Myanmar – Cambodia – Laos Tour

Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage. Start exploring Yangon’s colonial city style, Mahabandoola Park and Town Hall near Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years ago. Then visit the Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) for souvenir shopping (which is closed on Monday) and to Chaukhtutgyi, a huge reclining Buddha image.

In the 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. After a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a hamsa-bird-shaped floating barge on Kandawgyi Lake is waiting for your embark. Over the lake, shadow of the grand Shwedagon Pagoda reflects its majesty in a quite different yet amazing way. We will drive back to hotel with a lovely sunset.

Overnight at the Hotel

After early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport for your flight to Bagan(flight not included).

Upon your arrival start your Bagan tour with a visit to the vibrant Nyaung Market, unveil the glory of Bagan’s history by visits to archeological treasures such as the Shwezigon Pagoda for its impressive bell-shaped stupa, graceful Htilominlo Temple with its delicate plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

Continue to discover the ancient and most treasured handicrafts of lacquering by a demonstration from skilled artisan. Explore the amazing mural paintings under the protection of UNESCO at MyingabaGuByaukgyiTemple, and enjoy your soothing sunset at Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Overnight in Bagan

Breakfast at hotel

Proceed to the Nanpaya Temple. The masonry work is outstanding, as well as its interior design. It reflects the strong Brahman influence that affected the Teravadin Mon kings. Also, do take note of the relief of the god Brahma. There are three faces that can be discerned, all of which have the typical facial features of Mon. These are said to be representations of King Manuha. It is sometimes called the Ganesh or Mahapeine Temple, named after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose image once stood at the corners of its five successively diminishing rectangular terrace.

In the afternoon, sightseeing start with many of the old murals and friezes can still be discerned, as can several old horoscopes, painted to protect the building from damage. After that proceed to Ananda Temple constructed in 1091, and is considered the masterpiece of Mon architecture. Board a local sunset boat for a slow cruise down in the Irrawaddy River.  As you cruise the waters, observe the lifestyle of the fishermen and riverside villagers as well as enjoying the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples.

Overnight in Bagan

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer to airport for flight to Mandalay.

Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar Kingdom before the annexation of Britishin 1885. The period of kingdom was very short, but the named Mandalay becomes well known by “Rudyard Kipling”. The royal palace wall surrounded by the moat is one of the great things to see and it has been re-created after 1945, by 2^nd War World.

Upon arrival at Mandalay Airport, drive straight to the city for an hour where we can pass through the country side area with different vegetations. First stop at Mahamuni Buddha, it has covered with thick layer of gold leaves and continue to a craftsman’s workshop to see puppet, tapestries and gold leaves making. Then, drive to hotel for check in.

After a short break in the afternoon, comprehensive sightseeing in Mandalay includes ShweNanDawKyaung (Golden Palace monastery), a special wooden building built by Royal family and Kuthodaw Pagoda (known as the world’s largest book), the golden stupa surrounded by 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures.

Overnight Mandalay

Breakfast at hotel and depart for trip to Ava.

We’ll drive former capitals of Amarapura, visit Mahagandayon Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study the Buddha scripture. If time allow, you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Proceed to Ava, the capital from 14^th to 18^th centuries and visit by horse and carriage the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and fort, and the Maha Aungmye Bonzan and Htihlaing Shin Paya. Back to Mandalay and put a perfect end to today’s trip with a sunset boat excursion around the world’s longest teak bridge at U Bein Bridge.

Overnight Mandalay.

After early breakfast, transfer to airport for your flight to Heho on the Shan plateau.

Upon arrival, transfer by road to Kalaw (39 km) about an hour drive. Make an excursion to the popular hill station in the British days; Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. It is still a peaceful and quiet place with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslim, Bamar and Nepali. THEIN TAUNG PAYA: temple perched on the hill overlooking the Thazi-Taunggyi Road. AUNG CHANG THA ZEDI: glittering stupa (Buddhist religious monument) covered in gold-coloured mosaics. NEE PAYA: located west of the town, it features a gold lacquered bamboo Buddha.

Overnight at the hotel in Kalaw

After breakfast at hotel, we are transferring by road to Inle Lake. We have a leisurely morning to make our way down into the Inle basin and by “long-tail” boat out across the lake to our Hotel right on the Inle Lake.

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 in Inle Lake

After breakfast at the hotel, visit to floating market which is a 5day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue our excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13^thcentury monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance.

Overnight at the hotel in Inle Lake

Breakfast at hotel

Transfer to airport for domestic flight to Yangon.

Visit Botahtaung Pagoda, located on the bank of the Yangon River, Botahtaung is a typical gilded dome that tapers gradually to the top and is capped by a symbolic fan-shape spire. Unlike many pagodas (known as zedi in Myanmar), Botahtaung is hollow inside allowing visitors to walk through to admire what is considered the highlight of any pilgrimage – a glass case containing a sacred hair relic of the Buddha. Then finish the day with a walk in colorful Chinatown and visit Yangon’s oldest Chinese temple: the Kheng Hock Keong.

Overnight at the Hotel

Then you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for a 4 hour flight via Bangkok Airways to Siem Reap.

Welcome to Siem Reap, the entrance to the Angkor Temple complex and the legacy of Khmer Empire. Upon arrival, the local Cambodian English speaking tour guide will greet you and help you transfer to your hotel for check in. On the way your guide will deliver a very interesting briefing about the history of Cambodia, its culture, people and lifestyle.

This afternoon you will enjoy with half day on quad bike through the countryside and explore Chreav Village where will see many local farmer growing vegetable while riding on quad bike , you will experience with the open zoo where are many cow and water buffalo are at the field when you catch up the sunset. You will continue to drive along Siem Reap River bank to see the floating village at Tonle Sap Lake, where  could see floating school, store, restaurant, police station and son. Drive back to town via visiting Wat Advea and the fresh market Phsar Kroum.

Overnight in Siem Reap

The morning after breakfast at our hotel, we begin another magical day at the mystical Ta Prohm temple, where ancient stones and massive tree roots engulf the ruins.  These trees and stones provide a stunning temple experience while also enjoying with sound of birds and nature; this is a wonderful place to start the temple tour.  The exploration will take approximately one hour, walking through this jungle temple after weaving our way through the beautiful Ta Prohm we journey into the ancient city of Angkor Thom.

After exploring the treasures of this ancient walled city, we continue with a visit to the mystical Bayon temple adorned with its smiling faces. The journey through the jungle to the famous Bayon which stands in the middle of the city of Angkor Thom is now everyone’s favorite site, surrounded by hundreds of smiling faces engraved on the pieces of gigantic sand stone; the temple is definitely one of the most stunning and mysterious. We head further into the temple complex and visit Baphoun, a hill top pyramid-temple, consecrated to the God Shiva that just opened to the public recently after renovation. We also visit the Elephant and leper king terraces, the royal enclosure temple of Phimean Akas and the serene Preah Pithu groups of smaller temples. We will enjoy a walk along the ancient walls of this city and relax with a hot Cambodian style picnic lunch in a shaded area or alternatively we will have lunch at a local restaurant.

Following Angkor Thom we head to the jewel of the Khmer Empire and visit the amazing Angkor Wat.  The amazing temples of Angkor were constructed to express the wealth and power of the Khmer Empire at the time. Many stone inscriptions describing the foundations of the temple have been found but Khmers left no word to tell how this great empire collapsed.  Come and dig out some secrets of Angkor with our experienced guide, reveal the stories and legends behind the sandstone carved bas-reliefs, gables and lintels. Stroll around this massive monument to admire the Khmer architectural masterpiece and engineering.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Optional: Starting early we enter the Angkor Archeological Park to experience the sunrise behind the temple of Angkor Wat with soft light against the towers reflecting in a large lily pond, one of the best views of the temple you will get.

Next we return to our hotel for breakfast before continuing to explore Preah Khan Temple. It’s located 2 kilometers northeast of Angkor Thom on the Grand Circuit and was built in the second half of the 12th century in AD 1191 by King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his father Dharanindravarman. The inscriptions indicate that Preah Khan was built on the battle site where King Jayavarman VII finally defeated the Chams. In those days it was known as Nagarajayacri, which means the City of Sacred Sword.

Leaving from the rear exit of Preah Khan temple, we then walk through the dense tropical jungle for approximately 3.5KM to enjoy nature along the tree-lined paths, taking a rest at the French dam, which was constructed in 1960, and enjoy a water break. We continue with a visit to Prasat Tanai; this temple seems lost in the jungle and gets very few visitors; it’s a 12th century temple and was constructed by King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to his ancestors. If time permits will visit the pyramid temple of Ta Keo.

In the afternoon you will transfer to the airport for your departure flight home or to the next destination.