Example Itinerary

Road Trip to Golden Rock and Mawlamyine

Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations
Myanmar

Discover the magical sights of Myanmar on our6-day Road Trip to Golden Rock and Mawlamyine itinerary. You’ll start off in bustling Yangon, before continuing your journey through Bago, Kyaikhtiyo, Hpa An, Mawlamyine, and back to Yangon. Along the way, you’ll catch an array of the country’s natural beauty and ancient sites, from fields of fresh fruit, sunsets over revered pagodas, mountains, caves, and more.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: “Golden Rock”, a gold-leafed boulder balancing on the edge of a cliff, is one of the quintessential sights of Myanmar’s Mon State, a Buddhist monument that seems to defy gravity.
  • Kipling’s Kyaikthanlan: It is said the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda of Mawlamyine was the inspiration for the famous poem “Mandalay” by Rudyard Kipling.
  • To Yangon in Style: As travelers finish their road trip on the way back to the old capital of Myanmar, there are stops at Zinkyaik Waterfall and Shwesaryan Pagoda.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Kyaikhtiyo

From  Myanmar’s one-time capital of Yangon you will begin your 50-mile overland journey to Bago. Bago is home to many of Myanmar’s famous pagodas. Visit the Allied War Graves cemetery along the way, a memorial to the British Commonwealth soldiers who died in a battle that took place in the country during WWII. Take in the 180-foot-long reclining Buddha at Shwethalyaung Pagoda - the second-largest Buddha in the world! Continue on to Kyaiktiyo, also known as the “Golden Rock”, a gold-leafed boulder balancing on the edge of a cliff that seems to defy gravity. To get there, you’ll get a lift with a private local truck from Kin Pun base camp half-way up the mountain. From there, you’ll continue walking up the challenging-yet-rewarding paths to the summit. If the challenge is too much, you can kick back in a sedan chair, carried by a group of four porters. Watch as the golden sun sets overtop of Kyaikhtiyo - a magical sight. Overnight at a simple lodge in Kaikhtiyo.

Hotel Options
About

Idyllically situated amid lush tropical vegetation and age-old rocks, the Golden Rock Hotel mixes meditative relaxation with modern comfort and is a mere-45-minute hike from the renowned 2500-year-old Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) Pagoda. Guests stay in individual chalets strategically placed across three acres of wooded terrain on Mount Kyaiktiyo.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Hpa An

After breakfast today, you’ll head to Hpa An, a small city with an eclectic culture and intriguing landscape. You’ll stop at Bayint Nyi and Kawgoon caves, along the way, and marvel at the ancient wall carvings that date back to the 7th-century. Once arrived in Hpa An, get acquainted with the city with a small sightseeing tour, checking out Kyaikalatt, a small rock hill shaped like a wine glass, and Lombumni Garden at the base of Mt. Zawekabin, which houses 1,000 Buddha images. Tonight, you’ll see a second magical sunset, this time over Shweyinmyaw Pagoda.

Hotel Options
About

Set in a lush valley at the foot of Myanmar's Mount Zwe Kabin rests the boutique accommodations of Hpa-An Lodge. With the oversight of two European Managers and a local resident team, guests can enjoy exceptional luxury and service from the resort's 18 individual wooden cottages.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Hpa An
Hpa An

Day 3

Mawlamyine

Today, you’ll check out of your hotel and drive to Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State in Southeastern Myanmar, and the first capital of British Burma.  Along the way, you’ll stop at Katoe Kotnet, a one-time flourishing timber and steamship-fueled township. Once you arrive in Mawlamyine, you’ll check in to your hotel and get settled in. This afternoon, you’ll take in the town, visiting Mahamuni Pagoda - a major pilgrimage site, and Seindon Mibaya Kyaung, marvelling at its hundred-year-old wood carvings. Finally, check out Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, also known as the Kipling Pagoda, due to rumors the site was the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem, Mandalay. Nearby, another spectacular sunset awaits from a viewpoint. Head back to your hotel and relax for the night.

Hotel Options
About

Located on the banks of the Thanlwin River, The Strand is one of Mawlamyine's larger hotels. Within walking distance to the town’s central market, the basic hotel has a total of 64 rooms and suites with air conditioning, en-suite bathrooms, satellite TV, hot and cold showers and WiFi.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Mawlamyine

You’re back on the road today, this time, to a small town called Mudon. Here, discover nature and spirituality at its best, with fertile plains sprouting fresh fruits and rubber trees, as well as the Pa Auk Forest Monastery, nestled, as the name implies, in a forest near the village. The monastery is known for its unique meditation methods. This afternoon, you’ll return to Mawlamyine, and visit the Mon State National Museum, and get a large dose of the local culture. Spend your evening at leisure, either at your hotel, or perusing the local town after dusk.

Mawlamyine
Mawlamyine

Day 5

Yangon

For your final full day of your Myanmar journey, start off with a visit to the local Zegyi market, Mawlamyine’s oldest and most important market. Thereafter, you’ll depart Mawlamyine, and head for Yangon. You’ll stop at Zinkyaik Waterfall and Shwesaryan Pagoda to stretch your legs and take in some more natural beauty and culture. Tonight, you’ll spend one more night at a hotel in Yangon.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Set in a historic 1920s colonial mansion in the sought-after Embassy Quarter of Yangon

Pool: Large fan-shaped swimming pool framed by lush tropical gardens and a lotus pond

Decor: Rooms and suites are adorned with traditional Burmese teak furniture and hand-woven Southeast Asian fabrics

Bathrooms: En-suite bathrooms have large sunken bathtubs and indulgent toiletries

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Governor's Residence Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

A Cultural Stronghold: With its stately, British-inspired architecture, glittering Buddhist pagodas, colorful markets, parks, lakes, and long riverfront, Yangon is a vibrant cityscape that’s ripe for exploration. Rosewood Yangon is an ideal starting point for those looking to tour the nearby markets, art galleries, bars, restaurants and historic sites.

Wellness at Your Fingertips: Sense: the Rosewood Spa, is second-to-none in the city of Yangon when it comes to its menu of massages paired with natural ingredients and several locally-inspired healing treatments. A private hair salon is also on site.

A Refined Sense of Aesthetics: Living spaces and facilities at Rosewood Yangon are well-appointed with touches like lavish furnishings, hardwood floors, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Stimulating contemporary art pieces adorn the walls alongside tasteful glass shelving units.

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Rosewood Yangon Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Strand is located on the Yangon River in the heart of the shopping and diplomatic district of the city

History: Built in 1901, The Strand is Myanmar's most famous hotel, patronized by prominent 20th century figures.

Service: Butlers work 24/7 to ensure guests have everything they need.

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The Strand Preferred Hotel
Yangon
Yangon

Day 6

Departure

Relax this morning before your private transfer to the airport for your flight onward.

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