13 days
The Golden Four
Yangon · Bagan · Mandalay · Inle Lake
See the routeMarkets, temples & the river
Mystical Myanmar
Duration
9 days
Regions
3 areas
Pace
Balanced
Style
Culture & spirituality
About this journey
From colourful local markets to mystical temple-strewn plains, this short yet action-packed itinerary has it all.
Beginning in Mandalay and drifting down the Irrawaddy to Bagan before climbing to Inle Lake, it's an ideal core trip — and one that links easily to our other journeys if you have more time.
Trip highlights
- Sunset over U Bein bridge by private boat
- An overnight Paukan cruise down the Irrawaddy
- Ballooning above the temples of Bagan
- A day trip to little-visited Salin and Salay
- Intha fishermen and floating gardens on Inle Lake
Day by day
A sketch of the route.
A suggested flow rather than a fixed schedule — every day can be lengthened, swapped or skipped to suit you.
- Day1
Mandalay
Markets & the teak bridge
Visit the Thaye Zay station bazaar — a pop-up market interrupted by passing freight trains — explore Shwenandaw Monastery by trishaw, and watch sunset from U Bein bridge by private boat.
- Day2
Mandalay
Mingun & Sagaing
A river journey to Mingun for its pagoda ruins and great bronze bell, then the sacred hills of Sagaing and the Soon U Ponya Shin pagoda.
- Day3
Mandalay → Bagan
Down the Irrawaddy
An overnight Paukan cruise carries you downriver to Bagan (Thursday departures; not available in June).
- Day4
Bagan
Hidden temples
Explore lesser-known temples by horse-drawn cart, ending with a sunset boat journey along the Irrawaddy.
- Day5
Bagan
Bagan from above
A dawn balloon flight with Oriental Ballooning, then the landmark temples of Ananda, Shwesandaw and Shwezigon.
- Day6
Bagan
The road to Salin
A 90km journey to Salin — Chauk market, the Anawrahta Bridge, the Ta Nyaung blacksmith village, U Ottama and Salay Yokson monasteries, a war cemetery and the reedy Wetthe Lake.
- Day7
Bagan → Inle Lake
Up to the lake
Stop at Shwe Yan Pyay monastery and the Red Mountain Estate vineyard for a tasting with lake views.
- Day8
Inle Lake
On the water
A private boat tour of Intha fishermen, floating gardens, weaving villages and workshops — with optional bike exploration in the afternoon.
- Day9
Inle Lake
Departure
Fly home via Mandalay or Yangon.
Start the conversation
Let’s design your Myanmar.
Tell us how you like to travel and one of our Yangon-based specialists will reply within two working days — with ideas, not a hard sell.