Culture & Bird Watching Tours

Arrive Yangon with flight? You will be met at Airport and transfer to Hotel. In the late afternoon, Visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, famous world wide – its golden stupa is the ‘heart’ of Buddhist Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar people praying and making offerings at Shwedagon, and it’s a fascinating place to spend time watching the world go by. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Early breakfast and then drive to Hlawga Wildlife Park. It is located 35 km North of Yangon, established in 1982. The park includes 818 acres of wildlife zone, 62 acres of mini zoo and 660 acres of buffer zone. It represents the collection of Myanmar indigenous species of mammals, reptiles and birds. You can find water birds and forest birds can be found and type of forest is Lowland and open, lakes, swamp, bamboo, lowland semi-evergreen forest in Hlawgar National Park. Drive to Bago and do some sightseeing around. Continue drive to Moeyingyi Wetland Resort and rest for the day. Overnight at boat house of Moeyingyi Resort.

Breakfast at resort. Proceed to the wetland bird watching by boat in the lake to explore the resident and migratory water birds. (time for birding is from October to May but best time is from Nov to Feb). Later in the afternoon, drive back to Yangon. Overnight at hotel in Yangon

Early Transfer to airport. Flight Yangon – Bagan early morning. Visit the ancient capital of ‘Bagan’ and its architecture from 10 -13century AD. When you talk about Bagan, it is needless to say about Buddhism that flourished together with Bagan culture. Sightseeing in Bagan includes Nyaung Oo Market; a village market where you can find from wet market of fish and meat to house hold things like ratten baskets, cotton wear and antiques, Shwezigon Pagoda; prototype golden stupa, Gubyaukgyi Temple; small temple good for panoramic view and famous for its frescoe paintings of 12th century. Check in at hotel and rest. Afternoon visit , Ananda Temple; the most beautiful temple with 4 standing Buddhas in four cardinal points, history or lord Buddha and outside of the temple is decorated withTerra-Cotta worriers in green glaze plaques . Visit Lacquerware Factory and stroll around the village of Myinkaba, visit Manuha Temple; the temple of captive king of Tha-ton, and Pyattadagyi Temple for panoramic view of the city. Overnight at hotel in Bagan.

Day free on your own to explore the temple field. Several of the dry zone endemics (White-throated Babbler and Burmese Bushlark) are hard to miss and can be found anywhere. Near Sulamuni and Damayangyi temple, some dry zone endemics can be found in this temple field. You can hire bicycle or e-bike (battery powered) to explore. (tips : you can hire bicycle from hotel). Evening, take boat in Ayarwaddy River and this is well worth doing for an afternoon, offering prolific birding for a lot of nice species and then a decent sunset. We sailed downstream for just a couple of km, before pitching in on the eastern shore and climbing some vegetated dunes that were partly under cultivation. Key species here were White-tailed Stonechat and Sand Lark (both easy, and also easily seen). Overnight at Hotel in Bagan.

After breakfast, transfer to airport Flight Nyaung U – Heho morning flight. English speaking station guide will wait you at Heho airport and drive to Pindaya, an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Lunch at Local Restaurant, specialized in “Danu” food (on your own expense). Visit magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Visit some local houses where families produce Shan paper and parasols. Drive to Kalaw and check-in Hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Kalaw.

Early morning, you will be picked up by your guide in Kalaw and start trek to South East to Yay Aye Kan Reservoir. On the way, you can find some different mix of forest species. You will spend whole morning exploring the area. Trek back to Kalaw in the afternoon and check-out from hotel and drive to Inle Lake (approx 2 hrs drives) and transfer to hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Inle Lake.

Explore the Inle Lake area before dawn and after dawn for bird watching. Spots will be near to Nyaung Shwe, near to Inle Princess Resort and near to Thale-Oo village. Your guide will show you the places. Return to Hotel for breakfast. Later, visit to Inle Lake for sightseeing with guide : board on a traditional long and tall motorized boat for a sightseeing tour of the lake. Traveling on the lake is an exhilarating experience for nature lovers and a chance to observe the unique traditions of the Intha people. Wonder unique leg rowing fishermen, floating firms , houses and monasteries on the stilt etc. Visit Indein ruins complex with pagoda and stupas built in the 18th century. Enjoy rows of shops along the corridor up hill. Return to Inle and continue visit floating village of Ywama, the lake’s downtown and largest village on the Inlay Lake, 11 century Phaungdaw Oo pagoda housing five sacred Buddha Images. Take a walk to Lechae village to see workman ship of Tin Smith for Tiers of Pagodas and art of moulding Buddha statue by flower powder and the weaving village of Inpawkhon, famous for traditional silk-weaving, Se Gaung Village, famous for the blacksmith work and Nan Pan Village with cheroot making and boat-building dockyards etc and end your day with a visit famous Ngaphechaung, a museum like monastery where old belongings of many monasteries are restored. Overnight at Inle Princess Resort (Lake House).

After early breakfat, transfer to Heho airport. Flight Heho – Yangon mid-morning flight. Walk to International Terminal for your departure flight to Bangkok in the afternoon.