Best of Myanmar and Cambodia

Min-ga-la-ba and welcome to the former capital city of Myanmar, Yangon. Formerly known as Rangoon due to the influence of British colonialism, this former capital of Burma is still the most influential city in the country.

Upon arrival to Yangon, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the lakeside boutique Chatrium Hotel among lush greenery surrounding the famous Kandawgyi Lake with breathtaking views of the iconic Shwedagon Pagoda. Enjoy your day free at leisure to explore Yangon on your own.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

Rise and shine to your first full Burmese day! Enjoy a classic breakfast at the hotel before transferring to the busy streets of India Town in the downtown area of Yangon. Hop on to the circle line commuter train at the Yangon Central Train Station to experience a real-life look into the daily life of the inhabitants of Yangon.

After a 45-minute ride, disembark for a visit to Chaukhtatgyi Paya, home to a 70-meter-long reclining Buddha, and Sule Pagoda, one of the most important religious sites and meeting points in Yangon.

End the day-tour at the chic colonial Strand Hotel and choose between enjoying a romantic English or Burmese-styled afternoon tea for two.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

With an early flight this morning, the tour proceeds to Mandalay, the cultural and traditional heart of the country. Filled with Buddhist monasteries, exotic temples and glittering pagodas, it’s easy to see why Rudyard Kipling had so much to write about in his iconic poems.

Visit the most famous sites within the city, such as the Royal Palace of Shwe Nan Daw and its monastery, built almost exclusively with gorgeous teak wood. Wander through the many shimmering golden pagodas and temples of Mandalay Hill, making sure not to miss visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book, a set of Buddhist scriptures inscribed on huge stone tablets!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: The Link 78 Mandalay Boutique Hotel

Rise and shine for a big breakfast before leaving the hotel to discover the ancient capitals of Ava, Sagaing, andAmarapura on this full-day tour from Mandalay.

See the teak monastery Bagaya Kyaung and the former royal monastery of Maha Aungmye Bonzan in Ava. Learn more about the national religion in the living center of Buddhism, Sagaing, where there are over 600 white-coloured pagodas and monasteries housing over 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers.

And finally, gaze at the beautiful handmade silk weavings at a local workshop in Amarapura before visiting Maha Aungmye Bonzan and the largest teak bridge in the entire world, the U-Bein Bridge. Enjoy a stroll across the bridge and observe the comings and goings of the local people, or perhaps sit yourself in a small rowboat to watch the glorious sunset from a different vantage point.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: The Link 78 Mandalay Boutique Hotel

Attend an early morning alms giving ceremony in Mandalay before leaving on a day-cruise along the Irrawaddy River to Bagan. Typical alms givings are usually of simple food such as rice or fruit so that the monks can have their one meal per day.

The boat will stop in the small village of Lekkapin. Here, the inhabitants survive on agriculture and traditional hat making. Join in and learn how to create the jute hat and observe the simple way of village life.

Dine on board with a hearty lunch as you sunbathe and watch the world passing by. In the afternoon, there is a demonstration to learn and try on the traditional longyi clothing and thanatkha make-up, a type of powder used by women to protect their skin from the sun.

The boat will arrive to Bagan around 5 pm, just in time to enjoy the incredible sunset views as you continue to your hotel for check-in.

Please note the Irrawaddy Cruise is only available between November and March. For travel occurring between April to October, the transfer will occur by flight or car.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Bagan Thande Hotel

Enjoy a morning bicycle tour of many important sites in Bagan, starting with Ananda and Dhamayangi Temple. Stop at the ancient Buddhist Shwezigone Pagoda and Gu Byauk Gi Pagoda with its beautiful mural paintings. Finish at Shwe Sandaw Pagoda and admire the beautiful artistry within.

In the afternoon, visit a local monastery open to outsiders to learn about the daily lives of Buddhist monks in Myanmar. Your guide will be your translator to facilitate conversation between you and the monks, helping you to gain a deep-insight into the lives of the Myanmar faithful, many who have chosen this path from a young age. When the time is right, you will be invited to have a tea or coffee under the shade of a nearby tree to end the experience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Bagan Thande Hotel

Transfer to Nyaung-U Airport for a 40-minute flight to Heho, a small town located in the Shan State. Upon arrival to Heho, a one-hour drive brings you to the gorgeous highland area of Inle Lake,home to many ethnic minorities.

Cycle through Nyaung Shwe, a sleepy little village filled with charming nunneries, local temples, and farming lands, to the Red Mountain Estate, one of the finest vineyards in all of Myanmar, for a romantic picnic lunch.

Once you’re finished, our driver will pick you up and bring you to the Amata Garden Resort to complete the check-in procedures.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Amata Garden Resort

A private boat ride for two is in order today on the gorgeous Inle Lake where fisherman glide along the water with their unusual rowing techniques, casting glittering nets to find food. Pass by villages inhabited by local people with the houses built on stilts and floating gardens before reaching Indein Village, home to the Pa O minority tribe and also one of five villages who host the weekly morning market. This market is visited by all lake inhabitants and the surrounding hill tribes and gives us a first-hand look into daily life and work in the region.

Take a gentle walk through the village, following an old path that leads to a 13^th century monastery and ancient set of ruins peeking out throughout the jungle. Return to your hotel in the early afternoon and enjoy the rest of your day free at leisure.

Return to the resort for an afternoon free for leisure and relaxation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Amata Garden Resort

Your last Burmese breakfast awaits you before a transfer to Heho airport for the one-hour flight to Yangon.

Discover the city and snatch up those last-minute souvenirs independently until an evening flight bound for Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: La Rose Suites

Learn about the recent dark history of Cambodia by visiting the infamous sites left from Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, the Killing Fields of Chuong Ek. Just one of the 20,000 mass grave sites found within the country, Chuong Ek is now a Buddhist memorial to the many lives that were lost between 1975 and 1979. It is also a monument to the many who survived the atrocities committed and an educational tool to ensure history does not repeat itself.

After your visit finishes, journey back to Phnom Penh and stop at Tuol Sleng Prison, a former school-turned torture center and only 1 of the 150 execution centers used by the Khmer Rouge regime.

Take some time to decompress from what you have learned by walking along the Sisowath Quay Riverwalk, enjoying the wide boulevards flanked by leafy palm trees on either side until reaching the Royal Palace, gleaming in all of its golden glory. As it is the official residence of the King and Queen of Cambodia, most of the complex is off-limits; however, there is still plenty of opportunity to visit famous sites such as the Throne, Moonlight Pavilion, and of course, the Silver Pagoda, home to the Emerald Buddha and 90 kg solid gold Buddha encrusted with diamonds and jewels.

As the sun begins to set, board your riverboat for a stunning sunset dinner and cocktail cruise along the Mekong and Tonle Sap River. Enjoy a different vantage point of the glittering Royal Palace as the boat gently glides by, and watch the twinkling Phnom Penh skyline as you savor delicious Khmer food and beverages.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: La Rose Suites

Enjoy some morning free time to explore Phnom Penh on your own. For those that love history, the National Museum of Cambodia, which holds the world’s leading collection of Khmer art and sculptures and Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple built in 1373 and the founding site of the city, are perfect ways to spend the morning while shoppers can visit the Russian Market or Phsar Thmei to peruse the local wares.

Transfer to the airport for a short-40 minute flight to the gateway to Angkor, Siem Reap. Upon arrival to Siem Reap town, transfer to the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf and Spa Resort.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort

Meet Cambodia’s epic past with a tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park. One of the most important historical sites in the entire region of Southeast Asia, the City of Temples will surely amaze and astound even the most experienced traveller.

Built between the 9^th-15^th centuries, each complex was at one point the capital of the Khmer empire.  Your tour will begin with a sunrise champagne picnic breakfast at Angkor Wat, the masterpiece of Angkor Park, often considered one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Carry on by bicycle to Angkor Thom, famous for its carved faces pointing out in either direction on top of massive 75 ft. (23 m) towers. Within is the mysterious Bayon Temple, the Mona Lisa of Southeast Asia, located at the exact center of Angkor Thom, with a total of 216 carved faces.

Stops will also include the Elephant Terrace, the Leper Terrace, before moving on to the popular Ta Prohm, recognizable from the film Tomb Raider.

After lunch, return to the magnificent Angkor Wat. In the afternoon sun, it seems as if the entire complex is sparkling. Depart from the park in the early afternoon or stay to see the beautiful sunset and return to your hotel in the early evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort

Your last day is free at leisure until your onward booked transportation from Siem Reap International Airport. Bon Voyage!

Meals: Breakfast