Best of Myanmar & Cambodia 13 Days

Day 1: Mandalay Arrival

Welcome to Myanmar!  You will be met at the airport and taken to the hotel.  In the late afternoon, we start city tour including a visit to Mahar Myat Muni Pagoda, the most ancient Buddha image casted in bronze in Myanmar, Shwenandaw Monastery a significant masterpiece of the wood-carver’s art, Mandalay Golden palace the first palace to be built in Myanmar by King Mindon. Enjoy sunset on Mandalay Hill. End the day with sharing a beer or two over some street food!

Buddhist monks at Mingun, Mandalay, Myanmar

Day 2: Mandalay – Inwa – Amarapura

After breakfast, the tour guide and driver will bring you to Thakyadithar Nunnery on the away to Sagaing to see the nuns’s meal.  Continue to Sagaing, a sacred hill dotted with 600 monasteries and pagodas painted white. Sagaing Hill is a religious center which is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. In the afternoon, continue to Inwa or Ava, the capital from the 14th to the 18th century, and visit the old monastery Bagaya and the remains of the Royal Palace. Return to the hotel for lunch. The day ends with a sunset stroll on the U Bein Bridge, constructed entirely of teak.

Day 3: Mandalay – Pakokku –  Bagan by car

This morning, leave Mandalay and head to Bagan. On the way, we will visit to Pakokku which is a friendly town famed for its tabaco, thanakhar, leather slipper, joss and local schroot or cigar that all made by the local villagers. From Pakokku, take a boat and enjoy sunset view of Bagan. Reach to Bagan in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Bagan cycling tour

We will get a bike to go to Nyaung U market together where sells variety of fresh vegetables, seafood and meat. Then, cycling to the best of Bagan’s distinctive temples including Shwezigon that dazzles in gold, the delicate painted ceilings of Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi and Ananda, the most revered of all, with its four standing Buddha’s. End of the day with sunset on the site of one of the upper terraces.

Day 5: Bagan – Salay – Mount Popa

This morning, we get one hour and a half drive from Bagan to Salay. Salay is the colorful old religious center in Central Myanmar which is the diversity of monasteries. We will visit the the most outstanding one is Yoke Sone monastery with spectacular woodcarving and Buddhist image, which partly reflects the main religion here, Buddhism. Then, get your local touch by visiting a local market with daily life and customs. Continue to head to Mount Popa, which is 45 kilometers to the East of Salay. With the height of 4981 feet above the sea level, Mount Popa is a unique extinct volcano with a spectacular view.  With 777 steps leading to the top of Popa Peak where a Buddhist Shrine is situated, you are at the highest point in the area, a panoramic view is opened right before your eyes and leave you with admiration and impression.

Back to Bagan in the afternoon.

Day 6: Bagan – fly to Heho – Pindaya

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Heho, Shan hills in north-eastern Burma, situated about 1000 meters above sea level. Check after about 2 hours of flight time, and continue for about 80 km through hilly landscapes, up to Pindaya. Visit to the “Cave of the Hundred Thousand Buddha.” The statues, thousands of them, form a labyrinth within large karst caves. We also visit the handicraft village where the local people have been turning the bark of mulberry trees into pretty paper and umbrellas before heading to Nyaung Shwe. Boat trip under the beautiful sunset on lake to your hotel for relaxing.

Day 7:  Five day market – Inle Lake boat trip

This morning, we will visit the “Five day market” where is good opportunity to meet many different local tribes. Then, sailing on the lake to discover the fascinating habits of local residents. Visit the small village of Indein, with pagodas dating back to the sixteenth century, and the village in which he lives Htanpai ethnicity Pao. Lunch. Continue to the monastery of Ywamagyi and the fishing village of Kyaesarkone, then continue to the pagoda and monastery Phaungdaw Nga Phe kyaung the “jumping cat monastery.”

Inle Lake, Myanmar – January 28, 2016 : Two fishermen fishing on traditional bamboo boats at sunrise

Day 8: Inle – Yangon

After breakfast at the hotel, leave Inle lake for Yangon.  Upon arrival, being picked up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Refreshing at a moment, start to explore downtown Yangon with a walking tour through the historic quarter.  The lively streets are filled with book sellers, street markets, fortune tellers and the crumbling facades of the colonial era. Later in the afternoon visit Scott Market, the oldest in town, where you can buy everything from antiques, handicrafts and precious gems. Next is a photo stop at Kandawgyi Lake with its royal barge and pretty views, then head to Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset when the stupa glows bright gold in the evening light.

Day 9: Yangon circle train – fly to Phnom Penh

After breakfast, our tourl guide will pick you up and head to the lively railway station for a true Burmese experience. Locate the correct train and set off, gazing out of the window as you pass the changing scenery and communities. When you arrive at the Insein township, disembark and make your way to the popular fresh market. Take advantage of the opportunity to try an exotic fruit, a savory snack, or pick up a colorful souvenir from one of the numerous vendors lining the streets. After exploring the area, we will drive back to downtown Yangon for lunch. Take a rest before transferring to the airport for flight to Phnom Penh. Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, being pick up and transfer to the hotel for check in.

Day 10: Phnom Penh city

Breakfast at the hotel – we will start our visit to to the Royal Palace. The Palace was opened in 1870 under King Norodom, and now contains the Royal Residence, the Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda, and other buildings. The Silver Pagoda (WatPreahKeoMorokat) is one of the city’s most visited sites and offers a display of priceless Buddhist and historical objects. The Pagoda draws its name with more than 5,000 silver tiles, which cover a floor in the temple. The building serves less as a functioning shrine, no monks currently reside here, than a repository of cultural treasures such as the famous Emerald Buddha and many other valuable statues. We will then visit to ToulSleng museum (S-21) and the killing field of ChouengEk, which is about 35kim away from the city.

Day 11: Phnom Penh – fly to Siem Reap

Take morning flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you are met and transferred to hotel. Start your tours to the jungle covered temple of Ta Prohm is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees and gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. We also explore the grand circuit with Preah Khan, Kravan, NeakPean, KrolKo, Ta Som, East Mebon and Pre Rup Temples, where you will view the sunset from there. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 12: Explore Angkor

The sightseeing tour of Angkor area we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Visitor at the bayon in Angkor

Day 13: Siem Reap – depature

Breakfast at hotel, Heading out of town we make our way by traveling on a newly paved road to the intricately carved and well preserved temple of BanteaySrei. Along the way we make stopover at the Preah Dark village and we follow these with a visit the BanteaySamre Temple adorned with impressive relief’s depicting scenes of Vishunu as well as Krishna legends. This afternoon, by TukTuk to visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia. Transfer to the airport for a short flight to the next destination.