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4 - Day Kyaikhtiyo / golden
Rock Yangon - Bago - Kyaiktiyo - Mawlamyine - Yangon |
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DAY 1: Pick-up at hotel in YANGON and drive to BAGO (84 km - 11/2 hours). En route, visit the Allied War Graves cemetery near HTAUK KYAN, a tree shrine dedicated to legendary animist spirits known as "Nats", a handicraft village producing woven bamboo wares and KYAIK PUN PAGODA, famous for its four giant Buddha figures. In Bago sightseeing includes the SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA, which is over a thousand years old. Its spire is even taller than that of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. After lunch, continue to KIN PUN "base camp" (110 km - 31/2 hours) and onward to KYAIKHTIYO (the "golden Rock"), a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. From KIN PUN, a steep and rough 11-km dirt road leads to the upper staging point, a journey made in open trucks, which can be very crowded. From the "upper area", travelers must walk the final stage (about 4 kilometers) up steep paths, which ascend some 500 meters to the golden ROCK. As an easier alternative to walking, visitors can be carried in sedan chairs by four porters, at an extra cost of approximately US$ 10 per person. On arrival, watch the beauty of a sunset at this important pilgrimage site. Dinner and overnight near Kyaikhtiyo. Kyaikhtiyo - Thaton - Hpa-An - Mawlamyine (B/L/D) DAY 2: Departure from Kyaikhtiyo for MAWLAMYINE (Moulmein) (115 km - 6 hours). En route, stop in THATON, former capital of the Mon Kingdom. Lunch is served at a simple local restaurant en route. Between Thaton and Hpa-An stop for a visit at the BAYINTNYI CAVES. Continue, passing the bridge across the THANLWIN RIVER, to HPA-AN, the capital of Kayin State. Brief stop in HPA-AN before proceeding on the last stretch (about 1 hour) to MAWLAMYINE. Arrival in Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, late in the afternoon. Dinner at hotel and overnight in Mawlamyine. Mawlamyine (B/L/D) DAY 3: Full day of sightseeing in and around MAWLAMYINE. Visit the local Zegyi market in the morning before leaving Mawlamyine for a visit to the small town of MUDON (20 km - 1 hour). The area between Mawlamyine and Mudon is very fertile and well known for its rubber plantations and the numerous seasonal fruits grown here. A newly built huge reclining Buddha can be seen en route. Stop at KYAUKDALONE, a Buddhist Stupa and a Hindu temple facing each other. Return to Mawlamyine for lunch at a local restaurant. Mawlamyine - Yangon (B/L/-) DAY 4: Early drive to HPA-AN (60 km - 1 hour). A stop is made at the site of the KHAYONEGU Caves with numerous Buddha images, stalactites and stalagmites. Stroll through a small Karen village situated at the significant MOUNT ZWEKABIN. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before returning to YANGON (245 km - 6 hours). Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to hotel.
Important note: The region around Kyaikhtiyo and Mawlamyine is still undeveloped for most aspects of tourism. Travel Agent will endeavor to obtain the best available accommodation, transport and facilities for guests, but would ask for their understanding for any practical aspects that do not come up to expectations and for delays or changes in the itinerary. Due to road conditions, travel in this region is not recommended during the monsoon season (June - September). Services Included: Accommodation with breakfast at hotels. Services Excluded: Lunch and dinner in Yangon.
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