By vehicle from Yangon to Kyaikhtiyo with sightseeing at Bago

From Yangon, head west towards BAGO, a historic city originally founded in 573 AD by Thamala and Wimala, two Mon brothers of noble birth. Visit a typical LOCAL MONASTERY to observe the daily lives of the monks, then continue the lifelike SHWETHALYAUNG RECLINING BUDDHA; the highly venerated SHWEMAWDAW PAYA, which has housed hair relics of the Buddha for over 1000 years. Highlights also include the KYAIK PUN PAYA, with four giant Buddas seated back to back against a square pillar, and the MAHA KALYANI SIMA, or 'Sacred Hall or Ordination'. Afterwards, continue to Kyaitkhtiyo.
Overnight in Kyaikhtiyo.

Visit Golden Rock for sunrise
Kyaikhityo is the location of the incredible balancing boulder stupa. The small stupa sits atop the Gold Rock, a massive, gold leafed boulder delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff at the top of Mt. Kyaikto. Kyaiktiyo is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar.

By vehicle from Kyaikhtiyo to Yangon
From Kyaikhtiyo, head towards Yangon through scenic countryside dotted with rice paddies and streams. Stop enroute to observe local people in their daily activities, visiting a MON WEAVING VILLAGE, as well as a POTTERY VILLAGE and BASKETRY VILLAGE. Before reaching Yangon, pay a short visit to the HTAUK KYAN ALLIED WAR CEMETERY.
Overnight in Yangon.

Transfer
Flight from Yangon to Bagan.
Transfer

Sightseeing in Bagan
Bagan is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.

SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090. Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. The stupa's graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar.

GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe.
ANANDA PAHTO: one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.

GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba: Built in 1113 by Kyanzittha son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.

MANUHA TEMPLE: The Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by King Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King Anawrahta. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by Manuha to express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan.

SHWESANDAW PAYA: In 1057 King Anawrahta built this Pagoda following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the Stupa. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's magnificent sunsets.

LACQUERWARE WORKSHOP: the villages around Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the workshops and learn about the painstaking process of laquerware making and decoration.
Overnight in Bagan.