-festival. You cannot avoid of getting very wet because everyone throws water at everybody. People drive through the city in open cars and there are stages along the street where people throw water. Everybody going up will get very wet.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
