1

Your roughly idea looks good.
To make less travel expenses, I would like to recommend you doing other way round.
Because the cost of flight tickets for Yangon-Mandalay and Inle-Bagan are more than the route I want to suggest you.
How about this program,
1-Arrival Yangon overnight Yangon
2-Fly to Heho in the morning, transfer to Nyaung Shwe overnight Nyaung Shwe.
3-Trekking to Pa-O village in the eastern part of lake overnight in Monastry in Village
4.Trek and arrival to Inle Lake overnight Inle Lake
5-Fly to Mandalay overnight Mandalay
6-Mandalay City tour and Mingun, overnight Mandalay
7-Amayapura / Sagaing , overnight Mandalay
8-Fly or Boat to Bagan , overnight Bagan
9-Visit Bagan,overnight Bagan
10-Visit Bagan , overnight Bagan
11-Fly back to Yangon overnight Yangon
12-Yangon city tour overnight Yangon

The estimated cost for flight in above route will be about US $ 328 /person.
If you are going to do as your original plan will cost about US$360 / person.

I don't know what is your interests !!!
If I say you personally, I preferred visiting to Inle Lake because of its' scenery, unique leg rower people and their tradition.

Addition suggestion,

Planing during high season ( Nov,Dec,Jan) you need prior book for internal flights and hotels because of many tourists.

2

Sounds OK. It's a pity you dont have an extra couple of days just in case there are any delays. Inle Lake and Bagan were the highlights of this amazing country. If you are stretched, you could survive with one full day at Bagan to see the majority of the main temples by horse and cart. You will need one full day at Inle Lake to see the Lake/Villages by boat. Make sure you get boatman to start early 6am? and check out the "five day market" and take jacket, as it get's cold on lake when motoring along.

3

Great advice - both of you. Thank you!

4

Mike - One additional question. Any suggestions for how to best contact hotels? So far, I have not had luck with the responding to emails.

5

It has been a common comment about lack of replies to emails. One theory is the Hotels are so booked up; they are not bothering to reply. If you can track down a phone number, then the Hotel reception staff usually have good English and are always helpful and obliging, so even if they advise they are full, ask them do they have any recommendations of nearby Hotels and ask them for the phone number as well.

6

Jon, I am also having problems booking the domestic flights via Air Mandalay. The one travel agency that responded to my inquiry said they will charge $35 per booking which seems ridiculously high. Do you have a travel agency suggestion that can book flights in advance of arrival?

7

Sorry, I just lobbed into Burma and went everywhere by land. Others may be able to recommend a better travel agent.

8

Mike, on what airline were you quoting $328? I am calcing it at $368 on Air Mandalay.