11 Days Essence of Thailand and Myanmar Tour

Meals: B

After breakfast, you will have a full-day city tour of Bangkok. First visit Wat Traimit, known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is the home to a gold Maravijaya Attitude seated Buddharupa statue, with a weight of 5.5 tons.

Then visit Wat Arun, known as the Temple of the Dawn, which is one of the most published images of Bangkok. In the middle of the temple, an 82 metres high beautifully decorated Khmer-style tower stands, where you can walk up the steep stairs and admire the view of Bangkok and the rivers.

After that, explore Wat Pho, also called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Finally, head for the Grand Palace, one of the must-sees in Bangkok, followed by Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Flight: Internal flight is on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

This morning, enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay, Myanmar. Upon arrival, the local guide will take you to hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is leisure for your own.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: B

Today, you will have a city excursion in Mandalay.

Visit Mahamuni Image where you can see local people pray and stick the gold paper on the Buddha for a blessing. On the way to the Mahamuni Image, pay a visit to a gold paper factory to see how people made the gold leaf.

Then head to Shwenandaw Monastery, also known as the Golden Palace Monastery. It was built in the 19th century and well known for its teak carving of Buddhist myths. Next, visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, a Buddhist stupa that contains the world's largest book of Buddhism.

Finish your day at the top of Mandalay Hill for a stunning sunset.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: B

Today's tour will take you to have further exploration of Mingun and Amarapura.

After breakfast, head for Mingun, known for the unfinished Mingun Pahtodawgyi that holds the record for the biggest pile of bricks in the world. Then visit Mingun Bell which is the second-largest bell in the world, with a weight of 90 tons. After that, go to visit Hsinbyume Pagoda, one of the most beautiful and unusual temples in Myanmar.

Then, head to Amarapura for the enchanting U Bein Bridge. It is 1.2 kilometers long crossing the Taungthaman Lake and turns out to be the longest teakwood bridge in the world. The sunset over the bridge is gorgeous. You can take a boat on the lake to shoot the silhouette of U Bein Bridge. Before the sunset, take a tour to Taung Mingyi Pagoda, a beautiful pagoda near the U Bein Bridge.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Meals: B

After breakfast, drive from Mandalay to Bagan, taking around 3 and a half hours.

In Bagan, you will be amazed by the thousands of Buddhist pagodas spread on the plain. These pagodas used to own by individual families during its prosperous time.

You will visit the Nyaung Oo Market where local people buying and selling food for daily life. Then head for the Shwezigon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold.

Have a rest at the hotel during the hottest time in the afternoon. Then it's time to enjoy a Horse Cart Ride for the sunset! You can climb up to the top of the Shwesandaw Pagoda for sunset and then take the horse cart back to the hotel. It will be an unforgettable memory of taking the horse cart ride to travel through the pagodas when it is quiet in the dusk.

Overnight in Bagan.

Meals: B

In the morning, drive to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with its golden shrines.

Situated 50 km southeast of Bagan, this solitary peak showcases the Popa Taungkalat shrine, the favored home of Myanmar's most powerful "Nats" (local spirits), statues of which can be found at its base. These spirits were once so important to the country's early Kings that it was essential for them to consult the Nats before commencing their reign. The shrine is located at the top of the mountain, and if you have the energy, climb to the top (well worth the climb!). Along the way, there are a multitude of monkeys expecting a treat!

On the way back, stop by a local village to learn about local culture and lifestyle. Then enjoy lunch at a hill resort. Also, visit a palm sugar workshop, where the harvested nectar from local trees is cooked into the sugar cubes that you see in teashops.

Overnight in Bagan.

Flight: Domestic flight is on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

Drive to airport to board flight to Heho, where you will be picked up by local guide and driver and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake.

Inle Lake locates in the highland of Myanmar in an altitude of around 3,000 feet above sea level. Here you will enjoy different atmospheres and ambiance from the middle part of Myanmar.

Lives of In-Tha (name of local ethnic people) are centered on the lake. They live in stilted houses, grow fresh produce such as tomatoes, melons, and papayas in unique floating gardens, and eat fish as a staple. On the lake, you can see traditional fishing methods by using the leg-rowing technique.

Then you will visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most highly revered monastery in the Inle Lake area. After that, continue your boat ride to Nga Phe Chaung monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. The Buddha statues are more than 200 years old.

Next, proceed to the floating garden - Kyun-Hmyaw, which was built-up from strips of water hyacinth and mud. Finally, relax and enjoy spectacular sunset views over Inle Lake before returning to the hotel.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Meals: B

Take a boat through the Inn Thein creek, and you’ll get to Indein village. There are two groups of pagodas ruins to explore, Nyaung Ohak and Shwe Inn Thein.

The pagoda complex of Nyaung Ohak dates back to the 16th century, and you can see the traces of time clearly. Plants and trees spring up over these pagodas. Slow down your pace to marvel at the detailed sculptures of celestial beings and mythological animals.

From Nyaung Ohak, a 700-meter covered walkway leads up to Shwe Inn Thein, where you can see hundreds of pagodas in the 17th and 18th centuries. You can also get a stunning view of Indein village and the surrounding area.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Flight: Domestic flight is on GTT arrangement

Meals: B

In the morning, transfer to Heho airport for the flight back to Yangon.

After check in the hotel, start your Yangon city tour at the historic Post Office, followed by Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument. Next, visit the famous Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, home to a 66-meter long reclining Buddha, and shoot photos at the picturesque Karaweik Hall royal floating barge.

Then enjoy your free time to wander the Bogyoke Market. Finally, end today’s tour with an amazing sunset view at Shwedagon Pagoda, the largest pagoda painted with real gold in Yangon.

Overnight in Yangon.

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Meals: B

Today transfer to Yangon International Airport for your flight home.

End of service.