The Ultimate Burma Tour... No Stone Left Unturned

21 days from £9,350 for 2023 per person

• Yangon (Rangoon)
• Kyaikhtiyo
• Inle Lake
• Putao
• Mandalay
• Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin)
• Hsipaw
• Bagan
• Mrauk U
• Ngapali Beach

Having recently returned from Burma, our specialists have put together the ultimate trip to Burma leaving no stone unturned. The itinerary starts in the former capital of Yangon with its crumbling colonial architecture and the shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda before driving to the pilgrimage of Kyaikhtiyo. Return to Yangon before flying upcountry to the banks of Burma's second largest lake, Inle. It is home to pagodas and monasteries and more than 200 small villages, many of which are floating on stilts on the lake. The Intha, the local people, are famous for developing the eccentric method of rowing with one leg.

From Inle, fly to the northern reaches of Burma and spend 3 nights in the wonderful Malikha Lodge for some adventures in the mountains and forests. After Putao, visit Mandalay, once home to the staggering Royal Moated Palace complex and the gateway to Burma's ancient capitals like Inwa and Mingun. Cruise down the Irrawaddy River to Bagan for 1 night on the RV Paukan experiencing a slower pace of life. Upon disembarkation view the magnificent temples of Bagan, scattered over the 26 square mile site along the river banks or the Irrawaddy. A sunrise balloon ride over the temples can be organised upon request.

Before you hit the beach visit Mrauk U, another town with extraordinary temples and pagodas which is a lot less frequented. Finish the journey with 3 nights on beautiful Ngapali beach, a 3 km stretch of white sand and clear turquoise waters, at Sandoway Resort.

This luxury holiday is purely a suggested itinerary; it can be booked as it is or used as a starting point for creating your perfect tailor-made tour of Burma. If you would like to see similar trips, take a look at our collection of Epic Journeys and Honeymoons, as well as our Active, Beach, Trekking and Boating itineraries.

Slicing through the water on Burma’s Inle Lake on a long-tail boat - the water, mountain and sky seemed to merge with one another and the colours were washed out into shades of blue and grey. It was cool, almost cold. Here, whole villages live on the water and crops are grown on small strips of floating islands. Rarely has reality felt more dreamlike.
James Jayasundera, MD of Ampersand Travel