Mon State

Small-Group: Kyaiktiyo Pagoda and Bago from Yangon with Lunch

Your guide will meet you at your hotel and drive to Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, about three and half hours. Located in Kyaikhto Township, Mon State and situated on the top of the rocky mountain, 1100 meters above the sea level. It was also known as Golden Rock Pagoda among the travelers. People believed the Hermit enshrines Buddha’s hair relics in the 18 ft high pagoda situated on the top of 50 ft circumference stone re-sample of his head from 2500 years ago. On the way to Kyaikhto, you can see the crop plantations, paddy fields, beautiful scenery of countryside and lives of people who live in small towns along the roadside. When your coach arrives at Kimpun based camp, transfer  to an open truck to Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda about one 45minutes. You can observe the natural scenery of forests and mountains on the way. Exploring around the platform of Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, it offers you a magnificent view of nature. Feel the culture of Buddhist, fresh & pleasant moments  in your body & soul. You can find many stalls such as regional handicrafts and souvenir shop, traditional medicines such as horns, bones, essence of medicinal wild creatures and plants, food houses. After lunch, you guide will lead you to an open truck back to the based camp to drive to Bago, about one hour. It was a royal palace of Mon and Myanmar Kings in 15th century and also known as Hantharwaddy Kingdom under the Mon. So there was not only a lot of interesting pagodas but there was also an old Kanbawzathardi Palace built in AD 1567. There was a lot of ancient pagodas and your guide will lead you to the most interesting places such as Shwetharlyaung Pagoda that was the most beautiful reclining Buddha image in Myanmar and it is 55 meters length and 52 meters height built in AD994. Kyaikpun Pagoda which was four gigantic Buddha images seating back to back and face the four cardinal points of the compass. Shwemawdaw Pagoda built and worshiped by ancient Mon people and Snake Monastery. Then, back to Yangon about two hour drive and return to your lodging hotel in Yangon.

Yangon Bago Golden Rock Tour - 3 Days

Day 1: Yangon arrival and sightseeingUpon your arrival in Yangon, our guide and driver will meet and take you to your hotel. Afterwards, your beautiful excursion of this ancient land will be started. First, make a visit of Botahtaung Pagoda- one of interesting religious destinations of Myanmar and also its jetty where you can observe the busy daily activities of the locals.After visiting Art Gallery and others colonial buildings, continue your trail to downtown. Stop for a quick look at Sule Pagoda, City Hall, Independence Monument and high court before enjoying amazing shopping in Bogyoke Aung San market.After sometime for relaxing, make a visit to one of the most revered Buddha images in Myanmar- Kyi Reclining Chauk Htat Buddha image. Take a walk around Kandawgyi Lake where you can catch the views of the nearby Shwedagon Pagoda and Karaweik (Hansa Bird) badge. Take your time in the late afternoon to visit this majestic pagoda to delve into the exceptional architecture of the structure.Overnight at hotel in Yangon.Day 2: Yangon - Golden Rock (B, L)This morning, after breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to the well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Mon State- Golden rock. It is built on the top of a granite boulder covered with gold leaves pasted on by devotees. En-route, you have some time to visit World War 2 Cemetery and a workshop producing hand-made pots.Continue your trail to Kyakhat Wine Monastery where many monks live while studying Buddha's literature. This is a great chance for you to learn more about monastic life of young monks. Take a break at a restaurant for lunch before driving to the mountain where you take a stroll around Golden Rock. As the sun casts its last rays, enjoy the stunning views of the rock with its glitter. Overnight at hotel in Golden Rock area.Day 3: Bago – Yangon – Departure (B)In the morning, after the breakfast at your hotel, head back to Yangon. On the way, don’t miss the chance to make a stop at Shwemawdaw pagoda- the tallest pagoda in Myanmar. It always amazes anyone with its stunning architecture and great scale. Continue onto Kanbawzathardi palace-a reconstruction of the original Royal palace from the second half of the 16th century and shwethalyaung- one of the largest Buddha images in Burma.Before driving back to Yangon for a departure flight, take some time to visit Kyaik Pun pagoda which is known for its four towering images of the Buddha visible from far away.

The River & Golden Rock 5Days 4Nights

ITINERARY:DAY 1: Yangon–overland Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)   MEAL: -/-/-Pick-up to one of Myanmar's landmarks, KYAIKTIYO the 'Golden Rock'. After driving (4 ½ hours) reach to the KIN PUN 'base camp' at the foot of the hills, to change our mode of transport to an open truck. The ride is shared with local pilgrimage makers for the next 11km to Yathetaung base camp, and then proceed to trails to the GOLDEN ROCK. Enjoy impressive views over the surrounding jungle and a beautiful sunset. Overnight stay in Kyaikhtiyo.DAY 2: Kyaikhtiyo–Hpa An   MEAL: B/-/-Back to the Kinpun base camp. Drive to HPA-AN. En-route stops in THATON, the one of the former capital of Mon Kingdom.  then stop  at BA-YIN-NYI cave with stunning wall carvings and numerous intricated Buddha image can be seen everywhere inside the cave and shallow Kaw-goon cave. Upon arrival in Hpa An transfer to the hotel. Enjoy sunset at ShweyinmyawPagoda at the bank of Thanlwin River. Overnight stay in Hpa An.  DAY 3: Hpa An–Mawlamyaing    MEAL: B/-/-Proceed to the KyaUk Kalatt; the LUMBINI GARDEN. Proceed through local villages to SADAN cave. Drive to Mawlamyaing, the capital of Mon state. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Visit MAHAMUNI PAGODA and SEINDON MIBAYA KYAUNG. Enjoy the sunset from KYAIKTHANLAN PAGODA. Overnight stay in Mawlamyaing.DAY 4: Sightseeing in Mawlamyaing  MEAL: B/-/-Visit to the bustling and busy Zyegyi Market of the city. Visit Judson Church (The first Baptist Church built in 1827 by Dr. A Judson who translated the Bible into Burmese.). Proceed to Holy Family Cathedral which built during the colonial era. Visit to BILU Island with small villages famous for local handy workshops producing tobacco pipe, local stone tablets, wood crafts etc. Visit small wood workshops. Back to Mawlamying. Overnight stay in Mawlamyaing.DAY 5: Mawlamyaing-Bago–Yangon MEAL: B/-/-Drive to BAGO (230km), a former ancient MON capital. Visit enormous 55-meter long reclining SHWE THA LYAUNG Buddha. Visit to SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA with its spire.  Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Bago (your own account). Back to Yangon, en route visit an Allied War Graves cemetery. Proceed to Yangon and transfer to your hotel.

2 Days 1 Night Yangon - Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) - Yangon

Day 1: Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)    (-/-/-)Early morning drive to Kyaikhtiyo (about 5 hours’ drive) in the Mon state, site of the famous ‘Golden Rock’. It is a large boulder, which appears delicately balanced, supposedly by the assistance of a well-placed hair of the Buddha, on the edge of a cliff near the top of a mountain. It is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines.We take a local truck from the base camp to the beginning of the trail from where it is a 45-minute walk to the top. Enjoy Golden Rock sightseeing which includes spectacular mountain views and pilgrims at the Golden Rock.Overnight at Golden RockDay 02: Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Yangon   (B/-/-)Enjoy the beautiful morning sun rise at Kyaikhtiyo before descending the mountain for transport back to base camp and driving back to Yangon. On the way to Yangon, we can visit interesting monasteries and pagodas in Bago.

8-Days Adventure Tour in Myanmar

Day 1 Yangon ARRIVAL and Sightseeing (-/-/-) – Arrival to Yangon and transfer to hotel. Then, sightseeing including the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi, the bustling Chinatown area in Yangon’s downtown before you have the chance to browse for Myanmar crafts at the Bogyoke Aung San Market and Shwedagon Pagoda, the most important religious structure in Myanmar and a point of pilgrimage for Buddhists across the globe.Day 2 Yangon-Bogale (car) (B/-/-) – Drive deep into the rural Irrawaddy Delta market town of Bogale, providing the chance to see how different delta life is to the hustle and bustle of Yangon; the Strand Road is a delight to stroll down.Day 3 Bogale-Meinmahla Kyun (B/L/D) – Explore to Meinmahla Kyun by boat. Mainmahla Wildlife Sanctuary is a wetland reserve in the delta (Meinmahla means beautiful woman in Burmese), where you will have a chance to see migratory water birds, saltwater crocodiles and, if you are lucky, the rare Irrawaddy Dolphin.Day 4 Meinmahla Kyun-Bogale, Bogale-Yangon (Car) (B/-/-) – Back to Bogalay by boat and drive to Yangon. Arrive Yangon and transfer to hotel.Day 5 Yangon-Kyaiktiyo (Car) (B/-/-) – Drive to Mount Kyaiktiyo (about 5Hrs drive) in the Mon state, site of the famous ‘Golden Rock’. Take a local truck from the base camp to the beginning of the trail from where it is a 45-minute walk to the top. Enjoy Golden Rock sightseeing which includes spectacular mountain views and pilgrims at the Golden Rock.Day 6 Kyaiktiyo-Hpa An Sightseeing (B/-/-) – Enjoy the beautiful morning sunrise at Kyaikhtiyo before descending the mountain for transport back to base camp and drive to Hpa An, capital of Kayin state. The most famous of which is Kawgun Cave, Bayint Ni Naung Cave and Sadan Cave. After that visit to Lumbini garden, nice looking garden located at the foot of Zwegabin Mountain. Then continue visit to the beautiful Kyauk Kalap with its unique hill top pogoda. In the evening we will enjoy sunset views from the Shwe Yin Myaw Pagoda before returning to the hotel.Day 7 Hpa An-Yangon (Car), Via Bago Sightseeing (B/-/-) – Drive back to Yangon. On the way, visit to interesting monasteries and pagodas in Bago including Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which is taller than the Shwedagon Pagoda and Kanbawza Thardy, the old palace of King Bayint Naung. If time permits we will visit the Taukkyan War Cementery, a resting place for the Allied soldiers from WW2 and beautifully maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.Day 8 Yangon Departure (B/-/-) – Transfer to Yangon airport for departure.

Adventure Trip to Mon and Kayin State

Day 1: Yangon – Mawlamyine by train (-)You will be transferred to the train station for the train leaving at 07:00. Travelling by train through Mon State towards Mawlamyine and the ancient city Thaton which is famous for its durian and betel nut (as is the whole of Mon state). Just before reaching Mawlamyine the train will cross a long bridge over the Thanlwin River. Expected arrival is 17:30. On arrival, a tuk-tuk will bring you to the hotel. O/N at Cinderella HotelDay 2: Mawlamyine – half day excursion with guide & tuk-tuk (B,L,-)After breakfast, visit the Seindon Mibaya Monastery. Continue to the Ni Paya to have a view over the city and walk around the area with impressive buildings from the colonial times when writers like Orwell and Kipling lived and visit the first Baptist church and the Mon Museum. Then go to a local house where a home cooked lunch of Mon specialities. Afternoon at leisure. O/N at Cinderella Hotel Day 3: Mawlamyine – cruise over Thanlwin River to Hpa An (B,L,-)At 07:30 a tuk-tuk will take you to the jetty to take a private cruise over the Thanlwin (Salween) River. Stop at U Na Auk village and continue the boat trip over the Thanlwin River with spectacular sights. A simple lunch is served on board. Arrive around 14:00 in Hpa An – you have to arrange a local motor taxi or tuk-tuk on your own to the hotel. O/N at Hotel GabbanaDay 4: Hpa An – kayaking (B,L,-)We start the day by small kayaks to go for a leisurely trip by kayaks through the paddy fields for half an hour or so. We leave the kayaks behind and continue on foot through the forest visiting Kayin villages for a leisurely walk of about an hour.  A home cooked lunch is being served at a beautiful traditional local house. Then continue by local transport to explore the famous Saddan cave. A motorbike taxi or car will bring you back to the hotel. O/N at Hotel GabbanaDay 5: Hpa An – Kyaikto (B,-,-)Breakfast and your own transfer to the bus station for the bus leaving at the 07:00 A/C bus to Kyaikto where you will arrive around 10:00. Upon arrival, take a tuk-tuk to bring you in about 30 minutes to the Golden Sunrise hotel. We suggest you drop your luggage and walk to the basecamp to take a shared truck up to the second basecamp from where a walk in about 1 hours to the Golden Rock itself. Spend the afternoon on the platform and then take a truck back to basecamp and walk in 10 minutes to your hotel. O/N at Golden Sunrise Hotel Day 6: Kyaikto – Yangon (B,-,-)Morning at leisure. You have to arrange the transportation to the Kyaikto bus station on your own (about 30 minutes) and take the bus to Yangon leaving at 13:00 from Kyaikto bus station. Expected arrival in Mingalardon Bus station around 18:00.