Complete Myanmar

This evening, visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. Sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds, Shwedagon is Myanmar’s most magnificent religious structure. At sunset, the pagoda – lit up and always busy with locals, pilgrims and curious travellers – offers visitors a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight in Yangon.

In the afternoon visit the Maha Pasana Cave, a close replica of India’s Satta Panni Cave, and the World Peace Pagoda, Kabar Aye. Of historic rather than aesthetic interest, the Cave and Pagoda were built in 1952 by Burma's first president, U Nu, for the sixth Buddhist council, and are prominent Yangon landmarks.

After exploring Nyaung Oo, continue on to the Shwezigon Pagoda, an early model of the ‘bell’-shaped stupa that would later become synonymous with Burmese religious architecture, then Gubyaukkyi (Wetkyi-in) Temple, with its display of fine mural paintings, and finally the elegant Htilominlo Temple, notable for its detailed plaster carvings. Early afternoon, continue to your hotel.

After you've rested and lunched, continue your exploration of Bagan with a visit to Ananda, one of the earliest and most spectacular temples in the region; Thatbyinnyu Temple, the highest pagoda in Bagan at 61m; and Dhammayangyi Temple, notable for its intricate brickwork. In the evening, climb Shwesandaw. The sunset view from the top of this iconic pagoda is famous (though beware the steep steps!)

After touring a laquer workshop, visit Myinkaba Gubyaukkyi – an early Pyu-style temple with a clear Hindu influence – before continuing to Manuha Temple, remarkable for its towering Buddha images, and Nanpaya, an early Bagan temple with fine stone carvings.

In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing excursion to the countryside village of Minnanthu. If you’re not templed-out, you can also visit some of the other intriguing temples that fill the landscape (with over 3,000, you’re spoilt for choice!) In the evening, watch the sun set over the Irrawaddy River at Bupaya, where, if the view is not quite as spectacular as it is from the Sunset Pagoda, the crowd is always smaller.

You'll set off early for Popa (it's a one hour drive) so that you can start the ascent in good time and avoid the midday heat. The mountain is almost 5,000ft high, but don't worry, you aren't expected to climb to the top. Rather, your goal is to reach the top of Pedestal Hill, or Popa Taung Kalat, a volcanic neck on the lower flank of the mountain that, at 2,500ft, is half the height of Popa itself. The hill is crowned with a gilded temple and monastery, one of the most remote in the world, reached by 777 steps. It's a tough climb, but the views from the top are simply wonderful, particularly on a clear day. Relatively few travellers make it to Popa, but you'll likely be joined by other pilgrims; if you're lucky and your visit coincides with a ceremonial day, you might be able to watch a monastic procession to the top of the hill.

If you're not comfortable with the climb, or if the heat is stifling, you may prefer to just admire the temple from a distance. Please do not attempt the climb if you're not feeling fit or are generally uncomfortable with heights!

Leave Popa around midday and return to Bagan. If of interest, you can stop along the way at a toddy farm. This palm fruit thrives in the dry, arid plains of Bagan, and is used to make juice and toddy alcohol. Expect to arrive back in Bagan in time for a late lunch.

After lunch and a rest at your hotel, continue your tour of Bagan with a visit to the temples of Lay Myathna, Phaya Thonezu and Tayoke Pyay, completing your overview of Bagan’s major sites. Alternatively, you may prefer to hire a bicycle (ask your hotel or your guide to help) and spend your last afternoon in Old Bagan exploring at leisure. Return to your hotel early evening.

The cruise arrives in Mandalay after sunset. You'll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

NB. It's also possible to take an overnight slow cruise to Mandalay. You'll moor at a village in the evening and spend the night on the river. The overnight cruise includes a visit to Yandabo Village, notable as the site where the first Anglo-Burmese treaty was signed in 1826. Let us know in advance if this is of interest.

The longest wooden bridge in the world, U Bein is constructed from 1,700 teak pillars and covers the entire span of Taungthaman Lake. Allow an hour to cross the bridge, which is always busy with locals en route to market and with monks from the local monastery.

After the morning tour, you can stop for lunch in Amarapura, where there are several nice cafes, or return to your hotel in Mandalay.

In the afternoon, continue your tour of Mandalay with a visit to the Shwenandaw Monastery, situated right in the heart of the city on the outskirts of the Royal Palace. Exquisitely carved from teak wood, this small, partially concealed monastery is one of the most beautiful in the city.

From Shwenandaw, continue to the nearby Kuthodaw Pagoda. Sometimes referred to as the 'world’s largest book', Kuthodaw is famous for its 729 marble tablets engraved with Buddhist scriptures. Set out in neat lines and each contained within an identical stupa, the stone slabs are a marvel.

In the evening, ascend Mandalay Hill (you can go by car or join the local pilgrims in walking to the summit, but do bear in mind that it's a long climb and must be made barefoot!) Mandalay Hill is another of the city’s famous religious sites, crowned by the colourful, beautifully decorated Sutaungpyei Pagoda, but it’s also very much a public space popular with locals and travellers alike, who gather at the top of the hill each evening to watch the sun set over Mandalay.

The Kings of Ava, who ruled from 1364 to 1555, only governed Upper Burma, having lost control of the fertile central Burmese plains, and with them Bagan, to Mongol invaders. While the Ava Kings claimed descent from the Kings of Bagan, they ruled a vastly reduced kingdom.

Nevertheless, if Ava isn't as glorious as Bagan, it's a fascinating site that is often overlooked by visitors to the country. Like Bagan, it's barely developed, and its rural surrounds are a marked contrast to busy Mandalay (it's an hour's drive away). Donkey cart is the preferred form of transport (walking is also an option!) The main attraction is the 19th-century Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery. Built entirely of brick, rather than teak, this still-active monastery has an almost gothic quality. Nearby are the Htilaingshin Paya stupas. There are also a small number of ruins dating back to the Ava period, but nothing on the scale of those found at Bagan.

In the afternoon, continue your journey out of Mandalay and into the countryside with a visit to Ywataung Village, famous locally for its silver craft. Visit a silversmith and take a stroll around the village, before continuing on to the Sagaing Hills. Located about 20km south of Mandalay, the Sagaing Hills are home to a number of religious sites, including a small nunnery, the Thirty Caves temple housing a number of Buddha images (calling to mind the more famous Buddha Caves of Laos) and, crowning one of the higher hills, the Soon Oo Ponnya Shin Pagoda, which offers an impressive vista of the valley below. Climb to the pagoda in time to watch the sun set, before returning to Mandalay in the evening.

A former royal retreat, Mingun houses a number of treasures, including the gigantic, unfinished Mingun Pagoda (Pahtodawgyi), and the Mingun Bell, the world's largest functioning ringing bell. But beyond its sights and historical attractions, Mingun is simply a pleasure to explore, with lots of market stalls to browse and beautiful views of the river.

Return to Mandalay after lunch in Mingun.

In the afternoon, enjoy a tour of some of the city’s famous workshops, visiting artisans specialising in gold leaf, silver, bronze casting, wood and marble carving.

Return to your hotel late afternoon, with the rest of the day at leisure.

You'll be met on arrival in Putao and driven to your guesthouse. After you've settled in at the lodge, take a walk around Putao town. You might need a bit of time to adjust to the climate—Putao is on average 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the hot plains of central Myanmar!

When ready, return to your guesthouse for dinner.

After breakfast at the guesthouse, set off on foot for Namtunko, a small Lisu village to the west of Putao. The walk follows well-trodden paths through small hamlets and farms to begin with, but you soon find yourself in the wilderness. Much of the trek is uphill but at a gentle pace. You'll trek for 5-6 hours, stopping to enjoy a picnic lunch en route. Arrive at Namtunko early evening, just as the villagers are returning home from work. You stay tonight in a local homestay, with a home-cooked dinner.

You'll climb to approx. 800m this morning, before descending into another valley (with marvellous views of the Putao plains as you descend) in the afternoon, where you'll be picked up by your driver and taken back to Putao for the night.

Approx. 6 hours trekking today.

One of the largest towns in the region, Machanbaw was the site of northern Myanmar's first British colonial administration in 1914, but only briefly, as the British soon moved their administration to Fort Hertz in Putao. There are only a few traces of this colonial past; some officer houses still stand, as does the dusty, now-abandoned British Club, but little else remains.

Explore the town market as well as Machanbaw's most prominent landmark, the Stone Dragon rock, an rocky outcrop said to resemble a dragon. It's a short walk from town into the surrounding countryside to reach the rock. Afterwards, return to Putao for lunch. The rest of the day is free. Explore Putao, or perhaps enjoy an afternoon trek or bike ride in the valley.

Hopaing is a Shan settlement, and houses a small Buddhist monastery (a rare sight in this region, as other than the Shan the tribes of Putao are predominantly Christian or Animist). While in Hopaing you can visit the monastery and learn more about the Shan people, their unique Buddhist customs and striking dress, before returning to Putao via Namtun creek.

On arrival in Heho, drive to Nyaung Shwe on the shores of Inle Lake. It's a two-hour drive through a beautiful stretch of hill country and past paddy fields.

From Nyaung Shwe, travel by boat to your lodge on the lakeshore, arriving early evening just as the sun is setting over the lake.

In the afternoon, continue your tour with a visit to the famous jumping cat monastery and to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most iconic religious site in Shan state.

Perhaps the greatest pleasure today will be exploring the lake itself, where you’ll see fishing villages, lakeshore paddy fields, and floating gardens of water hyacinth and bamboo. Let your guide know if you’d like to reduce the number of stops and enjoy more time on the lake.

Some say that the complex was built in the first-century BC by King Ashoka, the great tyrant monarch turned Buddhist reformer, but archaeologists prefer to date them to the 12th or 13th century AD, making them roughly contemporary with the temples of Bagan.

Return to your lodge early afternoon after exploring Indein. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Ngapali is Myanmar's most popular beach destination, but it is not a busy resort. Compared to Thailand’s famous beach resorts, and even those of Cambodia and Vietnam, Ngapali is decidedly sleepy – there are few activities or available locally, and no nightlife, but those just looking for sand and surf will find Ngapali a welcome alternative to the region’s noisier beach retreats.

After lunch, visit the Bogyok Aung San Market, the city’s liveliest bazaar, for a spot of souvenir shopping, followed by a visit to Botahtaung Pagoda in the city centre. Time allowing, you can wander around Chinatown and Yangon’s busy fruit market before returning to your hotel in the evening.