Historic Myanmar and Thailand

Itinerary

• Day 1: Welcome to Bangkok

  Today you will arrive at the airport in Bangkok. Exiting the airport, you will be met by your private guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore further or wind-down.

  • Bangkok

• Day 2: Bangkok City Tour

  You will spend two days to explore the highlights of Bangkok. Start from the colorful flower and vegetable market and then head to the dazzling Grand Palace. You could appreciate the beauty of its buildings and the sacred Wat Phra Kaew inside the palace.

  After lunch, ride a long-tail boat cruising along the canal. It will offer you a chance to see traditional Thai houses and true Thai life. The final stop is fantastic Wat Arun, a temple whose design is very different from the others in Bangkok.

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  • Bangkok

• Day 3: Bangkok

  The one must-see sight for the morning is the remarkable Train Market. Trains weaving through the market several times a day make this venue rather unique and offer an everyday but fascinating insight into the vibrant life of this megacity. Paddling around the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, you will see hundreds of boats selling fresh produce, souvenirs and delicious Thai food. You can either sample some authentic local specialties such as mangos and sticky rice or take some snapshots at the market. Later, drive back to the city center for a walking tour of the Jim Thompson House which boasts a fine collection of artwork bequeathed by the American businessman and architect Jim Thompson.

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  • Bangkok

• Day 4: Bangkok - Yangon

  You will fly to the Burmese capital Yangon after breakfast. Upon arrival, your local guide will greet you and escort you to your hotel for check-in. You will then have a small break before heading to the Shwedagon Pagoda to catch the beautiful sunset that can be seen there. Look out for the remarkable transformation over the 40-ton gold leaf ornamentation of the building with the changing light!

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  • Yangon

• Day 5: Yangon

  Known for featuring one of the largest reclining statues of the Buddha in Myanmar, the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda offers a memorable morning trip. The Sule Pagoda, where you head next, is at the heart of the city and dates back some 2,600 years. Then, a stroll around the Maha Bandoola Park and Maha Bandoola Garden, named after a commander-in-chief of the Royal Burmese Armed Force, will provide an incredible experience for you! After this, head to the vibrant Indiantown and Chinatown showing Yangon's diversity. Your afternoon trip will include the historic Bogyoke Aung San Museum and the beautiful Inya Lake teemed with colourful birdlife, it is a place to find relaxation and tranquility.

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  • Yangon

• Day 6: Yangon - Bagan

  After breakfast, you will fly to the ancient city of Bagan. Upon arrival, take a stroll around the Nyaung U Market which offers a wide range of daily necessities and agricultural products. Then head to the Buddhist Shwezigon Pagoda which is believed to preserve a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism! Later, visit the Htilominlo Temple, which is known for its elaborate plaster moldings. In the afternoon, appreciate the exquisite wall paintings at the Gubyaukgyi Temple, followed by a sunset visit to the 11th Century Shwesandaw Pagoda, another venerable place of worship.

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  • Bagan

• Day 7: Bagan

  Climbing some 777 steps, you will see the legendary Mount Popa. Known as the home of Nats (Spirits), it is regarded as a sacred mountain for Nats believers. You may also be interested to know the mountain is classed as a volcano-but don't worry-it last erupted in 442 BCE! Before arriving at the shrine, stop off at a local village to observe local people's traditional lifestyle. Have a pleasant lunch at a mountain resort before returning to Bagan, where you will pay a visit to the Ananda Temple, one of the most revered temples in Bagan.

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  • Bagan

• Day 8: Bagan - Heho - Inle Lake

  Fly to the small town of Heho and then drive to the beautiful highland lake, Inle Lake, followed by a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, one of the most remarkable Buddhist shrines in Myanmar, which is renowned for its five small Buddha icons adorned with gold. From there, you can also learn how silk is weaved on wooden handlooms. You will then enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

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  • Inle Lake

• Day 9: Inle Lake

  Take a stroll around the gorgeous Inle Lake for a half-day. After a trip to a local market, cruise along a channel where you will see local farmers working on their fields. Following this, head to the time-honored Indein Village known for its ancient pagodas hidden in bushes. Being in this remarkable place can feel like you have travelled back to the 12th century! Then, have lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

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  • Inle Lake

• Day 10: Inle Lake - Heho - Mandalay

  In the morning, transfer to He Ho Airport for the flight to Mandalay. After arrival, head to the U Bein Bridge for a majestic sunset view while paddling a boat. The bridge spans the Taungthaman Lake with a length of 1.2km, which was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.

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  • Mandalay

• Day 11: Mandalay

  This morning, head to the historic City Harbor Bridge, before visiting the monastic Sagaing Hill, a crest of pleasant green hills studded with white and gold pagodas where you can enjoy fine views of the Irrawaddy River. The afternoon trip involves the city's most significant temples and palaces, including the Mahamuni Pagoda, the Shwenandaw Monastery, the Golden Teak Monastery, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda. With an elevation of 230 meters, the Mandalay Hill will offer you a spectacular sunset view.

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  • Mandalay

• Day 12: Mandalay - Chiang Mai

  Take a drive to Amarapura to explore the Mahagandayon Monastery, a center for monastic study and strict religious discipline, where you can find over one thousand monks living there. In quiet contemplation, you might also capture the scene of the monks having their last meal of the day. Then fly to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, enjoy a short break before departing for the vibrant Meo Hill tribe village, followed by a visit to the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a Theravada Buddhist temple.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 13: Chiang Mai

  Today, you will make some new friends by visiting the inhabitants of Baan Chang Elephant Park. After leaving the hotel at around 8:30 to 9:00, 50 minutes later you will be meeting, playing with, touching and bathing the elephants which live in this sustainable, ethical tourism park. After a vegetarian lunch for yourself, you will help prepare another for the elephants then feed them. Before returning to Chiang Mai, the Elephant's Day Care ends with a visit to the nursery area to meet the delightful baby elephants.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 14: Chiang Mai

  You will spend half a day at the Thai cooking class, where you can participate in every intricate detail under the experienced chef's guide. Learning how to select the right ingredients from markets underpins your cooking skills of Thai style. You are sure to enjoy the whole creative process. In the afternoon, you will have some free time to use at your own leisure.

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  • Chiang Mai

• Day 15: Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Hua Hin

  Enjoy the morning at your own leisure until setting off to the airport for your flight back to Bangkok in the afternoon. From there you will travel to the seaside resort of Hua Hin. Transfer to your hotel with your private local guide after arriving in Hua Hin (about 3 hours).

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  • Hua Hin

• Day 16: Hua Hin

  The popular resort of Hua Hin boasts some great beaches, most of which slope gently into the ocean. After all your travelling you can relax on the pristine beaches here for the next two days.

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  • Hua Hin

• Day 17: Hua Hin

  You can opt to enjoy some water sports including windsurfing and kite boarding, or just lie around with a cold drink.

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  • Hua Hin

• Day 18: Hua Hin - Bangkok, Departure

  Today, enjoy some free time before heading to the airport in Bangkok for your flight to the next destination.

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