
Transfer to airport for your early morning flight to Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma. Upon arrival, start our excursion to the formal capitals of Sagaing, Ava and Amarapura.
We will cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River and drive to Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hills is widely regarded as the religious centre of Myanmar and is home to 3,000 Monks and 100 Meditation Centres.
Start our visit to Tha Kya Di That Nunnery where we can study the way of Buddhist Nun life. We will have a unique opportunity to watch the blessing of the food offered to Buddha and the resident nuns line up silently and systematically for their lunch – their last meal of the day. Continue to the Umin Thounzeh cave complex, with its 45 Buddha statues; and the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, which was built in 1312 with outstanding views over Sagaing, the Irrawaddy River and a landscape dotted with pagodas.
Afterwards we travel to Ava (Innwa) the capital from 14th to 18th centuries and visit by horse carriage. Our visit includes the 27-meter-high masonry watchtower, Nan Myint (known as the “Leaning Tower of Innwa”), the Bagaya Monastery built with 276 teakwood pillars, Maha Aung Myay Bonzan: one of the few brick-and stucco monasteries, built in 1818 and observe a Myanmar tradition alms bowls workshop.
In the afternoon, travel to Amarapura the ‘City of Immortality’ and visit a silk weaving workshop.
End of the day, enjoy with a walk at sunset over the 200 year-old U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in the world (1.2 km). (Optional) take a sunset boat on Taungthaman Lake and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Overnight in Mandalay.