19 Days Myanmar and Laos Panorama Highlights Tour

Day 1 Welcome to Yangon!

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request.

Welcome to Yangon!

Upon your arrival in Yangon, Upon arrival, your local tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport. Then, the guide will escort you to the hotel and help you check-in.

The rest of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2 Full Day Yangon City Tour

Meals: B

Rise early in the morning to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda painted with real gold in Yangon. The benefit for visiting the pagoda in the early morning is that you will enjoy a quiet and extremely peaceful atmosphere to watch local people and monks pray in front of the Pagoda.

Transfer back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast you will visit the Reclining Buddha (Chaok-Htat-Gyi) and Mahabandoola Park.

Have some rest after lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy your free time to wander the Bogyoke Market. Then stroll around the busy streets of Yangon’s famous China Town and Yangon Jetty. Finish the day at the riverside where is flanked by colonize style buildings, which will give you the impression of old-time Myanmar.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 3 Flight to Bagan | Bagan Highlights Tour

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Transfer to airport for domestic flight to Bagan in the early morning. Upon arrival in Bagan, you will be welcomed by your local guide at the airport and then transfer you to the hotel.

In Bagan, you will be amazed by the thousands of Buddhist pagodas spread on the plain. These pagodas used to own by individual families during its prosperous time.

You will visit the Nyaung Oo Market where local people buying food in daily life and the Shwezigon Pagoda which is the largest pagoda in Bagan painted with real gold.

Have a rest at the hotel during the hottest time in the afternoon. Then it's time to enjoy a Horse Cart Ride for the sunset. You can climb up to the top of the Shwesandaw Pagoda for sunset and then take the horse cart back to the hotel. It will be an unforgettable memory of taking the horse cart ride to travel through the pagodas when it is quiet in the dusk.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4 Bagan - Mt. Popa

Meals: B

Today, you will continue your journey to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 meters high. It is the worshipper center of the pantheon of Burmese ‘Nat” spirits (which form an essential part of Buddhist beliefs in Myanmar). Climb 829 steps with barefoot to reach the revered Popa Taungkalat Monastery perched dramatically on a large rocky outcrop. The adventurous are rewarded with sweeping views of Popa National Park.

In the afternoon, drive back to Bagan and stop en-route at the workshop making traditional palm sugar, cigar maker, and peanut oil distillation.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 5 Flight to Heho, Inle Lake

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Transfer to airport for onward flight to Heho where you will be picked up and transfer you to your hotel by the lakeside of Inle Lake.

Inle Lake locates in the highland of Myanmar in an altitude of around 3,000 feet above sea level. Here you will enjoy different atmospheres and ambiance from the middle part of Myanmar.

After check-in hotel, enjoy your day at leisure to relax.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 6 Full Day Inle Lake Excursion

Meals: B

After your breakfast around 8 am, you will take a boat trip to Inle Lake, the second-largest lake in Myanmar. Lives of In-Tha (name of local ethnic people) are centered on the lake. They live in stilted houses, grow fresh produce such as tomatoes, melons, and papayas in unique floating gardens, and eat fish as a staple. On the lake, you can see traditional fishing methods by using the leg-rowing technique.

Then you will visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the most highly revered monastery in the Inle Lake area. After that, continue your boat ride to Nga Phe Chaung monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. The Buddha statues are more than 200 years old.

Next, proceed to the floating garden - Kyun-Hmyaw, which was built-up from strips of water hyacinth and mud. Finally, relax and enjoy spectacular sunset views over Inle Lake before returning to the hotel.

Overnight in Inle Lake.

Day 7 Flight to Mandalay, Half Day Mandalay City Tour

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Drive to the airport for onward flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, Your local guide and driver will pick you up and bring you to have a city excursion in Mandalay.

Visit Mahamuni Image where you can see local people pray and stick the gold paper on the Buddha for a blessing. You can also try to make your wish and donate money (buy) for the gold paper to stick the gold paper on the statue (only man allowed to stick the gold).

On the way to the Mahamuni Image, pay a visit to a gold paper factory to see how people made the gold leaf. Then visit the Shwenandaw Monastery which means "Golden Palace Monastery" and it was built in the 19th century and well known for its teak carving of Buddhist myths. Next, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a Buddhist stupa that contains the world's largest book of Buddhism.

Finish your day at the top of Mandalay Hill for a stunning sunset.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 8 Mandalay Excursion to Sagaing and Amarapura

Meals: B

In the morning, drive about 30 minutes to get to Sagaing which is located by the Ayeyarwady River.

Cross the Innwa Bridge that is built by the British in 1934. Firstly you will visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery to see hundreds of monks lining up for daily meals at 10:15 am.

Continue to visit Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda, a dome-shaped pagoda rising up to 46 meters. At the base of the pagoda, there are 812 stone pillars, each one with a hollow and an image of a Nat in it. Followed by Sagaing Hill, with a number of small pagodas and meditation centers. Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda also sits here. You can stop at a monastery and talk with monks while taking a cup of green tea.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Sagaing and take a short break. Then head to Amarapura, known as the City of Immortality, situates 11 km to the south of Mandalay. Here you will first visit the U Bein Bridge which is 1.2 kilometers long and turns out to be the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

Then visit to Bagaya Monastery that is decorated with splendid Burmese architectural works such as carvings, floral arabesques, curved figurines and the reliefs of birds and animals. Then go to Nagayon Temple. The roof of the temple is draped by the naga Mucalinda, who protected the Buddha from the elements while achieving enlightenment.

Drive back to Mandalay and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 9 Flight to Ngapali Beach

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Today, enjoying your free morning until transfer to airport for onward flight to Ngapali Beach. Upon arrival, you will escort to your hotel check in by shuttle bus. The rest of the day is free at your leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach.

Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

Day 10 Relaxing on the beach

Meals: B

The day is free for you to plan as you please. Relax at the beach, bike the surroundings, or watch the local fishermen safely securing their catch of the day.

Overnight in Ngapali Beach.

Day 11 Flight to Vientiane

Flight: International flight include and arranged by Indochina Tour or upon request

Meals: B

Today, you will take the flight to Vientiane, Laos. Upon arrival, your private local guide from IndochinaTour.com will welcome you at the airport. And you will be escorted to your hotel in Vientiane city.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to relax, you can have a relaxing walk around the hotel to discover the city or stroll along the river bank to enjoy the sunset.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 12 Full Day Vientiane City Tour

Meals: B

Today, your guide will take you to visit the highlights of Vientiane. You will firstly get to know some more history of Laos by visiting the Royal Palace Museum. Then, go to visit Wat Si Saket which is the oldest surviving temple with thousands of Buddhist images. This tour will also take you to visit the symbolic site That Luang Stupa and Patuxai Monument.

In the afternoon, visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before heading out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. Afterward, return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai.

Later, climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa and a sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.

Finally, visit the famous Night Market, where you’ll find handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe people living in the surroundings.

Overnight in Vientiane.

Day 13 Drive to Vang Vieng

Meals: B

After breakfast, we will drive to Vang Vieng. We will see some breathtaking scenery en route as we pass through spectacular countryside towards the mountainous region. We make a stop along the way at Vang Xang, a famous archeological site dating back to the 11th century.

We will arrive at the final destination in the afternoon, Vang Vieng, which is nestled on a bend of the Nam Song River. On arrival at Vang Vieng, we cross the Nam Song River to Tham Jang caves and then enjoy a short trek through breathtaking mountain landscape to explore the Tam None Cave and some hill villages.

Today's tour ends with a superb panorama of the sunset reflecting over the Nam Song River.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 14 Vang Vieng Tour; Visit Tham Phu Kham Cave

Meals: B

After breakfast, we will head to Tham Phu Kham Cave, an improvised eco-water park in a scenic village close to Vang Vieng. Along the way, you have a chance to explore the local cultures by greeting the local villagers and learning about their daily lifestyle.

After arriving at your destination, observe sharp stalactites and stalagmites as you descend down steep walls to reach the largest hall of the cave, which holds the bronze statue of a reclining Buddha, with several other smaller Buddha images revered by locals. The green-blue waters of the lagoon outside the cave provide a beautiful relaxation spot. You can also try your hand at abseiling one of the water slides. You will have a picnic lunch enjoying the scenery. After spending the day at the caves and its surrounding areas, we make our return to the Vang Vieng town.

Overnight in Vang Vieng.

Day 15 Drive to Luang Prabang

Meals: B

After breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our journey to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang is located in northern Laos and has one of the most beautiful settings in southeast Asia.

This drive journey is about 5 hours. On the way, we will stop at a street market at Phahom Valley to experience the local trade.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, our guide will meet you up at the hotel and help you check in. The rest of the day is at leisure. You can head to climb Mount Phousi and enjoy the sunset over the Mekong River. Or wander around the city and the night market to discover the local life of Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 16 Luang Prabang City Tour

Meals: B

Your full day city tour begins after breakfast, you will visit the Royal Palace Museum (closed on Tuesday), which hosts a range of interesting artifacts; See the city's oldest temple of Wat Sene and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground and representing classical Laotian architecture; Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrine of Wat Aham.

In the afternoon, head to visit the Arts and Ethnology Centre to learn about Laos’ many ethnic cultures before heading out of town to see the weaving villages of Ban Xiengkhong and Ban Xienglek. Later, return to the city for a visit to Wat Mai. Finally climb to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred, gilded stupa and a sunset view of the city and the Mekong River.

At night, you will visit the famous Night Market, where you'll find handmade textiles made by local and hill tribe peoples living in the surroundings.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 17 Boat Trip to Pak Ou Caves | Kuang Si Waterfall

Meals: B

Your memorable trip will start from partaking in an alms ritual in the morning, you will accept the blessing by monks who you give the alms. Have breakfast in the hotel and then, visit the Royal Palace Museum to learn some history of Laos. Continue to you will embark on a private boat for a 2 hours boat trip along the Mekong River to the Pak Ou Cave. During the boat trip, you will enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Mekong River and see the daily fishing life of local people in the riverside.

Then, go to visit the Pak Ou Cave which locates by the Mekong River. Here, you will discover a number of gold lacquered Buddha statues in the cave.

After that, you can have an excursion to Kuang Si Waterfalls, where you will enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, have fun in waterfalls and relax.

In the evening, you can wander around the city and the night market to discover the local life of Luang Prabang.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 18 Day Tour at the Living Land Rice Farm

Meals: B

Today, the tour will bring you to experience the process of making rice at a Living Land Farm, a project that supports the local community through the cultivation of rice, vegetables, and herbs.

This organic project was started in response to destructive farming methods that persist elsewhere in Laos, and the farm sells produce to Luang Prabang restaurants and supports education for underprivileged children.

Start by helping out in fields where farmers plow, plant, and harvest without the aid of machinery. Roll up your pants and push up your sleeves as you get knee-deep in the mud to plant rice, or learn to steer a water buffalo to plow the field. Help out with picking the herbs, plucking vegetables, or husking the rice, or just enjoy the view from the shady verandah.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Day 19 Farewell from Luang Prabang

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Meals: B

Today, the guide will transfer you to the airport. Hope you have a nice trip home and look forward to traveling with you again!

Service End.