We can ensure you will have some spectacular stories to tell when you have experienced this epic adventure through one of the most friendly and photogenic countries in Asia.

The 7 day trip includes all highlights and special events like:

• Magic of 1,000 oil lamps at Shwedagon Pagoda
• Personal and inspiring meeting with former secretary of Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoner
• A water well donation ceremony giving something back to a community in the dry zone
• A dinner on a sandbank in the middle of the Irrawaddy river
• Ballooning over the ancient temples of Bagan
• Boat racing ceremony with over 50 leg rowers
• A spectacular traditional rocket festival
• Floating lunch in the middle of Inle Lake

An adventure of a lifetime in luxury that supports a charity project for the local population.

Includes

• The above listed experiences
• Transfers
• Service of English speaking station guides
• Service of English speaking personal assistance
• 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
• All entrance fees on tour
• All domestic flight tickets including airport taxes
• Boat trips mentioned as per program

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 - Yangon arrival

Arrival at Yangon with morning flight. Early check in is guaranteed at hotel.

On arrival at Yangon International Airport, clear immigration and meet your guide for a private transfer to your hotel. After some rest, meet your guide and start the tour.

Yangon Heritage walk – half day afternoon

Yangon downtown is unique with much of its colonial-era architecture still standing. You find one of Asia’s most impressive collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth- century buildings, religious and secular. Starting after breakfast or lunch this walking tour will take you a step back in time, through downtown Yangon, focusing on its old colonial buildings, neglected or purposefully restored. Stop at the Secretariat, scene of the nation-stopping assassination of General Aung San which has been closed off to the public since the 1960s.

During this tour you will visit the River Art Gallery and gain insights into the city’s contemporary – a wide range of artwork from emerging stars to the older masters, some of which represent milestones in the country`s art history.

After the tour you will have time to enjoy drinks at Gekko, a cosy restaurant on Merchant Street in a historical building.

Talk & Q&A with Ma Thanegi an accomplished writer & author on Myanmar, culture, food and tradition

Meet with Ma Thanegi (Burmese writer, food lover and former secretary of Aung San Suu Kyi) for coffee or tea. She will give you an insight of the events in Myanmar history as she was closely associated to the opposition movement in the uprising of 1988. She spent 3 years in the Insein Jail and published a book “Nor Iron Bars a Cage”. She was born in Myanmar and educated at the Methodist English High School. She was originally a painter who exhibited with group shows since 1967 until 1998, as well as in seven solo exhibitions. She was closely associated to the opposition movement in the uprising of 1988 when she came to know many of the top players.

The Magic of 1000 Oil Lamps

In the evening, leave from hotel for an evening visit to the illuminated Shwedagon pagoda – a magic and mystical moment at a time it’s not very busy on the main platform. Your guide will explain to you the history of the pagoda for a deeper insight in the Buddhist religion and how the spiritual belief is mixed with the belief in nats – the Myanmar spirits.

Participate in the “Patrons light oil lamps” event, a special arrangement of offerings to Buddha in hopes of receiving wisdom and enlightenment. You will assist in lighting 1000 oil lamps on the platform surrounding the Shwedagon pagoda.

Chef’s Table dinner prepared by Michelin star chef at the Seeds restaurant

Seeds restaurant is the brainchild of Swiss Michelin Star Chef Felix Eppisser and his wife Lucia. Welcoming by a stunning view over the lake with its private bamboo and glass crafted lake house will please you while you enjoy culinary experience combined with personalized hospitality.

Day 2 - Yangon – Bagan

Breakfast at the hotel.

Private transfer to domestic airport for your flight to Bagan.

On arrival, meet your guide and visit Ananda Temples where the guide will tell you the history of Bagan. Continue visit Dhammayangyi temple and picnic lunch will be served at Minnanthu area.

After lunch, the car and guide will bring you to a local village on the outskirts of Bagan where you will donate a water well.

Water well opening ceremony

Bagan is located in the heart of Myanmar’s dry zone or dust bowl and has struggled with severe drought for all of its recorded history. This dry zone in central Myanmar now encompasses an area of about 55,000 Square Kilometers where about 34% of the Myanmar population currently resides. In the areas around Bagan, thousands of villages lack access to water during the hot summer season from March until May, as there are not enough wells. The people have severe shortages of drinking water and water for bathing. Furthermore, lack of water to grow food leads to hunger and malnutrition. Finding a viable source of water is a constant struggle. Some villagers regularly have to travel several hours just to find water for their families. Although the Myanmar government tries to provide water delivery and several generous organizations have joined in to help, there is still widespread lack of water wells and people are dying from preventable illnesses. Khiri Reach believes it’s important for everyone to have access to clean drinking water. The best source of drinking water in Bagan is located very deep below ground, about 600-700 feet.

We bring you a little bit to the outskirts of Bagan to meet a local community that has prepared a short welcome ceremony to show appreciation for the donation of a water well for the community.

On arrival welcome flowers are given and the village head gives a short speech followed by opening ceremony of the well with traditional Burmese Dance performance (the well has been dug and prepared in the weeks in advance and is ready to use by the time you arrive in Bagan).

Local snacks and drinks are shared with the whole community and there is a chance to ask people more about their living conditions in the community. Certainly a rewarding experience

Sundowners on a Sandbank with Champagne & Dinner – sunset tour

We’ve decided that you have to stay at least 2 nights in Bagan; one to see the sun go down from the top of an ancient temple, the other one to take a boat ride on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River and have some sundowners on a sandbank in the middle of the river (if the river is not too high). A private boat tour on the river during sunset time will hopefully show you a spectacular sunset while your guide will be serving Champagne and some canapés.

Dinner is served on the sandbank with nice table set-ups.

Day 3 - Bagan – Heho – Inle Lake

Ballooning over Bagan – Premium service – early morning

One of the many highlights when visiting Myanmar. Early morning before sunrise you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the launch site for a spectacular hot air balloon ride over the temple zone in Bagan. The mostly British balloon pilots are operating each balloon under highest UK safety standards and the views you will get are simply breathtakingly spectacular. After floating in the air and following the wind you will land safely and be welcomed back on the ground by a smiling crew serving cold champagne before bringing you to your hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Private car and guide transfer to airport for your flight to Heho.

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to starting point of the biking tour. (Your main luggage is sent separately to your hotel.)

Aung Ban to Indein (south of Inle Lake) by bike with picnic lunch

Probably the best way to arrive in Inle Lake! Mountain bikes are ready for you to start a one hour biking trip to Aung Ban. The trip is mostly off-road and technically easy with most of the roads flat or downhill although the first hour some parts are going uphill. Biking through numerous Pa O villages in an area where few foreigners have been before is a great experience. Stop on the way to enjoy the fantastic views over the lake and the Shan country side.

Picnic lunch is include at a stop with nice scenery.

After lunch, we continue another one hour downhill biking to Indein jetty from where we continue by boat to boat racing event.

Support Intha women boat racing

A spectacular and fun way to get a close insight to the traditional boat racing of the Intha people. During the year, different communities on the lake practise to become the yearly champion at the boat racing events in October. We let you participate with their training whereby 2 teams of 15 women on each boat practise and compete against each other. After the first round you can even join one of the teams on their boat. Certainly an unforgettable event that is supporting Intha women on the lake and preserving the boat racing culture.

Champage and canapes will be served during the boat racing

After the event. Continue to your hotel by boat.

Day 4 - Inle Lake

Breakfast at hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to Pa O village to experience Pa O traditional rocket festival.

Pa O Traditional Rocket Festival

During this festival, lengths of large bamboo poles or metal shells are filled with gunpowder, fuses are attached, and the rockets are fired from a 20 to 30-foot-high rocket stand. This festival is celebrated as an offering to the gods for a favorable climate, good harvest, and prosperous and peaceful New Year.

Floating lunch on rice carrier boat in the middle of Inle Lake

Lunch is served on a rice carrier boat in the middle of Inle Lake. The boat has been transformed into an ephemeral restaurant fully equipped. An exclusive experience catered by a service boat and a kitchen boat from Viewpoint restaurant.

The ruins of Indein

In the south of the lake the ruins of Indein are certainly worth a visit. Partly covered by vegetation the area looks like a “pagoda forest”. We will walk about 1 hour to enjoy a fantastic view over the lake.

We continue towards the Nam Pan village for a very interesting trip going local with a small canoe. Whenever you are tired paddling yourself we continue by motorboat back to your hotel.

Day 5 - Inle Lake – Ngapali Beach

Breakfast at hotel.

In the morning, we will take you to visit a colourful market held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule frequented by Shan and PaO people living nearby.

Private car and guide transfer to airport for your flight to Ngapali Beach.

On arrival, private transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

In the afternoon, cocktails and canapés served while enjoying sunset on the beach.

Day 6 - Ngapali Beach

Breakfast at hotel.

Ultimus Boating

A team of entrepreneurs, passionate about both sailing and the history of Ngapali, gave themselves a challenge: to construct the region’s ultimate traditional pleasure boat, combining ancient maritime carpentry techniques with a modern comfort adapted to the way of life in the bay of Bengal. The result of this challenge was Ultimus, a reference to the roman term describing the boundaries of the empire, the ultimate frontier.

Ultimus was developed through an exciting collaboration between local Burmese expertise and western knowledge.

The inside of the boat has been designed to combine simplicity with refinement, using the finest quality durable materials: teak, brass, bronze, leather, cotton and silk.

The british-built engine has been equipped with the latest technological innovations, including gps navigation. Detailed attention was also paid to the on-board security equipment. Three crew members will take care of guests providing them with maximum comfort. In addition to the day’s sailing, lunch on a secret beach – one of Ngapali’s hidden jewels – is an opportunity for a nomad experience in specially-constructed tents.

The menu, which emphasizes carefully-selected seasonal products, will depend on the day’s catch. The dining and lounge area are located on the seafront, on one of the most stunning wild beaches in the area. They are exclusively reserved for Ultimus guests. A bathroom with shower, toilets and cloakroom is available. Providing sea conditions permit, a botanical path which passes by a pagoda with a breathtaking view of the entire coastline may be used for access to the beach from the boat, or for the return to the boat.

After a final glass of champagne on the bridge, return to the starting point and be transferred to your hotel.

In the evening enjoy a private dinner served on the beach in front of your hotel.

Day 7 - Ngapali Beach – Yangon departure

Breakfast at hotel.

Private transfer to airport for your flight to Yangon.

On arrival, car and guide available for additional visits till your departure flight in the evening.