Upon arrival at Mandalay Airport you will be greeted by your guide, who will accompany you as you transfer to your hotel.

After a chance to freshen up and relax after your flight, you will be taken out into town for a guided introduction to this fascinating former capital. The afternoon's highlights will include the Mahamuni Pagoda, and you will conclude the tour atop Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set over the great Irrawaddy River.

For the early riser, a pre-dawn visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda to see the daily cleansing of the Buddha is a great option on day two. After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart with your local guide for a day of sightseeing in the former capitals of Ava, Sagaing, and Amarapura.

Amarapura, the “City of Immortality”, is the first stop on your list. Here you can stroll across U Bein Bridge, a 200-year-old teak bridge where the beautiful surroundings and passing monks conspire to create a photographer's paradise. Further south is the city of Ava, capital from the 14th to 18th centuries, where you'll jump on a ferry and cross the river.

After exploring the site by horse and carriage and enjoying lunch at a local restaurant, you'll cross the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing, one of the nation's most sacred sites. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centres. After exploring the complex, drop in to a local market before heading back to Mandalay.

Overnight: Bagan King Hotel

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Bagan (Nyaung Oo).

On arrival, your journey begins with a guided visit to an elevated temple from where you will have a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan. For many, this one of the most impressive sights in Asia – if not the world. Continue with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction to Bagan's rich history.

This afternoon you'll pay a visit to a traditional lacquerware workshop, where you can observe the production of one of Burma's best-known handicrafts. Following this, continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan's most beautiful temples. Built in the early Mon style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed.

From Ananda, you will embark on a guided tour by horse and cart, taking in Thatbyinnyu Temple, the highest temple in Bagan; Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork; and Sulamani Temple. The day concludes with an unforgettable sunset over the plains, viewed from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

The morning of day four is free for you to relax at your hotel or set out to explore more of Bagan's fascinating temples and pagodas. This afternoon, we recommend continuing to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan's least visited areas. Here you will have the chance to explore temples such as Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya before heading to the riverside pier, where you can board a local boat for a slow cruise down the Irrawaddy River.

Overnight: Bagan Thande Hotel

A short flight this morning brings you to Heho Airport, a scenic one-hour drive from Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake.

Upon reaching the edges of Inle Lake, you'll board a private longtail boat to head out on to the water in one of Burma's most glorious destinations. Your boat trip will take you to visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's main sanctuary, and give you the chance to explore the local crafts, including a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a visit to a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages with your guide.

After breakfast on day six, your guide will take you on a visit to the lake's morning market. The market moves from village to village around the lake in a five-day rota, and is a commercial hub for lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares.

Following this, continue by boat down a small canal leading to the Pa-O village of In Dein. Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school, and wandering through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Here you can climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill for magnificent views of golden stupas and the lake below. Stroll through local villages as you make your way back to your boat, and continue along the lake for additional sightseeing before returning to your hotel this afternoon.

Overnight: Hotel Amazing Nyaung Shwe

After breakfast, transfer to Heho Airport for your flight to Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon.

An afternoon of guided exploration will take you to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 70-metre-long reclining Buddha, as well as a welcome stop at a local tea shop. After a stroll through Kandawgyi Park, your tour concludes at the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda: the most revered Buddhist temple in Burma.

Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, local legend states that the original structure was built 2,500 years ago and renovated many times over the centuries before achieving its current shape in the 15th century. In the evening the local people come to pray and socialise with friends and family, making this a perfect location to understand more about the Burmese people and their unique culture.

On the morning of day eight you will transfer to Yangon Railways Station to take a ride through Yangon's suburbs, mingling with the locals and seeing daily life from a different perspective. Returning to the city centre your guide will lead you through streets dating back to the colonial era.

Starting at the post office, a lovely historic building, walk to Sule Paya in the middle of downtown, passing by the iconic Strand Hotel (popping in for tea if the mood takes you), Mahabandoola Garden and the Independence Monument along the way. Passing through Little India and Chinatown, a colourful cacophony of restaurants, temples and markets, you will arrive at Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott's Market, where you will have time to browse through the dozens of stalls and shops to pick up a few last souvenirs. The remainder of your final day will be free to enjoy at your leisure.

Sadly your trip comes to an end on day nine, and your guide will collect you at a pre-arranged time this morning for the short transfer back to Yangon Mingaladon International Airport for your onward flight. For those with a little more time, your trip can easily be extended with a few days of relaxation at one of the idyllic beach resorts on the Bay of Bengal, or a short stopover in exciting Bangkok.

Overnight: Best Western Green Hill