South Myanmar Tour | Myanmar Travel | Private Myanmar Tour with Pyala Travel - Travel Program
Travel to South Myanmar and visit Mrauk U, Ngapali beach and Karen and Mon states. Individual Myanmar Tour from Pyala Travel.
South Myanmar Tour
private tour
Enchanting Mrauk U, Mon and Karen states and Ngapali beach
On the South Burma trip you visit the less-traveled, tropical south. Start your journey with a visit to the Mon and Karen states. Stroll through the old British port city of Moulmein, enjoy enchanting Mrauk, and end on beautiful Ngapali beach.
from 1813,-
17 days
Tabs
Day 1 Arrival Yangon
Today you arrive in Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon. After the Customs formalities are completed, exchange money before transferring to your hotel. Today you can explore Yangon along with an English speaking guide and private car with driver. Visit the central Sule pagoda, located amidst many buildings from the British colonial era. Also, the Chauktatgyi Buddha, a huge reclining Buddha, should not be missed. In the late afternoon you can visit the Shwedagon Pagoda (Shwedagon Paya or, as the Myanmar say), the Golden Glory of Myanmar, an imposing edifice and perhaps one of the most impressive temples in the world. The end of the day, at sunset, is the best time to see this impressive monument. By nightfall many townspeople come to the Shwedagon to walk their rounds around the pagoda and to meet friends and acquaintances. It is also very nice to go to the river and take in the bustling river life with its many ferries.
Day 2 Yangon – Mawlamyaing (Moulmein)
Today you drive 6-7 hours to the south of Myanmar. Just outside Yangon you can stop at the Taukkyan War Cemetary, an impressive reminder of World War II. 6,734 allied soldiers who died in Myanmar and India in the fight with the Japanese are buried here. Along the way you will pass Bago which you will visit on the way back. Then you pass Thaton, the former capital of the Mon Kingdom where you can stop for lunch. You then drive on through the Mon State towards Mawlamyine. The setting is reminiscent of neighboring Thailand, which lies behind the hills. Via a huge bridge you cross the Thanlwin (also known as the Salween) River, and then you are in the atmospheric Mawlamyine.This port was formerly known as Moulmein and was once the capital of British Burma. Walking along the streets you see a diverse population, including many Indians.There are churches, mosques and Hindu temples throughout Mawlamyaing. On the street there are many trishaw's and old wooden school buses. Stroll along the promenade and visit the colorful market and the famous Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, the highest structure in Mawlamyaing that overlooks the town. This pagoda is better known as Kipling’s Pagoda due to the fact that it is thought to be the site where Rudyard Kipling wrote his famous poem “On the Road to Mandalay.” At the end of the day you can go to the hill behind Mawlamyaing with its many Buddhist temples to enjoy the sunset over the city.
Day 3 Mawlamyaing / excursion Mon state
Today you will see the Mon state. You'll visit Thanbyuzayat, about 64 kilometers south of Mawlamyaing, at the end of the Burma Railway, the "Death Railway" whose construction cost the lives of so many. There is still the train tracks, an old steam locomotive and some old buildings. It is all quite dilapidated, and there are also almost no visitors in this remote corner of Myanmar. The nearby war cemetery makes a better impression. Here are the western victims of the Burma Railway, including many Dutch. For many Asian victims there isn't a graveyard.You then go to the beach Setse, a huge, broad sandy beach on the Gulf of Martaban. On the way you will stop in Mawlamyine Win Sein Taw Ya, where there is supposed to be the largest reclining Buddha in the world. It's a wonderful sight. The area is a typical Burmese mix of kitschy theme park and sacred Buddhist temple. You return to Mawlamyine late in the afternoon.
Day 4 Mawlamyaing – Hpa’An
Today, you exchange the Mon state for Kayin state. On the way from Mawlamyaing (Moulmein) to Hpa'an the landscape becomes more and more beautiful. The mountains loom behind rice fields and rivers, and it is especially beautiful at sunset. Many of the Karst Mountains harbor enormous caves. In some of these caves there are dozens, sometimes hundreds, of Buddha statues some of which dated from the 13th century. From the boulevard in Hpa'an there is a magnificent view over the river of this enchanting landscape. You can stroll along the river and watch the sun slowly sink behind the horizon. The Kayin are better known to us as the Karen. This nation has only recently signed a truce with the union government and there are still large areas that are inaccessible to foreigners, but soon more areas in this beautiful state will be open.
Day 5 Hpa’An
Today you have the whole day to explore the beautiful area around Hpa'an. Visit some of the caves, or do you prefer to climb the thousands of stairs to the neighboring Mt. Zwegabin Monastery? A fantastic view is the reward.
Day 6 Hpa’An - Kyaitkhtiyo (Golden Rock)
You return to the Mon State and head off to one of the most famous sights of Myanmar, Mt. Kyaiktiyo and the famous Golden Rock Pagoda. On a large, gold-covered rock there is a small pagoda. The huge boulder teeters on the edge of the mountain and it looks like it will roll off at any minute. The pagoda is one of the most famous places of pilgrimage in Myanmar and also one of the most sacred. Inside the stupa is enshrined an original hair of Lord Buddha. It is believed that due to the miracle of Buddha’s hair, the gilded rock is secure on the edge of the cliff. Numerous pilgrims and believers make the steep climb to the top every day. The trip to the Golden Rock Pagoda begins at Kimpun camp from where the ascent of the pick-up truck begins. The truck will bring you to the car station near the top of the mountain. Upon arrival, you take only a short walk to the Pagoda.Especially at the end of the day, as the sun sinks slowly, the Golden Rock shimmers beautifully.
Day 7 Kyaitkhtiyo - Yangon via Bago
Today you travel back to Yangon, but first pay a visit to Bago. This used to be the ancient capital of the Second Burmese Empire and was known as Pegu or Hantharwaddy. The ancient capital Bago is now a small country town with countless temples and pagodas. You will include a visit to the market, the pagoda Shwemawdaw (higher than the Shwedagon) and the reclining Buddha in the pagoda Shwetalyaung (one of the finest and the most life-like in Myanmar). Late in the afternoon you are back in Yangon.
Day 8 Yangon - Sittwe
Today you fly to one of the least-visited areas of Burma, Sittwe, on the border with Bangladesh. It is in Rakhine State, a very different part of the country. The Rakhine, also known as the Arakanese, are one of the major ethnicities of Myanmar.Sittwe itself is a beautiful town on the Bay of Bengal. There aren't many monuments and historic buildings to see, but the street scene is fascinating. Where in Yangon the traffic is ever-increasing, here there are predominantly Saik ka, the Myanmar rickshaws, some horse carts, and the occasional dilapidated pickup truck. Here you can still see the authentic streets. In many areas of Southeast Asia this is increasingly disappearing due to rapid modernization, but here in the streets of Sittwe it is largely similar to how things have been for last hundred years. Life takes place all along the river side. Everywhere you see various kinds of fishing boats, from large wooden boats from nearby Bangladesh to small canoes covered by tarps.
The fish market is wonderful chaos. At the market you see huge fish hanging to dry. Early in the morning the boats come in with fresh fish from salt, fresh and brackish water, and there is a huge variety of fish. Everything is sold around the fish market: flowers, rice, fruit and vegetables. A little way behind the market is the Friday Mosque, a dilapidated building from the 19th century. There are many Muslims here, known as the Bengali, who migrated from Bangladesh.
Day 9 Sittwe - Mrauk U
Early in the morning you visit the fish market, where the fishing boats, which have been out all night on the open sea, are unloading their cargo. A real scene for shutter-bugs! Then you'll head to a small harbor and get on a public boat to Mrauk U. It's a 5 or 6-hour sail across vast expanses of water to Mrauk U. The further you go, the narrower the river becomes and the greener the landscape. Along the way you will pass many boats of all shapes and sizes. On the banks, small villages and the occasional pagoda in the distance come into view.In Mrauk U you can see several pagodas against the horizon. Late in the afternoon you can watch the sunset, a mystical view with pink and yellow mist surrounding the pagodas, monks in their red robes, ox carts moving slowly on the roads, women heading to the well with silver jugs, children happily playing in the street, herds of cattle being brought in, and fires being stoked by the bamboo huts.
Day 10 Mrauk U
Today you can explore on your own or book the "Unkown Bagan" temple excursion. The complex was developed between the 15th and 17th centuries. The capital was strategically located between the Bay of Bengal and 4 rivers. Many temples are still intact.The most famous temple is the Shittaung Pagoda with 80,000 Buddha statues, but this is just one of many that can be admired in this vast complex. The most beautiful temples are located in the northern group, but make sure to visit the Kothaung Temple in the eastern group. Other temples that shouldn't be missed include Htokekanthein, a fortress-like temple, Andaw Thein Temple where there is supposedly one of Buddha's teeth (from Sri Lanka), Lay Myatnar Pagoda, Chin Kite Pitaka Library, and the Bandoola Monastery with the Sanda Muni Buddha Image.You can also visit the Rakhine Museum and the remains of the old palace. At the Yadanarpone Pagoda you get a good impression of the architectural masterpieces of the Rakhine Empire. Not only are there far fewer tourists here than in Bagan, but another important difference is that many pagodas and temples of Mrauk U are surrounded by small villages. Everywhere you see the Myanmar country life; cattle graze between the temples, hay is cut from the fields, and farmers work in the rice fields. Fantastic! And all this in an environment without electricity or internet.
In short, Mrauk U is not only interesting to the cultural heritage of Myanmar, but it also provides a great look at the typical Myanmar countryside and a wonderful place to relax.
Day 11 Mrauk U
You have another day to explore Mrauk U. Are you going to see more temples? You can also book the interesting excursion to Vesali and Mahamuni to see the more distant areas. Or would you like something else? Then we recommend the excursion to the Chin villages, a beautiful trip by boat across the Lay Mro River.
Day 12 Mrauk U - Sittwe
Today you sail back to Sittwe, and you can enjoy the rustic river again. In the afternoon when you're back in Sittwe you can explore more in this colorful town.
Day 13 Sittwe - Ngapali
A short flight takes you to Thandwe. From the airport there is easy access to the adjacent beach of Ngapali, a gorgeous beach with bays full swaying palm trees. Here you can relax, or walk to the nearby fishing villages and see how the morning catch is hauled on board, a colorful spectacle. In the afternoon you can see the fishermen mending their nets on the beach.
Day 14 Ngapali
Will it be a lazy day at the beach? Or maybe a walk along the beach to one of the nearby fishing villages? You are advised to do so early in the morning when the fishermen arrive with their ships and the whole catch is hauled. The fishermen bring baskets full of fish to the beach where women buy them and bring them directly to the market. In the afternoon a lot of fish are hung to dry and the nets are repaired.
Day 15 Ngapali
Another day of relaxation on the beach.
Day 16 Ngapali - Yangon
Today you fly from Thandwe back to the Myanmar fromer capital, Yangon. Do some last shopping at the Bogyoke market, visit one of the pagodas, or enjoy the sunset on the busy riverbank.
Day 17 Depart Yangon
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