We drive you to the airport for an early morning flight to Heho, in Myanmar's Shan States. From there you drive to magical Inle Lake, located about 1,000 meters above sea level. Highlights include the fisherman rowing in the one-legged style that is characteristic of Inle Lake boatmen, and gardens of grass and earth floating on the surface of this shallow lake, floating strips of ‘land’ for growing vegetables. Another attraction besides the enjoyment of the scenery is a visit to the ‘jumping cats’ monastery, Phaungdaw U Pagoda and silk weaving.

We continue our Inle Lake sightseeing with a visit to Indain and its enchanting 16th century pagodas. To reach Indain and the nearby village we will take a boat ride up a small scenic creek that runs into Inle lake.

After breakfast visit more of the site around Inle or leisure at the hotel until transfer to the afternoon flight to Mandalay. Arrives and transfer to the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel. Travel to the former royal capital of Amarapura. The tour highlights Mahagandayon monastery which is a school for young monks, and we will visit the U Bein bridge as well. It is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km is the longest teakwood span in the world. Visit Inwa, which was founded in 1364 and lasted nearly 400 years as a royal capital. Highlights include the ‘leaning tower of Ava’, Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a brick-and-stucco monastery; and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung.

We will go to Mandalay jetty where we take a short and pleasant ride upriver to Mingun, the site of what would have been the world’s largest zedi had not King Bodawpaya died in 1819 thus halting all further work. Later an earthquake in 1838 split the monument and reduced it to partial rubble. Nonetheless, it is still a very impressive sight as we approach from the river. Nearby we can also visit the Mingun Bell, moved from the zedi after the earthquake and now hung in a new shrine building. It is said to be the largest hanging uncracked bell in the world. Return to Mandalay. Afternoon visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, gold leaf hammering, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery and Mandalay Hill.

· Pandaw 1 Night - Monday departure only.
· Pandaw 2 Nights – Thursday departure only.
After breakfast transfer to Mandalay jetty to board the RV Pandaw before noon. After lunch depart down river for Bagan. Absorb the countryside and local life of the river. Along the way the RV Pandaw will make two shore excursions. Meals: Lunch and dinner will be served on board. Stay overnight on board the RV Pandaw Cruise Boat (Upper Deck Cabin)

* Alternatively enjoy taking with Padaw two nights cruise. Stay overnight on board and full board meals will be provided. (+1 day is needed the program)

Morning breakfast on board and disembark Pandaw in Bagan. After check in at the hotel we are off on our sightseeing tour of one of Asia's most popular archeological destinations. Highlights include visits to Nyaung Oo Market; and many of Bagan’s distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Wetkyi-in- Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century ‘cave temple with interesting fine frescoes; Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best preserved in Old Bagan; and next to it Ananda Ok Kyaung, one of the few surviving brick monastery buildings from the Early Bagan period. We return to the hotel for a rest before our afternoon visit to a lacquerware factory. We will also visit Dhammayangyi Pahto, a massive later period temple with the finest brickwork in Bagan. Then as the sun goes down we will be at one of the ideal viewing sites selected by our tour guide.

The sightseeing highlights include visits to more of Bagan’s impressive pagodas such as Nagayon, an elegant and well preserved temple containing many Buddhas, the main one which is twice life size and shelters under the hood of a huge serpent; Abeyadana Pahto, of which the primary interest is the fine frescos; Nanpaya, probably Bagan’s first gu-style shrine; Gubyankgyi, in the old Bagan village of Myinkaba, is an early period temple with well preserved paintings inside; and Mingalazedi, the very last of the Late period monuments built before the kingdom’s decline.

Transfer to the airport to fly to Yangon. Check in the hotel and leisure until our afternoon sightseeing to a scenic photo stops on beautiful Kandawgyi Lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda; arguably the world’s most impressive golden stupa. Overnight at Savoy Hotel (Deluxe room)