MYANMAR – CAMBODIA – LAOS
Embark on a 19-day journey across Southeast Asia, exploring the timeless charm of Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. From the golden pagodas of Yangon and the ancient temple plains of Bagan to the spiritual heart of Mandalay, Myanmar offers a glimpse into a land of sacred traditions and serene beauty. Cruise along Inle Lake to witness the unique lifestyle of the Intha people before continuing to Cambodia, where the grandeur of Angkor Wat and the historical depth of Phnom Penh await. Conclude your adventure in Laos, discovering the laid-back capital Vientiane, the breathtaking landscapes of Vang Vieng, and the cultural treasures of UNESCO-listed Luang Prabang. This immersive journey blends history, spirituality, and natural beauty, promising an unforgettable Southeast Asian experience.
DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
Mingalabar! Your guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and take you directly to your hotel.
Your highlight for this evening is dinner in Karaweik Palace, overlooking to the Royal Lake and Shwedagon Tower. A meal of fine Burmese food will be served followed by a beautiful cultural show of music and dancing.
Overnight at hotel in Yangon
Distance:
- Yangon Airport – Yangon Central: 7,3 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
DAY 2: YANGON CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
This morning, transfer to Yangon Railways station to take a unique ride on the city’s circular train ride through the outskirts of town. The slowly traveling train gives you unique opportunity to enjoy observing the lively and colorful life of the rural Burmese people. Disembark after 45 minutes – 1 hour in Insein township. One of the city’s best fresh markets is here, filled with vendors and piles of colorful items for sale. Spend time walking amid the stalls examining the fruits, produce and meats on sale as well as chatting with the friendly locals.
Transfer by car back to the city center of Yangon. Take a short walking tour through Chinatown and Little India, two fabulously diverse and vibrant neighborhoods of Yangon. You’ll see street markets, snack vendors and many places of worship as you walk along the street.
In the afternoon, continue to Bogyoke Market, formerly known as Scott’s Market, to browse through the dozens of stalls and shops. This is Yangon’s best market for handicrafts and other goods. (Note: Market is closed on Mondays and public holidays).
From here, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.
Overnight at hotel in Yangon
Distance:
- Insein township – Yangon Central: 9 miles 🡪 40 minutes driving transfer
- Yangon Central – Shwedagon Pagoda: 6 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
DAY 3: YANGON – FLY TO INLE LAKE – SIGHTSEEING (B/-/-)
Leave Yangon for Heho today. Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar is located 900 meters above sea level and is home to the Intha people, famous for their one leg rowing technique.
Upon arrival, board a motorboat for a sightseeing tour to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, famed for its richly gilded five small Buddha images and believed to be the holiest pagoda in Inle Lake. Our next stop is Ngaphechaung Monastery. As you travel closer to Nam Pan Village, have a look at cotton and lotus weaving factories and cigar making houses. These sites will give you a true sense of traditional Intha life.
Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake
Distance:
- Yangon Central – Yangon Airport: 7,3 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
- Heho Airport – Inle Lake: 24 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
- Inle Lake – Nyaung Shwe: 17 miles 🡪 55 minutes driving transfer
- Nyaung Shwe – Ngaphechaung Monastery: 19 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
DAY 4: FIVE-DAY MARKET – INDEIN (B/-/-)
This morning, visit the “5 Day Market” which is held in different villages surrounding the lake. This is definitely a fascinating place to enjoy the scene of local tribes in their colorful clothes and exotic market atmosphere.
After that, the boat will take you to the beautiful temple of Indein, located on the hill overlooking the lake. It is relaxing to walk along the corridors and enjoy the giant columns that have been left to the nature for centuries.
Overnight at hotel in Inle Lake
Distance:
- Inle Lake – Indein temple: 27 miles 🡪 1 hour 15 minutes driving transfer
DAY 5: INLE LAKE – FLY TO BAGAN – DISCOVERY (B/-/-)
Today, take a morning flight to Bagan. Bagan is Myanmar’s archaeological wonderland, where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside.
Upon arrival, start your tour from the bustling Nyaung U Market in Old Bagan then explore the beautiful, gold leaf Shwezigon Pagoda and learn about Burmese Buddhist traditions. Continue your tour with a visit to Ananda Temple, stopping along the way on the Bagan plains to admire some of the surrounding temples. In the afternoon, take a tour of a local lacquer ware workshop and learn how this traditional piece of art is made.
Enjoy a short cruise along the Irrawaddy River at sunset.
Overnight at hotel in Bagan
Distance:
- Yangon Central – Yangon Airport: 7,3 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
- Bagan Airport – Bagan Central: 5,9 miles 🡪 13 minutes driving transfer
- Bagan Central – Ananda Temple: 3,3 miles 🡪 10 minutes driving transfer
DAY 6: BAGAN SIGHTSEEING – HORSE CART RIDING (B/-/-)
This morning, travel to Mandalay by car, it takes around 4.5 hours.
In the afternoon, visit Shwenandaw Monastery – noted for its exquisite wood carvings, gold leaf beating workshop, Kuthodaw Pagoda – known as the world biggest book and finish the tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to watch the sun-set and the panoramic view of the city.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Bagan – Mandalay Central: 114 miles 🡪 4 hours 15 minutes driving transfer
- Mandalay – Shwenandaw Monastery: 5 miles 🡪 20 minutes driving transfer
DAY 7: BAGAN – MANDALAY – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
This morning, travel to Mandalay by car. It takes around 4.5 hours through the highway.
In the afternoon, visit Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery – noted for its exquisite wood carvings, gold leaf beating workshop, Kuthodaw Pagoda – known as the world biggest book and finish the tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to watch the sun-set and the panoramic view of the city.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Bagan – Mandalay Central: 114 miles 🡪 4 hours 15 minutes driving transfer
- Mandalay – Shwenandaw Monastery: 5 miles 🡪 20 minutes driving transfer
DAY 8: MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – SAGAING – AVA – UBEIN SUNSET (B/-/-)
Upon arrival, drive to Amarapura. Being famous for Mahagandaryone Monastery, Amarapura is the best place to experience the monk life in Mandalay. Every day at mid-morning, monks and novices line up silently to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists.
Heading to Sagaing, discover the monk education, visit Budda cave, Uminthonze pagoda and Sunooponnyashin pagoda. Behold the panoramic view of Mandalay.
We then cross the river by ferry to Inwa (Ava), situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Once a royal capital, Inwa is now a quiet rural oasis. Enjoy a horse cart ride around the peaceful countryside, visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful teak wood monastery, Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Kyaung, and Nan Myint tower.
End of the day, walk over Ubein Wooden Bridge, is believed to be the longest and oldest teak wood bridge in the world, enjoy great sunset view here.
Overnight at hotel in Mandalay
Distance:
- Mandalay Central – Amarapura: 7 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
- Amarapura – Sagaing: 9 miles 🡪 30 minutes driving transfer
- Inwa – Mandalay: 22 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
DAY 9: MANDALAY – FLY TO SIEM REAP VIA BANGKOK (B/-/-)
Today, you will fly to Siem Reap via Bangkok. Upon arrival, check in hotel and relax (check in time is at 14:00, early check in is subject to availability).
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Distance:
- Mandalay Central – Mandalay Airport: 24 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
- Siem Reap Airport – Sieam Reap Central: 29 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
DAY 10: DISCOVER ANGKOR TEMPLES (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel, start to Visit South gate of Angkor Thom with its majestic doors, monumental temple of Bayon facing the tropical forest and Baphuon and Phimeanakas mountains, elephant terrace and Terrect of the Liper King, Takeo “Jewel of Crystal” is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century and Ta Prohm temple which is a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty. Giant trees have grown there for centuries.
In the afternoon, Visit Angkor Wat: the 7th World heritage wonder, the founder was Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu. The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys, ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Distance:
- Siem Reap City Center – Angkor Thom (South Gate): 4.5 miles 🡪 15 minute driving transfer
- Angkor Thom – Ta Prohm: 2.8 miles 🡪 10 minute driving transfer
- Ta Prohm – Angkor Wat: 3.5 miles 🡪 10–12-minute driving transfer
DAY 11: COOKING CLASS – BANTEAY SREI (B/L/-)
Discover the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine in a half-day cooking class but first begin with a walk to local food market where you will learn about Cambodian vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients before returning to the classroom for a hands-on culinary experience. After dining on your creations, we have arranged for you to Banteay Srei, home to Angkor’s finest stone carvings, followed by Preah Khan (Sacred Sword): one of Angkor’s largest temples, constructed in the 12th century by Jayavarman VII. Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Distance:
- Siem Reap City Center – Banteay Srei: 25 miles 🡪 1 hour driving transfer
- Banteay Srei – Preah Khan: 17 miles 🡪 45 minutes driving transfer
- Preah Khan – Siem Reap: 12 miles 🡪 40 minutes driving transfer
DAY 12: SIEM REAP – DRIVE TO PHNOM PENH (B/-/-)
Today travel by car to Cambodia’s bustling capital, Phnom Penh. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Royal Palace, home to the royal family and the opulent silver pagoda and spend sometimes at the Russian market for bargain hunting.
Then, we visit the National Museum and learn about the world’s largest collections of Khmer art, including sculptural, ceramics, bronzes, and ethnographic objects.
After that, we talk the leisure walk from National museum to riverfront, discover the neighborhood and visit the night market or watching sunset on the river.
Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh
Distance:
- Siem Reap Central – Phnom Penh Capital: 195 miles 🡪 5.5 hours driving transfer
DAY 13: PHNOM PENH CITY TOUR – FLY TO VIENTIANE (B/-/-)
Spend your morning on a city tour, visiting the capital’s main attractions. Start by learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent, bloody history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”.
In the afternoon, we will take you to the airport for a flight to Vientiane.
Upon arrival, our private tour guide & driver will pick up and transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Overnight at hotel in Vientiane
Distance:
- Phnom Penh Central – Phnom Penh International Airport: 7 miles 🡪 30 minutes driving transfer
- Wattay International Airport – Vientaine: 6 miles 🡪 20 minutes driving transfer
DAY 14: VIENTIANE CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Today we have a full day to explore Vientiane – the charming and fascinating capital of Laos, one of the classic Indo Chinese cities which conjure up exotic images, with its intriguing mix of Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, American and Soviet influences. Our visit will take you to the key sites: National Museum, Wat Sisaket the city ‘s oldest surviving temple with thousands of silver and porcelain images in the gloriously authentic temple compound that offers you a glimpse into the Vientiane of the past, the next stop is Haw Phra Kaeo. This large temple is beautiful both interior and exterior, it was built to house the famed Emerald Buddha in courtyards filled with frangipani trees. Next is the visit Pha That Luang, the giant golden stupa is a sight to see as the bright gold holds a sharp contrast to the pure blue sky. Then you will go to climb the Arc De Triomphe of Laos, Patuxai. The massive arch has a beautiful mosaic tiled ceiling and once at the top you can see for miles around Vientiane. In the afternoon we take a half day tour to Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan (as well as other variations of the spelling), is a sculpture park located 25 km southeast from Vientiane.
Overnight at hotel in Vientiane
DAY 15: VIENTIANE – VANG VIENG (B/-/-)
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then head north to the sleepy riverside hamlet of Vang Vieng, a small town next to the Nam Song River that is surrounded by jagged limestone karsts.
Upon arrival in Vang Vieng, you will visit the highlight of Vang Vieng: Blue Lagoon and Tham Phoukham.
Overnight at hotel in Vang Vieng
Distance:
- Vientiane – Vang Vieng: 80 miles 🡪 2 hours driving transfer
- Vang Vieng – Blue Lagoon and Tham Phoukham: 7 miles 🡪 25 minutes driving transfer
DAY 16: VANG VIENG – VANG VIENG ELEPHANT SANCTUARY (B/L/-)
After breakfast at hotel, enjoy a nice drive to Vang Vang Elephant Sanctuary through mountains, forest and local villages. Upon arrival, you have a chance to join daily activities of elephants and play with them. Return to your hotel in late afternoon
Overnight at hotel in Vang Vieng
Distance:
- Vang Vieng – Vang Vang Elephant Sanctuary: 2 miles 🡪 10 minutes driving transfer
DAY 17: VANG VIENG – LUANG PRABANG – CITY TOUR (B/-/-)
Today we embark on the 6 hours journey by car to Luang Prabang.
In the afternoon, visit magnificent Wat Xiengthong – representative of classic Laotian architecture, before seeing the impressive temple of Wat Mai. We spend the remainder of the day to visit the former king’s palace, which is now a museum. The many items nicely displayed include rare furniture, traditional costumes, arts, jewelry, ornaments as well as working tools and utensils of the early part of the 20th century.
After that, relaxing in one of the city’s many quirky cafés or strolling along the beautiful riverbank.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance:
- Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang: 114 miles 🡪 4,5 hours driving transfer
DAY 18: PAK OU CAVES – KHUANG SI WATERFALL (B/-/-)
After breakfast, we embark on a cruise upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a breathtaking view of the tranquil countryside as well as explore the mysterious Pak Ou Caves, two linked caves crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes left by pilgrims. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where the local make the rice wine. On return, we take a short visit to Khop Noi art gallery before transferring back to hotel for relaxing.
This afternoon, visit Kuang Si Waterfalls for a fun and relaxation.
Overnight at hotel in Luang Prabang
Distance:
- Luang Prabang Central – Pak Ou Caves: 20 miles 🡪 35 minutes driving transfer
- Pak Ou Caves – Kuang Si Waterfalls: 37 miles 🡪 1 hour 45 minutes driving transfer
DAY 19: DEPARTURE (B/-/-)
After breakfast in the hotel, our driver will transfer you to the airport for departure.
Distance:
- Luang Prabang central – Luang Prabang Airport: 2,5 miles 🡪 8 minutes driving transfer
HOME SWEET HOME
Included / Excluded
To help you plan your trip, we have put together a list of what's included and what's not included in your tour package. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and help you make any necessary arrangements before your journey begins.
- Domestic flights: Bagan – Heho – Yangon
- Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
- Private tours, transfers and all services as mentioned in the itinerary
- Services of a private driver and air–conditioned vehicles
- Service of English speaking guides in every location
- Meals are mentioned on program (B: Breakfast, Br: Brunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
- International flights
- Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
- Early check-in and late check-out at hotels.
- Personal expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal travel insurance
- Myanmar visa fee
Tour Map
This comprehensive map is designed to guide you through an exciting journey filled with remarkable destinations and captivating experiences.
