Myanmar Seven days completes the canonical Myanmar heritage circuit — Yangon (Shwedagon Pagoda + colonial heritage) → Bagan (UNESCO 2,200+ temples + hot-air balloon) → Mandalay (former royal capital + U Bein Bridge) → Inle Lake (UNESCO floating gardens + leg-rowing fishermen). Day 1: Yangon arrival + Shwedagon sunset + colonial Downtown. Day 2: Yangon → Bagan flight (1.5h) + Shwezigon + Old Bagan sunset. Day 3: Bagan hot-air balloon sunrise + Ananda + Dhammayangyi + Sulamani + sunset. Day 4: Mt. Popa day trip + Ayeyarwaddy sunset boat. Day 5: Bagan → Mandalay flight (30 min) or drive (4h) + U Bein Bridge sunset + marionette dinner. Day 6: Mandalay → Heho (HEH) → Inle Lake — floating gardens + leg-rowing fishermen + Intha culture. Day 7: Inle Lake morning + flight back to Yangon for international departure. The canonical Myanmar Big-4 in 7 days.
A full week is enough to actually understand Bagan. Three days for the major districts, three days for nearby regions, and one day for the offbeat neighborhoods most tourists miss. The back half of the trip is more about texture than checking landmarks — your photos get more diverse and you walk away with a three-dimensional sense of the city.
7-Day Total Budget at a Glance
Budget
$1,110
Per person, flights excl.
Mid-Range
$1,810
Per person, flights excl.
Luxury
$3,210
Per person, flights excl.
Book Hotels & Flights for This Itinerary
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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule
Yangon arrival + Shwedagon Pagoda sunset + colonial Downtown
RGN airport + Shwedagon sunset + colonial Downtown + Strand HotelActivities
- 13:00 RGN Yangon International Airport arrival + check-in 1.5 hours
RGN is 20km from Yangon center — official taxi $15-25 / MMK 60,000-100,000 + 45-min drive. Visa-on-arrival or e-Visa $50 USD cash + passport photo.
Cost: $15-25 taxi + $50 visa TIP: Bring crisp USD bills. Most central Yangon hotels (Belmond Governor's Residence, Sule Shangri-La, Strand Hotel) are 45 min from RGN. The Strand Hotel is the canonical 1901 colonial heritage anchor. - 15:00 Downtown Yangon colonial walking circuit 2 hours
Yangon Downtown has Southeast Asia's most-concentrated colonial-era architecture — wide boulevards + colonnaded Sule Pagoda + 1901 Strand Hotel + Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) + colonial-era government buildings. 2-hour walking circuit anchored by Sule Pagoda.
Cost: $2-5 Sule Pagoda entry TIP: Best walked 15:00-17:00 to avoid midday heat. Cover shoulders + knees at pagodas. Scott Market (open Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00) is the canonical Burmese shopping anchor — rubies + jade + Burmese textiles + thanaka + lacquerware. - 17:30 Shwedagon Pagoda sunset (Burma's holiest) 2 hours
Shwedagon Pagoda is THE icon of Myanmar — 99m gold-plated stupa containing 8 hairs of the Buddha, the holiest Buddhist site in Burma (legend says built 2,600 years ago, archaeology says 6th century AD). Sunset 17:30-18:30 Nov-Feb. Photography canonical from the eastern stairway approach.
Cost: $8 / MMK 30,000 foreigner entry TIP: Shoes + socks off at the lower entrance — bring sandals you can carry. Modest dress (free sarongs at entrance). Best photographed sunset 17:30-18:30 with golden hour on the gold-leafed stupa. Buddhist devotees + meditators + photographers all converge at sunset — atmospheric. - 20:00 Dinner at The Strand Hotel restaurant (1901 colonial heritage) 2 hours
The Strand Hotel (1901, Belmond) is Yangon's canonical colonial-heritage hotel — afternoon tea + dinner restaurant in atmospheric 1901 colonial setting. The 'I want colonial Yangon heritage' dinner pick. $25-50 per person.
Cost: $25-50 per person TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead. Smart-casual. The colonial dining room + bar is the canonical Strand experience.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Inbound airport / connecting city
transit · $5-15
Most international travelers connect via Bangkok. Eat at the connecting airport.
Lunch
Yangon hotel café
Yangon central · $5-10
Hotel café — post-flight recovery.
Dinner
The Strand Hotel colonial heritage
Yangon Strand Road · $25-50
1901 colonial heritage dining + Burmese-international fusion. The canonical Yangon first-night anchor.
RGN-to-Yangon center: 20km, taxi $15-25 / MMK 60,000-100,000. In-town: walking + taxi.
DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Yangon → Bagan flight + Shwezigon + Old Bagan sunset
Same as Day 1 of 3-day itineraryActivities
- 07:00 Yangon hotel breakfast + RGN airport transfer + Yangon → Bagan flight 3.5 hours total
Most travelers fly Yangon → NYU (1.5h, $60-120 on Myanmar National Airlines, Mann Yadanarpon, or Air KBZ). Hotel breakfast + RGN airport transit. Then NYU arrival + 4km taxi to Nyaung-U.
Cost: $60-120 flight + $15-25 taxi to RGN + $8-15 NYU taxi TIP: Book the morning flight (08:30-10:00 departures) to maximize Day 2 in Bagan. Arrive RGN 1h before flight. - 12:30 Bagan arrival + check-in + lunch at Aung Mingalar Restaurant 2 hours
Same as Day 1 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $5-6 lunch TIP: Cash MMK preferred. - 14:00 Shwezigon Pagoda + Old Bagan walking circuit + sunset mound 4 hours
Same as Day 1 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $20 archaeological zone ticket + $5-15 e-bike rental TIP: Shoes off at pagodas. Sunset mound 17:00. - 19:30 Dinner at Sarabha 2 Restaurant 1.5-2 hours
Same as Day 1 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $6-12 per person TIP: Walk-ins fine. Cash + USD.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Yangon hotel breakfast
Yangon central · $5-10
Hotel breakfast before RGN departure.
Lunch
Aung Mingalar Restaurant Bagan
Nyaung-U central street · $5-6
Burmese curry thali + Shan noodles + Myanmar Beer.
Dinner
Sarabha 2 Restaurant Old Bagan
Old Bagan (near Tharabar Gate) · $6-12
Burmese curry thali + tea-leaf salad + Burmese fried river fish + Myanmar Beer + temple-view terrace.
Yangon → Bagan: 1.5h flight ($60-120). RGN-to-airport 20km taxi. NYU airport 4km taxi $8-15. In Bagan: e-bike $5-15/day.
DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Bagan hot-air balloon sunrise + Ananda + Dhammayangyi + Bagan Viewing Tower sunset
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itineraryActivities
- 05:00 Hot-air balloon sunrise pickup + flight 3 hours
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $300-370 USD TIP: Book 4-8 weeks ahead. - 08:30 Breakfast at Aung Mingalar Teashop 1 hour
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $2-3 TIP: Mohinga + Burmese tea. - 10:00 Ananda + Dhammayangyi + Sulamani Temple circuit 4 hours
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: Included in $20 ticket TIP: Shoes off at every temple. - 17:00 Bagan Viewing Tower sunset 1.5 hours
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: MMK 10,000 / $4 entry TIP: Arrive 16:30. - 19:30 Dinner at Aureum Palace Hotel Restaurant 2 hours
Same as Day 2 of 3-day itinerary.
Cost: $25-50 per person TIP: Book 2-3 days ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Aung Mingalar Teashop
Nyaung-U central · $2-3
Mohinga + Burmese tea.
Lunch
The Moon Vegetarian Restaurant
Old Bagan · $5-7
Burmese vegetarian + lephet thoke.
Dinner
Aureum Palace Hotel Restaurant
Old Bagan · $25-50
Luxury fine dining + private temple-view terrace.
Day 3: Hot-air balloon door-to-door pickup. E-bike between temples. Bagan Viewing Tower 30-min e-bike. Aureum Palace 5-min e-bike.
DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Bagan Mt. Popa day trip + Ayeyarwaddy sunset boat
Same as Day 4 of 5-day itineraryActivities
- 08:30 Nyaung-U Market mohinga breakfast 45 min
Same as 5-day Day 4.
Cost: $0.50-1 TIP: Local breakfast. - 10:00 Mt. Popa day trip 4-5 hours
Same as 5-day Day 4.
Cost: $50-80 private car + $2 entry TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead. - 17:30 Ayeyarwaddy River sunset boat 1.5 hours
Same as 5-day Day 4.
Cost: $10-60 boat TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead. - 19:30 Dinner at Bagan Lodge Restaurant 2 hours
Same as 5-day Day 3 dinner.
Cost: $20-40 per person TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Nyaung-U Market
Nyaung-U central market · $0.50-1
Canonical local Burmese breakfast.
Lunch
Mt. Popa Mountain Resort
Mt. Popa · $6-12
Burmese curry + post-climb pool.
Dinner
Bagan Lodge Restaurant
Old Bagan (south) · $20-40
Modern Burmese-Western fusion + curated wine + atmospheric villa setting.
Day 4: Mt. Popa private car $50-80. Ayeyarwaddy sunset boat $10-60. Bagan Lodge 5-min e-bike.
DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Bagan → Mandalay + U Bein Bridge sunset + marionette dinner
Mandalay transit + Mahamuni morning + U Bein Bridge sunset + Mintha TheatreActivities
- 08:00 Bagan → Mandalay flight (30 min) or drive (4h) 30 min - 4 hours
Most 7-day travelers fly for time efficiency — Air KBZ + Myanmar National Airlines + Mann Yadanarpon run NYU → MDL ($50-90, 30 min). Alternative: 4h drive ($60-100 private car) for atmospheric central-Myanmar landscape.
Cost: $50-100 transit TIP: Book flight 4-8 weeks ahead Nov-Feb. - 11:00 Mandalay arrival + Mahamuni Pagoda + Kuthodaw Pagoda 3 hours
Mahamuni Pagoda is Burma's holiest Buddha image. Kuthodaw Pagoda (world's largest book — 729 marble slabs of the Buddhist canon) nearby. 30-min taxi from MDL to central Mandalay.
Cost: $25-35 MDL taxi + $7 Kuthodaw + free Mahamuni TIP: Shoes off at pagodas. Modest dress. Women cannot approach Mahamuni Buddha image directly. - 15:00 Mandalay Palace + Mandalay Hill afternoon 2.5 hours
Same as 5-day Day 1.
Cost: MMK 10,000 / $4 palace + free Mandalay Hill TIP: Use elevator to Mandalay Hill summit. - 17:30 U Bein Bridge sunset 2 hours
Same as 5-day Day 1.
Cost: MMK 30,000-60,000 / $7-15 taxi TIP: Arrive 17:00 for sunset positioning. - 20:00 Dinner at Mintha Theatre (marionette show + dinner) 2 hours
Same as 5-day Day 1.
Cost: $20-35 per person TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Bagan hotel breakfast
Bagan central · $5-15
Hotel breakfast before NYU departure.
Lunch
Mandalay hotel café or Lucky 88 Restaurant
Mandalay central · $5-10
Burmese light lunch.
Dinner
Mintha Theatre marionette + dinner
Mandalay central theatre · $20-35
Burmese marionette + Burmese curry + Myanmar Beer.
Bagan → Mandalay: 30-min flight ($50-90) or 4h drive ($60-100) or 9-10h Ayeyarwaddy cruise ($200-1,000 luxury). MDL airport 35km taxi $25-35.
DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Mandalay → Heho → Inle Lake
Heho flight + Inle Lake floating gardens + leg-rowing fishermen + Intha cultureActivities
- 08:00 Mandalay → Heho (HEH) flight (40 min) 2.5 hours total
Heho (HEH) is the gateway airport to Inle Lake — 40-min flight from MDL ($60-90 on Air KBZ + Myanmar National Airlines). Then 30-min drive from HEH to Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake gateway town, $15-25 taxi).
Cost: $60-90 flight + $15-25 taxi TIP: Book the morning flight (08:00-10:00 departures). Heho is at 1,200m elevation — cooler than Bagan/Mandalay (15-20°C / 59-68°F Nov-Feb). - 11:30 Inle Lake boat tour (full day) 6 hours
Inle Lake is Myanmar's third-must-see — freshwater lake 600km² in Shan State with floating gardens (Intha hydroponic farming on the lake surface) + leg-rowing fishermen (the iconic single-leg-rowing technique unique to Inle) + Intha ethnic culture (1.5h boat tour standard). Stops: Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda (Inle's holiest), Indein Pagoda complex (5-9th c. ruined pagodas + atmospheric jungle setting), Inn Paw Khone weaving village (lotus + silk + cotton looms), Nampan tomato floating gardens, Nga Phe Kyaung 'jumping cat' monastery.
Cost: $50-100 private boat for 4 + $5-10 monastery entries TIP: Book the private boat 1-2 days ahead through your hotel. Bring layered clothing (cooler at 1,200m elevation). Photogenic — the leg-rowing fishermen pose for photos (small tip MMK 1,000-3,000 / $0.25-0.75 per pose appropriate). - 19:00 Dinner at Inle Princess Resort restaurant (5-star Shan cuisine) 2 hours
Inle Princess Resort is the canonical Inle Lake luxury hotel — Shan cuisine + atmospheric lakeside setting + Intha cultural fusion. $20-40 per person.
Cost: $20-40 per person TIP: Book 1-2 days ahead. Shan curry + Shan tofu + tomato salad + Mandalay Rum are the canonical Inle Lake dishes.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Mandalay hotel breakfast
Mandalay central · $5-10
Hotel breakfast before MDL departure.
Lunch
Inle Lake floating restaurant
Inle Lake floating villages · $6-12
Shan curry + tomato salad + Shan tofu + Myanmar Beer on a floating-restaurant platform.
Dinner
Inle Princess Resort restaurant
Inle Lake western shore · $20-40
Shan cuisine + Intha cultural fusion + lakeside atmospheric setting.
Mandalay → Heho: 40-min flight ($60-90). HEH airport → Nyaung Shwe: 30-min taxi ($15-25). Inle Lake: private boat $50-100 for full-day tour.
DAY 6 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Inle Lake morning + Heho → Yangon flight + international departure
Morning Indein Pagoda OR weaving village + Heho → Yangon flight + RGN international onwardActivities
- 08:00 Last Inle Lake morning — choose: Indein Pagoda OR Inn Paw Khone weaving village OR Khaung Daing hot springs 3 hours
Indein Pagoda (5-9th c. ruined pagodas + atmospheric jungle setting — the most-photogenic Inle stop). Inn Paw Khone weaving village (lotus + silk + cotton looms — atmospheric weaving demonstration). Khaung Daing hot springs (atmospheric Burmese-style natural hot springs).
Cost: $30-50 boat half-day + $5-10 entries TIP: Pick one for time. Indein is the most-Instagram-iconic; the weaving village is the most-cultural; hot springs is the most-relaxation. - 12:00 Lunch at Inthar Heritage House (Intha culture museum + restaurant) 1 hour
Inthar Heritage House is the canonical Inle cultural-immersion lunch + small museum on Intha ethnic culture + sit-down Shan + Intha cuisine. $10-20 per person.
Cost: $10-20 per person TIP: The museum + lunch combo is canonical Inle cultural depth. - 14:00 Nyaung Shwe → Heho (HEH) → Yangon (RGN) flight 2.5 hours flight transit
30-min taxi to HEH + 1h flight to RGN ($80-150). RGN international onward to Bangkok/Singapore/Kuala Lumpur/Hong Kong/Seoul.
Cost: $15-25 HEH taxi + $80-150 flight TIP: Book the HEH → RGN afternoon flight (14:00-16:00 departures). Arrive HEH 1h before flight. Open-jaw international flights save 4-6h backtracking — book Yangon (in) + Heho (out) or vice versa. - 18:00 Yangon RGN arrival + international onward varies
RGN international onward to Bangkok (1h direct, Thai/Myanmar Airways), Singapore (3h, Singapore Air/Myanmar Airways), Kuala Lumpur (3h, Malaysia/AirAsia), Hong Kong (3.5h, Cathay/Myanmar Airways), Seoul (5.5h, Korean Air code-share).
Cost: varies TIP: Pre-book international onward — most travelers connect to Bangkok or Singapore.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Inle hotel breakfast
Inle Lake · $5-15
Hotel breakfast before morning boat tour.
Lunch
Inthar Heritage House
Inle Lake floating · $10-20
Shan + Intha cultural-immersion lunch + small museum.
Dinner
Yangon RGN airport / international onward
RGN or onward · $10-30
RGN airport restaurants are limited — eat at the arrival city or onboard.
Inle → Heho: 30-min taxi. Heho → Yangon: 1h flight ($80-150). RGN international onward.
DAY 7 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Book Bagan Tours & Tickets
Packing Checklist
- ✓ Hot-air balloon: layered clothing for 6:00 AM 15-20°C dry-season dawn
- ✓ Inle Lake: layered clothing (1,200m elevation, cooler than Bagan/Mandalay)
- ✓ Temple climbing: closed-toe shoes + quick-on sandals
- ✓ Mt. Popa: 777-step climb requires sturdy sandals + 1L water
- ✓ U Bein Bridge: tripod for low-light sunset photography
- ✓ Shwedagon Pagoda: modest clothing for sunset visit
- ✓ Sunglasses + hat + SPF 30-50 sunscreen
- ✓ Light rain shell + compact umbrella (rainy season May-Oct)
- ✓ Crisp USD cash $500-1,000 for visa + balloon + hotel + multi-city cash payments
- ✓ Small-bill USD ($1, $5, $10, $20) for tips + temple donations + small purchases
- ✓ Travel insurance card with medical evacuation coverage proof
- ✓ Modest clothing for temple zone (covered shoulders + knees)
- ✓ Power adapter Type C/D/F/G (multi-format 230V)
- ✓ VPN app installed before arrival
- ✓ Mosquito repellent with DEET (peak in Inle Lake)
- ✓ Burmese language basics: 'Mingalaba' (hello), 'Cèy zù tin ba deh' (thank you)
Bagan 7-Day Itinerary FAQ
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Why you can trust 7-day itinerary
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.