Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia tour 22 days

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

Day 1: Yangon arrival (D, 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 by flight (B, L, 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 by flight (B, L, 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, L, 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 by flight (B, L, 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.

Day 6: Yangon/Bangkok (B, D, G)

Your time will be your own until our driver will come and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. After your arrival in Bangkok, you will be met to transfer to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 7: Half day Bangkok city Temple Tour (B, G)

Breakfast at hotel and then sightseeing tour to visit: At first visit to Wat Traimit, the Temple of the Golden Buddha, the temple is famous for its 900-years old five-and-a-half-ton solid gold image, and then continue to visit Wat Arun, perhaps better known as the Temple of the Dawn, is one of the best known landmarks and one of the most published images of Bangkok. After that, visit to Wat Po, the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, as well as the largest single Buddha image: the Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas), also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon or The Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage Reclining Buddha. After this place we back to the hotel and free at leisure in the afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 8: Bangkok/Half Day Phuket City Tour (B, G)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight departure to Phuket. Arrive at Phuket airport, meet and greet with our local guide and then transfer to hotel for check in, have a short rest. After that, sightseeing visit to Phuket City take in the islands natural beauty as we drive along the beach roads through Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai. Visit to View Point where you can witness the beautiful bays of Kata Noi, Kata, Karon and Kho Poo Island, one of the island’s best scenic spot. This tour gives an insight into the highlights of the “Pearl of the Andaman”. Leisurely drive around Phuket town to view the Sino-Portuguese style buildings. Other attractions visited are Wang Thalang Lapidary gem factory, Wat Chalong, Phuket’s most beautiful and renowned monastery, the Gypsy Village at Rawai Beach, a Cashew Nut Factory where you may sample the culinary delights on offer and the famous sunset viewpoint at Phromthep Cape one of the most beautiful panoramas on the island. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Phuket.

Day 9: Full Day Phi Phi Island Tour (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel, and then transfer to the pier to take a boat trip to Phi Phi Island. Take a boat visit to Phi Phi Ley Island, exploring scenic beauty, next visit to Long Beach, Phi Phi Don Island. Change to a small boat to go for snorkeling activity near Long Beach. Enjoy crystal clear water and rich marine life. Return to Long Beach. Enjoy a buffet lunch at on Phi Phi Don Island. After lunch, free at leisure for snorkeling, swimming or relaxing on the beach, till time transfer back to hotel in Phuket. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Phuket.

Day 10: Phuket/Bangkok/Hanoi (B, G)

Breakfast at hotel, then free at leisure till time transfer to Phuket airport flight back to Bangkok and connecting to your departure flight. Arriving at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey before a welcome dinner at a colonial building. Your overnight stay will be in Hanoi.

Day 11: Hanoi (B, L, G)

An all day city tour, possibly including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th C), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Ethnology Museum and the centre of Hanoi, including the Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter with a complex of architecture – traditional tube houses, religious buildings and the colonial houses. In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of Cheo (an traditional music typical for the northern Vietnam). Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 12: 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 13: Ha Long/Hanoi (B, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for your overnight train to Lao Cai. You will spend the night in Hanoi.

Day 14: Lao Cai/Sapa (B, L, G)

You’ll be met at the Lao Cai station and taken by a Jeep or a Land Cruiser to visit an ethnic market. After a picnic lunch, you’ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak.

The trips to ethnic markets are a fascinating experience but must be on Tuesday (Coc Ly Market), Saturday (Can Cau) or Sunday (Bac Ha or Muong Hum Markets). Picnic lunch will be prepared in the morning from Sapa. You’ll arrive in Sapa in the late afternoon, with time to relax before dinner.

Day 15: Sapa/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Morning stroll to the town busy market and then easy trek to ethnic villages of H’mong in a scenic valley. After stream-side picnic lunch, you’ll be picked up to visit other ethnic villages of the H’mong, Day and Red Dao people. Return to Sapa and then back to Lao Cai station for an overnight train to Hanoi.

Day 16: Hanoi/Luang Prabang (B, L, G)

You’ll be picked up at station to your hotel. Later on, you’ll take the international flight to Luang Prabang. Arriving in Luang Prabang, you’ll be picked up to the hotel. You’ll spend the night in Luang Prabang.

Day 17: Luang Prabang/Pak Ou cave (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll visit the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong. Cruise  upstream on the Mekong River, as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves. Stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local rice wine is produced.

Short stop at Ban Phanom, which is well known for its hand weaving.

Day 18: Luang Prabang/Khouangsi Waterfall (B, L, G)

Watch or participate in the daily morning rituals of monks collecting offerings of Alms. Visit the morning Phosi Market. Visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, Hmong Village,  Ban Ou, Laoloum Village and Ban Thapene, Khmu Village, and then to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can cool off. Continue to Ban Xangkhong, known for its silk weavings and papermaking. Enjoy the sunset at Wat Siphouthabath.

Day 19: Luang Prabang/Siem Reap (B, G)

Your time will be your own until your flight to Siem Reap. On arrival, you’ll transferred to your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Siem Reap.

In the afternoon, continue your temple tour. See the unique interior brick sculptures Prasat Kravan, the Srah Srang reservoir (known as “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. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

Day 20: Siem Reap (B, L, D, 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 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. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

Day 21: Siem Reap (B, L, D, G)

An 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 Or sunrise at Srah Srang

Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Morning, transfer to Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to Ta Prohm, one of the area’s most beautiful temples. Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.

Lunch at local restaurant.

In the afternoon, you continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), Ta Som and Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern example remarkably well preserved. Two concentric walls enclose the ensemble. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

Day 22: Siem Reap departure (B, L, G)

Breakfast at hotel.

Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion 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.

Visit to “Les Artisans d’Angkor – Chantiers Ecoles” of Siem Reap and time at leisure at a local market (if time permits). Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight.