Best of Myanmar & Cambodia – 11 Days

Day 1: Phnom Penh arrival
Welcome to Phnom Penh! A mixture of Asian exotica, the famous Cambodian hospitality awaits visitors to the capital of Cambodia. The city was once called Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. It is an amazing town to bespeak centuries of incredible history and culture which can still be felt at many street corners.
Upon arrival, you are greeted by our local tour guide and transferred by car to hotel to check in. Enjoy your free time to cover from jetlag.
Meals: N/A
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 2: Phnom Penh city tour
After having breakfast at the hotel, start the day learning about the Cambodia’s past tragedy with a visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields.” Next, enjoy the introduction of the ancient Khmer art and civilization when browsing in the National Museum. Continue to the Royal Palace overlooking the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Rivers. Built in 1866 by King Norodom, the palace is now home to the royal family. Within the palace grounds you will find the Silver Pagoda, its floor covered by 5,000 silver tiles that give the pagoda its name.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh
Day 3: Phnom Penh – Fly to Siem Reap – Angkor Thom
Breakfast at hotel, now you will transfer to the airport and take the flight to Siem Reap, the heart of the Khmer Kingdom and gateway to the Angkor Temples ruins. Upon arrival in Siem Reap airport, you will be welcomed by our guide who then transfers you by car to the city centrally located hotel for check in.
In the afternoon, transfer to explore the famous Angkor Thom, first with its South Gate which is best known with its majestic doors and artifacts. Then, you will visit the monumental temple of Bayon, the heart of Angkor Thom. The huge enigmatic stone faces of Bayon have become some of the most iconic and recognizable features associated with the ancient Khmer Kingdom and its architecture. Next, move to the Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King and Takeo “Jewel of Crystal”, which is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva and was erected at the end of the 10th century. Later this afternoon, transfer back to the hotel. Time for relax then.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 4: Angkor Wat – Ta Prohm – Tonle Sap Lake
Rise early to pick up the most beautiful, haunting and spiritual moment for a visit of the magnificent Angkor Wat at dawn. This special activity is designed also to help you see “the Temple reflex on the water” when it’s much cooler and less crowded. Angkor Wat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was constructed by Suryavarman II who reigned Cambodia from 1113 to 1152 and built the five towers in the 12th century and dedicated them to the Hindu God Vishnu.
The plan of the pyramidal conception of the temple combined with spaces, alleys and ditches is an ancient masterpiece of architectural design and construction.
After breakfast, you head up to Ta Prohm Temple, a wonderful combination of human genius and natural beauty with its giant trees that have grown there for centuries.
This afternoon, transferred to Tonle Sap Lake, the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. Once reaching the lake, board a traditional wooden boat cruising to a “floating village” – boats have been converted to look like houses and the “village” moves from place to place following water levels. Stay until sunset for your enjoyment before going back to the hotel. Time at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap
Day 5: Siem Reap – Fly to Yangon (via Bangkok)
It is your time to enjoy your last wonderful moments in Siem Reap. Today we will come and pick you up for airport transfer for your flight to Yangon, Myanmar.
Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar, the country has just opened its doors to the world after 60 years of isolation and now waiting people to explore its unique heritage and culture.
Yangon is the former capital and remains the most developed city of Myanmar. The bustling city of Yangon is the best place to witness the country in transition, where century-old buildings from the British colonial period vie for space with the emerging modern skyline. Head to the hotel to check-in and freshen up.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 6: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Sightseeing
After breakfast at hotel, you are leaving Yangon for Bagan. Now you have the visit to the most beautiful and iconic sites, including: Ananda Temple, Shwezigon Pagoda, Nanpaya Temple, Thatbinnyu… In the afternoon, you visit a traditional lacquerware workshop, try creating some products yourself and bring home some unique the handicrafts. Later on, from an elevated vantage point, you witness the panoramic view of the archaeological wonders in sunset. This is the most relaxing way to end a day in Bagan.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 7: Bagan sightseeing
Begin the sightseeing with a visit at the colorful Nyaung U market which remains very authentic with a wide range of local grown products. Next, you take an exotic horse cart ride around the ancient land, feel free to drop by any temples in Bagan and many other interesting sites nearby. Now you proceed to the typical Burmese villages, discover their agricultural lifestyle, such as Min Nan Thu Village and Shwe Hlaing village…
Continue your journey to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. It is the worshipper center of the pantheon of Burmese ‘Nat” spirits (which form an essential part of Buddhist beliefs in Myanmar).  Climb 829 steps with bare foot to reach the revered Popa Taungkalat Monastery perched dramatically on a large rocky outcrop. The adventurous is rewarded with sweeping views of Popa National Park.
In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan and stop en-route at the workshop making traditional palm sugar, cigar maker and peanut oil distillation. You cap the day with an unforgettable sunset from a boat on the Irrawaddy River.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Bagan
Day 8: Bagan – Fly to Heho – Inle Lake boat trip
This morning you take the short flight to Heho, gateway to Inle Lake and the Shan region. This freshwater lake is the Myanmar’s second largest and measures about 70 square kilometres. There are an estimated 70,000 people living in more than 200 villages on or around the lake. To get a real sense of the lake’s expanse, you will take a longboat cruise navigating pass floating gardens and stilt houses, observe the “one-leg rowing technique” of the Intha fisherman with incredible balance. It’s indispensable to immerse yourselves in the magnificent view of peaceful lake and cascading mountains.
Journey by boat to the most outstanding sites, including: Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the holiest one of Inle Lake with five 800-year-old golden Buddha images. In the afternoon, you continue to Ngaphechaung monastery, the biggest and oldest one over Inle Lake. Here you observe the unique architecture, remarkable collection of Buddha images (But it’s best known for the ‘jumping cats’. In the past, they were trained to jump through hoops in the air). From here, you proceed to Nam Pan village; cigar house, cotton and lotus weaving factory of Intha people. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 9: Local market – Indein boat trip
Boarding on boat again and sail toward Indein. En-route, you visit local 5-day market which is rotating between 5 different lakeside villages over 5-day period. The market is a unique culture; people all around the lake and mountains come here to exchange not only their daily products but also the indigenous cultures. Finally, you reach Indein village. Take an easy walk through verdant bamboo groves to the hilltop of more than 1000 ruined stupas embracing the Shwe Indein pagoda in the middle. All were constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries. You then visit small communities that live along the lake.
If time permits, stop for some moments at Inthar Heritage House on the way back. The restaurant reflects the style and elegance of the Inthar. It’s also a hotel and catering school, a gallery and a Cat Sanctuary for nearly extinct Burmese cats.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 10: Heho – Fly Yangon – City tour
Today you take the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, you have a trip downtown with a walking tour through the historic quarter. Along the way you visit the former City Hall and various other examples of 1940’s colonial British architecture. The hidden art galleries inside the small alley could also be the next stop on your tour. Continue to Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott Market (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Built in the 1920s under British rule, the side is listed a heritage of Yangon. It has more than 2,000 stalls dominated by large selections of antique Burmese handicraft, clothing and jewelry…
Last but not least, you go to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site of Myanmar and the oldest one in the world. Shwedagon contains a 99m high golden stupa and spires, adorned with 7,000 diamonds, sapphires and rubies and allegedly, hairs belonging to the Gautama Buddha. If you are fortunate, join a special oil lamp lighting ceremony with thousand oil lamps are lit around the gilded pagoda. This ancient and symbolic Buddhist ritual will be the truly awe-inspiring spiritual experience.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Yangon
Day 11: Yangon departure
You are free to explore Yangon on your own or enjoy last minute shopping for souvenirs before getting transferred to the airport for departure. End services.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A