Wondering what to do on long weekends? Make the most of Myanmar with this three-day wellness itinerary. By Ameesha Raizada
Yangon
Here, Colonial heritage and Buddhist culture come together to create a unique architectural setting. Experience the city through nature parks, Buddhist relics and Burmese cuisine. Hire a cab from your hotel.
Day 1
Travel
Take a Thai Airways connecting flight to Yangon at 3.30am from New Delhi. The only direct flight to Yangon is from Kolkata with Myanmar Airways at 6.30pm.
Hotel Check-in (16kms)
Unwind at Pan Pacific Yangon and rest in a luxurious setting, while enjoying stunning views of the cityscape and Shwedagon Pagoda.
Breakfast
After resting for a while, walk down to Saan Restaurant (at the hotel); try the multigrain crab rice on a fluffy snow egg.
Shwedagon Pagoda (3kms)
Visit the 2,500-year-old meditation spot, also known as The Great Dragon Pagoda, believed to enshrine strands of Buddha’s hair.
Lunch (5kms)
Set in a restored Colonial building, Monsoon Restaurant is an urban eatery. Try the nga phe hin, a fish cake cooked in a flavourful tomato gravy.
Bogyoke Aung San Market (3kms)
Visit this market for everything from antiques and Burmese handicraft to jewellery and clothes. Look out for nàn-gyì thouq, a cold rice-noodle salad, and avocado shakes, which are sold in streetside stalls.
Dinner (2kms)
Head to Gekkõ in downtown Rangoon. Try their hibachi salmon dish and miso soup.
Day 2
Breakfast (2kms)
Start your day with a delicious breakfast buffet at Shan Yoe Yar; try a bowl of classic Shan noodles.
Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple (7kms)
Observe the intricate detailing on the 66-metre-long reclining Buddha draped with golden robes at this temple.
Lunch (2kms)
For lunch, you can go to Min Lan Seafood Restaurant that serves mouthwatering oyster shashimi, prepared Rakhine-style.
Spa (6kms)
Relax at St. Gregory Spa and Wellness Centre at the hotel with a ‘Traditional Myanmar Therapy’ that improves blood circulation.
Kandawgyi Lake (4kms)
Watch the sun set over Kandawgyi Lake with the golden hued Shwedagon Pagoda glistening in the backdrop.
Dinner (4kms)
Feast on authentic Cantonese cuisine at the Oriental Hai Tien Lo restaurant at the hotel; try the chilled mango sago cream.
Day 3
Travel (16kms)
Take the 10.25am Singapore Airlines flight to New Delhi. If you take the 4.40pm non-stop Myanmar Airways flight to Kolkata, visit Sule Pagoda (1km) in the morning.
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