Myanmar & The Temples of Angkor

A visit to admire the magical temples of Angkor in Cambodia with a journey to enchanting Burma, now Myanmar.

Specialtours is venturing further afield! Recently similar tours for two separate American private groups have combined a visit to admire the magical temples of Angkor in Cambodia with a journey to enchanting Burma, now Myanmar. This is a mystical land of great natural beauty and cultural interest, blessed with gentle and welcoming people. Our tailor-made tour features a luxury cruise on the Irrawaddy to the ancient temple city of Bagan, an unforgettable experience.

THE ITINERARY
Day 1
Siem Reap
AM, PM
Arrive Siem Reap, Cambodia and transfer to the luxury Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor.
Afternoon at leisure to rest or swim
Drinks and dinner in the hotel
Day 2
Siem Reap
AM
Morning at leisure
PM
Lunch at Café d’Angkor at the hotel
Leave to visit some of the celebrated Khmer temples of Angkor, to include Kravan, Srah Srang, Banteay Kdei, Mebon Oriental and/or Pre Rup, until sunset
Buffet dinner at the hotel, with an Apsara dance show
Day 3
Siem Reap
AM
Leave to enter the South Gate of Angkor Thom (‘Great City’) and visit the great temple of Bayon, with its remarkable bas-reliefs Continue to the Royal Enclosure, the Terrace of Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King
PM
Lunch at a contemporary restaurant in Siem Reap
Time to relax at the hotel
Explore the spectacular temple of Ta Prohm and the 12th century masterpiece of Angkor Wat
Dinner at a restaurant
Day 4
Siem Reap
AM
Leave to visit the enchanting temple of Banteay Srey (‘Citadel of Women’)
PM
Lunch at a restaurant
Return to the hotel
Remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Dinner at the hotel
Day 5
Yangon
AM
Leave for Siem Reap airport
Depart Siem Reap on Bangkok Airways flight to Yangon via Bangkok
PM
Arrive Yangon Airport and transfer to the luxurious Governor’s Residence Dinner in the garden
Day 6
Yangon
AM
Leave for a walking tour of some of the colonial buildings of Yangon (formerly Rangoon) with a specialist architectural guide from the Yangon Heritage Trust
PM
Lunch at the Strand Hotel
Return to the hotel via Kandawgyi (Royal Lake)
Afternoon at leisure
Visit the fascinating Shwedagon pagoda, the most revered Buddhist shrine in the country
Dinner at the hotel
Day 7
Cruise
AM
Leave for Yangon Airport for the flight to Mandalay
Arrive Mandalay and continue to the jetty to join the luxurious Belmond ‘Road to Mandalay’
PM
Lunch on board
Transfer to shore to visit Mandalay, to include the Kuthodaw Pagoda and the remarkable Shwenandaw monastery, the only part of the royal palace to have survived
Return to ‘Road to Mandalay’ for dinner on board
Day 8
Cruise
AM
Transfer to shore for an early morning walking tour of a local village, returning to the ship for breakfast
Sail to the ancient and atmospheric former capital of Ava Tour by horse-drawn carriage, to include the ruins of King Bagidaw’s Palace and the impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung
PM
Lunch on board
Afternoon at leisure on the ship, with tea and a talk
Cocktail party and dinner on board
Day 9
Cruise
AM
Optional early morning panoramic balloon ride over the plain of Bagan, studded with over 2,000 temples
Arrive Bagan for a guided orientation tour of some of the most important temples, including the magnificent Ananda temple, Hti-Lo Min-Lo temple and Shwezigon Pagoda, prototype for all Burmese stupas
Lunch at a restaurant
PM
Afternoon at leisure on the ship
Dinner with local entertainment on board
Day 10
Bagan
AM
Disembark from ‘Road to Mandalay’ and transfer to a 4* or 5* hotel in Bagan
Continue exploring Bagan, to include Gubyaukgyi temple, known for its Jakata murals, and watch the lacquerware-making process
PM
Lunch independently at the hotel
Afternoon free
Take horse-drawn carriages to watch the sun set at Shwe Sandaw Return to the hotel
Dinner pool-side at the hotel
Day 11
Inle Lake
AM
Leave for Yangon Airport and the flight to Heho
Arrive Heho and transfer to Nyaungshwe
PM
Lunch at a restaurant
Continue by private long-tailed boat to the luxurious Inle Princess Resort Hotel
Introductory boat excursion on Inle Lake to see the Intha leg rowers, fishermen, houses built on stilts and floating gardens
Continue to Indein and explore the evocative pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak and the Shwe Inn Thein Paya
Return to the hotel
Dinner at the hotel
Day 12
Inle Lake
AM
Boat excursion on Inle Lake to one of the 5-day markets, where goods are sold by the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants
Visit a boat construction workshop or a silk-weaving workshop
Lunch at a historic house on the Lake
PM
Visit the revered Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
Return to the hotel
Remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Farewell dinner at the hotel
Day 13
Yangon
AM
Leave for Heho Airport for the flight to Yangon and return flights

  • I want to thank you for all your excellent work in putting together the trip to Myanmar, Siem Reap and Singapore. The planning was beautifully done and we all had a happy and memorable time. All in all a very good time was enjoyed by all. Congratulations — and Thank you!

     Nan Sinton, ‘Exploring Burma’, February 2015

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