ICONIC MYANMAR TRAVEL
The Big Four
Yangon: Shwedagon Pagoda, Elegant Hotels, British Colonial Architecture, Friendly Locals, Melodious Street Vendors, Monks on Morning Alms Rounds…
Bagan: Irrawaddy River Cruise, Hot Air Balloon over 2,000 Ancient Temples, Tour by Horse & Carriage, Stand atop Pagodas and gaze over Surreal Panoramas…
Mandalay: Marvel at Intricate Teak Carved Monasteries, See the Biggest Book on Earth, Walk the World’s Longest Teak Bridge at Sunset…
Inlay: Experience the Tranquility of ‘Floating’, Pagodas, Gardens & Markets, Visit Mysterious Ruins at Nyaung Oak, Melt into Exotic Massage & Spa Treatments…

Burma travel is made to order, even for short trips. If you only have five days to spend, the spectacular antiquity of Bagan and the enveloping tranquility of Inlay lake is a great way to do it! You begin in Yangon, where you’ll have a chance to get reasonably acquainted with this fascinating city. The highlight for many is the magnificent 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda, but for many others it’s the people, who are without a doubt the friendliest of any major city anywhere.
The vast temple-scape of Bagan is perhaps the most spectacular archeological site in Asia. It can seem surreal, most especially in the morning mists standing atop one of the temples, or soaring high in a hot air balloon. You can reach the temples on foot, bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. Colorful village markets are plenty, and Bagan is famous its long lineage of laquerware artisans.
Almost as famous as the antiquity of Bagan is the tranquility of Lake Inlay. Stay by the lake or on the lake in a “floating” hotel. Highlights include the mysterious temple ruins of Nyaung Oak, floating gardens and pagodas, Intha fishermen, long-necked Padaung women, fantastic silver-works, lotus silk shawls, & the overall serenity the place.
For sample itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, please see Myanmar Destinations.
ANTIQUITY & TRANQUILITY
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Yangon – Fly Bagan – Sunset Panoramas – Overnight Bagan
Day 2: Bagan – Optional Balloon Flight – Full Day Temple Tour by Horse & Carriage – Overnight Bagan
Day 3: Bagan – Inlay Lake by Morning Flight – Half Day Boat Tour – Sunset Cocktails – Overnight Inlay
Day 4: Inlay Lake – Floating Market – Mysterious Ruins of Nyaung Oak – Floating Gardens -Overnight Inlay
Day 5: Inlay Lake – Morning Spa – Return to Yangon for departing flight
*This tour can easily be adjusted to see Yangon and Shwedagon Pagoda as well.
ANTIQUITY & TRANQUILITY
Starting at $695 per person, double occupancy
5 Days / 4 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation



















It was a clear dawn late 1287; thunder rolled eerie in the distance, but the only clouds were dust rising on the horizon. As the thunder of Kublai Khan and his Mongol hordes grew louder and the ground beneath the 13,000 temples began to shudder, the people of Bagan shuddered with it. What had taken a thousand years to build would be ruined in a thousand minutes.
Some 2,220 temples and stupas remain in good standing today, hundreds with ancient mural paintings still in tact. You can tour one of the world’s greatest archeological and architectural wonders by horse and carriage, bicycle or on foot. Please don’t ride the goats! Sunsets and sun rises viewed from a temple-top can be positively surreal!
The “Mandalay Array” is a term we coined to indicate the impressive number of impressive places to visit both in and around the city. No tour of limited duration has the logistical setup to get them all in, but this one comes close and you will have your choices. There is the longest teak bridge in the world at Amarapura; the ancient capitol of Inwa; the world’s biggest book; the great unfinished rock temple at Mingun; the Holy Hills of Sagaing with its 600 monasteries and nunneries along the Irrawaddy, and of course, much more!
To sample this Burma travel itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, please see Burma Destinations.
Road to Mandalay & Bagan
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Mandalay – Explore Mandalay – Sunset Bridge at Amarapura – Overnight Mandalay
Day 2: Mandalay – Morning Boat to Mingun Rock Temple – Boat to Sagaing – Ava – Overnight Mandalay
Day 3: Mandalay – Complete Mandalay City Touring – Fly to Bagan – Bagan Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 4: Bagan: Optional Balloon Flight – Full Day Tour by Carriage – Temple-Top Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 5: Bagan Morning Spa – Fly to Yangon for Departing Flight
*This tour can easily be adjusted to see Yangon and Shwedagon Pagoda as well.
MONASTERIES & MONGOLS
Starting at $695 per person, double occupancy
5 Days / 4 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation



















This journey is designed for those w/o much time but who are still keen to see Burma’s major icons. So if you like a quick pace in a whirl of exotic sights & sounds, then The Big 4 in 6 was built for you.
With only a day in Yangon, you’ll get to see as much as your time allows. Certainly the awe inspiring beauty and history of Shwedagon Pagoda, probably the best of British Colonial Rangoon, and hopefully life on the Yangon River, combined with dinner and a view at a classic riverfront restaurant loaded with old world ambiance. Burma travel is never short on ambiance, whatever the stripe.
Two days Pachinko through the much of the Mandalay Array – the many sights of the city itself, Irrawaddy cruise to Mingun, sunset at Amarapura & a walk along U Bein’s Bridge, – will be followed by two days and a night in unforgettable Bagan, ending with two nights on magical Lake Inlay. On your last day we land you in Yangon in the afternoon and boom! You are up, up and away! It’s a good thing too, because we’re about out of superlatives.
For sample itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, see Myanmar Destinations.
Whirlwind: The Big Four in Six
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Yangon – City Tour – Shwedagon Pagoda – Overnight Yangon
Day 2: Morning Flight to Mandalay – City Tour – Sunset Bridge at Amarapura – Overnight Mandalay
Day 3: Morning Flight to Bagan – Temple Tour by Horse & Carriage – Surreal Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 4: Bagan Dawn – Fly in a Hot Air Balloon over Temples – Village Crafts – Fly Inlay – Overnight Inlay
Day 5: Inlay Lake Full Day by Boat – Floating Markets, Gardens & Pagodas – Overnight Inlay
Day 6: Inlay Morning Spa – Fly to Yangon for Departure
Whirlwind: The Big Four in Six
Starting at $995 per person, double occupancy
6 Days / 5 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation
Price Includes:
Top Rated English speaking guides
Luminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
Airport welcome & farewell
All Accommodation with breakfast
Meals according to your personalized plan
All in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
All itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
Ample bottled water throughout
Entrance and zone fees
Donations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities









What could be better than capping a week of historical splendor with a tropical Ngpali beach bungalow and a feast-full of outrageous seafood?
About that historical splendor… An hour’s cruise on the Irrawaddy from Mandalay brings you to the great temple rock edifice of Mingun, made famous by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry. But there’s more! Like the stunning all-white temple of Hsinbyume, giant cheroot smoking nuns in pink robes, and little boy monks in maroon often available for modeling gigs. They won’t ask, but a few Kyat donation to the monastery or nunnery is always well appreciated. Please use donation boxes!
Elsewhere you’ll stumble-upon the largest, un-cracked cast-iron bell on earth, with its un-earthly ring. How’s that for a claim to fame? One of the highlights nobody mentions but we love, is the happiest little old folk’s home you’ll ever see. Think a dirt floor cannot be immaculate? Wander on in and check it out, they love having visitors!
For sample itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, see Myanmar Destinations.
The Big Four Hits the Beach
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon Arrival – City Tour – Shwedagon Pagoda – Overnight Yangon
Day 2: Morning Flight to Magical Inlay Lake – Half Day Floating Pagodas & Monasteries – Overnight Inlay
Day 3: Inlay Lake – Full Day Boat Tour – Mysterious Ruins of Nyaung Oak – Overnight Inlay
Day 4: Inlay Morning Spa – Fly Mandalay – Afternoon City Tour – Sunset Bridge – Overnight Mandalay
Day 5: Mandalay – Morning Boat to Mingun Rock Temple – Onto Sagaing – Fly Bagan – Overnight Bagan
Day 6: Bagan – Hot Air Balloon – Full Day Tour by Carriage – Temple- Top-Top Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 7: Bagan – Crafts Villages & Shopping – Fly Ngapali Beach – Afternoon – Sunset – Overnight Ngapali
Day 8: Ngpali Beach – Full Day Beach Relaxation – Massage, Spa & Seafood – Overnight Ngapali Beach
Day 9: Ngapali Beach Morning – Fly to Yangon for Departure
The Big Four Hits the Beach
Starting at $1495 per person, double occupancy
9 Days / 8 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation



















Yangon: Wander the sacred grounds of magnificent 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda covered in 60 tons of gold, stay in elegant old world hotels, take a walking tour of British colonial architecture, engage the very friendly locals, enjoy the sounds of melodious street vendors, witness monks on morning alms rounds, and so much more…
Mandalay: Marvel at myriad monasteries and nunneries, read the Biggest Book on Earth, Walk the longest teak bridge in the world, shop the brilliant work of wood, marble, jade, gold & silver artisans…
Bagan: Cruise an colonial style riverboat into antiquity, Hot Air Balloon over the 4,000 Ancient Temples, Tour by Horse & Carriage, Climb Pagodas for Surreal Sunset & Sunrise Panoramas, enjoy great Hotels, budget to ultra luxury…
Inlay Lake: Immerse yourself in the magic of floating pagodas, gardens & markets…Visit the mysterious ruins and 1,054 zedis of Nyaung Oak, the vibrant 5-day market at Indein, photograph long-necked Padaung women, hang with Intha fishermen, melt into exotic massage & spa treatments…
For sample itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, please see Burma Destinations.
The Big Four in Ten
Sample Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon Arrival – City Tour – Shwedagon Pagoda – Overnight Yangon
Day 2: Morning Flight to Bagan – Temple Tour by Horse & Carriage – Surreal Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 3: Bagan Dawn – Fly in a Hot Air Balloon over Temples – Local Crafts Villages – Overnight Bagan
Day 4: Bagan Spa Morning – Afternoon Flight to Mandalay – Sunset Bridge – Overnight Mandalay
Day 5: Mandalay – Morning Boat to Mingun Rock Temple – Onto Sagaing – Ava – Overnight Mandalay
Day 6: Mandalay – Half Day City Tour – Fly to Inlay Lake – Visit Novice Monks – Overnight Nuangshwe
Day 7: Misty Alms Rounds – Inlay Lake Full Day by Boat – Floating Villages – Intha – Overnight Inlay Lake
Day 8: Indein Market & Ruins of Nyuang Oak – Back to Hotel for Sunset Cocktails – Overnight Inlay Lake
Day 9: Inlay Spa Morning – Nyuangshwe Padaung Visit – Afternoon Flight Yangon – Overnight Yangon
Day 10: Yangon – Sule Pagoda – Colonial Walking Tour – Shopping – Departure
The Big Four in Ten
Starting at $1695 per person, double occupancy
10 Days / 9 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation



















Looking for a place to wear your Indiana Jones hat without getting snickered at? The lost city of Mrauk U is just waiting to unleash your inner “Indy”.
Mrauk U is the stuff of legend. It was virtually unknown outside Asia in its prime; and remains so even now. It was as wealthy as Amsterdam or London by 1635, with a population of 160,000 including thousands of foreign traders, merchants & mercenaries. The Arakan Kings even employed Japanese Samurai as trusted bodyguards.
The kingdom controlled vast coastal regions from western Myanmar well into eastern India, its reign lasting 354 years. When the city finally fell to the Bamar in 1784, it was abandoned and largely forgotten. Grand palaces, 19-miles of fortifications, and some 700 uniquely designed Buddhist temples were slowly swallowed by the jungle.
Today the jungle is thick only with irony; these grand symbols of a once bustling Dynastic Capitol serving as little more than an exotic backdrop for what is now a sleepy rural village. The world still doesn’t know it’s here. You do. Get here before they figure it out?
For sample itinerary click the Game Plan tab above. For more destination details, see Myanmar Destinations.
Raiders of the Lost City
Day 1: Yangon Arrival – City Tour – Shwedagon Pagoda – Overnight Yangon
Day 2: Morning Flight to Sittwe – Tour Sittwe – Overnight Sittwe
Day 3: Sittwe to Mrauk U by Riverboat – Overnight Mrauk U
Day 4: Mrauk U – Exploring the Kingdom – Overnight Mrauk U
Day 5: Mrauk U – Jungle Trek to Chin Tribe Village – Overnight Mrauk U
Day 6: Morning Boat to Sittwe – Flight to Mandalay – Overnight Mandalay
Day 7: Mandalay – Full Day Insider’s Mandalay – Sunset Bridge – Overnight Mandalay
Day 8: Mandalay – Mingun Rock Temple – Onto Sagaing – Drive to Monywa – Overnight Monywa
Day 9: Morning Drive to Po Win Daung Buddha Caves – Backroads to Bagan – Overnight Bagan
Day 10: Bagan Temple Tour by Horse & Carriage – Surreal Temple-Top Sunset – Overnight Bagan
Day 11: Bagan – Hot Air Balloon over Temples – Crafts Villages – Fly Heho – Overnight Naungshwe
Day 12: Misty Alms Rounds – Inlay Lake Full Day by Boat – Floating Villages – Intha – Overnight Inlay Lake
Day 13: Indein Market & Ruins of Nyuang Oak – Back to Hotel for Sunset Cocktails – Overnight Inlay Lake
Day 14: Inlay Spa Morning – Nuangshwe Padaung Visit – Afternoon Flight Yangon – Overnight Yangon
Day 15: Yangon – Sule Pagoda – Colonial Walking & Shopping Tour – Departure
Raiders of the Lost City
Starting at $2195 per person, double occupancy
15 Days / 14 Nights
Deposit required to secure reservation


















