Our Romantic Adventure in Burma

On this extraordinary getaway for two, the transportation is as varied as the destination. Hurry, and get to elephants, lakes, temples and amazing views!

Exploring Myanmar by Bike, Balloon, and Foot | Anywhere

Karl Nesseler

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Yangon

Once the colonial capital of the British empire, Yangon is a city that represents the ancient, the old, and the new. With pagodas that date back several millennia, century-old remnants of colonialism and constant construction on new high-rise buildings, Yangon represents both the history and future of Myanmar. It just takes a little exploration and one is quickly immersed in the diversity this city has to offer.

Sunbird Tours

Club Room ROH

Hotel Recommendation #1

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Shwedagon Pagoda and Night Market Tour

Appreciate the beauty of the Shwedagon Pagoda at a distance with a visit to the Kandawgyi Park. You’ll walk along the border of the lake to see the Karaweik Barge. Shwedagon Pagoda is estimated to be 2,500 years old. Its stupas are covered in gold leaf and diamonds. The central pagoda is 361 feet (110 m) tall and is the central feature of the Yangon skyline. Worshippers come here to pray, meditate, and bring offerings of flowers. Intricate carvings and statues make this one of the most interesting art history attractions in Myanmar. After the temple visit, you’ll visit a night market where you’ll try local food.  


Set out at dusk on a tour of the enormous Shwedagon Pagoda. This is the most famous Buddhist site in Myanmar, and many consider it central to Burmese culture. On the way, you’ll experience some parts of the city that you shouldn’t miss on a visit to Yangon.

Shwedagon Pagoda Night Market Tour

Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, light clothes, bug spray, and comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off.

Mandalay Bike Tour

Do as the locals do, and ride through Mandalay on a bicycle. Your private guide will show you the interesting neighborhoods and sights this famous handicraft city has to offer. Your final destination is the U-Bein bridge. Sit back and relax after some hour in the saddle, watch the beautiful silhouettes on the bridge as the sun is setting in the background. 

Mandalay

Built along the Ayeyarwady River, the city of Mandalay is steeped with both ancient and modern cultural intrigue. High red-bricked walls and a large moat separate the ancient palace from the rest of Myanmar's second largest city. Inside the fortifications sit a completely reconstructed palace, much like the one that stood there in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Kachin Room 

Hotel Recommendation #2

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Bagan

Deluxe Garden View Room

Leaving early under the cover of darkness is the only way to experience one of Myanmar's most breathtaking spectacles — sunrise in Bagan.

Hotel Recommendation #3

Balloon Flight Over Bagan

 This complex has around 2,000 temples of the 10,000 that originally stood here. Getting in a hot air balloon is one of the easiest ways to see this enormous site. Look down to see the golden spires of the many temples as well as villagers tending to their animals. 

Hot air balloon tours are one of the most iconic ways to see Bagan. You’ll leave early in the morning and have the chance to see the surrounding villages waking up.

Hot Air Balloon Flight Over Bagan

Sunscreen, comfortable clothes, and sunglasses.

Bagan Temples Tour

The tour begins at Ananda Temple, one of the oldest and grandest temples in Bagan. It has one of the few surviving gates in the site. You can pick out this temple by its gilded spiral, which glimmers under the Myanmar sun.  
  
Next, you'll visit Shwezigon Paya, which is best known for its resemblance to Yangon’s famous Shwedagon Pagoda. In fact, the main stupa’s shape inspired temple designs all over Myanmar. Crane your neck to admire the beautiful, flower-covered stupa.  
  
King Narathu built Damanyangyi Temple in the 12th century and it is the largest temple in Bagan. This king came to power after murdering his father and brother and may have believed that building such an enormous temple would balance his karma. The temple was never finished, and your guide can offer some theories as to why—according to one legend, the king’s wrathful ghost made a mess of the temple’s interior.  
  
Thatbyinnyu Temple was one of the first temples to have two stories instead of just one. It is one of the tallest temples in Bagan.  
  
After the temples, you’ll hop in a horse-drawn cart just as the sun sets. You’ll drive past lots of beautiful shrines on your way to a nearby village. There, you’ll stop at several workshops that make lacquerware, textiles, and wooden wheels for oxcarts.  


Bagan has thousands of temples, but they’re only a fraction of the site’s original sprawl. Much of the site was built from the 11th to the 13th century, with lots of Buddha statues and other embellishments added from the 14 to the 16th century. You’ll follow your knowledgeable guide to see the most noteworthy temples, as well as a nearby village. This tour takes place around sunset, so you can appreciate the majesty of Bagan’s temples during the cooler part of the day.

Bagan Temple Tour

Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, light clothes, bug spray, and comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off. If you come from December to January, bring a sweater.

Kalaw

Heho Airport

Nyaung U Airport

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Want to get to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bagan quickly? Hop on a flight to Nyaung U Airport! Although it doesn't accept international flights yet, it's the best way to reach this amazing destination, and then make your way to other popular destinations such as Mandalay and Yangon.

Deluxe Villa

Kalaw is nestled among the mountains and caves of Shan State, located about two hours west of Inle Lake. The British built this highland retreat to escape the heat of Yangon and Mandalay. You can still see British colonial architecture and a popular marketplace in the small downtown area. And even though this is a rural town, local restaurants still offer a nice variety of Asian and European cuisine. 


Hotel Recommendation #4

Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp

English-speaking guides will take you to the elephant enclosure where you’ll see elephants bathing and eating. As the elephants get their bath, visitors are welcome to pet these gentle giants. You'll also be able to help with the daily feeding. Unlike many elephant camps, Green Hill Valley does not offer elephants to ride. The emphasis is instead on the animals' happiness.   
  
A nature conservation area surrounds the elephant enclosure. Before or after you visit the elephants you'll have the chance to get a closer look at the flowers, birds, and butterflies. During your visit, you’ll also have the chance to participate in a reforestation program.

Green Hill Valley Sustainable Elephant Tourism Camp provides a home for elephants who are no longer physically fit for labor. Many of them have spent their lives working in labor camps. This tour starts with a 45-minute drive from Kalaw to the elephant camp in Magway.

Guided tour and hands-on visit with the elephants.

Pindaya, Kalaw, Inle Lake Trekking (3 days and 2 nights)

Day 1    
  
This tour begins with a two-hour drive from Heho airport to the limestone Pindaya Caves. For hundreds of years, the cave’s interior has filled with sacred statues of Buddha. Nearby, visit workshops to see how locals make parasols from hand-made paper. You’ll also stop at the 100-year-old Sing-gaung Monastery.    
  
You’ll drive for another hour over the Shan Plateau, into the mountains of Kalaw. This former British hill station has a cooler climate than the sweltering cities in the lowlands. Visit the town’s central pagoda to see its pretty glass mosaics and then retire for the night at a local hotel.    
  
Day 2    
  
After breakfast, you’ll depart from the hotel around 8 A.M. for a 45-minute drive to the trailhead. Today’s trek covers about 10 miles (16 km) and will take approximately 6 hours.    
  
You’ll find the trailhead in Lamine Village. This trail goes up and down hills past streams and rice paddies. There’s a nice view from the top of the ridge. After 3.7 miles (6 km) of walking, you’ll reach the Pao Village of Pawke. Here, people live off their rice, chili, sesame, and potato crops.    
  
Trek another 1.8 miles (3 km) to Konehla, a Danu Village where you’ll enjoy lunch at a local home. After lunch, your trek continues to Pattupauk, where you’ll take a short rest before walking around to see villagers making baskets out of bamboo. You’ll have dinner and spend the night at a village homestay.    
Day 3    
  
You trek today is 9 miles (15 km) long and will take around 5 hours to complete. You’ll set out at around 7 A.M., stopping for a coffee break after trekking for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. The next leg is an easy trail that passes by banyan trees. After that, you’ll notice that the path quickly becomes rocky. At this point, you’ll be able to see the lake in the distance.  
  
You’ll hike for another hour and a half past a bamboo forest before you reach the Tone Le Village and stop at a cool, shaded restaurant surrounded by bamboo.   After lunch, take a boat ride to your hotel in Nyaungshwe or Inle.

This three-day, two-night tour takes you on a popular trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake. Along the way, you’ll get to see traditional villages and learn about rural life in Myanmar. Before you set out on your trek, you’ll explore some of Kalaw’s most interesting Buddhist sites.

Trekking Shan Culture

Overnight stay in a double room, overnight stay in a village home, transportation, entrance fees (subject to change), guided tour, Inle boat trip.

Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, light clothes, bug spray, anything you need for three overnight stays, money for drinks and tips, and comfortable shoes that are easy to take on and off.

Inle Lake

Deluxe Suite With Lake View 

Nestled in the high Shan Hills of eastern Myanmar, the breathtaking natural wonder known as Inle Lake serves as the center of a bustling boating community. Although a few things around the lake can be reached by car, the only real way to experience this lake culture is to hire a boat and immerse you.

1-888-456-3212

1-844-840-8780

44-800-088-5758

1-844-840-8780

1-888-456-3212

44-800-088-5758

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Photo Opportunities

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City-Life Energy

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My dream trip in Country
Peru
Costa Rica
Vietnam
Ecuador
Thailand
Belize
Indonesia
Guatemala
Panama
Laos
Cambodia
Honduras

That I’ll spend with Group type
My Spouse/Partner
My Family
Myself
My Friends

Is filled with Trip type
Natural Wonders
Culinary & Cultural Encounters
Adventure Sports
Hidden Local Gems
Photo Opportunities
Mind & Body Rejuvenation
Easy Sightseeing
City-Life Energy
Rugged Exploration
Rest & Relaxation
Romantic Moments
Mind-blowing Vistas
Off-The-Beaten-Path Exploration