Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo – Bago Travel Guide: Part 1 My planned itinerary

I have just back from a 5 day 4 night trip to Myanmar and would like to note for myself and anyone who would like to plan a short trip to Myanmar. I really want to call Myanmar a country of hope as it has many potentials to develop with its very exotic cultural identity.

I booked tickets for a group of 6 people who are my colleagues and friends early in March 2016. The trip was from 19 October to 23 October 2016 from Ho Chi Minh City to Yangon. I booked Vietjet Air for around 90 – 100$ for a round trip. In the beginning of September, I started planning. My most favourite places in Myanmar are Bagan and Golden Rock but it would be a rush if I visit both places in only 5 days so I decided to pick the nearest one which is Golden Rock. As from Yangon to Golden Rock, we can pass by Bago, which has lots of places to visit as well. I planned to leave the North towns such as Bagan, Inle, Mandalay for next time visit (hopefully October next year, fingers crossed). People say the best time to go to Myanmar is from End of October to January as there is no rain and the weather is cool. Actually when I visited, there was some rain here and there but still tolerable as there was no flood at all and sometimes it helped cooling down the tropical heat.

As we went in a group of six, it would be more convenient to book a car including driver. I will tell more about hotel recommendations and car renting service in the next post, so stay tuned for that.

Down below is my planned itinerary. In reality, it slightly changed here and there. I will tell my real story in the next post as well. Just take this as a reference.

Chaukhtathgyi Pagoda and Golden Rock


YANGON – KYAIKHTIYO – BAGO – 5 DAYS 4 NIGHTS

Flight information

VJ831 19/10/2016 10:25 – Ho Chi Minh (SGN) 12:10 – Yangon (RGN)
VJ832 23/10/2016 13:00 – Yangon (RGN) 15:45 – Ho Chi Minh (SGN)

Hotel information
15th street @ Downtown Yangon
No. 131, 15 Street (Middle block Between Anawyahtar Road and Maharbandoola Road), Lanmadaw township, Yangon downtown, Yangon, 11131, Myanmar
Phone: +951226019
The Eternity Resort
176 A , Zayat Quin , Golden Rock Mountain Road, Foot of Mt. Kyaikhtiyo, Kyaikhtiyo, Myanmar
Check In @ Downtown Yangon
No.69, 14 Street Middle Block (Between Anawrahtar Road & Maharbandoola Road), Lanmadaw Township, Yangon downtown, Yangon, 11131, Myanmar
Phone: +951224470

Places to visit:
Chaukhtathgyi Pagoda
Shwedagon Pagoda
Sule Pagoda
Kabar Aye Pagoda
Gems Museum
Bogyoke (Scott) Market
Kin Pun “base camp”
Golden Rock
Kanbawzathardi Palace
Shwemawdaw Pagoda
Shwe Tha Lyaung
Kyaik Pun
National Museum
Independence Monument
City Hall.
Botahtaung Pagoda

Restaurants:
Aung Mingalar Shan Noodle Restaurant, Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Dagon
Golden Tea 99 Bo Sun Pat Road, Pabedan
Shan Yoe Yar No. 169, Wa Dan Street, Yangon, Myanmar +95 1221524
999 Shan Noodle Shop
Myaung May Daw Cho 118A Yay Tar Shay Old Street, Bahan +95 1548501
Royal Taste 28 Thun Pagoda Road Bago, Myanmar

Yangon – The city of hope


DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01: Yangon Arrival
13:00: From Yangon International Airport to Chaukhtathgyi Pagoda
15:00: Proceed to Shwedagon Pagoda
18:00: Dinner at Aung Mingalar Shan Noodle Restaurant, Bo Yar Nyunt Street, Dagon
Overnight in 15th street @ Downtown Yangon
Walk along the night market and china town fruit market

Day 02: Yangon City Tour
07:00: Breakfast at Hotel
08:00: Sule Pagoda, Independence Monument, City Hall,
11:30: Lunch at Shan Yoe Yar
After lunch, go to National Museum, Botahtaung Pagoda then Shopping at Bogyoke (Scott) Market
18:00: Dinner at 999 Shan Noodle Shop
Overnight in 15th street @ Downtown Yangon

Day 03: Yangon Kyaikhtiyo
After breakfast, drive to Kin Pun “base camp”
Continue to Kyaikhtiyo, the Golden Rock.
Lunch at local restaurant en route or at base camp on arrival and watch the beauty of sunset or dawn at this important pilgrimage site.
Dinner and overnight at Eternity Resort.

Day 04: Kyaikhtiyo – Bago – Yangon
After breakfast, descend from Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda. Proceed to Bago. Sightseeing include Kanbawzathardi Palace, Shwemawdaw Pagoda
Proceed to the 55 m long reclining Shwe Tha Lyaung
Visit Kyaik Pun, four gigantic Buddha images all in sitting posture facing the four cardinal points of the compass. After sightseeing return back to Yangon.
Dinner on the way.
Upon arrival, transfer to hotel Check In @ Downtown Yangon

Day 05: City Tour & Yangon Departure
06:30: Breakfast at hotel.
07:00: On the way to Airport, visit Kabar Aye Pagoda and Gems Museum.
Lunch at local restaurant and transfer to Airport for departure flight.