Best of the Best in Burma... The Ultimate Luxury Tour

15 days from £9,240 for 2025 per person

• Yangon (Rangoon)
• Kalaw
• Inle Lake
• Mandalay
• Bagan
• Ngapali Beach

It is no secret that Burma is a cultural treasure trove, but for those of you who love luxury too, we have designed the ultimate luxury tour of Burma using her finest luxury hotels and most exclusive experiences. Begin your journey in the height of colonial-era elegance at Burma’s most sought after hotel, the Governor’s Residence. Highlights of your time in Yangon range from a walking tour of crumbly colonial downtown, a sunset pilgrimage to the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda, Afternoon Tea at The Strand – a true institution built by the Sarkie Brothers in 1901 – and dinner at Le Planteur, Burma’s premier fine dining establishment set in an ambient garden.

Next stop Kalaw, to experience one of our top recommended activities in Burma: lunch and bathing the adorable resident elephants at the Green Elephant Camp. Run by an inspiring Burmese couple, the camp was set up to protect the environment, elephants and traditions of local people. Well worth a visit, not least as you will stay at The Amara, a quaint hill station cottage complete with English-style country gardens and bounding Labrador dogs! Rested and refreshed, head on to Inle Lake. Surrounded by the Shan Hills, Inle Lake is a true natural and cultural beauty with floating vegetable gardens and Intha villages constructed on stilts upon the water. You will arrive at the charming Inle Princess Resort by way of a traditional boat rowed in the ubiquitous ‘one-legged rowing’ style. Explore local villages and cultural sites by private boat, and enjoy a traditional Shan cookery class at Intha House.

Next visit Mandalay, once home to the staggering Royal Moated Palace complex and the gateway to Burma's ancient capitals like Inwa and Mingun, before heading to Burma’s archaeological jewel, Bagan. The vast Bagan plains are straddled by the Irrawaddy River and scatted with some 5,000 ancient temples, which you will explore with a private guide according to your own pace and interests. If travelling between October and March, wake at the crack of dawn one morning for a thrilling balloon ride over the Bagan pagodas. Stay at the Aureum Palace, which has astonishing views directly over the temples of Bagan – best enjoyed with a sundowner by the swimming pool.

Take your final flight to end your journey with your feet in the sand at Sandoway Resort on Ngapali Beach, Burma’s finest beach resort lapped by the turquoise waters of the Bay of Bengal. This gorgeous coast – and this resort in particular – promise the perfect finale to your luxury Burma tour. 

This tour is purely a suggested itinerary. It can be booked as it is, or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own ideal bespoke holiday. If you'd like to see similar tours, take a look at our Ultimate Luxury Villas, Beach Holidays, Spa & Wellness, Honeymoon and Epic Journey collections.

I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.
Bill Bryson