CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, THAILAND AND MYANMAR TOUR 28 DAYS

Destination: Phnom Penh/Siem Reap/Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta/Danang/Hoi An/My Son/Hue/Hanoi/Ha Long Bay/Bangkok/Kanchanaburi/Ayuthaya/Yangon/Bagan/Mandalay/Kalaw/Inle Lake/Heho

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

Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival (G)

Transfer from Phnom Penh International Airport to the hotel (rooms may not be ready until the afternoon).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 grounds of 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 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. 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.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 3: Siem Reap (B, 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)

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 century), 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. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 5: Siem Reap/Ho Chi Minh City (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 your flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

On arrival, met and transfered to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 6: Ho Chi Minh City tour (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll start your city tour including the History Museum (special exhibition of the 5thC ‘Oc Eo’ civilisation), the Museum of War Remnants (very partial, but riveting, recollections of the ‘American War’: not for the squeamish), the huge Ben Thanh market (one of the liveliest areas of Ho Chi Minh City), the Jade Emperor Temple (superb effigies, remarkable carved panels of the descent to Hell and incongruous terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries) and a lacquer workshop. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Day 7: Ho Chi Minh City/My Tho (B, L, G)

At 8:00 you’ll be picked up at our hotel to travel to My Tho. On arrival, boat cruise on Mekong river to the Thoi Son island: rowing through small canals and walking along small village road to visit fruit gardens, elementary school, spirits distilling house, and see the daily life of villagers. On your visit you’ll have chance to enjoy some of tropical fruits and traditional music show. After lunch at a local restaurant on island, you’ll continue to cruise to visit a coconut candy workshop. In the afternoon, return to Ho Chi Minh for overnight

Day 8: Ho Chi Minh City/Danang/Hoi An (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll be free until the driver and guide come and take you to the airport for your flight to Danang. On arrival, you’ll find the driver and guide waiting for you to take you to Hoi An. On the way, you’ll have a brief visit to Cham Museum, then continue to travel to Hoi An. After lunch, a guided visit to the Ancient Town. Overnight stay in Hoi An.

The town is an ancient trading port, once the largest in Indochina and a meeting point for many cultures that left their mark in the different architectural features of its wooden buildings

Day 9: Hoi An/My Son (B, L, G)

Morning drive to My Son Sanctuary – World Heritage Area. Free afternoon and overnight in Hoi An.

Once the My Son Sanctuary was the spiritual capital of the Cham Kingdom that dominated SE Asia for nearly a thousand years. Its remarkable brick towers were badly bombed by the Americans, but are still impressive as is its remote valley setting

Day 10: Hoi An/Hue (B, L, G)

After breakfast, you’ll drive to Hue. On arrival, you’ll have a boat cruise to visit Thien Mu Pagoda (beside the Perfume River – very tranquil). Then, having a visit to King Minh Mang’s Tomb (the most majestic of the Royal Tombs) and drive to visit the Dong Ba market. Overnight in Hue

Day 11: Hue (B, L, G)

Morning visit to the Imperial Citadel of Hue and the Antiquity Museum. Afternoon drive to visit King Tu Duc’s Tomb (the poet King, the simplest Royal tomb set in a beautiful garden) and visit to Garden Houses – (a cultural characteristic in Hue). In the evening you’ll be picked up to enjoy a Hue musical show on a boat in the Perfume River for about one hour. Overnight in Hue

Day 12: Hue/Hanoi (B, L, G)

Having a breakfast at your hotel, then, you will get the flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival, you’ll have a city tour including the Temple of Literature, (the first university in Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam). Overnight in Hanoi

Day 13: Hanoi/Halong (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 14: Halong/Hanoi/Bangkok (B, L, G)

Morning cruising Ha Long Bay, followed by lunch and then return to Hanoi for your flight to Bangkok. On arrival, transfer to the hotel for check in. Overnight stay in Bangkok.

Day 15: Bangkok (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll start a tour of Bangkok with a longtail boat trip along the Chao Phraya River and the many lively inner canals which provide some fantastic views of the local life close up. Along the way you’ll make a stop at Wat Arun, the temple of Dawn, before continuing to the Grand Palace, dedicated to the Thai Royal Family’s ceremony. Nearby is the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, which is famous for the Emerald Buddha Image. After seeing this complex, you’ll drive through the many vibrant streets of China Town to some of the most significant temples in Bangkok. The landmark of Wat Traimit is well known as the Golden Buddha Temple while Wat Pho houses a gigantic Reclining Buddha. You’ll spend the night in Bangkok.

Day 16: Bangkok/Kanchanaburi (B, L, G)

Drive south of Bangkok to the garden province of Samut Songhkhram in the Mae Klong river delta area, you’ll first visit a unique country market along the railway tracks. Afterwards you’ll continue to Tha Kha, one of the many floating markets where local people come together to sell their produce. You’ll then take a fascinating paddleboat journey through the waterways to visit a family that makes coconut sugar syrup at their teak house. After a glass of the sweet juice, you’ll cruise through the maze of canals heading to Damnern Saduak Floating Market. After strolling around the market, you’ll continue to Kanchanaburi for lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the famous bridge on the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war during World War II. You’ll also visit the JEATH Museum before driving to your riverside resort. The drive continues to Tiger Temple in the afternoon to visit the home of wild tigers, and where the tiger you can see close and touchable. After visiting these sites, you’ll board on the train ride along the Death Railway, then check in your hotel and free on your own. You’ll spend the night in Kanchanaburi.

Day 17: Kanchanaburi/Ayuthaya/Bangkok (B, L, G)

In the morning, you’ll visit the most important of the ruined temples in Ayuthaya historical park – the Wat Pra Si San Phet, Wihan Pra Mongkhon Bophit and Wat Chaiwattanaram. Continue to Bangkok Pa In Palace for summer palace of the early of Bangkok. Lunch at local restaurant and proceed to Bangkok for check into hotel and free at own leisure

Day 18: Bangkok/Yangon (B, G)

Your time will be your own until the guide and driver come and take you to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Yangon lies in the fertile delta of the Yangon River and gives the ethereal impression of being full of trees, shade and shimmering stupas floating above the treetops. Our afternoon tour includes the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. The highlight of any visit to Yangon, this pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha and its bell-shaped superstructure is covered in about 60 tonnes of gold leaf. The National Museum holds several interesting exhibits, including the mammoth Sihasana Lion Throne as well as many treasures and memorabilia of Burmese royalty. The Sule Pagoda has a 48 m/52 yard high golden dome used, when it was rebuilt in the 1880’s, by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern for the city.
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 19: Yangon (B, L, G)

An interesting experience today includes mingling in the Bogyoke Aung San Market, also known as Scott Market, and its over 2000 little shops. The Kyaukhtatkyi Pagoda contains a gaudy, modern, 70m/76 yard-long reclining Buddha built in 1966 and housed in a formidable iron pavilion. The temple doubles as a monastery as well as a center for the study of Buddhist manuscripts. Mailamu Pagoda has a series of interesting images of the Buddha in his previous incarnations, as well as a lovely reclining Buddha image. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 20: Yangon/Bagan by flight (B, 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 day 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 Shwegugyi temple, built in 1311. We also visit Thatbyinnyu Pahto, Nathlaung Kyaung, Bagan’s only Hindu Vaishnavite temple, and the Pahtothamya. Gawdawpalin Pahto is one of the largest and most imposing of the Bagan temples, and its name literally means “platform on which homage is paid”. Bupaya is a cylindrical Pyu-style stupa said to be the oldest in Bagan; Local residents claim it dates to the 3rd century. The distinctively shaped bulbous stupa stands above rows of crenellated terraces making for a splendid sight. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 21: Bagan (B, L, G)

Our excursion to Mount Popa, was last active 250,000 years ago, shows an interesting picture of countryside life. We also visit Salay famous as the historic home of Salay U Ponya, a Bagan Era writer/poet. We visit many interesting sites including Payathonzu which is an interconnected complex of three brick shrines, Thadanayaunggyi Kyaung, an ancient monastery in continuous use for several hundred years, 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 bearing an intact superstructure. We culminate the day with a visit to Youqson Kyaung, the oldest surviving wooden monastery hall in the Bagan area. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 22: Bagan/Mandalay by road (B, L, G)

This morning we depart by road to Mandalay, the last capital of Myanmar before the British took over. Mandaly is of great importance culturally and historically and is the most “Burmese” of the Myanmar’s large cities. Mandalay’s Buddhist monasteries are among the most important in the country – about 60% of all the monks in Myanmar reside in the Mandalay area. The city takes its name from Mandalay Hill that rises to the north east of Mandalay Fort and is home to a marvelous royal palace. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 23: Mandalay (B, L, G)

Constructed in 1857, Mandalay Fort (Fort Dufferin) is an imposing walled palace compound encircled by an impressive moat. We get a picture of history here and then again at the Mandalay Museum and Library known for it’s large collection of Mandalay regalia, royally commissioned art and palm-leaf manuscripts that were formerly housed in the palace. Next we visit the Kyauktawgyi Pagoda home to a huge seated image of the Buddha carved from a single block of marble, the Sandamani Paya, a cluster of slender whitewashed stupas and the Shwenandaw Kyaung, a fine example of a traditional Burmese wooden monastery and a fragile reminder of the old Mandaly Fort. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 24: Mandalay (B, L, G)

Another interesting day as we visit the one time capital of Inwa followed by Sagaing and Amarapura where we visit Nanmyin, Maha Aungmye Bonzan, and Bagaya Kyaung, a monastery built of teakwood and supported by 267 teak posts. Sagaing is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar and is popularly known as ‘Little Pagan’ as the Sagaing ridge is crowded with around 600 pagodas and monasteries where more than 3000 monks reside. We also visit Thabyedan Fort and Kaunghmudaw Paya , Sagaing’s most important temple built in 1636, Tupayon Paya with its unique architecture and Hsinmyashin Paya, known as the Pagoda of Many Elephants. Amarapura means City of Immortality, however its period as capital was brief. We visit Pahtodawgyi, and Bagaya Kyaung – a museum and library known for its collection of palm-leaf manuscripts. Overnight in Mandalay

Day 25: Mandalay/Kalaw (B, L, G)

Our destination today is Kalaw, a popular hill station in the British days. Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau and is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslims, Bamar and Nepalis making for an interesting cultural experience. Our afternoon tour includes Aung Chang Tha Zedi, a glittering stupa covered in gold-colored mosaics, Dhamma Yon, a two-story temple provides a fair view of the town, Dhamma Yanthi Paya and the ruins of the Hsu Taung Pye Paya. Nee Paya, and Christ The King Church, wrap up our days sightseeing. Overnight in Kalaw.

Day 26: Kalaw/Inle Lake (B, L, G)

An interesting drive takes us to Inle Lake, located in Shan State. The lake is beautiful, with its serene waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on both sides creating a cozy and tranquil setting. The lakeshore and lake islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the unique Intha people.
Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 27: Inle Lake/Heho/Yangon (B, L, G)

This morning, we enjoy a refreshing boat trip on the serene Inle Lake followed by a scenic drive to Heho to catch our flight back to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 28: Yangon departure (B, G)

After breakfast, free at leisure until the driver and guide come and take you to the airport for your departure flight