20 Days Heritage Trails of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia & Myanmar)

Today, you will get up a little bit early at about 5:00 am for the sunrise of Angkor Wat, experiencing the breathtaking moment.

After enjoying the sunrise, you will be escorted to the hotel for breakfast and have a little rest. You guide will pick you up at about 10:00am to start your Angkor Temple discovery. In the morning, you will visit:

1. Ta Prohm: one of the largest temples built during the Khmer empire, a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII.
2. Banteay Kdei: considered to be one of the main groups of temples in the Angkor complex with peaceful and quiet surroundings.

After the lunch at a local Cambodian restaurant, you will continue to visit:

1. Angkor Wat: the 7^th wonder of the world, which is a miniature replica of the universe in stone, its beauty and state of preservation are unrivaled.

After the tour, we prepare a Mudita Signature Treatment for you after touring the temples of Angkor Wat, rejuvenate with a spa session in Siem Reap. Using an herbal compress, your masseuse provides a massage treatment that is said to reduce tension and improve energy flow throughout the body.

After that, you will be escorted to your hotel, enjoy your free time and have a good rest.

Today, after breakfast, your guide will pick you up at about 9:00 am, heading to the spot for the countryside jeep tour.

Hop aboard an open-air Jeep and explore the countryside around Siem Reap. Drive along dirt trails and country lanes, stop in remote rural villages, and admire views over the rice paddies. Along the way, learn about Cambodian life as you meet the locals, sample bamboo rice cakes, and watch demonstrations of traditional handicrafts such as basket weaving. 

The jeep tour is about 1.5 hours, and then you will pay a visit to a Cambodian local family and see what their daily life is like. Then enjoy a local lunch with them.

Take a half day excursion to the biggest Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water lake - Tonle Sap Lake. Firstly, tour Kompong Phluk, the largest village on the lake, to discover the fascinating daily lifestyle of the local people who live on the water.

Then, take a boat trip to enjoy the beautiful lake views and mangrove forests.

One of the highlights is to enjoy the beautiful sunset of Tonle Sap Lake, with a beer and the tranquil and serene atmosphere.

Then, go back to the Siem Reap downtown, and you will be escorted to the night market and Pub Street, where you will have a nice evening to spend.

After the tour, back your hotel for a good rest. 

In the morning, after breakfast, enjoy your free time until your tour guide picks you up and check out.

This morning you’ll travel through the Cambodian countryside with your tour guide to Phnom Penh. The journey will take about 6 hours driving.

On the way, you will stop at Kompong Thom to visit Sambor Prei Kuk temple, the main temples of the pre-Angkorian archaeological site built in the 7th century, older than those of Angkor Wat.

Then enjoy a local lunch before continuing to Phnom Penh, stopping en route at Skuon market, the adventurous can try the ‘ch’ngain’ (deep fried Tarantula), a local specialty.

Upon arrive for hotel check-in and the rest of the day is free at your own leisure. 

Enjoy your breakfast and our tour guide will pick you up to start exploring Phnom Penh, Cambodian’s capital city.

In the morning, you will enjoy the following activities:

1. Take a Tuk-tuk ride to visit the Silver Pagoda which is decorated with about 5000 silver tiles on the floor and the Royal Palace where the Khmer royal family lives.
2. Prison and Killing Field/Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum: a museum chronicling the Cambodian genocide.
3. National Museum: home to the world's finest collection of Khmer sculpture: a millennium's worth and more of masterful Khmer design.

After the tour, enjoy the lunch at a local restaurant and have a short break.

In the afternoon, we will head to the Mekong Island of Phnom Penh, where you will enjoy a cycle touring around the countryside of Phnom Penh, discovering the small villages, local schools, silk-weaving houses and the beautiful rural landscapes.

Then, you will enjoy the sunset cruise with unlimited beer & soft drinks, exploring the Mekong, Tonle Sap and Four Faces Rivers, as well as Diamond Island and the local fishing village. Gain an authentic experience by observing the housing and lifestyle of the locals who live along the riverbank.

After the tour, you will be escorted to explore the local night market of Phnom Penh. Then, back to hotel and have a good rest tonight.

In the morning, after breakfast, you will enjoy your free time until your tour guide picks you up for your flight to Yangon. It takes around 2 hours.

Welcome to Yangon!

Our tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport upon arrival. You will be escorted to the hotel and check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure for recovery. 

After morning breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at 8:30 am to Yangon Railway Station. Taking the local circular train journey to the outskirts of town (20-30 minutes ride).

1. Circular train journey: observing the lively and colorful life of the rural Burmese people.
2. Kyi Myin Daing Market: a variety of street vendors sell colorful wares, where you can explore the market and meet friendly locals.

Go back to the downtown area of Yangon to enjoy Myanmar cuisine. You’ll continue your tour in the afternoon. You’ll explore:

1. Old City Hall: A well-balanced blend of Western and Burmese architectural styles, listed on the Yangon City Heritage List.
2. Botahtaung Pagoda: features golden decorations inside and houses a sacred hair of Gautama Buddha.
3. Bogyoke Market: sells many Burmese traditional handicrafts including stone, wood, bronze carvings, and much more.
4. Kandawgyi Park: famous Karaweik, a concrete replica of a Burmese royal barge built in 1972, near Chaukhtetgyi Reclining Buddha Image.
5. Shwedagon Pagoda: an important Buddist icon, which has been described as one of the wonders of the world, plays a very important role in old Burmese history.

Enjoy the sunset over the Shwedagon pagoda, and then you’ll get back to the hotel for a good rest.

Enjoy your free time in the morning until transfer to the airport for an onward flight to Mandalay about 1 hour.

Welcome to Mandalay! Upon your arrival in Mandalay, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel.

Around 5:30 pm, your tour guide will take you to Mandalay Hill to enjoy the stunning sunset. Nearby there are also many remarkable sights like:

1. The Golden Palace Monastery: famous for its exquisite wood carvings.
2. Kuthodaw Pagoda: housing the “Biggest book in the World”.
3. Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda: famous for its huge Marble Buddha.

After the tour, you will be escorted to the hotel and have a good rest.

After enjoying your breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Mandalay at 7:30 am - 8:00 am. You’ll take a drive to Mingun, located 11 km up the Ayeyarwady River on the west bank from Mandalay. From here, you will explore the historic sites around Mandalay. In Mingun, you’ll visit:

1. Mingun Bell: the world's largest uncracked bell.
2. Pathodawgyi Pagoda: the world's largest pile of bricks.
3. Myatheindan Pagoda: It's white and looks like the mythical Buddhist Mountain called Mount Meru.

You’ll then continue to Sagaing, the ancient capital of the Shan and Myanmar Kingdoms. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing. Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. You’ll visit Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda on the tranquil Sagaing Hill.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Sagaing. Crossing a bridge over the Irrawaddy River, you’ll take a horse cart to explore the ruins of the old royal capital.

1. 27m tall leaning tower.
2. Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery: built of brick in traditional style with elaborated stucco ornamentations that look like carvings.
3. Bargaya Monastery: a splendid teak wood monastery with wood carving.

Your last destination today is the Amarapura, the royal capital of Myanmar twice. In Amarapura, you’ll visit:

1. Mahargandaryon Monastery: the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar.
2. U Bein Bridge: exploring the local way of life and enjoying the sunset.
3. Weaving Workshop: Weaving is the main business of Amarapura people.

After the tour, you will be escorted to the hotel, enjoy your free time, and have a good rest.

This morning, you’ll be transferred by private van to Bagan after enjoying breakfast. The total distance is 112 miles and will take about 4 hours. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel for check-in.

This afternoon, you’ll explore Bagan. In this ancient city, you’ll visit:

1. Thousands of Buddhist pagodas: over 4000 Buddhist temples and Pagodas sprinkled all across the town.
2. Nyaung Oo Market: locals buy and sell products.
3. Shwezigon Pagoda: the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold.

Then enjoy a fun horse cart ride to a little village called Taung Phi for a view of a teak monastery. Keep riding in the horse cart around temples and winding roads, while the sun moves toward the horizon, making interesting shadows from the temples on the ground. You’ll visit Shesandaw Pagoda and watch one of the best sunsets in Southeast Asia.

Today, you need to get up early at 5:00 am to experience a beautiful hot air balloon flight over Bagan’s temples. 

Drifting over a panorama of a thousand ancient pagodas, silent in the shadow of low-slung mountains and against the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River, you will have a wonderful overhead perspective of Bagan. It's a fantastic and interactive experience.

The entire experience will last about 2.5 hours. On landing, our fully trained Myanmar ground crew will pack the balloon whilst passengers enjoy a glass or two of celebratory champagne. You’ll receive a flight certificate signed by the pilot.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you have free time on your own until your tour guide picks you up at 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm to Mount Popa.

1. Mount Popa: a dormant volcano in central Myanmar and the highest point of the Pegu Range.
2. Popa Taung kalat Monastery: a special monastery high up on a big rocky hill, offering beautiful views of the fields nearby and Mount Popa.
3. Nat Shrine: mannequin-like figures representing the 37 Nats, which is dedicated to animist spirits.

Note: You need to climb 777 steps to get to Popa Taungkalat Monastery. If you don’t want to do that, you can choose to visit the sandalwood forest and medical herb garden with plenty of flora and fauna.

After touring Mount Popa, a stop will be made at a palm tree plantation on the way back to the hotel in Bagan. Villagers earn money from these palm trees. It's a nice break where you can watch them work with palm trees.

Enjoy your free time in the morning until we transfer you for a nearly 4-hour drive to Mandalay. And then take a flight to Bangkok for about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon your arrival in Bangkok, your local guide will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel. The rest of the day is at your own. 

Enjoy your breakfast in Bangkok and prepare to enjoy a full day’s Bangkok city’s exploration. In the morning, you will visit:

1. Wat Phra Kawe & the Grand Palace: a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, which has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam.
2. Ride like a Local by tuk-tuk to Wat Pho temple

Then, have a nice local lunch after the long morning tour, and have a short break.

In the afternoon, explore the city’s renowned klongs (canals) by boat and cruise the Chao Phraya River. Also, visit the following two sites:

1. Wat Arun: one of the most visited temples in all of Thailand
2. Royal Barge Museum: many exhibitions on Thai history, royalty, and Buddhism.

After the tour, you will be escorted to the hotel, enjoy your free time, and have a good rest.

This morning, after your breakfast at your hotel, you'll be going to a place a little farther away from downtown Bangkok. Around 1-hour drive, you’ll get to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Then you’ll be driven to Kanchanaburi.

1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: experience the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling local foods, fruits, and products from their boats.
2. Kanchanaburi: learn about the region’s storied past and present-day culture.
3. Death Railway: built during WWII, made famous by the book and movie The Bridge on the River Kwai.
4. Thailand-Burma Railway Center: learn more history about the Death Railway.

Today, carriages still go on the tracks, taking travelers through the fields of sugar cane and rice terraces. After the tour, your tour guide will escort you back to the hotel in Kanchanaburi. You can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby at around 8:00 am– 8:30 am and take you to the historic city of Ayutthaya for around 1 hour.

Welcome to Ayutthaya, Thailand's former capital, is renowned for its temple ruins and historical sites! During this day tour, you’ll visit:

1. Historic City of Ayutthaya: the second Siamese capital founded in C.1350.
2. Wat Mahathat: 600 years old ruins.
3. Temple of the Reclining Buddha: Large reclining Buddha image.

End of the sightseeing, you will have lunch at an authentic Thailand restaurant, and then take a rest. In the afternoon, you will enjoy the following activities:

4. Bang Pa-In Palace: an eclectic collection of buildings that blend European, Khmer, Thai, and Chinese architectural styles, once used by the royal court as a summer retreat in the 17th century.
5. Wat Yai Chai Mang Khon: a Buddhist temple with over 600 years of history.

Around 5:00 pm, you’ll get back to Bangkok and the rest of the day is your own time.

Enjoy your breakfast and morning until your tour guide picks you up at the airport in the afternoon, taking a flight to Sukhothai, about 80 minutes.

Welcome to Sukhothai, the capital of the first kingdom of Siam in the 13-15^th centuries. Upon arrival at the airport, our tour guide will warmly welcome you and accompany you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is your free time to explore this ancient city.

At around 8:30 am, your experienced English-speaking guide will come to pick you up from your hotel. Then, you'll start your bike ride in a small village on the outskirts of Sukhothai called Ban Khuai. You'll pedal through this quiet village, enjoy the pretty views, and ride on a dirt road past lots of rice fields and a big mountain called Kao Laung.

When you reach the Eastern Gate of Sukhothai, you'll see beautiful temples and statues from a long time ago. Your guide will tell you about the history of Sukhothai and the amazing buildings.

There are numerous breathtaking views in the Sukhothai Historical Park, just waiting for you to discover and enjoy. You'll also find many splendid and remarkable monuments that can help you learn about the local culture and traditions.

After that, you'll stop for lunch at a local Thai restaurant and then you’ll be driven to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours.

Today, after breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at 8:00 am to 8:30 am and take you to Doi Inthanon National Park, which is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand, famous for its beautiful waterfalls, picturesque landscape, and Thailand culture. 

Upon arrival in the park, it’s time to have a local Thai lunch, after a short rest, you’ll visit:

1. Wachirathan Waterfall: one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand
2. Sirithan Waterfall: a centrally-located falls in Doi Inthanon National Park, dropping a total of 40 meters into the river.
3. Grand Pagoda Nabhapolbhumisiri: the great holy relic
4. Ang Ka Nature Trail: 2500 meters above sea level and surrounded by hi evergreen forest.
5. Ban Mae Klang Luang: a S’gaw Karen village in Doi Inthanon National Park.

After the end of the tour, you’ll be driven to Chiang Mai for about 1.5 hours.

Welcome to Chiang Mai, a delightful city in northern Thailand, celebrated for its rich culture and stunning natural beauty. Upon arrival at the airport, our tour guide will warmly welcome you and accompany you to the city center. You could have a rest in your hotel.

Today, you will be picked up by our guide at 7:30 am – 8:00 am, to enjoy a full-day visit to Elephant Nature Park, which is a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, and other rescued animals.

Watch the saved elephants in two different places where they live together with their friends. You can learn about their stories. Besides, you could get a cool view of the small groups of elephants from SkyWalk.

1. 'Hands Off' Project: This is where elephants freely roam together, and you can see them from the SkyWalk, which is a special viewing spot.
2. Watch the Herd: Take a walk in the park to see the elephants in their groups. You'll also learn their stories and what they need.
3. See Them Socialize: Watch the elephants hang out together, play in the mud, or roll in the sand after they've had a bath in the river.
4. Visit Rescued Animals: You can visit the Dog Project and Cat Kingdom to learn about the saved dogs and cats. Besides, you can meet other saved animals in the park.

Enjoy a tasty buffet with vegan food from Asia and the West. At 3:30 pm, it's time to say bye to the elephants. Then, we'll drive you back to your hotel or guesthouse in Chiang Mai.

In the morning, after breakfast, your tour guide will escort you to the airport.

Tour service ends here.