Laos and Burma into the headlines – 15 days

Day 1: Luang Prabang Arrival
Welcome to Laos! Upon arrival Luang Prabang airport, you will be picked up by our representative and transfer to city center.
If time permit, you will visit Wat Mai temple – the biggest temple of Luang Prabang.  Then visit the Traditional Art and Ethnology center. Later of this day, visit Wats Xieng Thong, the Golden City Monastery, which dates back to the 16th century and is considered to be the finest in Laos.
Meals: N/A.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 2: Luang Prabang – Pakou Caves
Wake up before dawn to witness the long lines of orange-robed monks leaving their pagodas to receive offerings of food from the residents of Luang Prabang. It’s a fantastic experience and for many a highlight of their visit to this iconic city.
Then you will visit the Local morning market where you will see such diverse offerings such as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings.
Following breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the former king’s palace, which is now a museum – Royal museum. The many items nicely displayed include rare furniture, traditional costumes, arts, jewelry, ornaments as well as working tools and utensils of the early part of the 20th century. We then board a boat upstream on the Mekong River, which also gives us a beautiful view of the tranquil countryside as well as an interesting visit to the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves, crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes. Along the way, we stop at the village of Ban Xanghai, where they make the local rice wine. Later that day, we adjourn to the Phousi Holy Hill to enjoy the marvelous panoramic views of the town at sunset.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 3: Luang Prabang – Khuang Si Waterfall
Laos is known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit the Ban Ouay, Hmong Hill tribe, Ban Ou, Lowland Lao and Ban Thapene of Khmu village. Continue driving to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfall where you can splash around in the pools or walk along the forest paths.
In the afternoon, transfer to Vang Vieng – the charming town in the Nam Song River bank.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Vang Vieng.
Day 4: Vang Vieng – Tubing – Kayaking
After breakfast, transfer from Vang Vieng to the Khamu village of Vieng Samay, about 10km north of Vang Vieng. Receive a safety briefing and an introduction to the basics of kayaking from a kayaking professional before you commence. The Song River is suitable for all levels and offers some small rapids along its course. The first stop is at the cave of Tham Nam Thaem. This cave cuts straight through the mountain, so one emerges on the other side of the mountain range for amazing panoramic views of the Nam Kouang valley. Trek back over small trails that lead to a Lao style picnic lunch set up on the riverside.
The Tham Non Cave lies further downstream and is one of the biggest caves in Vang Vieng. It served as a rescue shelter for the villagers during the Second Indochina War in the 1970’s. Today it is home to a bat colony and ‘The Magic Stone of Vang Vieng’. The final leg is a gentle paddle – Before returning to Vang Vieng in time to catch the sunset from the terrace of your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Vang Vieng.
Day 5: Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang
Today, you will have time to discover the sleepy riverside hamlet of Vang Vieng, a small town next to the Nam Song River that is surrounded by jagged limestone karsts. You will visit the highlight of Vang Vieng: Blue Lagoon and Tham Phoukham and Tham Jang Cave.
In afternoon, transfer to back to Luang Prabang.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Luang Prabang.
Day 6: Luang Prabang – Fly to Yangon – Arrival
Today you say good bye to Luang Prabang, Laos and take the flight to Myanmar.
Mingalabar! Arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are greeted by our tour guide and driver.
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. Have a transfer to hotel, check in and relax.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 7: Yangon – Fly to Bagan – Sightseeing
After breakfast at hotel, you are leaving Yangon for Bagan. Spend the whole day exploring Bagan where over 2,000 ancient temples blossom from the countryside. Our first temple visit is to 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
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.
Day 8: Bagan rural sightseeing – Mt. Popa
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
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.
Day 9: Bagan – Fly to Heho – Inle Lake discovery
Today you take the morning flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by tour guide and driver.
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.
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. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 10: 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.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Inle Lake
Day 11: Heho – Fly to Thandwe – Ngapali beach
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Heho airport and take morning flight to Thandwe – gateway airport to Ngapali beach. Upon your arrival, join in hotel shuttle bus and transfer to Ngapali beach beach. Free relaxation and have a good night on the beach then.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Ngapali
Day 12: Ngapali beach
You are free at leisure, relax on beach and enjoy variety beach activities on your own.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Ngapali
Day 13: Ngapali beach
You are free at leisure, relax on beach and enjoy variety beach activities on your own.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: Hotel in Ngapali
Day 14: Thandwe – Fly to Yangon – City tour
Breakfast at hotel, you then fly back to Yangon. Now 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. The pagoda 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
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 15: Yangon departure
Breakfast at hotel. Today is your free day and we arrange you the airport transfer.
Get ready for the International flights. Thank you for your time with us!
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A