Highlights
- Visit Kyauktawgyi Pagoda & The Buddha Temple
- Traditional cooking class & visit to Shwezigon Pagoda
- Visit Kuthodaw Pagoda - "The World’s Largest Book”
- Trip to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Boat trip to Phi Phi Island Thailand
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrival Yangon & Kyauktawgyi Pagoda | Yangon |
| Day 2 | Yangon - Bagan & Ananda Temple | Bagan |
| Day 3 | Bagan - Traditional cooking class & Shwezigon Pagoda | Bagan |
| Day 4 | Bagan - Mandalay - Kuthodaw Pagoda & Shwenandaw Monastery | Mandalay |
| Day 5 | Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake & Nga Phe Chaung | Inle Lake |
| Day 6 | Indein - Heho - Yangon & Schwe Indein Pagoda | Yangon |
| Day 7 | Yangon – Bangkok | Bangkok |
| Day 8 | Bangkok - Grand Palace & Wat Pho Temple | Bangkok |
| Day 9 | Bangkok – Ratchaburi - Kanchanaburi | Kanchanaburi |
| Day 10 | Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya & Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon | Ayutthaya |
| Day 11 | Ayutthaya – Bangkok - Phuket | Phuket |
| Day 12 | Phuket - Phi Phi Island | Phuket |
| Day 13 | Phuket- Free Exploration | Phuket |
| Day 14 | Depart Phuket |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Yangon & Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Welcome to Southeast Asia and Yangon! First, you will be greeted at the airport and accompanied to your hotel for check-in. The capital Yangon, also known as Rangoon, is Myanmar's largest city and the country's most important commercial hub. The city's colonial background and religious legacy make it is one of the most mesmerizing places in all of southeast Asia.
Today, you will pay a visit to Kyauktawgyi Pagoda—home to a 72-meter long reclining Buddha statue, which features intricate carvings on his feet. Afterward, you will make a quick stop by the Kandawgyi Lake located in Kandawgyi Park. No Myanmar expedition can be considered complete if it lacks a visit to the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda.
Day 2: Yangon - Bagan & Ananda Temple
Today, you will be transferred to the Yangon airport and take a flight to Nyaung U (Bagan). First, you will travel to an elevated location amid the temple plains to observe the field of pagodas and temples. From here, you will explore the Ananda Temple—one of the most recognizable of Bagan’s temples. Your guide will ensure you reach this point before the majority of visitors arrive, enabling you to enjoy the beautiful temple in relative tranquility.
In the late afternoon, a drive to the river and a private wooden boat await. You will be treated to a peaceful view, cruising down the Irrawaddy River, under the shade or on the open-deck, passing several small villages. After enjoying a refreshing cocktail along with traditional snacks as the sun begins to sink slowly from view, you will disembark and travel back to your hotel.
Day 3: Bagan - Traditional cooking class & Shwezigon Pagoda
On your third day, there will be a cooking class, and exciting sightseeing awaiting you. You will start at the vibrant Nyaung-U Market, where the locals come to trade fresh produce and other goods daily, and then step into a local's home to join the family for a traditional cooking experience.
Your host will briefly introduce you to local vegetables and herbs, hand-picked in their garden, or freshly brought back from the morning market, before starting the class. You will share cooking methods, stories, and warm laughs with your host. After the lesson about traditional family recipes, an authentic taste of Burmese cuisine in a cozy atmosphere awaits. Don’t be afraid to finish everything on your plate; it is the Myanmar way to show your appreciation to the hosts.
You will also have time to explore a series of smaller monuments which allows for a different perspective of Bagan, before visiting traditional lacquerware workshop and observing the manufacturer of one of Myanmar’s most famous handicrafts. Your exploration of Bagan will continue with Old Bagan and Ananda Temple, an architectural work of art and certainly one of Bagan’s most recognizable temples.
Day 4: Bagan - Mandalay - Kuthodaw Pagoda & Shwenandaw Monastery
Today, you will transfer to the Nyaung U (Bagan) airport and board a flight to Mandalay, before making your way to the Mahamuni Buddha Temple. The pagoda holds one of the country’s most honored Buddha images, completely covered in gold leaf, which is applied every day by male devotees.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Mandalay - Heho - Inle Lake & Nga Phe Chaung
After transferring to the Mandalay airport, you will board a flight to Heho. Upon arrival, your driver will pick you up, and you'll get to enjoy a scenic drive to Nyaungshwe—the gateway village to Inle Lake. To make the most of the journey, you will visit rural workshops that specialize in traditional Shan paper and unique handcrafted umbrellas.
Many traditional crafts are originating on Inle Lake, inviting you to a visit and see how incredible woven items from lotus silk are created. Other crafts display boat building (depending on the time of year), a cigar making workshop, blacksmiths, or even silversmiths. You will then return by boat back to your hotel for a relaxed evening.
Day 6: Indein - Heho - Yangon & Schwe Indein Pagoda
After breakfast, you will board your private boat and begin heading out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular and breathtaking sights. This morning, you will walk around the 5-day market that changes position every day to a different village. Locals make daily visits to the market, as well as ethnic minorities from the surrounding communities and mountain regions.
Next, you will enjoy a one-hour boat ride down a small canal that will take you to the Pa-Oh village of Indein—positioned on the western shores of Inle Lake. After a stroll around the town, you will ascend the staircase, leading you to the pagoda. The Schwe Indein Pagoda is one of the most amazing sites around the shore of the lake.
After enjoying one last boat ride from on the lake to Nyaungschwe, you will be transferred back to the Heho airport to catch your domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon, you will head to your hotel to check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Transfer to and from the airport: 20 miles (32 km) - 1 hour
Day 7: Yangon – Bangkok
It is time to say goodbye to one of the most impressive and enchanting countries in the world and head to Yangon International Airport and fly to beautiful Bangkok in Thailand. You will be greeted at the airport by our guide and transferred to your hotel.
Bangkok is known as the "The city of Angels" in Thai and is the quintessential eastern metropolis in Southeast Asia with a mind-boggling history and spirituality. Expect ancient Thai temples, magnificently rising from the riverbanks, colorful palaces that glisten spectacularly in the sunlight, and a snaking river that winds its way through the heart of the city.
Day 8: Bangkok - Grand Palace & Wat Pho Temple
This morning, you will visit the amazing Grand Palace—the most important and impressive royal palace in Thailand. Here, you will get to see the enigmatic Emerald Buddha, which is the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, and then continue to Wat Pho—one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. Wat Pho is known for housing the famous 148-foot (45 m) long reclining Buddha, and being the original school of traditional Thai massage.
You will enjoy a relaxing one-hour Thai herbal massage, followed by a long tail boat cruise along the canal of Thonburi, and get a glimpse of the everyday life of the famous "water people" of Thailand. On your way back, you will stop by what is probably the most well-known symbol of Bangkok—Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun Ratchawararam), with its sparkling spires covered in broken shards of glass and pottery.
Tour duration: Full day alt. 7 hours
Day 9: Bangkok – Ratchaburi - Kanchanaburi
The morning will bring a trip to the well-known Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, drawing curious visitors from every corner of the world, due to the remarkable practice of buying and selling goods almost entirely on water. Jump into a canoe and gently glide on the canals among hundreds of small boats loaded with all kinds of products, from juicy fruits to colorful fabrics.
Day 10: Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya & Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Today, you will explore the glorious ruins of Ayutthaya, which bring back to life the early splendor of the city destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767. Your journey will start with a visit to Wat Chai Wattanaram—one of the most imposing of the remaining monuments of old Ayutthaya.
Day 11: Ayutthaya – Bangkok - Phuket
It's time for your next voyage and adventure—in Phuket! You will transfer to Bankok airport after your hotel check-out and board your flight to Thailand's biggest island. Exquisite white-sandy beaches, clear emerald seawater, and bright sunlight make Phuket is an international magnet for beach lovers from around the globe.
Day 12: Phuket - Phi Phi Island
Today will be an exciting day with a tour to the stunning Phi Phi Island. The island is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand, only a 1.5-hour boat ride from Phuket. It is a must-visit for anyone traveling to Phuket.
Tour duration: 9.5 hours
Day 13: Phuket- Free Exploration
-Enjoy your breakfast this morning, and then head to explore Phuket however you'd like. Phuket has something for everyone, buzzing city life, beaches, history, and vast cultural life. Today, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy another day at a white-sand beach, visit famous temples, or enjoy food tasting around the city.
Here are some suggested activities you might enjoy:
- Visit the Wat Chalong Temple—the biggest and most famous temple in Phuket, located in how surprising the town of Chalong. It was dedicated to the two monks Luang Pho Champ and Luang Pho Chuang, and their images are statued in the main temple. The roof lets you enjoy a beautiful view of the complex and its surroundings.
- Come face to face with the remarkable 148-foot (45 m) tall Buddha Statue—Big Buddha (Phra Phuttha Mingmongkhon Akenakkhiri), one of Phuket’s landmarks. The temple complex houses an exhibition with the story of Buddha, and upon arrival, you will most likely be blessed by a monk before reaching the statue.
- Enjoy tranquility at the Laem Ka Beach—one of the less crowded beaches that display the peace still available in many places in Thailand. It is the ideal getaway, far from the touristy beaches of Phuket, with stunning views and perfect for a swim.
- Stroll around the streets in the Old Town—the historical heart of Phuket. The colorful houses are unique in Thailand, and you'll get a chance to discover sights like the Chinese shrine Jui Tui Shrine. Settle down in one of the coffee shops to rest your legs and then continue to the Queen Sirikit Park—built in honor of the Queen.
Day 14: Depart Phuket
It's time to leave Phuket and leave your two-week adventure behind. After checking out of your hotel, you will meet your English Speaking Guide and be transferred to Phuket airport for your outbound flight.