A Week in Myanmar...need advice

Your choices will work just fine if you fly between the towns. If you decide to take the bus, or mini bus, then cut out one of the stops. You will spend a full 24 hour day getting to, and from Yangon, with the potental of it taking longer. That's 24 hours each way. Then the bus, or taxi from Bagan to Inle Lake is an all day trip 8-12 hours. It doesn't give you much time at any place if you don't fly. I'd do 2 days Yangon, 3 days Inle Lake, and 2 days Bagan, then the last day in Yangon. That will prime you for the next trip...hehe.

koolbreez

In 8 days : Yangon just long enough to see Shwedagon, then Bagan and Inle all using planes. Its do-able.

Note that the bus from Bagan to Inle Lake would take a full day. Someone said in another thread one way flight Yangon - Bagan cost only US$65. 2 years ago I had to pay US$90 for the same flight.

With flights you can do it....busses and share taxis would be a race against time IMHO-

Yangon and the Pagoda can be seen at sunset night prior to departure, most flights into Yangon from elsewhere in country arrive early in the day.

Bagan 3 nights.

I had a bit longer but was able to see Yangon (Shwedagon is not to be missed, but every other sight in the city is a distant second so no need to spend too much time there IMHO--I spent several nights too many given my schedule), Mandalay (worth it if you like the old stuff around town--not much unique inside Mandalay beyond the spectacular Shwenandaw Kyaung) and Bagan (I agree three nights would be fair--more would be better but you have no time). I flew all the way.

I decided against Inle Lake given my timeframe--I would skip Mandalay and surrounds if you go to Inle Lake, which would probably be a break from temple-hopping.

Photos are here if you want some inspiration.

CK

Thanks for the advice! By the way..your photos (chriskean1) are wonderful! I love them!

So the popular thought seems to go to Inle lake instead of Mandalay given the time frame..(Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon)...and save Mandalay for the next time. (?)

Thanks burmabound.

CK

I did the same. One night yangon, flight to Inle. Stayed there for two nights. Flight to Bagan (3 nights) and then again one night in Yangon.
Perfectly doable and easy to arrange while you are there

just got back and did 10 days there, skipped Inle which i now regret for Mandalay, Mandalay did not impress me. only way to do it is flying which isnt that bad or expensive, prices are cheaper than in the lp book. most expensive flight was yangon to mandalay and that was $71. Bagan was worth it.

My regrets where I spent a day too many in Mandalay, Bagan and Yangon because all my flights were in the afternoon,