This excursion during 10 days in Cambodia and Myanmar will let you explore the exotic main sights in both of these two countries. The great historical sites, stunning architecture and the largest number of colonial buildings, ancient temple ruins… makes your trip unforgettable
This short trip takes you to Cambodia first where you will discover the creative expression through art in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Many temples built as early as the first millennium waiting for your detection. Some of them have been left intact and are now involved in the forest, others are carefully preserved as magnificent shows of the past of Cambodia.
Continuing to Myanmar – a developing-tourism country to feast your eyes into the most surprising places in Yangon and Myanmar. Being a largest city of Myanmar, Yangon also has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia. Bagan attracts tourists by its spectacular plain dotted with thousand of ancient temple ruins
We are really happy with the way our travel plans worked out - everything went smoothly, we experienced a lot and were able to ask for advice whenever we needed it.
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide
Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival (G)
Transfer from Phnom Penh International Airport to the hotel.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art – notably sculptures – throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh’s namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh during sunset. Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Day 2: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport and departure by Siem Reap Airways International or similar to Siem Reap. Arrive at Siem Reap International Airport and transfer to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).
Visit the Roluos Group. The monuments of Roluos, which served as the capital of Indravarman I (reigned 877-89), are among the earliest large, permanent temples built by the Khmers and mark the beginning of Khmer classical art. Preah Ko erected by Indravarman I in the late 9th century dedicated by the King to his ancestors in 880. Bakong the largest and most interesting of the Roluos group temples, with his active Buddhist monastery just to the north of the east entrance. Lolei built on an islet in the center of a large reservoir (now rice fields) by Yasovarman I, the founder to the first city at Angkor.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, continue your temple tour to the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang (“The Royal Baths” was once used for ritual bathing), Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Eastern Mebon, (guarded at its corner by stone figures of harnessed elephants, some of which are still in a reasonable state of preservation) and the mountain-temple of Pre Rup until sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 3: Siem Reap (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning, visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor: Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat’s five towers symbolize Meru’s five peaks – the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk), the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century), Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 4: Siem Reap (B, L, G)
Breakfast at hotel,
Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60Kms from Siem Reap). There is a lot to see in the approximately 2? hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th C), strangled by the jungle. Lunch box will be provided at the site
Proceed to the Banteay Srei temple (10th century) regarded as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer art. Then visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of “anastylosis”. The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple. Drive back to Siem Reap. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 5: Siem Reap (B, L, G)
Early bird special:
Transfer to the archaeological site for the sunrise from the Phnom Bakheng, one of two hills dominating the plain of Angkor, from where you will have a spectacular view of the Western Baray and Angkor Wat: Access is steep and may be slippery especially after rains. Not recommended for elderly people. Or sunrise at Srah Srang
Return to the hotel for breakfast.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Take a boat trip in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon, visit Preah Khan. Built by King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder-hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, though, it’s well preserved and ongoing restoration efforts should improve this situation. Visit as well Neak Pean a fountain built in the middle of a pool and the temple of Ta Som. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Day 6: Siem Reap/Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)
Your time will be your own until the driver and guide come and take you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok to connect your flight to Yangon.
On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. You’ll spend the night in Yangon.
Day 7: Yangon city tour (B, L, G)
Have breakfast in the hotel. Embark on a walk from Sule Pagoda to City Hall building, from where you will enjoy the British buildings of Emmanuel Church, Inland Water Transport. Following, you will encounter the exotic food stalls and local markets of Yangon. Finish your walk with a shopping time in Scott market.
In the afternoon, you will have time to discover , Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, the biggest reclining Buddha statue in Myanmar. Followed by a stroll to Shwedagon pagoda, the most prominent Buddha monument with highest tower made of gold and diamonds, shining to the sky of Yangon
Day 8: Yangon/Bagan (B, L, G)
A short flight gets us to Bagan with its spectacular plain dotted with thousands of ancient temple ruins. Although human habitation in Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD. Our tour includes Ananda Pahto, one of the finest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples thought to have been built around 1105, and the Shwegugyi temple, built in 1311. We also visit Thatbyinnyu Pahto, Nathlaung Kyaung, Bagan’s only Hindu Vaishnavite temple, and the Pahtothamya. Gawdawpalin Pahto, one of the largest and most imposing of the Bagan temples. Bupaya is a cylindrical Pyu-style stupa said to be the oldest in Bagan; local residents claim it dates to the 3rd century. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 9: Bagan (B, L, G)
Our excursion to Mount Popa, gives us an interesting picture of life in the countryside. We also visit Salay famous as the historic home of Salay U Ponya, a Bagan Era writer/poet. We go to many interesting sites including Payathonzu, an interconnected complex of three brick shrines; Thadanayaunggyi Kyaung, an ancient monastery in continuous use for several centuries, and Mogok Vipassan Yeiktha, a meditation center. We will also have the opportunity to see Nan Paya, home to a large lacquer Buddha dating back to the 13th century, and an old brick and stucco Buddhist scripture library. We finish the day with a visit to Youqson Kyaung, the oldest surviving wooden monastery hall in the Bagan area. Overnight in Bagan.
Day 10: Bagan/Yangon departure (B, G)
Having breakfast at your hotel. Free at leisure until transfer to the airport for your flight back to Yangon to connect with your departure flight.
Price includes:
Price does not include:
Hotel list for Five Star standard:
Hotel list for Four Star standard:
Hotel list for Three Star standard:
If, at the time of booking, any hotels or rooms in the list above are fully booked, we will endeavour to find accommodation of a similar standard elsewhere. If the only available accommodation is of a higher or lower standard, we will revise the price accordingly and consult you immediately.
