Tour to Thailand and Myanmar

• Day 1:

  Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check in. Accommodation in Bangkok: (5*) Anantara Riverside (Deluxe Room) (four nights) Note: Check in time at Anantara Riverside is 3:00 PM

• Day 2:

  After breakfast at the hotel, you will depart and visit two of the most important sights of Bangkok. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is a giant lying Buddha, covered in gold leaf. The Grand Palace is a “must see” for every visitor. Located close to the banks of the Chao Phraya River, the Grand Palace is the perfect example of an ancient Siamese court. Within the compound is the Temple of Emerald Buddha (Wat Pra Kaew). Lunch will be served in a Thai restaurant. Travel on the Chao Phraya River (The River of Kings) and through the Klongs (canals) of Thonburi. You will have the chance to observe and photograph the serene family homes and temples along the waterways, which gave the city the name “Venice of the East”. You will also pay a visit to one of the most photographed sights in Bangkok, the Wat Arun. The majestic shrine has a pagoda of 250 feet high. It is decorated with glazed ceramic pieces that reflect the rising sun and gave the temple its name. Important: Please note that you are required to wear proper attire (no bare shoulder, bare knees or strapless-heel shoes). Shoes must be removed before entering all temple buildings.

• Day 3:

  After breakfast at the hotel, you will travel approximately 60 miles outside of Bangkok to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market with its many colors, flavors and exotic fragrances. Start with a scenic ride on a narrow longtail speedboat, passing riverside villages and fruit plantations, before entering the vibrant market. There will be many photo opportunities along the way and at the colorful market. You will return to Bangkok and enjoy some leisure time in the afternoon.

• Day 4:

  After breakfast at the hotel, leave Bangkok for Ayutthaya, the ancient Siamese capital. Today, Ayutthaya hosts some of Thailand's most important historical landmarks and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The magnitude and number of the ancient temple ruins speaks of the former greatness of the city. You will visit some of the most interesting temples and nearby Bang-Pa-In. The Bang-Pa-In Summer Palace of King Rama V consists of buildings in Gothic, Renaissance, Chinese and Thai architecture. Cruise back to Bangkok along the Chao Phraya River aboard a river cruiser. En route you can observe the scenic river life as you enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.

• Day 5:

  After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some leisure time until you transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai (additional charge applies). Meet your guide and continue to visit the Handicrafts Village, to learn and see the local people making the handicraft including hand-woven textiles by silk and hand-painted cotton, silverware and umbrellas or paper parasols which are hand-painted in a variety designs. This tour shows you how Chiang Mai craftsmen produce their crafts by hand from the first stage until the finish. Accommodation in Chiang Mai: (4*+) Rati Lanna Riverside (Deluxe Room) (three nights).

• Day 6:

  Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Then you will drive approximately 50 minutes north of Chiang Mai through a beautiful countryside, forest, and local farming areas. Arrive at Baan Chang Elephant Park where you will change into the park’s traditional clothing. Prepare fruits for the elephants and meet the elephants. You will feed, roam, touch and play with the elephants. At the park, you will have as much time as possible with the elephants. After lunch, you will prepare and cook sticky rice to be mixed with herbal ingredients for the elephants. Learn about the background, health care and behavior of elephants. Enjoy more time taking the elephants on a walk to a clean water pond where they will cool off themselves and you will have chance to observe them as well. This part is focused on taking your time and allowing the elephants to enjoy each moment of their freedom, scratching, rubbing, throwing dirt. Enjoy the view and take lots of pictures. Note: At the park, you will be able to spend as much time as possible with the elephants. Therefore, there is no formal schedule and aside from pick-up times, the times shown are approximations. This is joining tour. A private one is available upon request with additional charge

• Day 7:

  Today, after breakfast, you will explore daily lifestyle of a Lanna family. A short transfer takes you into the outskirts of Chiang Mai to meet your host family in an authentic Thai neighborhood. After being welcomed with a refreshing drink by your host, spend time with the Thai family learning about traditional Thai architecture and the graceful teakwood homes and structures. Stroll through the orchard and herb garden with your host family, who will also demonstrate how to make bamboo baskets and cigars from banana leaves. This rich cultural experience will wrap up with a delicious home-cooked Northern Thai lunch that you will prepare with the family. This afternoon you will visit the landmark of Chiang Mai, the mountain temple Wat Doi Suthep, home to a holy relic of the Lord Buddha and considered by many to be the most sacred temple in northern Thailand. Built in A.D. 384, the temple contains a flight of over 300 steps to reach its top level. Once on top, enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

• Day 8:

  After breakfast, you will transfer to visit Hot Spring Baan Pong Nam Ron and then Wat Rong Khun, “The White Temple. Lunch will be provided at a local restaurant en route. In the afternoon, arrive in Chiang Rai. Check in at the hotel and the rest of your day is at leisure. Accommodation in Chiang Rai: (5*) The Riverie (Deluxe Garden Room) (two nights)

• Day 9:

  Enjoy breakfast before your transfer to visit Wat Rong Sua Ten, also known as the Blue Temple, the new landmark of the area. The temple presents its own unique architecture and fine scripture art worth visiting. Drive to the Golden Triangle area where the mighty Mae Khong River joining the Ruak River forming the triangle with the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Visit the Opium Museum. Then continue to the old city of Chiang Saen (A.D.1260) on the steep banks of the Mae Khong River opposite to Laos, to witness some magnificent ancient ruins and temples.

• Day 10:

  Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Then, you will transfer to Mae Sai Border for crossing to Thachileik in Myanmar. The transfer from the Chiang Rai center to Thachileik should take about one hour. The document process at the border might take time around 15 - 30 minutes. The Mae Sai border gate is open from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Upon arrival at the Tachileik border,y your tour guide welcomes you and will transfer you to Tachileik domestic airport for flight to Heho (additional charge applies). Arrive in Heho and then drive to the Nyaungshwe jetty at the edge of the Inle Lake, which is famous for its unique leg rowers. On the way, visit "Shwe Yan Pyay," a beautiful red-painted teak building dating back to the 19th century. You arrive at the Naung Shwe jetty and start the boat trip on Inle Lake - a photographer’s dream. Its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake’s unique ‘leg rowers’ - Intha fishermen who row standing up with one leg wrapped around a single oar, leaving their hands free to manipulate the conical fishing net. Accommodation in Inle Lake: (4*+) Pristine Lotus Resort Inle (Floating Cottage) (two nights).

• Day 11:

  Enjoy breakfast at hotel. Then transfer to Indein village to reach the 14th - 18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Explore a five-day rotating market (if your visit coincides with the schedule) which offers an insight into the life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who come to these markets to sell and buy goods. Board a long-tailed boat across the lake to Indein, at the western end of Inle, for one of the most scenic trips on the lake. Passing through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts, enter a long, often tree-lined canal, either side of which farmers cultivate their land against the backdrop of the Shan Hills. Disembark at the jetty and walk for 15 minutes by souvenir stallholders. This leads to Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of weather-beaten 17th - 18th century zedi. Return back to Inle lake and stop at Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Visit a traditional silk-weaving workshop which uses wooden handlooms, and a blacksmith’s forge. Pass endless floating gardens, where Intha lake dwellers grow fruit and vegetables. Lastly, visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest on the lake, where you can see exquisite Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old.

• Day 12:

  After breakfast at hotel, transfer to the Mandalay airport for your morning flight to Nyaung U (additional charge applies). Upon your arrival at Nyaung – U Airport, you will transfer to visit the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th as a religious shrine. Continue your visit to Annada Temple, a white-washed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery with beautiful well–preserved 18th century murals. Visit Thatbinnyu Temple known as “temples of omniscience” and dating from 1144. Transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts, a lacquer ware home Industry. Continue to Damayangyi Temple (the massive temple in Bagan). Experience a local horse cart on your way to Sunset place. Transfer back to the hotel. Accommodation in Bagan: (4*+) The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate (Deluxe Room) (two nights).

• Day 13:

  After breakfast at the hotel, depart to visit Nyaung Oo Morning Market, where locals gather every day to buy and sell everything from fresh produce and meats to flowers and pottery. After that, drive to Mount Popa to visit the great extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, the solitary volcanic crag of Mt. Popa is home to Myanmar's most powerful "nats". Visit the Nat Museum with its life-sized statues of the 37 Nat Gods. Walk up the steps to the stupas and shrines that top the hill above the museum, seeing many pilgrims along the way. Drive back to Bagan and take local river boat to view the susnet. Transfer to the hotel with the rest of your day at leisure.

• Day 14:

  In the early morning, transfer to Nyaung Oo airport for flight to Mandalay (additional charge applies). Upon arrival, you will explore Amarapura and visit the 200-year old U Bein Teak Bridge. Visit Mahagandayone Monastery where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting, you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Visit a traditional hand–woven silk workshop teak post. Continue to Ava, where a 10-minute ferry ride takes you to the second ancient royal capital of the island of Inwa, also known as Ava. Here charming horse-drawn carriages will be local transportation and pass through the remains of the ancient city walls to visit the brick and stucco Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery built in 1818. A short carriage ride through the rural fields of the island transports you to the beautiful Bargayar Monastery, also known as Ok Kyaung. This is still an active monastery and school. The final stop on Inwa will be the Nanmyint Watch Tower nicknamed the “Leaning Tower of Ava” before the carriage returns to the ferry. After driving back to Mandalay, proceed directly to beautiful teak-carved Shwenandaw Monastery or Golden Palace Monastery, which is noted for its intricate wood carvings and is the only Royal Palace building to survive World War II bombing. Next, visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ‘the world’s largest book’, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. The last stop is to visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, home to a spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves. Transfer back hotel with the rest of your day at leisure. Accommodation in Mandalay: (5*) Hilton Mandalay Resort (Deluxe Room) (one night).

• Day 15:

  After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to airport for flight to Yangon (additional charge applies). Upon arrival, you will start with a Yangon colonial walking tour. You will see a mixture of colonial buildings churches, mosques (including Sunni and Shia ) and Buddhist monastery and ordination hall. The beautiful buildings reflect the mix of religions in the city. Continue to one of Yangon highlights, the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda to see a huge reclining Buddha image and Karaweik Royal Barge (a royal floating barge on a lake for the fantastic photo view). In the afternoon, visit the Bogyoke Market with hundreds of food, clothing, handicrafts and gemstones. In the late afternoon, complete your first day in Myanmar with an extended visit to one of the world's most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda. Its golden stupa is the 'heart' of Myanmar. The pagoda is believed to be 2,600 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar people praying and making offering at the pagoda. Drive back to hotel for some leisure time. Note: The famous Scott market will close every Monday and Gazette Holidays.

• Day 16:

  After breakfast at the hotel, you will have some free time until your driver transfers you to the airport for your flight.

April 01 – September 30, 2020 (Except for public holidays)

Per Person Sharing:      $3,099

Single Supplement:       $1,199

Inclusions:

• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast as mentioned or similar
• Transfer services in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Entrance fees and boat fees where applicable
• Horse cart and sunset boat in Bagan
• Meals listed in the itinerary (if any)
• English-speaking local guide in each city
• Bottled water on the coach during transfers
• Government taxes and service charges

Exclusions:

• International and domestic flights, along with airport taxes (including airport departure tax), unless otherwise mentioned- Ask your consultant to price out flights for you!
• Hotel upgrades
• Optional activities
• Meals not mentioned
• Drinks and surcharge for special request on foods and meals
• Entrance fees, guide service during free time and other personal expenses
• Trip Insurance – ask your consultant for a quote
• Gratuities for guides and drivers
• Surcharge for public holidays and/or peak periods (if applicable)
• Any compulsory meal by the hotels (during Christmas and New Year)
• Any type of visa and fee
• All other services not stated in the program

PLEASE NOTE

Standard hotel check-in time is 14:00 and check-out time is 12:00 (Early check-in time or late check-out time is subject to availability and with an additional charge.)