Our itinerary . . .
But first things first! We suggest that you set your camera's clock to the
local time, as your images will then synchronize with the times in our included
photo tour
field notes.
*Pre-tour night
Please arrive by January 15th as your accommodation for this pre-tour night
is included in the tour cost. Please note that meals prior to January the
16th are not included.
January 16th | Day 1
| Yangon, Monasteries and the Shwedagon Pagoda
Our Myanmar
photography tour will get under way at 9:30 a.m. following breakfast, and with
our local guide we'll take a riding and walking tour of Yangon which will
include Chinatown, jammed with unique stalls and goods; the colorful jetty on
the riverfront; high tea at the iconic Strand Hotel; several old Rangoon
monasteries and the most revered site in Myanmar, the Shwedagon Pagoda at
sunset.
Yangon, 1 night
Day 2 | Mandalay
We'll take a flight to Mandalay this morning, and following hotel check-in the
day will include Mandalay’s most impressive Pagodas; a panoramic overview of the
Irrawaddy River from Sagaing Hill; a charity school where the nuns and novice
monks will steal your hearts; pottery and silver smith workshops, and the
Kuthodaw monastery.
Mandalay, 3 nights
Day 3 | Zeygo, Mingun
and the U Bein bridge
Photo opportunities abound during the early light at Zeygo Jetty as the Mandalay
folk go about their business. Then meet and photograph the locals followed by a
relaxing river cruise to Mingun. There you can point a camera at what might have
been the largest Temple in the world had it not been damaged by an earthquake .
. . and subsequently not completed. There is much to be photographed here such
as the beautiful Myatheindan Pagoda with novices skipping on the 7 terraced
white stone; many monasteries and nunneries with activities within; local
artists; and one-on-one time with entrepreneurial teens who will instruct, guide
and carry your gear for a few coins. The afternoon will include a stop to learn
about gold leaf making, and python skin leather crafting. On to U Bein bridge
for a rowing boat excursion to capture the locals returning home . . .
silhouetted against the setting sun.
Day 4 | Mahamuni Pagoda,
Amarapura and the Mahagandayone Monastery
Early light in the vicinity of our hotel, then our day will include the Mahamuni
Pagoda; the village of Amarapura where sculptors carve the renowned white
Mandalay marble; Buddhas and Mahagandayone Monastery where hundreds of monks
will walk in procession for their noon meal. The day will conclude with sunset
on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.
Day 5 | Mandalay, Bagan
and Pagodas
Sunrise Shoot at a monastery, followed by a visit to a local market prior to
heading in the direction of Bagan. The day will be punctuated with stops for
petrified wood carving, and farmers at work in the paddy fields et cetera. After
check-in, we'll begin exploration of this mystical land complete with a
multitude of pagodas in the evening light; goat herders with their flocks;
friendly local faces; sunset and dinner under gorgeous old Acacia trees in which
owls nest.
Old Bagan, 4 nights
Day 6 | Temples, Pagodas
and Myanmar village life
Shwezigone Pagoda and Htilominlo Temple; learn the process of lacquerware making
in the old tradition and purchase treasures to take back home; Myingaba Village
to visit the Manuha Reclining Buddha, experience village life and view sunset
from a temple vantage point.
Day 7 | Pagodas and
villages
First light photography at a temple near our hotel. After breakfast we'll head
for Khay Min Gha Temple with stops along the way to photograph field workers;
Dhammayangyi, the most massive temple of Bagan; Sulamuni and Ananda Temples;
Minanthu village and Dhamma Yazika Pagoda; plus another great sunset.
Day 8 | Mount Popa, and
Rhesus Macaque monkeys
Morning travel to Mt. Popa where the adventurous can climb the 777 steps to the
top, others can shop their way partially to the top or none of you may get very
far because the antics of the hundreds of Rhesus Macaque monkeys who live there
will be calling you to photograph them. After lunch at the beautiful Mt Popa
resort, we'll take a different road back to Bagan with multiple stops for
wonderfully serendipitous photo opportunities.
Day 9 | Green Hill
Valley Elephant Camp
We'll take our time heading east while pausing to shoot the friendly field
workers as we go. In the early afternoon we'll photograph inside the Green Hill
Valley Elephant Camp where you'll be able to interact at close quarters -
bathing and feeding! - with the collection of 'retired' Elephants. On to Kalaw
for one night.
Kalaw, 1 night
Day 10 | Pone Taloke
Lake, Pindaya, and the Intha 'leg rowers'
After breakfast we'll head for Pindaya in scenic Shan State with its red soil,
colorful fields and farmers plowing and harvesting with bullocks. Pindaya is a
small town of the Pa'O tribe, and after photographing on the shores of Pone
Taloke Lake we'll take a walk through a forest of ancient Banyan trees and Sin
Gaung Village. Here you can visit the villagers’ houses to see and photograph
their traditional paper and bamboo umbrella making. In the afternoon we'll board
boats for the trip south down Inle Lake. We'll check-in to our bamboo huts on
stilts, and close the day with an evening photo shoot of Intha 'leg rowers' out
on Inle Lake.
Inle Lake, 3 nights
Day 11 | Inle Lake,
Padaung women, cigar making, and the Ngaphe Chaung Monastery
Our full day on and around Inle Lake will include an early morning photo shoot
of leg rowers, then the remainder of the day will be taken up with Phaung Dow Oo
village market day; Padaung women; cigar making; black-smithing; silk and lotus
weaving ‘factories’, plus the Ngaphe Chaung Monastery.
Day 12 | Inle Lake,
Innthein village market day and life on the water
Full day on Inle Lake. Innthein Village Market day; Shan style Stupas; a village
and life on the water. Dinner tonight will feature an 'It's
You!' presentation of clients in action on this tour by John.
January 28th | Day 13
| A return to Yangon for evening departures
We’ll take a boat back to Nyaung Shwe this morning, then a flight back to Yangon
to connect your flight home.
January 15th to January 28th 2026
10 places are available at this time: Enrollment for this trip closes on 4
months prior to the tour start date
Indicates that we have sufficient enrollments and the trip is a 'go'
Included in the Trip Cost: The following items are included in the trip cost
. . .
Not Included in the Trip Cost: The costs for these items are the
responsibility of each participant . . .
