Thailand & Myanmar Overland Trip (IPM01)

Sawadika! Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand

A warm greeting awaits at Suvarnabhumi International Airport; your private guide and driver will meet you in the arrivals lounge and transfer you to your hotel in Bangkok. While every effort is made to have your room available upon arrival, check-in time is at 02:00 pm; your room may or may not be ready before this time. Your tour guide will provide additional details regarding your stay, and you will be able to ask any questions you may have.

This evening with our guide followed by a welcome dinner at a famous restaurant

Overnight in Bangkok.
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After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive north to Ayutthaya.

Our first visit will be to Wat Phu Khao Thong, originally built in 1387 by the second king of the Ayothaya kingdom, an impressive monument in the North-western part of Ayutthaya. When the Burmese took over Ayutthaya in 1569, the Burmese king built a Mon-style chedi (or pyramid) on top of the former temple to celebrate his victory over Ayutthaya and the Siamese.

Continue to the Ayutthaya Historical Park and visit the ancient palace ground. Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, once a royal temple lying beside the Grand Palace, was once the most significant temple during the Ayutthaya period. Adjacent to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet is Viharn Phra Mongkolbopit, an impressive building that houses a large seated bronze Buddha image. Its rebuilt pristine hall was believed to be a replica of the old Assembly Hall of Ayutthaya.

After a delicious Thai lunch, we’ll move on to Wat Lokaya Sutha to see the largest reclining Buddha of Ayutthaya at 8 meters high and 42 meters long. The Buddha image was made of brick and covered with plaster.

We will continue to Wat Mahathat, a classic temple ruins of Ayutthaya and famous for the picturesque Buddha head engulfed by the Bodhi tree roots. The foundation size, remaining prangs, and towers attest to the significance during its time.

Late in the afternoon, we’ll take a ride back to Bangkok and check in the hotel for the night.

Overnight in Bangkok.
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After breakfast, we will visit the Grand Palace. Probably the most visited and remembered landmark of Thailand, the Grand Palace in Bangkok is where every visitor must pay a visit at least once in their lifetime.  The Grand Palace served as a significant royal residence until 1925 and is now used for ceremonial purposes only.

Explore the Coronation Hall, Funeral Hall, and the famous Emerald Buddha.

Our trip will continue with a long-tail boat ride along the canal to see Thai houses and typical rural life as well as a visit to the Temple of Dawn.

Enjoy lunch before heading to Bangkok Airport for an afternoon flight to Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival, our private car and tour guide will pick us up and transfer to the hotel in center Chiang Mai.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.
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After breakfast, spend a full day enjoying the Chiang Mai city tour. The tour includes Wat Pra Singh, which is one of over 200 ancient Buddhist temples located around the city, one of the most well-regarded examples of Lanna architecture; and Wat Chedi Luang – The temple is the within site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaeo.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.
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Today we will enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature Park; a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, dogs, cats, birds, and many other rescued animals.

Our visit will start with a picturesque drive through the rural countryside to Elephant Nature Park. We will hear the personal stories of rescued and orphaned elephants. See how they became a proud herd and free from abuse for the first time in their lives.

Many will find their visit to Elephant Nature Park rewarding and very relaxing. Observe free roaming elephants (no riding), and other rescued animals enjoying the natural surroundings of our sanctuary.

Our visit helps support the regional projects and offers an invaluable opportunity of helping elephant conservation.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.
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Today we will learn to cook some of the most famous Thai dishes at Asia Scenic – one of the best cooking schools in Chiang Mai.

After we select the menus we want to cook, we’ll get started with a local market tour to select the freshest and best ingredients for our menu.

Enjoy the guidance of the chef and prepare our own meal, then evaluate ourselves by having what we have cooked for lunch!

The afternoon will be free for our own leisure.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.
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Leave Chiang Mai in the morning and drive due North towards Chiang Rai.

On the way, make a stop at Mae Ka Chan Hot spring for break time, Then drive more than one hour to visit White Temple or Wat Rong Khun, The artist Chalermchai Kositpipat also created the mural paintings at the Buddha Prateep Temple in London.

Afterward, visit the world-famous Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. Move on to Wat Phra Singha where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined. Next visit the statue of King Mengrai, who was the builder of Chiang Rai City, then a short drive from Chiang Rai City to Black House. Baan Dam (Black House) is the unique creation of national artist, Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs.

Drive around 1h30m to Chiang Khong

Overnight in Chiang Khong.
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Free at leisure until our private car picks up from the hotel and transfers to Thailand – Myanmar border (around 2 hours), cross the Chiang Khong border to Tachileik – Myanmar.

Our private car and tour guide in Myanmar will wait for us in Myanmar custom and drive to Kyaing Tong (around 3 hours).

Overnight in Kyaing Tong.
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After breakfast visit Kengtung’s local market. This daily market is visited by villagers from the surrounding area who come to sell their products and barter for goods.  Visiting the market, we will see minority hill tribes in their traditional dresses.

Then depart by road to Pin Tauk village, the starting point of today’s trek.  Set off on foot, trekking 45 minutes to 1 hour to the Akha minority village of Hwe Lon. Spend some time in the village and interacting with the locals to discover more about their unique customs and daily lifestyle.

After a picnic lunch, resume trekking to an Ann Village perched on the slopes of a hill (approximately 30 minutes).  The Ann minority is known for its traditional black dress and blackened teeth.  After walking around the village, stop at Lone Tree Hill for panoramic views of the city and continue to Kengtung.

Overnight in Kengtung.
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This morning after breakfast drive in the direction of Mong La. The drive follows a good road with gorgeous views of mountains dotted with tribal villages. After around 2 hours (40 km), we’ll arrive at the start point of the trekking trail.

The first hour of the trek features rolling, hilly terrain but mostly 20 to 30-degree slope. In the middle of this natural landscape, we will suddenly arrive at a breathtaking beautiful wooden monastery, which is thought to be more than 300 years old. There are wood carvings on the doors and paintings on both the interior and exterior walls. Inside the Buddha room, there are paintings of Jakata stories, ancient Buddha images, and other impressive religious figures and furniture.

Continue on foot a short way to Wan Nat, a unique village whose inhabitants are Loi people living in longhouses. Spend time walking around the village to learn about the way of life, culture, and traditions of the Loi.

If we wish, continue hiking one more hour along a flatter, easier trail to another Loi village. Wang Seng is rarely visited by tourists and features an impressive and even larger monastery. A lunch box will be served along the way.

After our visits, return along the trekking trail to your car and drive back to Kengtung, arriving in the late afternoon. Freshen up at the hotel and then head out to a local restaurant for own dinner.

Overnight in Kengtung.
Meals: (B/L/_)

After breakfast, drive to Loimwe (appr. 2 hours drive), an old colonial town with different colorful tribes which passes through forests, terraced rice fields, and a lake.

Lunch on the way, we will have several stops to visit different villages. Wan Lun Shan village, walk and explore the native village life; the Ho Lup Akha village where we can see the traditional Akha tribes and the Naung Cho Wa tribe, in former times headhunters. Late afternoon come back to Kyaing Tong

Overnight in Kengtung.
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Breakfast at hotel and check out. Transfer from hotel to Kyaing Tong airport for the flight to Heho.

Once arrival, our guide awaits to transfer us to Pindaya, which is noted for its extensive limestone caves filled with Buddha images. Upon arrival, we will be visiting to the Pindaya Caves which houses thousands of Buddha Images of various sizes placed there by pilgrims over the centuries and endless fields of dry cultivates mountain rice and potato.  We can explore the district for famous traditional paper and its umbrella making home base cottage industry.

Overnight in Pindaya.
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After breakfast, we take a 2-hours drive to Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. Drive up the hills to Ayethayar winery where German winemakers have been perfecting Myanmar’s premier winery produce for nearly 20 years. Take a walk around the vineyard with local specialists and taste the wines. Enjoy lunch with sweeping views over rolling vine rows and Inle Lake valley extending below.

After checking into the hotel, we embark on explorations of Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.

Overnight at Inle Lake/ Nyaung Shwe.
Meals: (B/L/_)

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the floating market which is a 5 days 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. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance.

Return to the hotel.

Overnight at Inle Lake/ Nyaung Shwe.
Meals: (B/L/_)

A short flight from Heho Airport to the ancient capital of Bagan (Nyaung Oo). Thousands of ancient stupas and temples in this area make Bagan, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia. From the 11^th till the 13^th century, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers of constructed huge stupas and temples, many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

Once arrival, a private car with tour guide pick up from Nyaung U airport and transfer to hotel in Bagan

Overnight in Bagan.
Meals: (B/L/_)

Over the five centuries of the Bagan empire more than 4000 brick temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed on a dry plateau by the Irrawaddy River. Despite wars and earthquakes much of this wonder and world heritage has survived to modern-day and is now open for visits. (Climbing up to temples terraces is no more permitted to prevent erosion)

Get ready for an inspiring experience with this Bagan full-day tour. Join with a local guide to explore the best of Bagan’s history, culture, and landscapes.  We start with an exploration of thousand years old Shwezigon Stupa purported to contain a holy tooth relic of Buddha and a “Nat” spirit shrine. Next, we continue to Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple to marvel at the best-preserved mural paintings in Bagan and visit the largest market of Bagan in Nyaung Oo.

In old Bagan, we visit the most beautiful temple of all – Ananda, with symmetric four standing Buddha images inside. We cap the day with a horse or bullock carriage ride to witness a magical sunset (weather permitting) behind the temples stopping by one of the most impressive temples of Bagan, the Dhammayangyi is known for its fine brickwork and legend of the evil king.

Overnight in Bagan.
Meals: (B/L/_)

Another exciting day exploring Bagan.

Today we venture off the beaten trails on backroads to explore the lesser-known and hidden temples and villages of Bagan, tucked away from the crowds and tour busses. Experience the typical village life of central Myanmar and meet the locals. Bagan’s temple groups and villages are connected by a network of small unpaved trails and paths perfect for cycling and e-biking explorations.

On a school day, we can stop by a monastic school where underprivileged children get free education and are always keen to practice English skills with visitors. Enjoy a home-cooked lunch as a guest of a local family and continue a ride to the monastery where we can meet Buddhist monk(s) and learn about the devotee’s daily routine and monastic life. This is the perfect place to have a short meditation practice if you wish.

After a little rest break at the hotel, we take a closer look at traditional arts and crafts of Bagan and lacquerware making, a tradition that still thrives after 1000 years.  The remarkable skill of the artisans is sure to impress.

Then we are off to Ayeryarwaddy River for a private sunset cruise where views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore can be accompanied by cocktails onboard.

Come back to your hotel in Bagan

Overnight in Bagan.
Meals: (B/L/_)

An early morning transfer to jetty and take the boat trip to Mandalay. There is no better chance of witnessing and enjoying the natural scenic beauty and the ways of life along the Ayeyarwady River.

Lunch will be served on the boat.

The boat will depart from Bagan at 05.30 am and arrive to Mandalay at 17.00pm.

Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Mandalay.
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After breakfast, board a boat for a 1-hour cruise across the Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy) to the rural village of Mingun to view its massive unfinished pagoda dramatically cracked in half by an earthquake in the 1800s; Mingun’s bronze bell believed to be largest uncracked one in the world and the beautiful Myatheindan pagoda which represents Mt. Meru and the abode of celestial beings.

Return back to Mandalay enjoying lunch

Afternoon highlight to the most significant Buddha images covered in several tons of gold leaf and the crown prize in wars between competing kingdoms; the Golden Palace Monastery, the sole surviving Royal Palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals; and lastly, the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a compound housing Buddha’s teachings carved in the sacred Pali script on stone tablets and regarded the world’s largest book in terms of surface area. Time permitting, we enjoy a stroll through the lively Zegyo Market in the heart of the city to experience authentic local life.

We end our day with sunset panoramic views over the city skyline on Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city.

Overnight in Mandalay.
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Venture outside the city to the Buddha land of Sagaing. This religious hub presents education for monks at different levels. After visiting Sagaing University, we will proceed to visit Buddha cave and U Min Thonze Pagoda, Soon U Pon Nya Shin Pagoda, Tupayon temple where you can enjoy the great view of Mandalay.

This afternoon, we will travel to Ava, Amarapura to discover the Maha Aungmye Bonzan, Gabaya Monastery, Leaning Nam Myint Tower, and the nearby attractions.

Enjoy a walk over U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in Myanmar.

Overnight in Mandalay.
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Transfer to Mandalay Airport for domestic flight back to Yangon.

Upon arrival, our private car and tour guide will pick us up from the airport for a hotel transfer. Free at leisure

Overnight in Yangon.
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After breakfast, drive to the train station for the train ride for about 1 hour. Enjoy the authentic lifestyle of locals and take in the beautiful scenery. Then, enjoy a private tour and drive through downtown to explore the city center and its fabulous mix of architecture and sites. The streets are filled with historical buildings, many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia.

Continue with a walking tour of the colonial street. You’ll start at the post office – a lovely historic building, pass by the Strand Hotel, the Buddhist landmarks of Sule Paya, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument along the way. Stop for a photo at the Karaweik Hall royal floating barge.

Late afternoon, visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. The massive bell-shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires, and topaz – a stunning sight as the sun sets and a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”.

Overnight in Yangon.
Meals: (B/L/_)

After breakfast, a fleet of microbuses and guides will be available outside the hotel for guests who would like to do some last-minute shopping or complete their cultural visit of Yangon exploring colonial downtown.

Then take the drive to Mingaladon International Airport to check in on your onward flight.

End of services.
Meals: (B/_/_)