Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam tour 26 days

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide

Day 1: Yangon arrival (G)

Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off you luggage. If you arrived by mid day flight, we may proceed for lunch. After lunch, a walk through “downtown” Yangon, a diverse mix of faded colonial architecture from the British times, and high-rises built by more recent investors; Sule Pagoda, built in the early 3rd century is a landmark in the city centre.

Late afternoon visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 2: Yangon/Bagan (B, G)

This morning we head for the airport to get the early morning flight to Bagan. Check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple.

In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Day 3: Bagan/Mandalay (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Nyaun U airport for flight to Mandalay. When you arrive at Mandalay airport, drive to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. Proceed to Mandalay and check in at the hotel.

After refreshment, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image. Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar and that make her to be the best place to see all the traditional arts and crafts. Start visiting gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. Continue visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Day 4: Mandalay/Heho/Inle Lake (B, G)

After breakfast, depart the hotel for flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Transfer by road to Inle Lake and transfer to our hotel by long tail boat across the lake. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 5: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon (B, G)

We are heading back down country today to return to the airport at Heho for our flight to Yangon. Our route takes us back to Heho and down the escarpment to Nyaung-Shwe for a busy local market. Check in at airport and fly back to Yangon. Upon arrival, check in at hotel.

In the afternoon, we plan to visit by car to Karaweik, a royal barge for fantastic photo shot along the “pilgrims” causeway across the Royal Lake with stunning views of Schwedagon Pagoda and visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) for souvenir shopping. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

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ay 6: Yangon/Bangkok (B, G)

After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for flight to Bangkok. On arrival, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. The rest of day will be your own. You will spend the night at hotel in Bangkok.

Day 7: Bangkok/Ayuthaya/Lopburi/Pitsanulok (B, L, G)

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be picked up to Bang Pa In for a scenic boat trip to Ayutthaya. You’ll visit Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol and the ancient ruins of Wat Chai Wattanaram. Then, you continue to visit Lopburi, where we will take you around the city in pedaled rickshaws. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue to Phitsanulok. You will spend the night in Phitsanulok.

Day 8: Pitsanhulok/Sukhothai/Lampang (B, L, G)

In the morning, you will visit Wat Maha That and its highly revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Then, the car will take you to Sukhothai, where you will visit the ancient ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park and Wat Si Chum with it’s gigantic Buddha statue. Continue to Sri Satchanalai for lunch. Upon arrival in Lampang, we will take you on a tour of the old city on horse carriages. You will also visit Baan Sao Nak, a 100-year old teak-wood mansion, and Wat Don Tao. You will overnight in Lampang.

Day 9: Lampang/Phayao/Chang Rai (B, L, G)

After a brief visit to the morning market, the car will take you to Phayao with the biggest natural lake in Thailand. Then, you will proceed to Chiang Rai. After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll visit the hill tribe community project at Ban Lorcha. Drive via Mae Sai, the northern Thai town to the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge. After you have a boat trip on the Mekong River, the car will take you to Chiang Rai. You will overnight at hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 10: Chiang Rai/HoueiSay/Pakbeng (B, L, D, G)

This morning you have an early morning transfer from the hotel to Chiang Khong, the exit point from Thailand. After passing through immigration, you cross the Mekong River to HoueiSay in Laos where your guide will be waiting for you at the immigration point. After completing border formalities, you board the LuangSay Cruise ready for the trip downriver. Serene, timeless Laos is one of Asia’s most unvisited, unchanged countries. This once-powerful kingdom known as Lane Xang (Million Elephants) was founded in the 14th century with the help of the Khmers, and it went on to become one of the largest kingdoms in Southeast Asia until its demise in the late 19th century. Bisected and bordered by the Mekong River, omnipresent symbol of Indochina, Laos today is an amalgam of cultural influences; Theravada Buddhism, animism, France, and the socialist ideal. It is a peaceful place, and the legendary hospitality, resilience and friendliness of the Lao people is much in evidence. Laos is Old Asia preserved. As you journey downriver you will stop at some tribal villages such as the Hmong, Yao and Khmu.

Day 11: Pakbeng/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

Breakfast, as you sail downriver, you’ll pass areas of un-spoilt forest with little villages along the riverbanks and perhaps the odd elephant or two with his mahout. You visit a fishing village and a rice winemaking village and perhaps even taste some of the infamous beverage known as Lao wine. You also visit the Pak-Ou caves with their thousands of Buddha statues. You arrive in Luang Prabang around sunset and transfer to your hotel. This evening. You can take a stroll around this enchanting little town, overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 12: Luang Prabang City Tour (B, L, G)

Breakfast, we are exploring this charming city of UNESCO world heritage site, The Luang Prabang is a small, dream-like town on the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, in a beautiful mountain setting. From 1353 until 1545 it was the capital of Lane Xang before power was transferred to Vientiane. Despite the move Luang Prabang reMained the seat of monarchical power, and when the kingdom broke up in 1694, one of the deceased king’s grandsons established a rival kingdom to those in Vientiane and Champassak. Though weakened, the Luang Prabang royalty endured until 1975, when after the reign of 63 kings it was formally dissolved. You spend the day exploring the temples and sites in what is called one of the last Shangri-La’s of Southeast Asia. You will visit Wat Xiang Thong, the most important Buddhist monastery in the country, Wat Visoun, Wat Khili and Wat Mai. Later, visit the former Royal Palace, now a National Museum where you will find ornate, gilded and brocaded reception rooms, as well as Buddha and Atacular artifacts including the Prabang, a large holy image, which was given in the 14th century by the Khmers to King Fa Ngum. At sunset climb the nearby temple-topped hill of Phousi where you will catch a lovely view out over the town and the river. From there, we explore Street Night Market, where you can find the lovely collection and handmade textile by local and hill tribe people surrounding Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 13: Luang Prabang/Khouangsi Waterfall (B, L, G)

This morning you may want to rise early and participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black Alms-giving bowls being given offerings from the local people, including the ubiquitous sticky rice.  Breakfast, we excursion to Khouangsi waterfall. On the way, you will visit the morning Phosi Market where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local village of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay and Ban Thapene and the weaving village of Ban Phanom. Time permitting you may also wish to drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths, overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 14: Luang Prabang/Vang Vieng/Vientiane (B, G)

After a leisurely breakfast, you begin the drive south to Vientiane, on the way; drop off visiting minority villages along 13th north route, via Vang Vieng where unspoiled natural resources remained and enjoying the view of mountain and beautiful landscape. After a short stop, we are heading out to Vientiane, a capital city of Laos, built by the French on the site of Wieng Chan, the 16th century capital of Lane Xang. Wieng Chan was already bristling by the time Europe was emerging from obscurity, and today is a small bustling city that retains an air of Its French colonial past. Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 15: Vientiane City Tour (B, L, G)

Breakfast, AM: this morning you begin your sightseeing with a visit to the market. The market is a wildly colorful and olfactory delight – amid baskets piled with rice, eggs, and tea, ducks, pigs and fish both alive and dead, are food stalls selling noodles, soup, and ‘food to go’ wrapped in banana leaves, existing cheek by jowl with sellers of jasmine, orchids, and marigolds – the latter being woven into garlands for temple offerings. From there you begin a Walking Tour of the city’s old Wats beginning with the venerable Wat Sisaket with its many wall niches holding small Buddhas, Wat Prakeo – a former royal temple, the major Wats of Wat Mixai, Wat Ong Tu, Wat Hai Sok and Wat In Paeng, ending with some French colonial houses. PM: you pay a visit to the studio of Carol Cassidy, an American who has Don Done much to advance the Lao weaving tradition. Later this afternoon you visit Pha That Luang, a national symbol of Lao sovereignty and a Buddhist shrine, overnight in Vientiane.

Day 16: Vientiane/Phou Khoun/Phonsavan (B, L, D, G)

Depart from Vientiane, the first part of drive follows the road No 13. The ride offers some beautiful panoramic view over stunning mountains of Northern Laos. We stop for lunch Kasi and time for stretching the legs.

After lunch, we continue toward North East. The road twists while offering stunning views. There is time to visit some of the local villages along the way. We arrive in Phonsavan in the late afternoon.

Day 17: Plain of Jars Tour (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, we drive to site 1 of Plain of Jars for a visit. We continue by car to Site 2 and hike to Site 3 (hiking is difficult in the rainy season from June to September). After exploring 3 sites with interesting story about the Indochina War, we drive to Muong Khoun for lunch.

Muong Khoun was once the capital of Xieng Khoang Province. There is time to visit temples such as Wat Chom Phet and Wat That Phoun which were built the same time as That Luang in Vientiane. We can also visit some colonial building and old Lao Military Base that was seriously damaged by American bombs. On the way back to Phosavan, we can stop by village where local people collect scrap metals which are partly from UXO and bomb shell.

Day 18: Phonsavan/Sam Neua (B, L, D, G)

After breakfast, we drive along isolated mountain areas and today’s destination is the Sam Nuea. If time permits, we may stop at scraps villages, recycle factory (America bomb, Russian tank) and Tham piew Cave where 373 people were kill during Indochina War.

Lunch at local restaurant in Nam Neun and we arrive to Sam Nuea in the late afternoon.

Day 19: Sam Neua/Vieng Xay (B, L, D, G)

Early get up to visit Samnuea mar ket, after breakfast at local restaurant, we visit Samnuea market nearby. We then drive toward Vietnam border. Landscape is extra beautiful. We arrive in Vieng Xay, visit Khayson Phonvihan Cave, Red Pine Shouthanokvong Cave, Nouhak Cave. We stop for lunch at Thavyxay restaurant,

After lunch visit Soldier Cave, Friendship Hospital Cave. Vieng Xay was named literally Hidden Cave City. The caves are birth place of Laos PDR. They have been recently open for tourist.

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ay 20: Vieng Xay/Na Meo border/Pu Luong (Hang Village) (B, L, D, G)

Pick up at the Na Meo border in Quan Son district, Thanh Hoa Province, we’ll then be driven to Pu Luong, a natural reserve area. On arrival, we have lunch in Sai village.

After feasting your self to gain the energy, you will start your walk to today’s destination: Hang village. The walk will take you along many beautiful rice paddies in the border of Protection Zone of Pu Luong Nature Reserve. You will cross a small stream before reaching to Duom village; you might want a stop for a cup of tea at the local house. The last walking time will be along the mountain side which leads all the way to Hang village where you have dinner and stay overnight in local house.

Day 21: Pu Luong (Hang village – Kho Muong village) (B, L, D, G)

This morning we have the opportunity to stroll around Hang village before we start trekking. Today we will be walking for approximately six hours. Along the way we pass through several Thai villages and hamlets before arriving at the village of Kho Muong. As the name suggests this is a Muong minority village and we will be their guests for the night.

Day 22: Pu Luong (Kho Muong village – Hin village) (B, L, D, G)

This morning we set out from Kho Muong and trek for roughly three hours through a picturesque forest passing several villages along the way. We break for lunch in the village of Nua before setting off again for a further three hours. Our final destination for today is Hin village, another Thai community.

Day 23: Pu Luong/Thanh Hoa/Hanoi (B, L, G)

We leave Hin village and trek about 3 hours where we meet our car and drive along Ma river to Thanh Hoa city. After lunch, the car will take you to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 24: Hanoi/Ha Long (B, L, D, G)

A morning drive to Ha Long Bay, (one of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Areas – the world’s largest marine “karst” landscape). Travel by traditional-style boat to some of the less well-known grottoes and caves. Includes swimming, fishing, hill (not mountain) climbing for Bay overviews, exploring sea level caves in a small sampan, etc. All meals will be provided on board and your accommodation will be on the boat in a twin room with en suite toilet and shower.

Day 25: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for an overnight stay.

Day 26: Hanoi departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel and free until time transfer to airport for flight departure.