Any suggestions for return trip itinerary (April 08)?

Hello,

We visited Myanmar for the first time this past May -- did the usual circuit of Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, and Yangon. We absolutely fell in love with the place, and we%26#39;re returning in April 08. We%26#39;ll only have about 2 weeks in country, unfortunately. We%26#39;ll be arriving/departing Yangon, but otherwise I would really like to spend our time in entirely new places. We%26#39;ll fly between places as much as possible to save time.

I%26#39;ve got a huge list of places to do more research on, but I%26#39;m curious if anyone has suggestions on a ';back to Myanmar'; itinerary. I%26#39;m really wanting to go to Mrauk U, have read great things about Myeik, Myitkyina, Pyin Oo Lwin, Mawlamyine...the list is really long. I don%26#39;t know how to pare it down from here! Any suggestions?

I%26#39;d appreciate the help!

Any suggestions for return trip itinerary (April 08)?

Pyin Oo Lwin .. It is closed to Mandalay and about an hour drives only. You can visit when you are in Mandalay. Another place that you can visit near Mandalay is ';Monywa'; about 3 hrs drive away.

I don%26#39;t know you have already visit Golden Rock Pagoda. If you do not yet ,must go. Golden Rock have to go from Yangon and about 5 hrs drive. From there you can proceed to Mawlamyine too.

What is your arrival/departure time to Yangon ?? If you let me know , I will suggest you itinerary. By the way ,do you love beach too ?? If you want to go Mrauk U , after return , you can take rest at Ngapali Beach.

Let me know.

Any suggestions for return trip itinerary (April 08)?

Thank you mgzaymin.

We will be in Myanmar from apprx 11th April to 24th.

The water festival will be happening during this time. Is there a particularly good place to experience this?

Day 1.( 11/04) Arrive Yangon. overnight at Yangon.

Day 2 (12/04) Morning Drive to Kyaikto , Golden Rock Pagoda. About 5/6 hrs drive. Overnight at Golden Rock.

Day 3(13/04) Drive back to Yangon. On the way visit Bago. Overnight at Yangon. Some start throw water .

Day 4 (14/04) Fly to Mandalay. Thingyan (Water Festival) at Mandalay. Overnight Mandalay.

Day 5 (15/04) Drive to Pyin Oo Lwin ( about 2 hrs drive , 67 Km) and visit. Back to Mandalay.

Day 6. (16/04) If you enjoy Water festival, you still can stay in Mandalay. Please note that during water festival, most shops are closed and traffic jam every where. End of Water festival.

Day 7(17/04).. Drive to Monywa , 112 km , 3/4 hrs drive. Visit Monywa and over night.

Day 8(18/04).. Excursion Powitaung Cave and Kyaukka Village. Over night at Monywa.

Day 9(19/04) Return back to Mandalay.Overnight Mandalay.

Day 10 (20/04) Fly to Kyaing Tong

Day 11 (21/04) Kyaing Tong.

Day 12 (22/04) Kyaing Tong

Day 13 (23/04) Fly back To Yangon

day 14 (24/04) Departure Myanmar.

or

Day 1 to 5 is same.

Day 6. Fly back to Yangon. Overnight at Yangon.

Day 7. Fly to Sittway. Overnight at Sittway.

Day 8. Proceed to Myauk U . Overnight at Myauk U. ( 6/7 hrs by boat)

Day 9 . Visit Myauk U.

Day 10. Return back to Sittway and Overnight at Sittway.

Day 11. Fly to Ngapali Beach.

Day 12 . Ngapali Beach.

Day 13. Ngapali Beach or fly back to Yangon depend on your international flight.

Day 14. Departure Myanmar.

It just a rough idea and all have to re-adjust on flight schedule.

Myitkyina alone is not worth to go but if you love trekking, you should go to Putao too but due to weather , can cause flight delays and you need some extra time.If you love Diving, then Myaik, Kawtaung , Mergui Archipelago is good. From day 6 to day 14, you can enjoy.

Plan 2 sounds a great trip, ending up at Ngapali Beach to recharge your batteries.

The river water is very low in April which precludes cruising but if you really want to see the real Myanmar plan a return visit one October and take the Pandaw expedition cruise up to Bhamo on the or a similar cruise up the Chindwin.

I think you should not get too fixated on sights, as you probably discovered a lot of the pleasure of Burma is the people. There are two busy provincial towns that I particularly like, Pathein on the road to Chaungtha beach, and Taunggyi near Inle. They are both great for absorbing Burmese life, as indeed is Chaungtha, not the best beach but you can see the people at play.

Kyaikhtiyo is a one-off trip (I think Mawlamyine is too tedious a journey to carry on to). If you do this, and you can walk, by far the best approach is by the old route - its about 5 - 6 hours and very spectacular along a hog%26#39;s back ridge. You start this at KInpun, myanmars.net has a map. Loads of Burmese go this way, there are many cafes en route. There is a nice hotel with pool about 30km short of this on the main road - can%26#39;t miss it. Stay here and start the walk at dawn. Again an excellent place to watch the people at play and prayer, this place is like Lourdes.

Finally, you can see elephants working the teak near Taungoo, doable in conjunction with Golden Rock.