Welcome to Rakhine State
The interchangeable terms Rakhine (sometimes spelled Rakhaing) and Arakan refer to the people, the state and dialect of Myanmar's westernmost state: home to the remarkable temples of ancient capital Mrauk U in the north, and the palm-tree-fringed beach resort of Ngapali in the south.
Top experiences in Rakhine State
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Rakhine State activities
COLORFUL MYANMAR - YANGON - BAGAN - INLE LAKE - NGAPALI - YANGON
ItineraryDay 1: Yangon arrivalStop At: Yangon Yangon, Yangon (Rangoon), Yangon RegionArrival at Yangon International Airport, welcome by our local guide and transfer to your hotel.Rangoon, officially renamed Yangon in 1989, is the economic capital and the largest city of Burma (or Myanmar) with more than 6 million inhabitants. Located at the confluence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers, it is 30 km from the Gulf of Martaban, on the Andaman Sea.Start sightseeing of Yangon: Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2000 years Pagoda to enjoy the bustling life of Yangon and its people. And then visit to Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda (a huge reclining Buddha).Then visit Kandawgyi Lake to enjoy a Royal floating barge with Pagoda view for a photo stop. Lunch at local restaurant.Late in the afternoon, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: “The Shwedagon rose superb, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city.” This massive bell-shaped stupa rises nearly 100 meters above hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda. Dinner free (by own arrangement).Overnight in Yangon.Duration: 8 hoursNo meals included on this day.Accommodation included: Overnight in Yangon, a 3-star hotelDay 2: Yangon - Flight to Bagan Stop At: Bagan Temples, Bagan, Mandalay RegionBreakfast at hotel.Transfer to the airport of Yangon, then flight to Bagan.From the 11th to 13thcenturies, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers constructed thousands of huge stupas and temples, many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.Upon arrival, start our visit to colourfulNyaungOo Market where every day the locals come to buy and sell fresh produce and other goods before visiting the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda.The Dhammayangyi Temple is famous for its massive structure and SulamaniTemple has the best stuccos in Bagan. After lunch we will visit a traditional lacquerware workshop where we can observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. The rest of the afternoon is free for shopping or to enjoy the lovely surrounds of the resort.At the end of the day we head out to the most impressive archaeological site – the Ananda. From here we can soak up an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.Dinner free (by own arrangement)Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast • LunchAccommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotelDay 3: Bagan sightseeingStop At: Bagan Temples, Bagan, Mandalay RegionBreakfast at hotel.In the morning, a bicycle ride in the village of Myinkaba: the Nanpaya temple, the Manuha temple and its lying Buddha, and the Myazedi stupa, a real rosette stone engraved in 4 Burmese languages.Lunch at local restaurant.After lunch, discover the workshops of the artisans’ lacquerers then visit the temple Abeyadana and its frescoes representing bodhisattvas and gods of Indian mythology. Evening travel by horse cart for a tour passing along ancient temples.Dinner free (by own arrangement).Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast • LunchAccommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotelDay 4: Bagan - Flight to Heho - Inle LakeStop At: Inle Lake, Nyaungshwe, Shan StateBreakfast at hotel.Transfer to the airport of Yangon, then flight to Heho.Departure by road to NyaungShwe, gateway to Inle Lake.Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Visit NgaHpeChaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air! Continue to PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Lunch at local restaurant.Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages.Dinner free (by own arrangement)Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast • LunchAccommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotelDay 5: Inle - Thalae Oo - Alae Myaung - Indein Stop At: Indein Village, Taunggyi, Shan StateBreakfast at hotel.Today, you will escape the hordes of tourists from Inle Lake for an authentic experience in a village on the eastern shore of the lake. Stop in the village of Thalae U. Stop at the local school, where about forty children receive an education offered by elderly women from the village. Continue on foot to the village of Alae Myaung, where agriculture is omnipresent, vegetables being cultivated there abundantly. You will have the chance to meet farmers and join them to pick up the vegetables. This is a unique opportunity to experience and soak up the lifestyle of Shan farmers while enjoying the stunning views of the rice fields, Inle Lake in the background.Lunch at local restaurant.In the afternoon, climb up a narrow channel clearing a path in the middle of the floating gardens to the village of Indein where you will walk for about 30/40 mn through the village and the surrounding forest to the magnificent Complex of AlaungSitthu and of these old stupas buried in the vegetation that you will reach for a long covered staircase lined with small stalls of merchants.Panoramic view of the lake from the monastery of Indein.Dinner free (by own arrangement)Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • Breakfast • LunchAccommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotelDay 6: Inle Lake - Heho - Flight to Thandwe - NgapaliStop At: Ngapali Beach, Ngapali, Rakhine StateBreakfast at hotel.Transfer to Hehoairport.Flight to Thandwe. Reception at the airport by hotel staff. Transfer to the hotel.Ngapali is beautiful beaches of fine sand , lined with coconut palms in the Bay of Bengal.Free day at the beach.Lunch and Dinner not included (by your own account). Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • BreakfastAccommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotelDay 7: NgapaliStop At: Ngapali Beach, Ngapali, Rakhine StateBreakfast at hotel.Free day at the beach.Lunch and Dinner not included (by your own account). Overnight at hotel.Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • BreakfastAccommodation included: Overnight at 3-star hotelDay 8: Ngapali Stop At: Ngapali Beach, Ngapali, Rakhine StateBreakfast at hotel.Free day at the beach.Lunch and Dinner not included (by your own account).Overnight at hotel.Duration: 9 hoursMeals included: • BreakfastAccommodation included: Overnight at a 3-star hotelDay 9: Ngapali - Thandwe - Flight to YangonStop At: Yangon Yangon, Yangon (Rangoon), Yangon RegionMorning free time own leisure.Lunch not included.Transfer to Thandwe airport.Flight to Yangon. Reception by your driver and transfer to Yangon International Airport for your flight towards to…Duration: 8 hoursMeals included: • BreakfastNo accommodation included on this day.
Day Trip to Local Fishing Village from Ngapali Beach
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Ngapali BeachThe tour starts by pick you up at your hotel around 8:30am and transfer to the jetty by a car. At 9am, the boat will depart from the jetty and head to Maung Shwe Lay Village (fishing village). About an hour ride, you will arrive at the fishing village with the professional local guide to explore and learn the lifestyle of the local fishermen. You will see the fisherman making the dry fish and preparing net to go fishing.You will return to the boat to enjoy your lunch and get some rest around noon. You have approximately an hour to swim or snorkel around the beautiful beach of Maung Shwe Lay. Expect plenty of sun, explore variety of corals and fish, crystal-clear water, and unspoiled beaches. You will then take a shower and get change before heading back to Ngapali Beach, reaching your hotel around 4pm.Duration: 8 hours
Sunset Cruise in Ngapali
Our English speaking tour guide will pick you up from your hotel around 3:30pm and head to Lone Thar Jetty. You will embark on our boat and depart to Pearl Island and enjoy a beautiful views of the Andaman Sea.Upon arrival at Pearl Island, you can go snorkeling, kayaking or swimming in the clear blue water. A snorkeling gear is provided. Later, you can relax or simply laze around in the shade of palm trees on the sandy white beach.Relax and enjoy some snacks on our boat while seeing the sun setting over the Indian Ocean. Our guide will transfer you back to your hotel after a wonderful evening cruise at amazing Ngapali.
Mandalay full day sightseeing
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay, Mandalay RegionThe Mahamuni Buddha image,originally came from Rakhine State.It is highly venerated in Burma and central to many people's lives.Several old bronze Khmer statues from Angkor Wat can also see there.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Shwe In Bin Kyaung, Mandalay, Mandalay RegionA Buddhist Monastery In Mandalay,built in the tradition of Burmese Teak Architecture.It was built in 1895 by a Sino-Burmese merchant married to a Burmese woman of royal extraction.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Golden Palace Monastery (Shwenandaw Kyaung), Mandalay, Mandalay RegionShwenandaw Monastery was built in 1878 by Kinf Thibaw Min.He used it for meditation,and the meditation couch he sat on can still be seen.The Building was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura,before it was moved to Mandalay.Duration: 1 hourStop At: Kuthodaw Pagoda & the World's Largest Book, Mandalay, Mandalay RegionKnown for the World largest Book,lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and built by King Mindon.There is have 729 stone-inscription caves,each containing a marble slab inscribed on both sides with a page of text from the Tripitaka,the entire Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.Duration: 1 hour