14-Day Myanmar Photography Tour

Upon arrival in Yangon, meet with your private photography tour guide and transfer. Go to lunch on the way to downtown Yangon. After check-in, you will have the afternoon to recover from jetlag.
However, if you feel active enough, your tour guide will take you around the city.
Your hotel in Yangon, Sedona Hotel Yangon, has a great location: only 10 minutes of walking to the Inya Lake which will make for a relaxing evening walk. Sunset is always a good time for photos at Shwedagon Pagoda, why not go for a warm-up tonight?

Purple sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda

Begin the day with a precious chance to engage with local daily life. It is made possible by a 1-hour Yangon Circular Train Ride, starting from the Main Station at 0900am.
Train is the most economic transportation means and you will see a lot of commuters in their daily fashion, carrying goods to the market, kids on the way to school and local businessmen talking on phones. Set your camera at quick shoot and capture the liveliness. We will stop at a local market, walk through lines of stalls and get back to your private transfer.
You will need to bring a wide-angle lens for the next stop at Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda. A gigantic reclining buddha image stretches more than 200 feet and truly jaw-drawing. Go to lunch at a local restaurant.
Take an evening walk along the busiest streets of Chinatown, another great opportunity to capture local people in their natural status.

Young kids playing in the street of Yangon

This morning, you will take a car ride to Kyaiktiyo, where the sublime Golden Rock is located. Driving will take about 4 hours with a few stops en route.
Legend has it that it is by magic power of the Lord Buddha that the giant rock is perfectly perched at its summit. Your private tour guide will help you find an ideal spot for photo shooting. After you get enough thrills, return to your hotel at the top of the mountain with an amazing view of the rock at night.

Lion Rock in Sigiriya with imposing view

Local monks and believers across the country take the Golden Rock as a primary location for their pursue of peacefulness and endowments. That's why you may encounter a lot of locals meditating in early morning even before the sunrise. Don't miss out this chance for photos!
After an early morning, you will return to hotel for breakfast before getting back to Yangon.
Enjoy a free afternoon roaming the city.

Cute young nuns in pink robes in Yangon

Get on an early flight to Mandalay. Go to lunch upon arrival.
Once you are settled, your tour guide will take you to the fascinating site of Kuthodaw Pagoda and the Largest Book in the World. With the best shooting hours between 0500pm - 0700pm, this massive site introduces you to perfect sense of symmetry and contrast of colors. Get onto the top of Mandalay Hill by elevator before sunset. Set your camera at the ready for a breath-taking sunset view.

Get a bird-eye view of Kuthodaw Pagoda from Mandalay Hill

We will have a late start today yet you will be just in time for lunch event at Mahagandayon Monastery. Lunch is the last meal of the day for monks and they will gather for food dispatching in the yard of the monastery and eat in the dining hall. Although travelers have no access to the dining hall, your tour guide will find you a nice spot for photos.
Go for lunch before proceeding to Hsinbyume Pagoda, we arrange some novices to pose for you with a white background o the pagoda if time allows. Later, go for shooting of the famous U Bein Bridge. You will firstly shoot onland at the foot of the bridge or on a small islet and then enjoy a relaxing boat ride with drinks.

Young novices walking in line to Mahagandayon Monastery during lunch hour

Rise up early today and you are going to a sacred ceremony commencing at 0400am in Mahamuni Pagoda. The famous face-washing ritual is held by a senior abbot who cleanses the face of the Buddha image with fresh towel, applies sandalwood paste and then washing it up again. The whole ritual takes about an hour, providing a great outlook at local practice of their religion.
Return to hotel for breakfast and fly to Bagan. Check in and have some leisure time in Bagan.

A host monk is cleansing the face of the Buddha image at Mahamuni Pagoda

You will have a brief visit at Bagan Archeaological Museum, which offers you a rough understanding of Bagan's history and some famous pagodas.
Have two full days taking photos of the famous World Heritage Site, Bagan Archaeological Zone is simply astonishing with its over 2,200 ruins scattering on the vast plain of Bagan. There used to be more than 10,000 in its day of prime and most are of 10 centuries old. Some are large and tall while others are hidden among the grass and hard to spot out.
During the hot day, we will hire some young novices and villagers to be your models. You may go inside a cave or a temple for photo-taking.

Amazing view of pagodas dotting Bagan

Get up early for a photo opportunity of hot air balloons flying up the plain of Bagan. Your guide will take you to an observation location for good photos. Simple snacks will be packed for the trip and you will return to hotel for breakfast before flying to Inle Lake.
Check in your resort and have the rest of today free at leisure.

Hot air balloon flying over Bagan

Take a short boat ride to Nyuangshwe before we drive to Kakku (approximately 1 hour overland) with an interesting stop at Nampan Village.
Kakku used to be off the tourist map due to restriction and only a mere trickle of travelers made their way ardously for the stunning scene at Kakku Pagoda Complex.
Thousands of pagodas sprawl over the vast land. The origin of the complex is said to be from the 3rd century BC when the Indian emperor Ashoka brought in Buddhist missionaries to ancient Burma. The build of these stupas is written in record as the prevailing architectural style of that very period. Make your time worthy here with plenty photo opportunities. On the way back to Inle Lake, you will also visit Indein Pagoda Complex. In comparsion to Kakku, Indein outmatches in size and would also be great for sunset photos.

Springing stupas in Kakku Pagoda Complex

Ever wonder how the villagers living in the floating houses get their daily suppliers? Today you will check out the 5-Day Market of the lake.
A 5-day rotation of hosting market is kept for ages by the major villages around Inle Lake, namely Nyaung Shwe, Heho, Indein, Taunggyi, Mine Thauk and Shwe Nyaung. Flat-bottomed boats squash the canel at the dork and vendors yell to sell their home-grew products and beautiful handicrafts.
Your journey goes on after a lunch in a floating restaurant, next stop is Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the most worshipped shrine of the lake. During festivals, four Buddha images will be carried by boat on a river parade over the lake.
As your boat gets into some smaller waterways, you will have a chance to spot those legendary fishermen who row their flat-bottomed boats with only one leg. Learn about how the locals grow tomoatoes, lentils and other vegetables in the floating gardens. We will arrange some local fishermen to pose before your camera.

Find a perfect angle to capture his pose

Enjoy a free day in Inle Lake. You will have a boat at disposal in case you want to get more photos.

Peaceful life in Inle Lake

After breakfast, fly to Yangon and connect with your onward flight back home.