Welcome to Burma! Your adventure begins in Yangon, famous for the golden, glittering Shwedagon Pagoda.

On arrival at Yangon Airport you will be met by your guide and transfer to your hotel by private car. After a little time to relax and freshen up, your local guide will lead you on a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda – the symbol of the city and the most revered Buddhist site in a profoundly religious country. The pagoda itself is 99 metres (325 feet) tall, covered in gold leaf, and surrounded by 64 smaller stupas.

On day two you will enjoy a guided tour of the city, with a focus on its British colonial heritage. You'll begin in downtown Yangon, an area dense with religious landmarks and colonial buildings, where highlights will include City Hall, the old railway station, and the former minister's office where General Aung San was assassinated.

After a break for lunch, the tour will continue to Bogyoke Market, packed with interesting handicrafts and other local goods, before hopping on the train for the slow journey through the outskirts of town. This 20-30 minute trip will give you a great opportunity to observe day-to-day life as it trundles slowly past your window, while the ride is sure to be especially enjoyable for young children. You'll disembark to visit the Kyi Myin Daing market before returning by road to central Yangon.

On day three you will leave Yangon and take the ferry across the river to Dhala, a small and undeveloped town strikingly different to the neighbouring city. Upon reaching the town, you'll take a trishaw ride through the town (again, this is sure to delight younger children in particular!) before heading to a nearby monastery to learn about the lives of Burma's Buddhist monks.

In the afternoon you'll return to Yangon for a free afternoon in the city.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel

Fly across country to Bagan, a landscape studded with over two thousand ancient stupas from the days of the Pagan Kingdom.

After an early breakfast at your hotel, your guide will accompany you by private car to Yangon Airport for the flight to Nyaung U, the gateway to Bagan. After landing, you'll be met by another local guide who will take you on a visit to the local market, where you can have fun souvenir-hunting and trying the interesting fruits and snacks. You might also like to stop in at a local teahouse – a hub of life in modern Burma – before continuing on to the Plains of Bagan.

Bagan was once the centre of the Kingdom of Pagan, which was one of the great empires of Southeast Asia during the golden age of the 12th and 13th centuries. At the empire's height, over 10,000 Buddhist temples lay scattered over this region as far as the eye could see – and today there are over 2,000 remaining.

This afternoon your guided tour will continue with a visit to a traditional lacquerware workshop, where you can watch the masters at work as they apply layer upon layer of lacquer to bowls, pots and vases. From here you'll head to Ananda Temple, one of the best-known in Bagan, to begin your exploration of the area's multitude of architectural masterpieces. At the end of the afternoon, you'll ascend the steps to the upper terrace of one of the local temples and watch the spectacular sunset over the plains.

On day five, your guide will meet you at your hotel and lead you on a cycling tour through the plains of Bagan. Starting early in the day to make the most of the cooler morning hours, the cycle times and distances can easily be adjusted according to your fitness levels and the ages of your children. This is a fantastic way to learn about and appreciate the architecture of ancient Burma while having fun and letting off steam. Following your cycling tour, the rest of the day will be free for you to relax or continue exploring.

On the morning of day six, prepare for one of the highlights of your trip: a hot air balloon trip over the plains. If you thought the temples of Bagan were amazing from the ground – when viewed from above, in early morning light, they are one of the most bewitching sights in Asia. The pre-dawn start adds an element of excitement, and floating silently over the sparkling Irrawaddy and glowing stupas is an experience that you and your family won't soon forget.

This afternoon you'll board a local boat for a slow cruise along the Irrawaddy River – the perfect conclusion to your time in Bagan.

Overnight: Hotel at Tharabar Gate

Conclude your trip with a few days of relaxation on Ngapali Beach.

After your exciting adventures in Yangon and Bagan, you may well feel in need of a little rest and relaxation – and Ngapali is the perfect place to get it. With three kilometres of white beach lined with coconut palms, this undeveloped area has all the natural beauty of beaches in neighbouring Thailand without the incessant crowds, and the warm waters are perfect for water sports and snorkelling.

On day seven, you'll have breakfast at your hotel in Bagan before being driven back to Nyaung U Airport for your flight to Thandwe. On arrival at Thandwe, you'll be greeted by your local guide, who will accompany you for the 20-minute drive to your accommodation on Ngapali Beach.

The rest of days seven and eight will be yours to spend as you please in Ngapali. Whether you'd like to lounge on the beach while your kids play in the surf, head out on a boat trip or rent bicycles to explore the local area, your needs will be well catered for.

On day nine, we've arranged a guided visit to Maung Shwe Lay, a traditional fishing village where the locals live off the land and sea, between white-sand beach and verdant jungle. Your local guide will introduce you to a local house, where you'll have a drink of coconut water, and give you an introduction to the area before allowing you to explore under your own steam. Lunch will be home-cooked fresh seafood with rice and noodles before you board a boat for your return to Ngapali.

On day ten you will have another day of leisure to enjoy your beautiful beachside surroundings before your family adventure comes to an end. On day 11, after a leisurely morning, you will be collected from your hotel for the transfer to Thandwe Airport, from where you'll return to Yangon for your flight home.

Overnight: Amazing Ngapali Resort