Spiritual Mount Popa & Ancient Salay

Spiritual Mount Popa & Ancient Salay

Duration: Full day Tour

Pick Up:          8:30am @ your hotel

Drop Off:        3:00pm @ your hotel

Your excursion to Mount Popa and Salay begins after breakfast, when your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel.

Begin with a drive south, parallel to the Irrawaddy River, en route to Salay. After one hour we'll make a stop in Chauk which has a colorful morning market to explore. Few tourists visit this market and it is a great place for local interaction and photos.

Continue to Salay (30 minutes) an important center of Buddhism in Myanmar with many active monasteries. Salay, many years ago, created its own unique style of Bagan-era architecture. While visiting Salay you will learn more about monastic life, Burmese Buddhism and this unique architectural style as you visit several sights including Salay is Yoke Sone Kyaung monastery, one of the oldest wooden halls in the area.

We then head east toward Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. Arriving at midday, we'll first go to Popa Mountain Resort for lunch with fabulous views over the surrounding area.

Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. Learn about nats and nat worship as you climb the stairs to the top with your local guide.  The view over the Myingyan Plain from the top of the volcanic peak is impressive (and the climb is optional!).

Transfer back to Bagan late this afternoon.