Jewels of Cambodia & Myanmar (15 Days)

Destinations: Cambodia (Phnom Penh – Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake) – Myanmar (Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock – Mandalay – Bagan – Inle Lake)

Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival (Cambodia)

Upon arrival, our representative will greet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Free at leisure.

Day 2: Phnom Penh – Flight to Siem Reap (B, L) 

Transfer to visit the main sights including Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, Friendship & Independence Monuments, National Museum and Wat Phnom. After lunch, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the site is a former high school where was used as a prison by the communist Khmer Rouge and transfer to the Killing Fields where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the communist Khmer Rouge during the late 1970s. In the evening, take a flight to Siem Reap. 

Day 3: Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat (B, L, D)

Transfer to visit Angkor Thom including Elephant Terrace, Leper King Terrace, Baphuon, Royal enclosure, Phimeanakas, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm Temple. After lunch, visit the Angkor Wat where is one of the 7 wonders of the world. In the evening, enjoy a dinner in front of a traditional dancing show at the Apsara Theatre.

Day 4: Banteay Srey & Big Circuit (B, L)

You will enjoy the sunrise at Angkor Wat (Optional) and spend the whole morning to explore the greatest fine-art of Angkor Empire at Banteay-Srey Temple. After lunch, visit the Grand Circuit of Temples: Preah Khan, Prasat Kravan, Srah Srang, Neak Poan and Ta Som. Late afternoon, you will enjoy sunset at Pre Rup Temple. 

Day 5: Tonle Sap Lake – Siem Reap – Flight to Yangon (B) (Myanmar)

Enjoy a boat trip on the Tonle Sap lake. This is a great opportunity to learn about the life of the locals in this village then get back to the airport for a flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, pick up to hotel for check in. Overnight in Yangon.

Day 6: Yangon (B, L) 

Discover Myanmar’s glorious history at the National Museum. Next, visit to the golden Sule Pagoda then pay homage to the famed 2500 year old Shwedagone Pagoda. In the afternoon, enjoy a walk around Mahabandola park to take in the colonial court-house and the city hall. Afterward, visit the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda which houses a 72-meter reclining Buddha statue and the Chinatown night market where you will see street markets, snack vendors and many places of worship as you walk along the street.

Day 7: Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock – Kyaikhtiyo (B, L)

Transfer by car to Kyaikhtiyo. En-route you will have a stop in Bago where you will visit the huge 55-meter long Shwethalaung reclining Buddha image, the Mon style 374ft-high Shwemawdaw Pagoda which consists of four 30m-high sitting Buddha placed back-to-back around a huge, square pillar and town market. Upon arrival, get a local open truck to base camp Kinpun then you will hike to reach the spectacular Golden Rock, one of the holiest sites in Asia. Overnight in Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 8: Kyaikhtiyo – Yangon – Flight to Mandalay (B, L)

After breakfast, head back toward to the airport in Yangon for a flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 9: Mandalay (B, L)

Pay respect to Mahamuni Pagoda then visit to some local workshops. In addition, visit Shwe-Gyi-Do quarter which is the best place for embroidery and appliqué work. You then get an insight into the craftsmanship of the Burmese. In the afternoon, transfer to the ancient city of Amarapura and visit the country’s largest monastery “Maha Ganyon Kyaung”, home to several thousand young monks, renowned as a centre for monastic study and strict religious discipline. Finally, today itinerary concludes with a walk at sunset along the 1.2km long teak-pole U Bein pedestrian footbridge.

Day 10: Mandalay (B, L)

Take a boat trip to Mingun for visiting the Pahtodawgyi Temple and Mingun Bell then return to Mandalay by a 40-minute boat ride for down river. This trip gives you the opportunity to observe the plenty of life along the river. In the afternoon, you will visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and Kuthodaw Pagoda, where Buddhist scripture are carved on 729 marble tablets, billed as the “biggest book” in the world. In the evening, visit the lively night-market where vendors set up along 84th street between 28th and 29th street.

Day 11: Mandalay – Flight to Bagan (B)
Free time until transfer to airport for a flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, you will visit the main monuments of Old Bagan: the Royal Palace ruins, Tharabar Gate, Ananda Temple, a Burmese architecture masterpiece with four huge Buddha statues and Ananda Okkyaung, one of the last brick monasteries. The day ends by a lovely horse cart ride (around 1h30) to enjoy the fabulous view from the top of ‘Shwesandaw Pagoda’ and follow the steps up to one of the high terraces for a great view out over the plains.

Day 12: Bagan (B, L)

Transfer to visit the colourful Nyaung OO market and the Shwezigon Pagoda. Then get to learn more about the local culture with a visit to workshop producing Bagan’s most famous products: lacquer ware and wood crafts. After lunch, you will venture into Anauk Pwasaw village to enjoy the traditional Myanmar and see the daily activities of local people at village. Then tour continues to the massive walled and12th-century Dhammayangyi Pagoda & Gubyaukgyi Temple. Late afternoon, take a dusk boat trip on the Ayeyarwaddy river. The view of the temples of Bagan from a distance with the light of the setting sun is stunning!

Day 13: Bagan – Flight to Heho – Inle Lake (B, L)

Transfer to airport for a flight to Heho, where you will enjoy a one-hour scenic drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to the lovely Inle lake. You will then arrive at Nyaung Shwe’s dock to find a private motorboat waiting for you. Surrounded by the Shan Hills, embark on a private motorboat trip to your hotel on Inle Lake, passing stilted villages, floating gardens, unique pagodas, and traditional flat-bottomed boats powered by leg-rowing fishermen. You will enjoy rest of the day at leisure at your hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 14: Inle Lake (B, L)

Take a boat trip to Morning market on the lake which rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5-day scheme. Then you will cruise down along a narrow canal leading to the Pa-Oh village of Indein where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce. After that, take a boat back to Inle Lake then visit the famous Phaung Daw Oo pagoda and its 5 holy Buddha images. From here, you venture into the Nampan floating villages that host a whole variety of local artisans and also visit workshops of the boat carpenters. Tour continues to Inn Paw Khone weaving village and floating gardens of Hydroponics system. Finally visit Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, one of the most impressive of the many monasteries on the lake with its 150-200 pillars with elaborate wooden carvings. This monastery is also known as the jumping cat monastery, where visitors are treated to a show that involves well-trained felines.

Day 15: Inle Lake – Heho – Flight to Yangon – Departure (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Heho for a flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon airport, head to the international check-in counter for your departure flight home.

Price per person (US$/Pax) & Validity until April 30, 2021

Accommodation

Inclusions: Hotel accommodation as mentioned; Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner; Domestic flights: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap, Yangon – Mandalay, Mandalay – Bagan, Bagan – Heho, Heho – Yangon; Transport by private with AC; English speaking guide (Other languages on request); Boat trips; Horse cart in Bagan; All entrance and sightseeing fees; Mineral water and wet towel; All taxes and service charges.

Exclusions: International flight: Siem Reap – Yangon; Visa fees; Early check-in & Late check-out at all hotels; Insurance; Personal expenses; Tipping/Gratuities; Other drinks; Surcharge on special days; Any other services not clearly mentioned above.