Southeast Asia Sampler

Xin Chao and welcome to the modern and cosmopolitan city of Ho Chi Minh City, fondly known by its more evocative name, Saigon. Renamed in 1975 after the Father of the country, Ho Chi Minh, the city surprises visitors with its glittering skyscrapers, abundant nightlife, and chic restaurants and cafes.

Upon arrival to Ho Chi Minh City, our representative will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel for refreshment before starting a walking tour of colonial Saigon to snap photos of the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly known as Rue Catinat), the Continental House, City Hall, and Opera House.

Meals: No meals

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

After breakfast, drive 1.5 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City to experience one of the most powerful symbols of the city and its recent history, the Cu Chi Tunnels. Squeeze through this extensive network of underground tunnels built by the Viet Cong to combat the better-supplied American and South Vietnamese forces, remembering the recent tragedy of war in Vietnam and the hardships many locals faced in this time period.

The afternoon will be spent visiting the War Remnants Museum with a quick stop at the former Presidential Palace, which can be viewed from the outside only.

The rest of the afternoon is free for you to discover the city on your own.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Settle in for a 2-hour car ride this morning to the small town of Ben Tre where we will board our day-cruise to explore the Mekong River Delta, the rice bowl of Asia. Enjoy the landscapes of fertile fields showcasing Vietnam’s natural riches and resources of lush, bright green rice paddies on board the boat while snapping photos of the maze of rivers, mangroves, islands, and swamps.

The final activity of the day will involve a mini-trip on a sampan, a smaller, traditional rowing boat, to better explore the narrow waterways of the Mekong tributaries.

The excursion will conclude in the late afternoon, returning you to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Savor your last Vietnamese breakfast before checking out of your hotel and transfering to Ton San Nhat International Airport for a quick 1-hour flight to the gateway to Angkor Wat, Siem Reap.

Upon arrival to Kingdom of Wonder, our representative will transfer you to your beautiful, boutique hotel and have the rest of the day free to discover Siem Reap on your own. Siem Reap is home to many great restaurants, shopping opportunities, and spa treatments to indulge in.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Today marks the day you have been waiting for, 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 at 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.

Visit the magnificent Angkor Wat. In the afternoon sun, it seems as if the entire complex is sparkling. This masterpiece is the largest city in the Angkor Park and is considered one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world due to its perfect composition, balance and artistic design.

Behold the unsurpassed beauty as the sun slowly sets behind Angkor Wat, and then transfer back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Delicious breakfast awaits you before exploring the history and culture of the region.  A 1-hour drive north will bring you to Banteay Srei, the citadel of women. Constructed from pink sandsone, Banteay Srei is unlike any other temple in the entire Angkor Archaelogical Park. Banteay Srei is also renowned for its detailed classical Khmer art carvings. Afterwards, we will visit Banteay Samre, another temple near Banteay Srei and notable for its well-preserved libraries.

Board a small boat and discover the largest freshwater lake in the entire region of Southeast Asia, the Tonle Sap. As the boat glides along, visit a floating fishing village and observe the daily local life before returning to Siem Reap.

The rest of the day is free for your leisure to snatch up those last Khmer souveniers for family and friends back home.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lynnaya Urban River Resort & Spa

Say good-bye to Cambodia and fly to the city of angels, Bangkok this morning. Upon arrival to Bangkok airport, our representative will transfer you to your hotel to freshen up.

The afternoon tour will help you in regards to city orientation as we take you to three of the top sights in Bangkok, starting with the city’s iconic Grand Palace, followed by Wat Pho and then sunset at Wat Arun.

The Grand Palace, situated along the Chao Pyra River, was built in 1782 and used as the Royal Residence for King Rama I. Nowadays, the palace is used to host royal ceremonies and welcome foreign dignitaries as well as the King’s guests. The palace dazzles locals and visitors alike with its many shimmering golden spires and lavish architecture. The complex includes 35 different areas to view within the museum, one of the most important being the famous Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

A short ten minute walk away is Wat Pho, one of the oldest temples in all of Bangkok. Here is where you will get the chance to see the incredible 160 foot (46m) reclining Buddha. The Buddha is covered in gold leaf and his 16 ft. (5m) feet have beautiful mother of pearl illustrations carved into the bottom. Wat Pho is also home to one of Thailand’s first massage schools, so if you need some help recovering from jetlag, this is an excellent spot to try out later.

Board the river ferry at Tha Tien #8 pier and cross the Chao Pyra River to the magnificent Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of the Dawn. The temple is picture perfect at any time of day,  but as the day turns to dusk, the temple is illuminated, making for a striking view of what makes Bangkok such an interesting mix of old and new.

Tour ends with option to transfer back to the hotel via Thailand’s famous mode of attraction, the iconic tuk-tuk, or to continue on independently as the evening is free for your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Anantara Sathorn Bangkok Hotel

After breakfast, journey 2.5 hours north to Ayutthaya, Thailand’s answer to Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Myanmar’s Bagan. Situated on an island at the convergence of three rivers, the city functioned as the capital of the Kingdom of Siam from 1350-1767, and was the largest city in the world in the year 1700 due to its trading connections with other kingdoms such as China, India and Indonesia.

Although most of the city was destroyed when it was sacked by Burmese troops in 1767, there are still nearly 100 ruins left to admire and visit throughout the island at your leisure. Some of the most famous historical sites to see on your visit are the Buddha head entwined in a Bodhi Tree at Wat Phra Mahathat and Wat Chaiwathanaram, and can be easily explored via tuk-tuk or by bicycle as the island is completely flat.

Return to Bangkok in the early afternoon and enjoy the day as you wish to snatch up those last-minute souvenirs or shopping deals in Bangkok’s shopping and business center, Ratchaprasong. A shopper’s paradise, any manner of item can be bought here for a great price among the glistening skyscrapers and massive shopping malls.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Anantara Sathorn Bangkok Hotel

Leave Bangkok with a mid-morning flight and say min-ga-la-ba to the golden land of Myanmar—a country known for its thousands of golden temples, ethnically diverse population, and mysterious landscapes. Your tour begins in the cultural heart of the country, the poetic Mandalay. 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.

Upon arrival to Myanmar, our representative will transfer you from the airport to your hotel.

The afternoon tour will take you to 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. Although the palace is a replica due to the original burning in a fire during WWII, the Shwenendaw Monastery, relocated to outside the palace complex in 1880, is still the original building in all of its carved glory.

Proceed to the foot of Mandalay Hill to visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book, a set of Buddhist scriptures inscribed on huge stone tablets! The late afternoon will be well-spent to wander freely amongst the many shimmering gold pagodas and temples on the hill before enjoying a stunning panoramic sunset.

Transfer back to the hotel and enjoy a free evening.

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 Myanmar on this full day tour.

Our first stop is Ava, the capital of Myanmar from the 14^th to 18^th century. Step into a horse-cart and admire the scattered ruins and pretty countryside at a slow and quiet pace. We will make stops at Bagaya Kyaung, a teak monastery famous for its detailed woodcarvings and the formal royal monastery of Maha Aungmye Bonzan before heading back to the car to continue our journey.

Sagaing is the second former capital we will visit today, and is situated across the Irrawaddy River. Known to many as the living center of Buddhism, the city contains 600 white-colored pagodas and monasteries, with over 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Listen to the chimes of bells as they echo across the town and stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

Amarapura, the Immortal City, served as the capital of Myanmar twice, from 1783-1821 and then again from 1842-1859. The city is also well-known for its workshops that spin beautiful handmade silk weavings. Amarapura houses two very famous sites within the city, Mahagandayon Monastery, where over 1,000 monks currently study and live, and the iconic U-Bein Bridge.

Over 200 years old and fashioned entirely out of teak, the bridge measures a staggering 1.2 km long and is the longest bridge of its kind in the world. 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

Accommodation: The Link 78 Mandalay Boutique Hotel

Set sail for Bagan in the morning and enjoy a lovely day cruising the Irrawaddy River and observing local life and the surrounding countryside.

Along the way, there is opportunity to 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.

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, where you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

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

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Bagan Thande Hotel

After breakfast, get acquainted with the rich history of Myanmar’s jewel, Bagan. Built between the 11^th and 12^th century, this ancient city is now a fantastic archaeological site which rivals that of even Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. The flat green plains are usually covered with a romantic fog in the morning that slowly dissipates as the sun rises higher and higher in the sky. In every direction, an uncountable number of temples and stupas poke through the mist in a dusty earth-colored red.

The tour will take you to visit many important sites of Bagan, from the ancient Buddhist Shwezigone Pagoda to Gu Byauk Gi Pagoda with its beautiful mural paintings. Afterwards, continue to one of the most well-known temples in Bagan, Ananda Temple, to view its magnificent architecture and stunning wall paintings. After a visit to Tharabar Gate, enjoy a local restaurant lunch before returning to the hotel to beat the mid-day heat.

After a refreshing rest, in the late afternoon we will visit Manuha and Dhamayangi Temple to learn about the interesting part these temples played in Myanmar’s history before concluding our tour at Shwe Sandaw Pagoda for awe-inspiring sunset views.

Meals: Breakfast

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, your transport will drive just over one hour to the accommodation where we will be staying the next 3 nights.

Inle Lake is a gorgeous highland area with incredibly scenic views of crystal clear waters, lush vegetation, and faded blue mountain ranges. Sit back and unwind as you breathe in the fresh mountain air and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Myanmar’s Shan State, home to many ethnic minorities.

Our tour today will take us out on to Inle Lake where it’s still possible to view the powerful image of fisherman gliding 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 Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, well-known for not only its shan style Buddha statues but also the resident cats who have been trained to do various tricks.

We will also stop by Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main shrine, before visiting a cheroot workshop where Burmese cigars are rolled out by hand.

Rest at a floating restaurant for lunch before returning to the hotel for an afternoon free for your leisure.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Amata Garden Resort

Enjoy your last day in Inle Lake with a day free for leisure. Popular day-trips include visiting Nyaung Shwe, a sleepy little village filled with charming nunneries, local temples, and farming lands, and the Red Mountain Estate, one of the finest vineyards in all of Myanmar. To learn more about village life, visit the morning market in Indein Village to get a first-hand look into daily life and work in the area.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Amata Garden Resort

Transfer to Heho airport this morning for the one-hour flight to Yangon. Although Yangon is no longer the capital, it is still the most influential city in the country.

Visit Sule Pagoda, often known as a gathering point to many locals in the area. The Sule Pagoda is dated at 2,600 years old and is very honored in the country as it is said to have been built during the Buddha’s lifetime.

Kandawgyi Park is next on the docket, known to be one of the greenest spots in the entire city. There are excellent views to be had of the Karaweik Palace, a glittering replica of the Pyi Gyi Mon Royal Barge which was used by Burmese kings of old to travel around the kingdom. The barge is designed to look like the mythical Karavika bird which has a very important role in Burmese mythology. Enjoy the vast lake with views of Shwedagon Pagoda in the background.

The tour’s final stop arrives just in time to catch the glorious sunset at the 2,000-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most significant religious sites in the entirety of Myanmar.”

Your guide can help you select dinner from many of the makeshift food markets that shoot up each evening around the pagoda before your transfer back to the hotel for a restful night’s sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon

Your day is free to discover the city and snatch up those last-minute souvenirs before transferring to Yangon Airport for onward travel.

Meals: Breakfast