Yangon - Bago - Kyaiktiyo

Pick-up at your hotel for the drive to Thanatpin (99 km – 2 hours). You stop at a tree shrine dedicated to a legendary Nat, as well as the four giant Buddha images at Kyaik Pun Pagoda on the way. After a stroll through the colourful local market you board a small long-tail boat. Enjoy your cruise through rice fields and small Mon villages scattered along the waterway. After lunch at a local restaurant in Bago continue to the Kin Pun base camp (110 km - 3 1/2 hours). The tour will lead up to one of Myanmar’s landmarks, which is famous for its precarious position and religious importance: Kyaiktiyo the Golden Rock, a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. To reach the pagoda from Kin Pun a steep and rocky 11 km dirt road leads to the upper staging point. The journey is made in open trucks, which are very crowded. The ‘upper area’ must be travelled by foot, at present, and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path which ascends some 500m to the Golden Rock. If you wish to take a more comfortable approach, you can sit back and relax and be carried in sedan chairs by four porters. This will incur an extra cost of approx. US$ 10.00 per person. On arrival you can enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Kyaiktiyo - Hpa An

After breakfast, depart Kyaiktiyo (120 km – 3 ½ hours) for Hpa An, the capital of the Kayin State. En-route stop in Thaton, the former capital of Mon Kingdom, enjoy lunch at a simple local restaurant and explore a network of limestone caves extending through the whole mountain range opening to a picturesque lake. En-route to Hpa An a photo stop at the Lake Kantharyar known for its small island with fascinating limestone rock formation with a pagoda on the top.

Hpa An - Mawlamyine

Start your day with a Myanmar style breakfast in one of the local teashops. Visit the local market and the National Museum of Kayin. Proceed to Shweyinmhyaw Pagoda located on the banks of the Thalwin River. Drive 1½ hr to the port town of Mawlamyine (Moulmine), and check in at a hotel on Strand Road among historic buildings from the colonial era. After lunch drive past rubber plantations to Thanbyuzayat, 70 km (2 hours) south of Mawlamyine, which was the western terminal of the infamous Burma-Siam ‘Death Railway’. Visit a locomotive dating from World War II, a small museum and an Allied War Cemetery, resting-place for over 3,500 Allied POWs (Prisoners of War). Return to Mawlamyine late afternoon.

Mawlamyine - Bilu Island

After breakfast take a trishaw ride through this once thriving port city and colonial post. The sightseeing includes Mahamuni Pagoda, a major temple site in Myanmar; Seindon Mibaya Kyaung, where King Mindon’s queen sought refuge, the first Baptist church and the Zyegyi Market. Before lunch board the bustling ferry, full of villagers laden with goods from the market. After a 1,5 hour ride you will reach Bilu Island, where a true Myanmar experience far away from modern civilisation awaits you. By open pick up truck set off to discover the serene scenery of paddy fields and quaint villages. Enjoy a picnic or lunch box en-route. Visit small wood workshops, where typical Myanmar walking sticks and pens are produced. Return to Mawlamyine late afternoon to enjoy the sunset from Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, known as the Kipling Pagoda.

Mawlamyine - Yangon

After early breakfast, return to Yangon (364 Km – 8 hours). Enjoying passing scenery of rubber plantations and village life. Lunch at a local restaurant en route. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to your hotel.

Note: The region around Hpa An and Mawlamyine is still undeveloped for most aspects of tourism. This is essentially an adventure tour. Interstar will endeavour to obtain the best available accommodation, transport and facilities for guests, but would ask their understanding for any practical aspects which do not come up to expectation, and for delays or changes in itinerary. It is not recommended to travel to this region during the monsoon season (June - September) as heavy floods are common.