Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel and time at leisure. Overnight in Yangon.
In the morning, Sule Pagoda, 48 meters golden dome and walking tour to explore a great city on foot and this tour takes in the best of colonial Yangon. Botataung Pagoda where we can see the Buddha hair relic. Afternoon visit Bogyoke or Scott Market, a famous shopping center to enjoy display of Myanmar handicraft, Gems Shops. In the evening, visit world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, this Pagoda dates back about 2600years enshrined 8 sacred hairs of the Buddha, claimed to be the world richest golden dome rises 99 meters and plastered onto the sides of this pagoda with 60 tons of pure gold. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Yangon.
This morning we head for the airport to get the early morning flight to Bagan. Check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes Nyaung Oo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Kyansittha Umin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple.
In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Bagan: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride – Popa / Bagan
5:00am: Our friendly staff will pick you up from your hotel in Bagan and bring you to the launch site in the comfort of one of our private vehicles.
5:30: A light breakfast will be served while you watch the balloon being inflated. Your pilot will give a complete safety briefing and flight instructions.
6:30: Your balloon will climb up in the air during the sunrise to several thousand feet over the majectic ancient city of Bagan. Your pilot will give you a guided tour above the 3000 pagodas of Bagan. You will have a unique opportunity to take some of the most amazing photos and selfies in your life!
7:30: After a soft landing, your pilot will give you a flight certificate and a toast of champagne to celebrate your achievement.
8:00: We will bring you back to your hotel in Bagan. Your memories of this day will last for years to come.
Enjoy breakfast at hotel.
Later in the morning, we head to Mt. Popa about 48 km south east of Bagan. Mt. Popa, known as the abode of Nats (spirits) – a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak. It’s time to climb for 777 steps to the summit. Proceed to Popa Mountain Resort (1hr drive ) for our lunch. The restaurant offer a great view to the Popa summit that stands straight from the central plain.
Afternoon, return drive back to Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
After breakfast, depart the hotel for flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Transfer by road to Inle Lake and transfer to our hotel by long tail boat across the lake. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.
After breakfast at the hotel, visit floating market which is a 5day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue our excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation.Later in afternoon, transfer to Heho airport for the late afternoon flight to Mandalay. On arrival, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Mandalay.
Mandalay – Mingun / Mandalay
After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue. Return to Mandalay.
Afternoon, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image. Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar and that make her to be the best place to see all the traditional arts and crafts. Start visiting gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. Continue visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel.
Mandalay – Bangkok – Vientiane
After breakfast, check out hotel and drive to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousands of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. After that, transfer to Mandalay International airport for the flight to Bangkok. On arrival in Bangkok, connect the flight to Vientiane, Laos. On arrival in Vientiane, you are met and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Vientiane.
Morning, we start visiting the major sights of the capital; including the oldest Wat Sisaket, the temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues and the former royal temple of Wat Hor Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. On the way to the famous and sacred structure of That Luang Stupa, we stop to take some pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, which is well known as Vientiane’s own Arc de Triumph.
Afternoon, take a trip by road to outskirts of Vientiane, following the road along the bank of Mekong river to visit the Buddha park of Xieng Khuan, the park (28km East of Vientiane), containing a combination of hundred status of Hindu divinities and Buddha. Overnight in Vientiane.
Vientiane – Luang Prabang
Moring, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Luang Prabang. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Luang Prabang is perhaps the best-preserved traditional city in Southeast Asia. The tranquility and charm of this town with its splendid natural scenery and cultural sights make it one of the most delightful places to visit in Laos. We’ll visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. From there, we visit the Night Market, where you can browse through a lovely selection of handmade textiles. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang – Park Ou Caves
After breakfast, we enjoy a short-guided tour of the city’s oldest temple, Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong where you can see the impressive “tree of life” mosaic set in colored glass.
Visit The National Museum (closed Tuesday) at the former Royal Palace, which displays a lovely collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture throughout the ages.
We then board an upstream cruise on the Mekong River, which gives us a panoramic view of the tranquil countryside. We’ll make sure to stop at the Pak Ou Caves, sanctuaries consisting of two large caverns, both repositories for thousands of Buddha images. We will also stop at a few villages during the day, including Ban Xanghai where the local rice wine is produced. On our way back, we pass by a few more local villages and see the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun. Overnight in Luang Prabang. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang – Koangsi Waterfalls
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession.
Later in the morning, we head out to visit some ethnic minority villages and see how these colorful people live. We then drive to the beautiful Khouangsi Waterfalls where you can swim in the turquoise pools or walk along forest paths. We continue to Ban Phanom, another well-known weaving village, and return to the city by late evening to observe the sunset at Wat Phabath. Overnight in Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang – Departure
After breakfast, you will be free at leisure. The tour ends after your transfer to the airport for departure. End of the 13 day (~2 week) Myanmar Laos Itinerary.