MULTI COUNTRY TOURS

13-Day Thailand-Myanmar Tour

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DAY 01          BANGKOK – NAKORN SAWAN

Arrival in Bangkok in late afternoon. Departure from the Airport heading north. Proceed to the striving commercial town of Nakorn Sawan. We shall take a fascinating boat trip on the Nan River, which is lined with boathouses underneath many of which fish is being raised and visit a countryside temple where semi-wild monkeys will be fed. Evening at leisure.
Overnight stay in Nakorn Sawan.

DAY 02          NAKORN SAWAN - TAK

After breakfast, the visits begin with the FORTIFIED CITY OF KAMPEANGPETCH, dating from the 13th century to visit its ruined fortifications and temples. Proceed to SUKHOTHAI to visit its unique archeological site; A WORLD HERITAGE SITE protected by UNESCO, where standing Buddha Images can be seen majestically presiding over fallen temples and palaces.
In the afternoon you continue visiting this unique site and then will be driven to Tak. Evening at leisure.
Overnight stay in Tak.

DAY 03          TAK – CHIANGMAI

After breakfast, a quick visit to the local teaming market and departure for the Stonecutters’ village of Thoen and them Pasang, the latter being known at “the Town of the Beautiful maidens”, where lunch will be served.
In the afternoon, on our way to Chiangmai, en-route stop in LAMPOON to there visit the glittering WAT HARIPOONCHAI. Upon reaching our Northern capital, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.

DAY 04          CHIANGMAI – MANDALAY (By AIR MANDALAY FLIGHT)

Breakfast at hotel. The day is at your leisure until the flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival to MANDALAY airport you will be welcomed by Asian Tour Myanmar guide and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 05          MANDALAY – AMARAPURA - MANDALAY

After breakfast, excursion to AMARAPURA, 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues.
After lunch, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 06          MANDALAY – MINGUN - AVA – SAGAING - MANDALAY

After breakfast, an excursion by boat on the AYEYARWADDY RIVER will take you to MINGUN, about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar, constructed by King Bodaw Paya; one of the world’s largest bells, the 90 ton MINGUN BELL and HSINBYUME PAYA.
Return back to Mandalay.
After lunch, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts then continue to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 07          MANDALAY – BAGAN (BY BOAT)

After early breakfast, transfer to the jetty and board a Chinese-built ferry boat for your journey on the AYEYARWADDY River to BAGAN. The trip takes approx. 9 hour downriver, depending on river conditions and water level. Lunch will be provided by Asian Tour. Upon arrival to Bagan, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Note : The boat trip on Wednesdays and Sundays takes approx. 4 hours longer as a slower ferryboat is used for the journey on these days.

DAY 08          BAGAN

After breakfast, stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; GU BYANUK GYI, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic views over Bagan’s numerous monuments, and ANANDA TEMPLE with four standing Buddha images.
After lunch at a local restaurant learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

DAY 09           BAGAN

After breakfast, embark for visits to TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for their exquisite murals of 13th century and KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan.
After lunch, a colorfully decorated ox-cart (if available) will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of traveling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Optional : Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. (Details see ‘Balloons over Bagan’)

DAY 10          BAGAN – HEHO (BY FLIGHT) - PINDAYA - INLE LAKE

After breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (60 km – 2½ hour) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries.
After lunch at a good local restaurant, drive to NYAUNG SHWE (90 km – 4 hour) and transfer to your hotel on INLE LAKE by boat.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 11          INLE LAKE

After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. The visit begins with the local market in the Inle Lake region (Remark : on market days only) and proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex.
After Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, you will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks and the weaving village of INPAWKHON.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 12           INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to HEHO airport (32 km – 1:20 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON.
After lunch, your Yangon tour begins through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, built over 2,000 years ago; stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, of hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores; a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake and the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI. Complete your day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 13          DEPART YANGON

After breakfast, the day is at your leisure for relaxing, shopping or sightseeing until transfer to the airport for your international departure flight to BANGKOK.

Itinerary is subject to changes depending on flights, road conditions and availability of rooms.