Breakfast at the hotel. So what’s behind the golden façade of the Shwedagon Pagoda? During this interactive half day tour we take you through the back door and show you the full history of the pagoda, the daily life of all people living in the immediate surroundings of the pagoda and a deeper insight in the Buddhist religion and how the spiritual belief is mixed with the belief in nats – the Myanmar spirits. An intriguing half day tour starting from the bottom of the hill and passing the workshops, markets and monasteries which will be useful or even essential to understand more of the country during the rest of your journey. The tour includes a traditional Burmese breakfast, offerings to monks and the pagoda, a visit to a fortune teller and a Burmese lunch. After lunch transfer back to the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Cloud 10 Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Arrival at Hsipaw by bus and meet by the representative for transfer to the hotel. Breakfast at the hotel and relax before start the afternoon tour. Shan village walk In the late afternoon your guide will take you for a 2.5 hour walk through a panoramic scenery of paddy fields and other seasonal crops passing small creeks, Shan villages and local schools and monasteries. The guide will explain in detail about Shan life around Hsipaw and show you some home industries like cheroot (cigar) rolling and bamboo weaving. He will explain why each Shan village has a spirit house build at the entrance of the village and make sure you will get to know the spirit of the local people in Northern Shan state.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Tai House Resort

Breakfast at the hotel. One of the most colourful tribes in Shan State are certainly the Palaung people who are famous for their high quality tea plantations. Especially the older women still wear their traditional costumes. During this full day walk we visit 2 or 3 different villages and have a simple lunch in a local village on the way. Total walking time today is about 5 hours through tea plantations, colourful fields and forest – sometimes uphill, sometimes downhill. Transfer to starting point will be by local tuk-tuks. An enchanting day in nature discovering some of the interesting tribes of this part in Myanmar. Return back to Hsipaw at end of the day.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Tai House Resort

Breakfast at the hotel. Train ride over Gokteik Viaduct Enjoy a wonderful train journey through the Shan mountains crossing the mighty Gokteik Viaduct which was constructed in 1901 by the Pennsylvania Steel company and was once the second highest railway bridge in the world. The train departs around 09:30 from Hsipaw station and will pass the Gokteik Viaduct around 13:30. Through spectacular mountain scenery the train will slowly move forward over the old railway track passing small villages and towns where vendors will enter the train to sell drinks and local snacks. Expected arrival time in Nawnghkio is around 14:00 and we then continue by private car to Mandalay but be warned: be delays on an historic railway like this one are not unusual. Simple lunch boxes are provided on the way in the train. On arrival in Mandalay, we will also visit to the Shwenandaw monasteries which are excellent examples of the architecture and crafts work of this region and we end with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda with the white marble slabs.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Ayarwaddy River View Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. Ancient Inwa and Amarapura hidden neighbourhoods by bike – half day – MDL-021 (Join-in) Probably the one tour that you should do in Mandalay if you only stay one day. Biking through the rural village Inwa which used to by an ancient capital city means you can stop where you want for pictures and go off the beaten track avoiding other tourists. It’s an easy 20 km ride with plenty of stops and amazing picture opportunities in front of ancient temple ruins, tree shaded lanes and rural communities showing their crafts. A short ferry ride takes you to Amarapura and some of the hidden neighbourhoods that are ideal to explore on a bicycle. End you trip with a view on the iconic U Bein Bridge; all in all certainly one of the best day trips possible in Mandalay area. The tour includes a transfer from your hotel to Grasshopper Adventures starting point and back to your hotel by a local pick-up. Afternoon free at leisure.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Ayarwaddy River View Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. This is Bagan! - BGN-001 – full day orientation tour A full day tour by car, with an experienced guide through Bagan will show you the best known temples of the area. We start the day showing a first impressive view over the whole area. From here the guide plans his way to some of the other amazing temples that have been here for hundreds of years. Places like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu will certainly impress you. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant and around 16:00 we continue the tour by horse cart to sunset points for sunset with some refreshing drinks served!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Zfreeti Hotel

Breakfast at the hotel. A day on the lake! -INL - 001 – full day Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages. On the lake itself the Intha people have been living for many centuries in village built entirely on stilts on the lake. Today we will take you by private motorboat around the lake to discover the natural beauty of the lake, visit the floating gardens, see some of the famous leg rowers and have some tea at a local family’s house. On and around the lake traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule and today we will take you to visit a colourful market frequented by Shan and PaO people living nearby. We will certainly also visit a local house where cheroot (the Burmese cigars are made), floating tomato gardens, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, an Intha house where a traditional Intha lunch is served and if wanted we visit a weaving factory.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• Standard Accommodation: Blue Vanda Lodge