Essence of Southeast Asia – 38 Days

Breakfast at the hotel and we start to discover Bangkok. We head to the colorful flower and vegetable market to experience real local life. Flowers throughout the country are sold at this biggest market at the wholesale prices. Also, the market has its own sections selling veggies, fruits, herbs, spices, or even chili peppers in all colors and sizes. In order to avoid bumping into the crowded big groups, the next destination of our today’s tour will be the renowned Grand Palace adjoining Wat Phra Kaew – the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand. Lunch at a local restaurant close to the Grand Palace. After lunch, our journey continues with a longtail boat riding along the canal to see the traditional Thai houses and typical daily life in the rural area. Known as ‘Venice of the East’, this Bangkok long-tailed boat tour will lead you through the canal, locally known as Khlongs, to experience a greener and more peaceful part of Bangkok. The last destination of our today’s trip will be Wat Arun, well-known as the Temple of the Dawn. The rest of the day will be yours. Leisurely enjoy the nightlife. Overnight at the Maitria Hotel Sukhumvit 18.

Today, do what you want to be escorted to Bangkok Airport for a flight to Chiang Rai. As you arrive in Chiang Rai, our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel and leisurely enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at the Imperial River House Resort.

This morning, we head to the border of Mae Salong Village. After that, we will move to the Wat Rong Khun, also known as White Temple, a famous attraction nearby Chiang Rai. Later, we drive back to the hotel. Freely enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at the Imperial River House Resort.

Having breakfast and take some leisure time on your own. In the afternoon, your guide will meet and escort you to the hotel in Chiang Mai. In the evening, we will enjoy Kanteke Dinner & Hilltribes Show. Overnight at the Rim Resort Chiang Mai.

Today, we spend our whole day on Baan Chang Elephant Park for elephant’s daycare and a picnic lunch (no riding). A day in the park offers you an opportunity to get to know elephants and get an insight into their daily lives and behaviors. Overnight at the Rim Resort Chiang Mai. Today’s Activities: Feed elephants, roam and observe them bathing. Cook herbal medicine. Today’s Itinerary 8:30 – 9:00 am: You will be picked up in the hotel. Drive about 50 minutes to the North via stunning countryside, local farming areas, and forest. Arrive at the Baan Chang Elephant Park and wear Park’s traditional clothing. Prepare fruits for elephant feeding. Also, we can roam, touch and play with them. 12:00 am: A picnic lunch at the park 13:00 am: Enjoy cook sticky rice to mixed with herbal stuff for the elephants. Get to know about the background, health care, and their behavior. 14:00 am: Getting into more time with feeding, roaming, and taking elephant walk to a clean water pond where we will observe them cool off themselves. Feed them with sticky rice balls and fruits. Tea and coffee break. Note: Today, we will spend as much time as possible with the elephants; thus, we have no formal schedule. The itinerary above is an approximation.

Enjoy a cooking class at the Thai Secret cooking school consisting of shopping at the local market and being taught how to cook authentic Thai cuisine. Enjoy lunch with the meals you cook. Later, you will be escorted to the airport for a flight to Luang Prabang. As you arrive in Luang Prabang, our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel. Check-in and relax. Overnight at the Maison Dalabua Luang Prabang.

This morning, you can opt to witness the alms-giving procession in the early morning at around 5:40 am. We head to the Morning Market or Phousi Market. Next, back to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. This morning is free. In the afternoon, take a half-day city tour and we will visit the Royal Palace Museum, Wat Visoun, and Wat Xieng Thong. Afterward, climb up to the top of Phousi Mountain to discover the glided and holy stupa as well as indulge in the sunset scenery. Later, we explore the Night Market. Overnight at the Maison Dalabua Luang Prabang.

Having breakfast and then, we join in a cruise upstream on the Mekong river along with an exciting trip to the mysterious Pak Ou Cave. En route, we stop at the Ban Xanghai & Ban Xangkhong Village. Later, we will be back to the hotel and enjoy the evening freely. Overnight at the Maison Dalabua Luang Prabang.

Today, we go to the bear sanctuary and a stunning paradise – the Khouang Si Waterfall which will absolutely fill your lungs full of fresh air while enjoying a joyful moment on a playground. Lunch near the waterfall. After lunch, you will be escorted to the airport for a flight to Hanoi – Vietnam in the afternoon. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free. Overnight at the Lapis Hotel.

This morning, we enjoy a tour to major historic sites consisting of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh House on Stilt, Hoa Lo prison, One Pillar Pagoda, and Temple of Literature. Lunch at a local restaurant with an iconic meal – Bun Cha. In the afternoon, head to the Museum of Ethnology and explore the Hanoi Old Quarter by rickshaw (1 hour). The last destinations will be Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and enjoy a Water Puppet Show to get an insight into the Vietnamese traditional culture. Overnight at the Lapis Hotel.

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and escort you to Sapa. En route, stop for a break and take stunning photos. Check into the hotel and take a break before visiting the Silver Waterfall which is considered the most stunning waterfall in Sapa and enjoy an impressive view at the Heaven Gate – the highest point of Hoang Lien Son Mountain range offering you a majestic view of Lai Chau Valley as well as Fanxipan mountain. Later, back to the hotel in Sapa. Overnight at the Aira Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa. Optional Activities: Instead of visiting the Silver Waterfall – Heaven Gate – Lai Chau Valley, we can visit Ham Rong Mountain or Cat Cat Village (alternative)

Today, after breakfast, we take a morning walk to the hustling and bustling market where Black & Flower H’mong, Red Dao, Tay, and other ethnic minority people sell their handicrafts and silverware, buy provisions. Next, we enjoy the most thrilling Sapa Tour with a pretty drive to Lao Chai and Ta Van village of the Black H’ mong people the Dao people. Once there, your lungs will be fulfilled with fresh air and your eyes will be satisfied with an amazing vista of the imposing mountain range. We trek down the wold’s most gorgeous terraced rice fields, interact with local families en route, and learn about their culture and daily life. Later, we back to Sapa and freely enjoy the rest of the day.

We drive to Ma Tra village and enjoy a trek through the rice terraces to Ta Phin village of the Red Dao minority to experience the scenic trip and bump into rural people. We lunch in the village and then, drive back to Hanoi. Check into the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Lapis Hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up in Hanoi and start the journey to Ha Long. Once in Ha Long, move to Hon Gai pier and board operations. When you are on the boat, the Cruise Manager will have a welcome speech with all the information and safety instructions for a day excursion. Then, enjoy lunch with the best products from the region. In the afternoon, we enjoy kayaking and visit the Vung Vieng floating fish village. If you want to take it easy on the boat instead of getting into other activities, just feel free to use the sauna at no cost. Also, at 17:30 you can attend to the Cooking Demonstration to discover the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine. Later, enjoy dinner on board and after that, at 21:00, we enjoy the fascinating squid Fishing activity or you can opt to relax on the boat as the bar will open late to serve you. Overnight on the Athena Luxury Cruise at Cong Do area.

This morning, we wake up early and participate in practicing one of the oldest traditions of East Asia – Tai Chi on the open deck (Coffee and tea are served). We have a light breakfast and start exploring Thien Canh Son Cave in Halong Bay. Inside the cave, we have an opportunity to witness the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. After the trip, we check out. Put your luggage outside the cabin and your key at the reception desk. Lunch at the restaurant on the second deck. After lunch, arrive at the pier and our guide as well as the driver will be waiting to escort you to the airport in Hanoi to take a flight to Danang. When you are in Danang, check into the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the La Residencia – Little Boutique Hotel & Spa.

We join a half-day trip in Fisherman Eco-tour providing an authentic cultural and social insight into the Vietnamese way of life. Once there, we can learn about the traditional fishing technique to padding the unique bamboo basket boats in Vietnam while discovering the peaceful coconut-palm flanked waterways. In the afternoon, we will take a back-in-time trip to the Hoi An ancient town by heading to the Japanese Bridge, Chinese Temple, and the Vietnamese former merchants’ house. Later, back to the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the La Residencia – Little Boutique Hotel & Spa.

Having breakfast and then, we transfer to Ba Na hills via cable car station in Hoi An. Enjoy the panoramic vista of the Da Nang while floating in the middle of the sky. We then visit the Golden Bridge. Lunch at Ba Na Hills before heading back to Da Nang to pay a visit to Cham Museum, Marble mountain, and beautiful My Khe beach. After a day excursion, back to the hotel and relax. Overnight at the La Residencia – Little Boutique Hotel.

Enjoy breakfast and you will be escorted to the airport for a flight ahead to Ho Chi Minh city. As you arrive in Ho Chi Minh, check into your hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Alagon Zen Hotel & Spa.

Morning in leisure. In the afternoon, enjoy a delicious food tour of Taste of the Night. Leave the path and head to the hidden alleys and streets of Saigon to taste foods that most people living outside of Vietnam haven’t even dreamed of. Street food culture in Vietnam is incredibly diverse and our food tour is designed to allow you to experience as many different types of foods as possible. Overnight at the Alagon Zen Hotel & Spa.

Today, we enjoy a My Tho tour in Mekong Delta. After having breakfast, check out the hotel and take a 1.30-hour drive through urbanized zones until you reach the river tributaries of the Mekong Delta. As you arrive in My Tho, visit the wholesale fruit Thanh Tri market. Next, we board a motorized boat to cruise along the upper Mekong and witness abundant agriculture life. We take a trip to a fish-rearing village before making our way to the Vam Xep canal to indulge in the beautiful water palm scenery. Also, we stroll around the Quoi An fruit orchard, visit fruit drying kilns, and a workshop for coconut craft wares. Get into a short horse-drawn cart ride along the village. When we reach Ben Truc – Phong Phu garden, it is a chance to taste fruits from the Mekong delta and attend to traditional local music. The trip will end with a guided row boat trip to discover the water palm canals. As you return to My Tho, enjoy lunch at the Mientay Riverside Restaurant. After lunch, we visit Vinh Trang pagoda, an old-aged southern architectural gem, built-in 1849 and be considered a mixture of Asian and European architecture consisting of elements from the Renaissance period, Japanese enameled tile, Romanesque style, and French decorative flowers. After the whole day of discovering My Tho and Mekong delta, we head to Can Tho. Overnight at the Victoria Can Tho Resort.

Today, we cruise along the small stunning tributaries by rowing boat to the Cai Rang floating market where we will indulge in the majestic scenery of the daily activities of the locals living along the Mekong canals and we roam through the village to a rice husking mill and a rice noodles making a shop. On reaching Chau Doc, we stop at the Crocodile Farm for several exciting activities. As we reach Chau Doc, make our way to Tra Su, enter the wild birds Sanctuary, smoothly cruise with small boats to explore the arrays of vibrant canals deep into the forest, watch tropical bird species. Overnight at the Victoria Can Tho Resort.

Having breakfast and the hotel staff will support you to the dock (close to hotel reception counter) to take the morning Victoria Express boat at 7:35 am. We will arrive at Phnom Penh at 13:30 pm. En route, we have two stops for roughly 40 minutes in total to get the visa with the staff’s help on the border between Vietnam – Cambodia. As arriving at Phnom Penh, our representative will warmly greet you at the pier and escort you to the hotel. Check into the hotel and freely enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at the Lumiere Hotel.

Today is our sightseeing day in Phnom Penh. Head to Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace; the National Museum containing many pre and post-Angkor artifacts; and the Silver Pagoda. In the afternoon, we visit a site related to the Khmer regime to see the darkest chapter in the history of Cambodia. We visit several sites such as the notorious Toul Sleng Museum and Choeung Ek Field. The former school was used as a prison forced by Pol Pot. After experiencing a sensational feeling, we head to the Russian Market to relax. Overnight at the Lumiere Hotel.

This morning you’ll be free enjoying the day till your guide come and escort you to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap. Upon arriving at Siem Reap, check into the hotel and the rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Tara Angkor Hotel.

After breakfast and we drive to the South Gate of Angkor Thom to visit the Bayon Temple, the Terrace of the Leper King and Elephants Terrace. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit Angkor Wat – the world heritage sites. We then move to Bakheng Hill to enjoy the sunset vista or the crowed Pre Rup Temple. Overnight at the Tara Angkor Hotel.

Wake up early (if you want) and take a trip to indulge the glory ambiance of the sunrise of Angkor Wat. Breakfast at the hotel or take away. After that, we visit local villages on the way to Banteay Srei Temples. Lunch at a local restaurant and after that, head to the Ta Prohm and Ta Keo Temple. The rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Tara Angkor Hotel.

Breakfast then drive northeast of Siem Reap to reach Beng Mealea. The temple itself was constructed in the 12th century during the time of the Suryavarman II Empire at the same of the Angkor Wat. We then move to the Roluos Temple Complex which displays the ruins of the first capital of the Khmer empire as well as some significant monuments consisting of Preah Ko and Lolei. Overnight at the Tara Angkor Hotel.

After breakfast, we will escort you to the airport for a flight to Bangkok. Once there, take another flight to Yangon – Myanmar (No guide in the Bangkok airport, you have to catch your fly independently). As you arrive in Yangon, our representative will be waiting to welcome and escort you to the hotel. Leisurely enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.

Today we enjoy a day tour to the colonial-style Yangon city. We head to visit the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda where a 70m-long reclining Buddha placed; 2.000-year-history Sule Pagoda; Maha Bandoola Garden which is home to independence monuments; and finally, we move to Indiantown and vibrant Chinatown. In the afternoon, our journey continues with a visit to Bogyoke Market (closed on Monday) offering a range of options to have your own souvenir items. Before sunset, we visit the Shwedagon Pagoda with a sacred and vibrant site. Overnight at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.

In the morning, you will take a domestic flight to Bagan. Once arriving in, you will be escorted to your hotel. Once you’ve settled in, head out to visit the Nyaung-U Market, Htilominlo Temple, and Shwezigon Pagoda. In the afternoon, visit a Lacquer-ware workshop to witness Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts. Next, we discover the marvelous mural paintings at the Myinkaba Gubyaukgyi Temple, and finally, we come to the stunning Ananda Temple. Later, behold the romantic scenery of the sunset. Overnight at the Hotel @ Tharabar Gate.

Enjoy the early morning ambiance with a sunrise vista from the Bagan Viewing Tower. Have breakfast and we get into cycling along gorgeous temples and local villages around. We visit Myinkaba Village which is famous for its huge stacks of bamboo; Manuha Temple, the smallest temple constructed by an imprisoned King. In the afternoon, enjoy a 1.5-hour boating trip on the Irrawaddy river heading to Kyauk Kuu Umin – the 11th – 12th-century temple constructed on the bank. Mind-blowing sunset vista on the riverside. Overnight at the Hotel @ Tharabar Gate.

Take a domestic flight to Mandalay. As you reach Mandalay, go to the Amarapura town to visit the Mahagandayon monastery – the largest Myanmar’s teaching monastery. Continue to pay a visit to the Harbor Bridge city and then, we have lunch. In the afternoon, head to a nunnery in the Sagaing Hill where up to one thousand nuns live and practice Buddhist scriptures. After that, board a boat to enjoy the sunset view at the world’s longest teak bridge – the U Bein Bridge over charming Taungthaman Lake. Overnight at the Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort.

Get into a boat trip (an hour) across the Ayeyarwaddy River. We discover the old-aged city of Mingun by coming to Mingun Bell, Mingun Pagoda, the Hsinbyume Pagoda, and Settawya Pagoda nearby. We then back to Mandalay to visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda, and Shwenandaw Monastery. Enjoy sunset view at Mandalayview. Overnight at the Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort.

Domestic flight to Heho and transfer to the Inle Lake. Check into the hotel and head to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most well-known one in the Inle Lake area. Next, move to a local village to witness the traditional silks and other products on wooden handlooms and ironware. Leisurely enjoy the rest of the day. Overnight at the Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min.

Today, we enjoy a sightseeing tour in Inle Lake. Visit the Local Market and then, take a scenic boat ride through a long channel to admire the farmers cultivate their produce. Move to the tranquil Indein Village to see a nice pagoda, the ruins, and witness the locals enjoying their daily activities. Lunch at a local restaurant and back to the hotel. The rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min.

Today, you will be escorted to Heho for a domestic flight to Yangon for another flight to Bangkok. Upon arriving at Bangkok airport, take the hotel shuttle bus yourself from the airport to your airport hotel. The rest of the day will be yours. Overnight at the Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport – BW Premier Collection by Best Western

Time to say goodbye to your 38-day Panoramic Southeast Asia tour. Enjoy the last moment with breakfast and then, take a hotel shuttle bus from the hotel to the airport independently then come back home. Your Asia vacation ends. Hope you had a memorable Southeast Asia trip and wish that we can serve you next time on your trip to Asia.