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The three countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet in the Golden Triangle area of the Mekong River. Start your journey with sightseeing in Yangon and continue your tour of Myanmar with visits to Bagan, Mandalay and Heho. Your first stop in Thailand is Chiang Mai to visit varied attractions including temples, an elephant camp and botanical gardens. From Chiang Khong, cross the river into Laos to experience rural lifestyle in tribal villages. In Luang Prabang, visit royal palaces and villages known for traditional weaving. The tour ends in Vientiane, the easy-going capital of Laos.
Services included:
* Accommodation in shared twin rooms with daily breakfast
* All meals as specified in the program on table d’hôte basis (at local restaurants)
* Entrance fees
* Transfers and tours with English speaking local guides
* Transportation by air-conditioned van/minibus/coach
* Boat trips (as specified)
* Service charges, room tax and baggage handling
Excluded:
* Domestic airfares Yangon–Bagan–Mandalay–Heho-Yangon / Luang Pranbang–Vietiane
* Domestic flight security tax
* Travel insurance
* International airticket Yangon – Chiangmai
* International airtickets to Yangon and ex Vientiane
* Visa fee for Myanmar & Laos
* International airport tax in Bangkok, Yangon, Vientiane
* Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc.
* Christmas and New Year’s dinner supplement in Myanmar and Laos (will be advised at time of booking)
Day 1 (Fri) Yangon
Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city centre. Visit Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years and the magnificent reclining Buddha Chauk Htat Gyi. After a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a ‘hamsa-bird-shaped’ floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. Finally, visit one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Overnight stay: 4* Chatrium Hotel (superior room) (former Hotel Nikko Royal Lake) or similar
Note: Guests arriving by morning or mid-day flight will follow the above-mentioned program. However, if you arrive in the afternoon you will be directly transferred to your hotel and Yangon sightseeing will be provided on the last day.
Meal: L, D
Day 2 (Sat) Yangon > Bagan
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, start your day by visiting the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine. Also visit Ku Byanuk Gyi, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and Ananda Temple, with four standing Buddha images.
In the afternoon learn about the manufacturing of Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquerware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby Myinkaba village. Continue to Manuha Temple, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument, which according to legend used to be the palace site of the King Manuha. Visit the Archaeological Museum, housing countless beautiful Buddha images made of bronze, stone and lacquer. Complete the day by watching the sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Two nights’ stay: 4* Tharaba Gate Hotel (superior room) or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 3 (Sun) Bagan
After breakfast, visit 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. In the afternoon, an excursion to farming villages around Bagan will give you an insight into the rural life of the local people. In late afternoon, a colourfully decorated ox-cart will take you through some of the more off-the-beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of travelling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar. Enjoy dinner with a puppet show at a local restaurant.
Meal: B, D
Day 4 (Mon) Bagan > Amarapura > Ava > Sagaing > Mandalay
After breakfast transfer to Bagan airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, continue directly for an excursion to Amarapura. En route visit Mahagandayon Monastery, where more than 1,000 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 the 200-year-old U-Bein teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. In 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 at a local restaurant, 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 known as ‘the leaning tower of Ava’; Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, built of brick and stucco and Bargayar Monastery, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Continue to Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset.
Overnight stay: 4* Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 5 (Tue) Mandalay > Heho > Pindaya > Nyaung Shwe
After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival, proceed to Pindaya and visit Pindaya Caves, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. After lunch, drive to Nyaung Shwe and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay: 2* Shwe Inn Thar or similar on the Inle Lake
Meal: B, L, D
Day 6 (Wed) Heho > Yangon
After breakfast, depart for an excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. See the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the lake. Visits are made to Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda; the weaving village of Inpawkhon and to one of the local markets in the lake region. (Note: on market days only). In the afternoon transfer to Heho airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight stay: 4* Chatrium Hotel (Superior room)(former Nikko Hotel Royal Lake) or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 7 (Thu) Yangon > Chiang Mai
After breakfast, complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda and the Mahapasana Cave, where the sixth Buddhist synod took place. Proceed to Yangon’s oldest Chinese temple and the riverside Botataung Pagoda. Last but not least, see the eight-metre high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the National Museum. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, proceed to Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 3,520 feet. The temple is reached by a staircase with 290 steps, flanked by a Naga balustrade on either side. The Monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. The Centre is a big Chedi (spired pagoda), which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. Enjoy a typical Thai Kantoke dinner with presentation of ancient dances from north Thailand, followed by a performance of dances and songs by various hill tribes.
Overnight stay: 4* Amari Rincome Hotel or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 8 (Fri) Chiang Mai
After breakfast depart for an excursion north of Chiang Mai to visit an elephant camp. Watch the elephants taking their daily bath in the stream before beginning to haul timber in the forest. You will be amazed by their strength and clever team work. On the way back visit the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. Enjoy lunch at the Mae Saa Valley Resort. Then proceed by pick-up truck to visit the Meo Hill Tribe Village at Nong Hoi Mai and continue to Ban Meo Mae Ki. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the village and its surroundings. BBQ dinner and camp fire at your lodge followed by a Meo dance performance.
Overnight stay: Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge
Meal: B, L, D
Day 9 (Sat) Chiang Mai > Mae Salong
After breakfast, depart by minibus for Fang and Thatorn via Chiang Dao. Enjoy refreshments and take a stroll through the local market. Visit Huay Luek, a Meo hill tribe village in Thatorn, a small village just a few kilometres away from the Burmese border.
Enjoy lunch at the Mae Kok River Lodge and continue by minibus to Ban Santikeree at Doi Mae Salong, a Yunnanese village. On the way visit Ban Muang Ngam (Karen hill tribe village) and Ban Ruamyai (Lahu hill tribe village).
Overnight stay: Wiang Inn 3* or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 10 (Sun) Mae Salong > Golden Triangle
After breakfast, visit the scenic Golden Triangle View Point, where it is possible to see all the way to Myanmar and Laos. This is the heart of the Golden Triangle, where the three countries meet. Depart to Doi Mae Salong via Doi Thung on the upper road to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the border area between Thailand and Myanmar. En route visit various hill tribe villages set among the green hillsides and Wat Phra Dhat Doi Thung, the object of an important yearly pilgrimage. After lunch, continue to the Golden Triangle area on the Mekong River where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos convene. Take a short boat trip around the Golden Triangle.
Overnight stay: 4* Imperial Golden Triangle Hotel or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 11 (Mon) Golden Triangle > Chiang Khong > Houei Sai > Pakbeng
After an early breakfast, transfer by minibus to Chiang Khong on the border, for custom and immigration clearance. Cross the river by ferry boat to Ban Houei Say in Laos to meet your Laotian guide then transfer to the pier for cruise down the Mekong River to Pakbeng by the Luang Say boat. One stop is made en route to observe rural life along the Mekong and discover minorities. Enjoy a buffet lunch on board. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and transfer to your lodge. Dinner on the terrace overlooking the Mekong River.
Overnight stay: Luang Say Lodge
Meal: B, L, D
Day 12 (Tue) Pakbeng > Luang Prabang
In the morning begin the second leg of the cruise. Make a short stop to discover a Hmong village before having a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou Village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit Tam Ting Caves of a thousand Buddhas. On the way to Luang Prabang, make a brief stop to observe the traditional process of obtaining local rice alcohol. Arrive at Luang Prabang before sunset and transfer to your hotel.
Two nights’ stay: 3* Villa Santi Hotel or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 13 (Wed) Luang Prabang
After breakfast, begin your Luang Prabang city tour with a visit to the former royal capital’s three most impressive temples: Wat Xiengthong, the most beautiful temple representing the classic Luang Prabang temple architecture; Wat Xiengmene, the Royal
Cemetery and Wat Longkhoune, the Royal temple where all kings of Lane Xang are said
to have come for a three-day retreat to prepare for coronation. After lunch, depart by road to Khouangsi Waterfalls, with picnic lunch at Ban Thapene Village. Late afternoon return to Luang Prabang and continue to visit Ban Phanom, a village specializing in hand weaving.
Meal: B, L, D
Day 14 (Thu) Luang Prabang > Vientiane
After breakfast, visit the former Kings’ Palace (now a museum), then climb up to visit Phousy Hill, overlooking the city and visit a local open air market for shopping. In the afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival, be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a Vientiane city tour including Vat Sisaket, Hophrakeo, Thatluang Stupa and Arc of Triumph.
Overnight stay: 4* Lao Plaza Hotel or similar
Meal: B, L, D
Day 15 (Fri) Depart Vientiane
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight
Meal: B
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