9-Day trip to explore Cambodia, Laos & Myanmar

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International airport, you will meet a local tour guide and transfer to a local restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit Royal Place, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda, Raung Damrei Museum. The Palace building and Silver Pagoda are located with in the same walled ground. The Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. The treasures include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th-century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. And then move to the National Museum of Fine Arts, next to the Royal Palace was dedicated by King Sisowath in 1920. Over 5,000 objects are on display including Angkorian era statues, lingas and other artifacts, most notably the legendary statue of the “Leper King”. Though the emphasis is on Angkorian artifacts, there is also a good collection of pieces from later periods, including a special exhibition pf post-Angkorian Buddha figures. Then visit Wat Phnom, a small hill crowned by an active wat (pagoda) marks the legendary founding place of the Phnom Penh. Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

Then transfer to Phnom Penh airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival, transfer to a local restaurant for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the South Gate (with its huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean of milk) the ancient capital of Angkor Thom (12th century) and visit Bayon Temple (unique for its 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara), the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, impressive laterite and sandstone pyramid. The lack of surviving carving leases it practically uninteresting, but it is the tallest scalable temple in Angkor Thom, providing a nice view from the top. The Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King and visit the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple, embraced by the roots of enormous fig trees.

Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

In the morning we will drive to visit Banteay Srei, the beautiful ‘Women’s Citadel’. Located 37 km from Siem Reap town, this was Cambodia’s last major Khmer temple to be re-discovered. This temple has the best engravings among all the ruins and was used in the film “Lara Croft Tomb Raider”. then move to Banteay Samre built in the third quarter of the 12th century. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the 7th world heritage, Angkor Wat a unique and stunning blend of spirituality and symmetry, an enduring example of man’s devotion to his Gods. It is the largest and undoubtedly the most breathtaking of the monuments of Angkor and it is widely believed that it is the largest religious structure in the world. Take a gentle walk down the Angkor Wat causeway through the first gopura to see the sunset over the libraries and gopura from the west side of the ponds. Overnight stay in Siem Reap.

Breakfast will be at the hotel.

This morning we will excursion to visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap.  Take a traditional wooden boat for a ride on the Tonle Sap Lake, the “Great Lake” of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is the same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” moves from place to place following water levels and current.

Visit Les Artisans d’Angkor and see their stone and wood carving workshops where the artisans are taught to use traditional Khmer techniques. Next, visit the Old Market where you can see the fresh local produce being sold as well as browse the souvenir stalls. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Then transfer to the airport for a flight to Luang Prabang.

On arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. After a short rest, we visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. We then climb up to the top of Mount Phousi for an enjoyable exploration of the sacred, gilded stupa as well as a beautiful sunset view of the city and the Mekong River. From there, we explore the Night Market, where you can find a lovely selection of handmade textiles made by the hill tribe and local people surrounding Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang. Dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast at the hotel.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the procession.

After breakfast, take a half-day boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to explore local villages at Ban Xiengmene and Ban Chan. Continue with the royal temple at Wat Longkhoun, which once belonged to the royal family and nearby Sackarine Caves and continue cruising Pak Ou cave. Explore caves and cross the Mekong River at Ban Ou for lunch at a local restaurant. Return by road to Luang Prabang, stopping en route at Ban Xang Hai, where the residents create a unique rice wine called “Lao Lao” and continue to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails. We then return to Luang Prabang.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we visit the National Museum (closed Tuesdays) at the former Royal Palace.  It displays a collection of artifacts reflecting the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign. We then enjoy the tour seeing the city’s oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground, which represents classical Laotian architecture.

Lunch at a local restaurant. We transfer to the airport in the evening for your flight to Yangon.

Welcome to Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, where the largest number of colonial buildings in entire Southeast Asia is located. On arrival at Yangon International Airport, our representative and tour guide will meet and greet you, followed by transfer to your hotel. Today, you will visit 2600 years old Shwedagon Zedi Daw, the most renowned and spectacular landmark dominating the skyline of Yangon. The 325 feet-tall, gold glided pagoda enshrines the relics of the past four Buddhas and it is the most sacred religious place for Buddhist Burmese. You will stay overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Bagan. Bagan sightseeing to famous pagodas. From the 9th to 13th Centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Bagan. During the kingdom’s prosperity between the 11^th and 13^th Centuries; over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day. You will visit renowned temples in Bagan and Nyaung-U including Ananda Temple, known as Westminster Abbey of Burma; Dhammayangyi Temple, the largest of all temples in Bagan; and as well as other famous pagodas such as Manuha, Htilominlo, Shwezigon, and Gubyaukgyi Pagoda and lacquerware workshop. In the evening, you will enjoy Bagan’s sunset from above Pyathadat Gyi, Shwe San Daw or Lawkananda Pagoda. You will stay overnight at the hotel in Bagan or Nyaung U.

You will visit Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, which is located about 31 miles away from Bagan. Mount Popa is best known for the stunningly picturesque Popa Taungkalat monastery and is popularly recognized as an abode of many ancient spirits. Return to Bagan and transfer to the airport for flight to Yangon. Take a walking tour around attractions at Yangon’s city center: Sule Pagoda, Yangon City Hall, Immanuel Baptist Church, High Court, Independence Monument and Mahabandoola Park. You will stay overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

You will visit the famous Bogyoke Market,  the most popular bazaar in Yangon for locals and foreigners alike, where you can purchase traditional Myanmar handicrafts, fabrics, lacquer wares, antique items, paintings, jewelry and gemstones like rubies, sapphires and jade… You will transfer to the airport for international departure.