THAILAND & MYANMAR (14 days)
Bangkok | Yangon | Bagan| Mandalay |Inle Lake | Chiang Mai
Introduction
E
xperience the changing and the changeless in Thailand and Myanmar Witness the exotic culture that is about to turn your perspective of the world on its head over your next fortnight in Thailand and Myanmar. Begin in Bangkok, a gorgeous maelstrom of color and frenetic movement. Sense the splendor of the city’s heritage at the Grand Palace before sailing south by long-tail boat to Wat Po, the great temple of the reclining Buddha. Pass through Bangkok’s local food and flower markets, as well as a museum of traditional Thai architecture. Additional visits can be arranged to jewelers, tailors, private galleries, kickboxing matches (with VIP seats), and one-on-one cooking classes. A short flight will take you to Yangon, enrapturing you with its perfectly balanced cultures: the charm of its British colonial heritage, the glamor of its colorful Buddhism, and the easy disarray of its street life. You’ll understand its passion for gold from your first glance at the gilded Schwedagon pagoda before branching out into the neighborhoods, where your guide will introduce you to the Buddhist culture of the people as well as arrange insider access to the local galleries. In the ancient capital of Bagan, witness a vast terrain transformed by thousands of temples. Gently make your way through the
ancient pagodas, and drop by the local lacquerware studios for a fascinating glimpse of local artisanship. You’ll have the option of taking a side trip to Mt. Popa, a steep volcanic cone crested with a colorful shrine. Your visit will be completed with the ultimate view of the spiritual plains from the basket of a hot air balloon. Head for the relative modernity of Mandalay, guided through the restored palace and the spectacular artistry of the Shwekyaung teakwood monastery. You’ll also visit Kuthodaw pagoda, the world’s largest book of marble steles, and observe the
stunning lookout from Mandalay Hill. Take an excursion to the unfinished MingunPahtodawgyi, a gigantic stupa that stands as a testament to the folly of limited vision. You’ll hear the sonorous hum of the second largest ringing bell on Earth. Next, attend the transcendental water world of Inle Lake, an orchestra of monasteries and communities suspended above the surface on stilts. Visit some of the shore side wonders, including the thousand stone stupas and the ornate Nga HpeKyaung cat monastery. Take an excursion across the waters through the various floating villages, visiting a lotus fabric weaving workshop, before exploring the floating markets and gardens. Optional activities include lessons in cooking, traditional fishing techniques, and a meeting with an orchid expert.
Back in Yangon, visit the distinctive Sule and Botataung pagodas, or investigate the history of the region at the National Museum or Taukkyan War Cemetery. For a touch of nature, stroll through the Hlawga National Park. Return to Thailand at Chiang Mai, home of many heritage buildings and temples. Tour the Old City district, visiting the famous ChediLuang temple, artisan stalls, and the Art and Cultural Center. As the dark falls, enjoy the night bazaar of traditional handicrafts alongside modern restaurants and cafĂŠs. Rise early to see the alms ceremony at the mountaintop temple of DoiSuthep, the icon of the city. From here, stroll through the gardens of Phuping Palace. Your final day in Thailand will depend entirely on your interests. Options include an introduction to local artisans in silver, celadon, furniture items, or silk; a private Thai boxing lesson; an active excursion hiking, biking, rafting, golfing or zip-lining; a training session in Thai massage or Thai cooking or an elephant camp excursion.
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Bangkok
VIP airport assistance through Thailand’s immigration procedures. Private transfer to your hotel observing city life.
Day 2: Bangkok
Full-day private tour of Bangkok, including the Grand Palace, Chao Phraya river, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, local food and flower markets, and Jim Thompson House. Additional visits can be arranged to jewelers, tailors, private galleries, kickboxing matches (with VIP seats), and one-on-one cooking classes.
Day 3: Yangon
Private transfers and international flight to Yangon. Exclusive tour of Schwedagon pagoda, local neighborhoods, and private showings at local galleries.
Day 4: Bagan
Private transfers and domestic flight to Bagan. Visit temple plains and local lacquerware studios with sunset views from a private temple.
Day 5: Bagan
Lesser-known temple ruins tour along the banks of the Irawaddy River. Optional side trip to Mt. Popa or Hot air balloon ride over temples.
Day 6: Mandalay
Private transfers and domestic flight to Mandalay. Private tour through Mandalay Royal Palace and the Shwekyaung teakwood monastery. Kuthodaw pagoda visit and cityscape view from Mandalay Hill.
Day 7: Mandalay
Private boat trip to Minguntownship and the MingunPahtodawgyi unfinished stupa with second largest ringing bell on Earth.
Day 8: Inle Lake
Private transfers and domestic flight to Inle Lake. Traditional boat ride to luxury accommodation visiting the stone stupas and Nga HpeKyaung cat monastery.
Day 9: Inle Lake
Full-day excursion through floating villages, lotus fabric weaving workshop, floating markets and gardens. Afternoon optional activities include private Burmese cooking class, a lesson in special fishing techniques, or a meeting with a local orchids expert.
Day 10: Yangon
Private transfer to airport and domestic flight back to Yangon. Afternoon at leisure touring or shopping. Optional visits to Sule and Botataung pagodas, National Museum, Taukkyan War Cemetery, Hlawga National Park.
Day 11: Chiang Mai
Private transfers and international flight to Chiang Mai. Afternoon tour of town and crafts districts, with Old City tour of ChediLuang temple, local artisan stalls and Art and Cultural Center. Evening visit to night bazaar.
Day 12: Chiang Mai
Early rise to witness alms ceremony at DoiSuthep, followed by strolling through the gardens of Phuping Palace. Afternoon and evening spent at leisure at the resort.
Day 13: Chiang Mai
Final day in Chiang Mai with optional visits to local artisans, private Thai boxing lesson, hiking, biking, rafting, golfing, zip-lining, Thai massage or Thai cooking lesson, or elephant camp excursion. Night enjoying nightlife, rooftop bar, or wandering through quiet neighborhoods.
Day 14: Chiang Mai
Private transfer to airport for domestic flight to Bangkok to catch connecting international flight.
Mandarin oriental Bangkok
Belmond Governor’s Residence Yangon
The Strand Yangon
Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort BAGAN
Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort BAGAN
Aureum Palace Resort & Spa InleLake
Rupar Mandalar Resort Mandalay
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai- Chiang Mai
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi Chiang mai
Itinerary In Details DAY 1: BANGKOK
Whether you’re on a journey of the soul or the senses, the great city of Bangkok is the one focal point that draws Southeast Asia’s luminous transcendental cultures and its most hedonistic urges together in one singularity. With its wild extremes and conservative taboos both observed and flouted in equal abandon, You will find in Bangkok the land of smiles of which you dream—but you can never be sure what lies behind those eyes, because it is never the same from face to face. You will enjoy the taste of royalty from the moment you arrive, with VIP airport assistance through Thailand’s immigration
procedures. As your private transfer vehicle eases out into the white noise of heat and traffic on its way to your hotel, you will observe in cool comfort the colors of the exotic culture that is about to turn your perspective of the world on its head over your next fortnight in Thailand and Myanmar. Accommodation in Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
DAY 2: BANGKOK
Most travelers are woken by the noise on their first day in Thailand, although it’s a noise you feel rather than hear—a deep hum that the city’s monks may tell you is the reverberation of all those souls who have come before you to this place, both those who found what you still seek, and those who were lost along the way. It may just be the burden of the engines toiling since the dawn beyond your exquisite hotel, a churning chaos of metal and petrol worlds away from the tranquility of your quiet suite. Today you will enter the gorgeous maelstrom on your first full-day private tour of Bangkok, safe in the hands of your expert guide and driver as you are absorbed into Thailand’s cultural sphere. You will immediately sense the splendor of the city’s heritage at the Grand Palace, a vast and ornate complex on the banks of the Chao Phraya River that observes the graces of European architecture subsumed by the glittering flourishes of local traditional art. Following your visit, you’ll sail south by
long-tail boat to Wat Po, the great temple of the reclining Buddha, one of the city’s oldest and most resplendent centers of worship. Your voyage between the pinnacles of royalty and divinity will also see you passing through Bangkok’s humbler treasures at local food and flower markets, as well as at Jim Thompson House, a museum of traditional Thai structures established by one of the city’s most devoted American patrons. Additional visits can be arranged to experience your own take on Thailand’s multi-faceted cultures, from jewelers, tailors, private galleries, kickboxing matches (with VIP seats), and one-on-one cooking classes. Accommodation in Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Day 3: Yangon
As frenetic and dynamic as Bangkok’s rush across the senses can be, you’re about to take a step deeper into the culture of Southeast Asia than most tourists lured by the pretty lights of the Thai capital ever go. You’ll be delivered once again in private luxury back to the airport, where a short flight will take you even farther into the zone of the exotic, ancient, and astounding— Yangon, formerly known as Burmese Rangoon. If the other buzzing capitals of Asia stun you on arrival, Yangon lures you right into its heart before enrapturing you with its perfectly balanced cultures: the charm of its British colonial heritage, the glamor of its colorful Buddhism, and the easy disarray of its street life. You’ll get a taste for privilege at one of Yangon’s ultra-luxury properties where you’ll have the chance to ease yourself into your new location before your exclusive afternoon tour with a premium national guide and private driver. In Thailand, all that glitters may not be gold, but in Yangon it’s
all golden. You’ll understand this from your first glance at the Schwedagon pagoda, an enormous gilded stupa that is a site of pilgrimage for many of the faithful in these lands. From here, you’ll branch out into the neighborhoods, where long-skirted men and women alike trade their tropical fruits and betel nut wraps without a thought of tugging at your sleeve for the tourist dollar—at ease in their world, you’ll sense a kinship where you least expected it. Your guide will introduce you to the Buddhist culture of the people, as well as arrange insider access to the local galleries, giving you front-row insights into Myanmar’s unique visual arts. Dinner is included Accommodation in The Governor’s Residence or The Strand
Day 4: Bagan
If you still have questions about the modern capital of Myanmar, you’ll find the answers in its capital of ancient days—Bagan. This is where the culture of the region first flourished, when the peaceful call of Theravada Buddhism began to transform the plains into a vast terrain of ten thousand temples—of which at least two thousand still remain, manifesting one of the richest archaeological and architectural vistas of Asia. After your luxurious private transfers and short domestic flight, you’ll be installed at your deluxe Bagan accommodation. This afternoon’s exclusive tour will be vastly different in nature to your exploration of the day before, as you gently make your way through the ancient pagodas, passing like a spirit through the local villages and markets in between. Travel by bicycle if you wish, and drop by the local lacquerware studios for a fascinating glimpse of local artisanship. The most memorable moment of your day will be the sunset views from a private temple location, where you’ll feel humbled in the presence of Bagan’s spiritual glories. Accommodation in Aureum Palace Resort &Spa orThiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort
Day 5: Bagan
Go deeper into historical Bagan with a more intimate look at some of the area’s lesser-known and best-loved ancient ruins. Tracing the banks of the sacred Irawaddy River, you’ll discover open temples with beautifully-preserved interiors featuring the artworks of ages past. As you gaze up at these spires of rock, you’ll recognize shapes and features you saw in the living culture of Yangon, seeing with your own eyes the evolution of a millennia-old culture unfold in lines of architectural poetry. This sense of continuity is what has kept the civilization of Myanmar an arm’s length from modern conceits.
You’ll have the option of taking a side trip to Mt. Popa, a steep volcanic cone crested with a colorful shrine. The 777-step ascent to the summit is rewarded by an unparalleled view of the surrounding toddy palm plantations, with Bagan’s thousand fold temples lost in the distant haze. Complete the day with the ultimate view of the spiritual plains from the basket of a hot air balloon, soaring above the ancient structures as the prayers of the faithful far below ascend past you into the heavens. Accommodation in Aureum Palace Resort &Spa orThiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort
Day 6: Mandalay
We swing back from the heady spiritualism of the Bagan region to the relative modernity of Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, Burma’s last royal capital. After your private transfers and domestic flights, settle in to your deluxe accommodation and prepare yourself for a different side of Myanmar that is still in touch with its colonial past—and that to this day bears the scars of the Second World War. Your private tour will guide you through the seat of old Burmese royalty at Mandalay’s palace, a finely-restored complex of halls formerly lost to
military imperialism—when this prize of the old monarchy was occupied and used as a fort by the British. You’ll also be introduced to the spectacular artistry of the Shwekyaung monastery, constructed entirely of intricately-carved teakwood. Your appreciation for culture will be further piqued at Kuthodaw pagoda, known as the world’s largest book, with each page of sacred Buddhist tipitaka scripture an inscribed stele of white marble. As the sun sets, take in a view of the cityscape from the heights of Mandalay Hill, making a pilgrimage to the summit by climbing the 900 steps cut into the hillside seven centuries ago. Your reward will be a vista of a town that has always seemed to exist in a place between the eras of history. Accommodation in Rupar Mandalar Resort
Day 7: Mandalay
Travelers to Mandalay often claim that to truly understand the city and gain deeper insights into the soul of this richly spiritual country, you need to venture out beyond city limits. Your private tour today will do just that: you’ll be setting off from the pier at Mandalay and heading north up the Irrawaddy River toward the township of Mingun—and as the humble temples and dwellings shift phase with the onward momentum of your private rivercraft, you’ll observe with your own eyes the living Theravada Buddhist heritage woven into the lifestyle of Myanmar’s rural population. The greatest opportunity for reflection at Mingun is the unfinished MingunPahtodawgyi, a gigantic stupa that would have been the world’s largest had an astrologer not predicted the death of the reigning king upon its completion. It is still marvelous to behold, and stands as a testament to the folly of limited vision. The sonorous hum of the bell cast for the project—the second largest ringing bell on Earth—may well awaken something within you as you contemplate this humbling piece of heritage before sailing back to the quiet of your hotel accommodation. Accommodation in Rupar Mandalar Resort
Day 8: Inle Lake
Your last destination in Myanmar is the one most overlooked, the quiet waters of Inle Lake, heart of the beautiful state of Shan. This transcendental water world is an orchestra of monasteries and communities suspended above the lake’s surface on stilts, where all transport is by boat. You’ll reach the lake by private transfer and flight from Mandalay, where a simple craft will be waiting to take you on board—steered by foot in the local fashion with the grace of a ballet dancer—drifting toward your luxury accommodation. As you head out across the lake, you’ll have the opportunity to stop off along the way at some of the shore side wonders, including the intimate cluster of a thousand centuries-old stone stupas that have only recently been reclaimed from the forest. You’ll also visit the Nga HpeKyaung cat monastery, where devotees seek isolation from the coarse material world in the company of dozens of felines trained to leap through hoops in an ornate wooden complex that dates from 1890 and looks its glorious age. Peace descends over the lake at dusk, a perfect moment to stare out across the ancient waters from the resort terrace and contemplate all you’ve seen of this astonishing country so far. Accommodation in Areum Palace Hotel
Day 9: Inle Lake
This is the day you’ll really come to understand what is unique about Inle Lake on a full-day excursion across the waters through the various floating villages, with many entire communities devoted to craftsmanship and fine arts. A highlight of the journey is a visit to a lotus fabric weaving workshop, where local women stretch fine, colorful strands of fiber from Buddhism’s holiest flower across their looms. This is the epicenter of Myanmar’s handwoven lotus textiles, soft and water-resistant—simple garments purchased from this place will have far more durability and significance than those found in tourist stalls elsewhere. Other unique trade items may be found at the floating markets— roving fleets of produce-laden craft that serve both the local water towns and visitors to the region. From there, it’s a short voyage to the floating gardens, where fruit trees are cultivated on mounds of dredged water vines arranged along evenly-drifting channels. The afternoon’s activities are arranged according to your personal tastes: a private Burmese cooking class, a lesson in
special fishing techniques with local Inle fishermen, or a meeting with an expert in the orchids grown in these waters. You’ll take a definite satisfaction in connecting closely with Inle culture—a touch of that which is universally human in one of Asia’s remotest exotic lake communities. Accommodation in Areum Palace Hotel
Day 10: Yangon
After a private transfer to the airport, you’ll start your return journey on a domestic flight back to Yangon, your point of origin in this land; you will return changed. Now Yangon’s balance of cultures will make sense after seeing the world through the lens of rural Myanmar; all peoples are many, yet they are one. This is why you belong in this faraway land, because the traveler in your soul has always been here. You’ll spend your afternoon at leisure, touring or shopping in the now-familiar streets of the capital. Catch another glimpse of the golden at the distinctive Sule and Botataung pagodas, or investigate the history of the region at the National Museum or Taukkyan War Cemetery. For a touch of nature, take a stroll through the Hlawga National Park with its gentle collection of flora and fauna. You will be accompanied by a private guide and driver to help you discover the best of the city on your last full day in the country—but you’ll have plenty of opportunities for private introspection whenever you wish. Accommodation in The Governor’s Residence or The Strand
Day 11: Chiang Mai
It is said that a journey of the heart always returns you to your point of origin, allowing you to see the world with fresh eyes. Your experiences in Myanmar have been the perfect preparation for your return to Thailand, where you will touch down in a city that shares its soul with Bangkok but not its spirit—Chiang Mai. This jewel of the north preserves much of its historical charm thanks to the presence of its many heritage buildings, although what will strike you most as you ease back into Thailand within your private transfer between the international airport (where you’ll have enjoyed VIP assistance on arrival) to your premium hotel are the many temples along the way, reflecting the glory of the ancient Lanna kingdom once based in these parts. You’ll settle back into the Thai way of life with your afternoon tour of the town and crafts districts, with a particular focus on the Old City, the ancient
seat of regional power that was once a walled metropolis of brightly-robed monks, soldiers on elephant back, and traders from distant China. Vestiges of the wall and city moats remain, of particular note being the splendid gates that once guarded passage to this jewel of Eastern civilization. You’ll be introduced to the finest locations of the district, including the famous ChediLuang temple, a broken husk from the outside that resonates with color within, with golden idols on red carpets laid beneath hanging prayer flags that recall the mountains of Tibet. Stroll out from the temple to browse the artisan stalls dealing in celadon ceramics, paper umbrellas, silver, teak furniture, and beautiful silk weavings. You’ll also gain insights into the city’s artistic traditions at the Art and Cultural Center. As the dark falls, you’ll be chauffeured to the busy night bazaar, a kaleidoscope of color and activity where stalls trading in northern Thai and hill tribe handicraft products sit alongside modern restaurants and cafés. After your journeys through these lands, nothing you see will seem unfamiliar, and even this energetic market will sound as resonant as a temple bell. Accommodation in Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai or Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi.
most tranquil moments on the palace grounds are spent in the SuanSuwaree rose garden, although the charming collections of camellias, ferns, giant bamboo and It’s worth the early rise to see one of Chiang Mai’s most inspiring displays of spirituality–-the colorful orchids will lend a vibrant natural context to the stately royal structures beyond them. emergence of 12,999 robed monks from the mountaintop temple of DoiSuthep, the icon of the Your afternoon and evening will be spent at leisure to enjoy the comforts of your resort, one of the finest in Thailand. city. Listen to their prayers, smell the rising Accommodation in Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai or Mandarin Oriental Dhara incense and absorb the blaze of color, carving, Devi. and golden statuary with unblinking eyes. The devotees seeking enlightenment here in this Day 13: Chiang Mai ancient monastery have the advantage of the Ultimately, your impressions of Thailand and Myanmar rest in your own heart; area’s most commanding vista, and as you watch these destinations have much wisdom to teach, but the perspectives you gain the humbling alms-giving ceremony you too will from this region will lead you only where you wish to go. find yourself awed by the view of the old city Your final day in Chiang Mai will depend entirely on your interests. If the art of district just as much as by the ornately-styled this corner of the world has inspired you most, you may be introduced to local artifacts within the temple itself. artisans in silver, celadon, furniture items, or silk. If you’re more athletic, you From here, you’ll take pleasure in strolling may feel energized by a private Thai boxing lesson or an active excursion hiking, through the gardens of Phuping Palace, the biking, rafting, golfing or zip-lining. Those interested in more sensual arts may winter residence of the Thai royal family. The enjoy a training session in Thai massage or Thai cooking, or getting close to
Day 12: Chiang Mai
nature on an elephant camp excursion. Combinations of these activities can be arranged on request. Celebrate your last night in Chiang Mai with the beat of the city’s vibrant nightlife, a quiet drink at a rooftop bar, or a wander through a quiet neighborhood for private contemplation. The choice is yours. Accommodation in Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai or Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi.
Day 14: Chiang Mai
The morning at your luxury resort will pass all too quickly, and as you sit in your private transfer bound for the airport—and an aircraft that will take you back to Bangkok, where you will take your connecting flight onwards from these lands—you’ll witness your last glimpses of a city with its heart resting in a former age while the world changes around it. When your international flight ultimately departs Bangkok, you’ll see far below at the core of Thailand a metropolis that has emerged into the modern world from the cultures of the region you have just explored. Bangkok will always be awaiting your return.
mekongViet.com.vn