Myanmar & Laos: Land of a Thousand Temples

Itinerary

Days 1-2: USA / Bangkok, Thailand

Depart the USA on your independent flight to Bangkok. Lose a day crossing the International Date Line.

Day 3: Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok and check into the Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel. The day is at leisure with lunch on your own. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Bangkok / Rangoon, Myanmar

This morning, board your flight to Yangon and transfer to your hotel. TodayÂ’s introduction to this fabled city includes the Shwedagon Pagoda, a complex of golden-spired temples and a mecca for Myanmarese Buddhists. Dinner and overnight at the hotel, GovernorÂ’s Residence.

Day 5: Yangon / Mandalay

After breakfast, visit the impressive Chauk Htat Gyi, a huge reclining Buddha image and stop at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge. Also, visit a working monastery and orphanage before your flight to Mandalay. On arrival, transfer to the Sedona Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Mandalay

Today drive to the World Heritage Site city of Amarapura and visit a workshop where Kalaga tapestries are made. After lunch return to Mandalay to visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, which consists of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Mandalay / Embark R/V Pandaw

After breakfast board the colonial riverboat, R/V Pandaw, for a two-day cruise along the Irrawaddy River to the ancient capital of Bagan. Enjoy a sunset dinner on the top deck, overnight on board.

Day 8: Bagan

This morning stop at Thein Gone Village to visit its monastery and a small school. Disembark the R/V Pandawin Bagan—a World Heritage Site and one of the greatest architectural sites of Asia. Visit Sulamani, a Bamar-style temple that houses four-seated Buddha images, tour the villages of Myinkaba and Minnanthu, and visit Bagan’s most impressive temples. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the Bagan Golf Resort Hotel.

Day 9: Bagan

Today begins with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda. Next explore Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple that is covered with fine frescoes, then Htilominlo. In Old Bagan continue on to Ananda Temple, which houses four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent Thatbyinnyu. Following lunch, visit the temples of Dhammayangyi and Mingalazedi and stop at the Moe Moe lacquerware factory. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Bagan / Heho / Inle Lake

This morning fly to Heho. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the magnificent Pindaya Caves overlooking a picturesque lake. Continue to Nyaung Shwe, near Inle Lake, and arrive in time for dinner and overnight at the Inle Princess Resort.

Day 11: Inle Lake

Breakfast is followed by a full-day boat tour of Inle Lake and its floating villages. Visit floating gardens, watch traditional weaving and fishing methods, and view the unique boat leg-rowing. Also, visit the Phaung Daw U Pagoda and Nga Phe Kyaung, one of the oldest lake monasteries. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Inle Lake / Heho / Tachilek / Golden Triangle (Chiang Saen, Thailand)

After the morning at leisure, return to Heho for a mid-day flight to Tachilek, then transfer across the border into Thailand. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the luxurious Antantara Golden Triangle Resort, near the heart of the Golden Triangle.

Day 13: Chiang Saen

After breakfast visit the actual geographic center point of the Golden Triangle where you see both Laos and Myanmar across the river. Also visit the Hall of Opium Museum. Return to the hotel for lunch with the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Chiang Saen / Houeixay, Laos / Mekong Cruise / Pakbeng

After a ferry ride across the Mekong into Laos, begin two days of cruising on the Mekong River, making stops to observe rural life and visit with minority tribes-people. Arrive in Pakbeng and transfer to the riverside lodge, with breathtaking views over the Mekong. Dinner and overnight at the Luang Say Lodge.

Day 15: Pakbeng / Mekong Cruise / Pak Ou / Luang Prabang

This morning visit the colorful and bustling Pakbeng market. Then board the boat for the second half of your Mekong River cruise, ending in charming Luang Prabang. Stop at Pak Ou to visit the famous Buddhist caves of Tham Ting. Transfer to Grand Luang Prabang Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Luang Prabang

A full-day tour of this World Heritage Site showcases the capital of the first Lao Kingdom. Visit many of the cityÂ’s pagodas and temples, such as Vat Visoun and Vat Aham. After lunch visit Vat Mai, famed for its multi-tiered timber framed roofs and decorated columns. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Day 17: Luang Prabang / Vientiane

Early risers will be invited to assist in the predawn giving of alms to the monks in the streets of Luang Prabang. After breakfast visit the marketplace, then drive to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. In Vientiane transfer to the Lao Plaza Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 18: Vientiane

Today explore the new capital of Laos. The itinerary includes Wat Si Saket, Haw Pha Kaew Museum, and Pha That Luang—the Great Sacred Stupa and most important national monument in Laos—and the Talaat Sao Market. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 19: Vientiane / Bangkok, Thailand / USA

After breakfast transfer to Vientiane Airport for your independent flight to Bangkok and connect with flights to the USA.