Glories of Southeast Asia Tour – 24 Days

General Information

Tour Highlights

• Explore the rich history of ancient Thailand and Bangkok in Ayutthaya which was built from the 14th to 16th centuries.
• Head to the renowned Grand Palace and the most prominent temples in Bangkok.
• Discover the largest city in Myanmar – Yangon to admire the Shwedagon Pagoda and experience the local life in Bagyoke Market.
• Get into the gorgeous sunset from the top of Mandalay hill and U Bein Bridge.
• Take an excursion on Inle Lake to discover the locals’ unique floating farms and life on the water.
• Discover the mysterious Golden Triangle in northern Thailand.
• Spend a few days in the Town of Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage site in Laos to visit the ancient temples and Kuang Si Waterfall.
• Board on a boat and enjoy the Mekong River cruise to see the breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside and the mysterious Pak Ou Caves.
• End your trip to Siem Reap to explore the world-famous Angkor Wat.

Tour Details

Brief Itinerary

Myanmar
Day 01: Yangon Arrival
Day 02: Yangon Sightseeing
Day 03: Yangon – Bagan
Day 04: Bagan Sightseeing
Day 05: Bagan – Heho Inle Lake
Day 06: Inle Lake Day Excursion
Day 07: Inle Lake – Mandalay
Day 08: Amarapura Full-Day Tour

Thailand
Day 09: Flight to Chiang Mai
Day 10: Chiang Mai Sightseeing
Day 11: Elephant Nature Park
Day 12: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai
Day 13: Doi Mae Salong – Explore Golden Triangle
Day 14: Chiang Rai – Bangkok
Day 15: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi & WWII

Laos
Day 16: Vientiane Arrival
Day 17: Vientiane City Tour
Day 18: Luang Prabang – Buddhist Ancient City & Temples
Day 19: Boat Excursion to Pak Ou Caves – Kuang Si Waterfall

Cambodia
Day 20: Siem Reap Arrival
Day 21: Angkor Thom Ancient Capital
Day 22: Angkor Wat & Banteay Srei
Day 23: Tonle Sap Lake
Day 24: Siem Reap Departure

Full Itinerary

Day 01: Yangon Arrival

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to warmly meet and escort you to the hotel in Yangon – the former capital of Myanmar. The rest of the day will be yours. In the evening, get into a Myanmar royal style welcome dinner on a floating marble boat.

Day 02: Yangon Sightseeing

This morning, we visit the Shwedagon Pagoda that is the largest pagoda with painted real gold in Yangon. We wake up early and go there as the pagoda in the early morning will be extremely peaceful and you can watch local people and monks pray in front of the Pagoda. Later, back to the hotel for breakfast. After that, you will head to the Reclining Buddha (Chauk-Htat-Gyi) and Mahabandoola park.

Relax at leisure and after lunch, in the afternoon, have some time strolling around in Bogyoke Market and then Bogyoke Market busy streets of Yangon’s famous China Town and Yangon Jetty. Our day excursion at the riverside where the road flanked by colonizes style builds that will give you the impression of Myanmar in old times.

Day 03: Yangon – Bagan

Transfer to airport for domestic flight to Bagan in the early morning. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be welcomed by your local guide at the airport then transfer you to the hotel. Bagan, where we will be amazed by its thousands of Buddhist pagodas spread in the area of the Ancient City of ‘Bagan’.

We will visit the Nyaung Oo Market where local people selling and buying food in daily life, head to the Shwezigon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold. Have a rest in the hotel in the hottest time in the afternoon. Then enjoy a Horse Cart Ride for the sunset, we will climb up to the top of the Shesandaw Pagoda for sunset then take the horse cart back to the hotel. It is an unforgettable feeling of taking the horse cart ride on the off-road treks through the pagodas when its quiet in the dusk.

Day 04: Bagan Sightseeing

Today, we drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with its golden shrines. Located 50 km Southeast of Bagan, this solitary peak is a showcase of the Popa Taungkalat shrine, the favored home of most powerful “Nats” of Myanmar (local spirits), statues of which are able to be found at its base. These “Nats” were once so essential to the country’s early Kings that it was important for them to consult the Nats before commencing their reign. The shrine is located at the top of the mountain, and if you have the energy, take off your shoes and socks to climb to the top. Along the way, you can see a multitude of monkeys expecting treat!

En route, stop by a local village to get to know about local culture and lifestyle. Then, lunch at a hill resort. On the way back visit a palm sugar workshop, where the harvested nectar from local trees is cooked into the sugar cubes, we see in teashops today.

Day 05: Bagan – Heho Inle Lake

Transfer to the airport for an onward flight to Heho where you will be picked up and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake. The place locates in the highland of Myanmar at an altitude of roughly 3,000 feet above sea level.  Here you will enjoy a different ambiance and ambiance from the middle part of Myanmar. After the check-in hotel, the rest of the day will be yours.

Day 06: Inle Lake Day Excursion

Our excursion today will be made by long tail boat to see the life of In-tha (name of local ethnic people lives on the lake), to discover their unique floating farms and life on floating village. You can see how the local fisher to fish with their legs paddling the boat and the Long Neck Ladies who were relocated from the Myanmar and Thailand border. The rest of the day will be yours.

Day 07: Inle Lake – Mandalay

Get into free time in the morning until getting escorted to the airport for onward flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival in Mandalay, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel.

After a rest in the hotel, we will visit Mahamuni Image where we will see local people pray and stick a gold paper on the Buddha for a blessing. You can also make your wish and donate money (buy) for a gold paper to stick the gold paper on the statue (women are not allowed to stick the gold). On the way of reaching the Mahamuni Image, we will visit a gold paper factory to know how people made the gold leaf. Head to the Shwenandaw Monastery which means ‘Golden Palace Monastery” and was constructed in the 19th century and well known for its teak carving of Buddhist myths. Visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda that is a Buddhist stupa containing the world’s largest book of Buddhism. Our day excursion end at the top of Mandalay Hill for a stunning sunset.

Day 08: Amarapura Full-day Tour

Today, in the morning, about 30′ drive to Sagaing, the capital of Sagaing Division in Myanmar and situated on the Ayeyarwady River, 20 km to the southwest of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the river. Cross Innwa Bridge, built by the British in 1934. Firstly, we will visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery to see hundreds of monks line up for daily meals at 10:15 am. Then, we head to the U Bein Bridge that is 1.2 kilometers long and is the world’s longest teakwood bridge.

Later, head to Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda; the dome-shaped pagoda rises up to 46 meters. At the base of the pagoda, you can see 812 stone pillars, each one with a hollow as well as an image of a Nat in it. Continue to go to Sagaing Hill, the hill has a number of small pagodas and with manifold meditation centers and soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda; it is situated on Sagaing Hill. We can stop at monasteries and nunneries and talk with them while enjoying green tea from hot teapot and palm-sugar.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Sagaing and take a short rest, then continue to head to Amarapura, “The City of Immortality” located 11 km to the south of Mandalay and the old-aged temple of Pahtodawgyi which was constructed in 1820 in the Inva old-aged town. Later, the rest of the day will be yours.

Day 09: Flight to Chiang Mai

Upon arrival, take a drive to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day will be yours.

Day 10: Chiang Mai Sightseeing

Today, we will start your cultural tour in Chiang Mai. Our first stop will be Kad Ton Payom Market, famous for its fresh fruits and flowers, aromatic spices and northern Thai cuisine. You can participate in the local tradition of almsgiving — giving food to Buddhist monks. Continue to go to the Buddhist temple of Wat Umong which is nestled in the forested foothills of Suthep Mountain. Here, learn about the Buddhist proverbs posted throughout the grounds in English & Thai before heading inside to admire the impressive Buddha statue. We also visit the 14th-century Wat Suan Dok which is a white bell-shaped temple, home to a 20-foot (6-meter) Buddha. Witness the large prayer hall as well as the unique open-sided chapel, then get into an opportunity to chat with a monk about Buddhism and temple life.

After lunch, head to the Meow Hill Tribe Village where locates on the Mountain Doi Pui. It was once renowned for opium cultivation. Keep going to the Temple Wat Doi Suthep where you will enjoy a stunning panoramic vista of Chiang Mai City. If you like, here is also one of the best places to enjoy the sunset.

Day 11: Elephant Nature Park

Today, we take a full-day visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, dogs, buffalos, cats, birds, and manifold other rescued animals. Our visit begins with a scenic drive through rural countryside to Elephant Nature Park. We will hear the personal stories of rescued and orphaned elephants. Observe how they became a proud herd & free from abuse for the first time in their lives. Manifold find their visit to Elephant Nature Park rewarding and immensely relaxing. See free-roaming elephants (no riding), and other rescued animals getting into the natural surroundings of our sanctuary. Our visit helps support their regional projects as well as gives an invaluable opportunity of helping elephant conservation.

Day 12: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai

After breakfast, you will transfer to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival, you will head to the White Temple, which is an unusual Thai temple which is designed by artist Chalerm chai Kositpipat, who mixes traditional Buddhist temple architecture with pop culture references. After the excursion, you will escort to your hotel for check-in, rest is your own leisure.

Day 13: Doi Mae Salong – Explore Golden Triangle

The golden triangle is a mysterious region for most of the Southeast Asia tour makes, today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the heart of the golden triangle region.

Our fascinating day will begin from morning by firstly head to the Long Neck Karen village to witness the long neck hill, tribe people. If it is possible, you will also able to visit a Cock Fighting near the hill tribe village. Keep driving to Mt. Doi Mae Salong and head to the Chinese village on the top of the mountain. Lunch at a local restaurant.

Later, in the afternoon, continue the trip to the highest peak on the Thai-Myanmar border. Doi Tung offers an opportunity to witness enrooted manifold different Lahu and Akha villages as well as terraced farming areas and marvel at Princess Mother’s frigid flower Garden.  Doi Tung temple, constructed in A.D.1493, is situated at the peak.  Its stunning view reminds one of Switzerland, features manifold unique images and temple architecture which overlooks at the entire northern rice field plain. Then, back to the hotel and relax.

Day 14: Chiang Rai – Bangkok

This morning, enjoy your free morning until transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, your private local guide will welcome you at the airport then escorts you to visit the Grand Palace which is a stunning example of an old-aged Siamese court, and Wat Phra Kaew, home to the revered Emerald Buddha statue. Then, ride like a Local by tuk-tuk to Wat Pho temple, to behold the 150-foot-long Reclining Buddha statue. Next, discover the city’s renowned klongs (canals) by boat and cruise the Chao Phraya River. Also, we visit Wat Arun and the Royal Barge Museum.

Day 15: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi & WWII

This morning, we head to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where we will discover the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling local fruits, foods, and products from their boats. Discover the market before heading to Kanchanaburi to learn about the region’s storied past and present-day culture. Made renowned by the book and movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, the famous bridge and railway is a notable part of the Kanchanaburi landscape. Head to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre to get to know about the deadly, Herculean task manifold Thais were faced with decades ago. Take some time to just unwind here, before we drive back to the hotel.

Day 16: Vientiane Arrival

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to meet and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be yours.

Day 17: Vientiane City Tour

Vientiane, the charming capital city of Laos with a rich heritage of Buddhist culture, is waiting for you to discover. Your full-day city tour will take you to head to the highlights of Vientiane. You will get to know some more history of Laos by visiting the National Museum, then go to the temple Wat Sisaket which is the oldest surviving temple with thousands of Buddhist images. The temple Wat Prakeo housing the renowned Emerald Buddha image. Your day excursion will also visit the symbolic site That Luang Stupa and Patuxay Monument.

Day 18: Luang Prabang – Buddhist Ancient City & Temples

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to the ancient city of Luang Prabang. Upon arrival, you will escort to visit the Royal Palace Museum (closed on Tuesday), which hosts a range of interesting artifacts. See the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground and representing classical Laotian architecture. Head to the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

In the afternoon, head to the Arts and Ethnology Center to get to know about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before heading out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. Later, return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. Next, climb to the top of Mount Phousi to discover the holy, gilded stupa and a sunset vista of the city and the Mekong River. Finally visit the renowned Night Market, where you will find handmade textiles made by locals living in the surroundings.

Day 19: Boat Excursion to Pak Ou Caves – Kuang Si Waterfall

This morning, embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River. Along the way, stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where Laos rice wine and rice whiskey are produced. You’ll be able to try some and learn about the process used to make it. Then on to the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves filled with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims.

Lunch will be served near the caves. You will have an opportunity to taste a local dish called “Orlam” which is a soup with vegetables and features a spicy wood that is partially edible. On return, visit the traditional weaving village of Ban Phanom, renowned for its hand-woven textiles. Continue to discover the stunning Kuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

Day 20: Siem Reap Arrival

Upon arrival, our representative will be waiting to meet and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be yours.

Day 21: Angkor Thom Ancient Capital

After breakfast, begin your day excursion to the remains of an old-aged civilization that once ruled much of Southeast Asia. Head to the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom. En route, catch a glimpse of Angkor Wat as you pass by. However, we will save the best for last as we continue today to admire some other equally magnificent ruins of Ta Prohm Temple, Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Bayon Temple, Banteay Kdei, Baphoun, and the Royal Palace. First on the agenda is Ta Prohm. Worn by time, rain, and overpowered by the jungle, this immaculate structure is hidden under a canopy will leave you feeling as if you’d stepped into an adventure movie set.

As the sun goes out, enjoy a sunset view from the top of the pyramid-shaped temple of Pre Rup. Back to the hotel and relax at leisure.

Day 22: Angkor Wat & Banteay Srei

Today, we head to one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Angkor Wat. Enter the impressive site and view its amazing architecture and history. Angkor Wat possesses some of the longest and most intricate stone carvings. Spend the morning discovering through the manifold passages, levels, as well as chambers that once housed various treasures of the old-aged world.

Then, head to the remote temple of Banteay Srei: set deep in the jungle. The Citadel of Women or Banteay Srei was carved from red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to elaborate decorative wall carvings, that are well preserved to this day. The sites themselves are miniature in scale in comparison to the other colossal temples around Siem Reap, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction. This temple is believed to be the jewel of Khmer art.

Day 23: Tonle Sap Lake

In the morning, a half-day excursion to the biggest Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake—Tonle Sap Lake. You will take a fun ox cart ride through the countryside. Get on a boat to enjoy the beautiful lake vistas and mangrove forests. Spend the rest of the morning at Kompong Phluk, the largest village on the lake, to explore the wonderful daily lifestyle of the local people who live on the water. Later, back to the hotel and relax.

Day 24: Siem Reap Departure

Time to say goodbye. Breakfast and morning at leisure until getting escorted to the airport for a flight coming home. Your Asia vacation ends. Hope you enjoyed the trip and wish that we could serve you next time.