Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport at 10.30pm, you will be welcomed by our Myanmar tour guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Yangon

 

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Lashio. Upon arrival at Lashio, you will be met by our representative and proceed to drive about 1.5hours to Hsipaw. If time permits, you will take an easy walk in a nearby village. Overnight in Hsipaw

Important Note: There are no daily flights to Lashio. If your flight is not available, you will fly from Yangon to Mandalay and take a scenic 6 hour driving to Hsipaw with stops along the way.

 

After breakfast, take a boat ride up the Dokthawaddy River through the amazing scenery of mountains, plantations and rural village life. You will get out of the boat for an hour’s walk to visit a 150 years old Shan monastery in the forest. If desired, you may swim at the river confluence. On the way back to Hsipaw, visit a charming traditional Shan village and learn more about their culture. In the afternoon, walk through a panoramic scenery of paddy fields and other seasonal crops. Passing by small creeks, Shan villages, local schools, the grave of the first prince of Hsipaw, a local nunnery as well as a wooden monastery. Learn about the life of Shan people around Hsipaw and see some home-based industries like cheroot (cigar) rolling and bamboo weaving. Hear why each Shan village has a spirit house built at the entrance of the village. Overnight in Hsipaw

 

This morning, visit the local market in Hsipaw and continue by car to Kyaukme for about 1 hour. On arrival, start trekking through the mountains surrounding Kyaukme. You will get an insight to the life of the Palaung people living in the hills. Enjoy lunch (excluded) in one of the Palaung villages where you can still find people who have never seen a western foreigner and live by century old traditions. 

In the morning, you have some free time to explore the town with its colonial buildings and a colorful market. Transfer to the train station and board the train for a 3 hour ride to Pyin Oo Lwin, crossing the mighty Gokteik Viaduct which was constructed in 1901 by constructors from the Pennsylvania Steel company and was once the second highest railway bridge in the world. The train will also pass by spectacular mountain scenery and small villages where vendors will enter the train to sell drinks and local snacks. At around 2pm, you will disembark from the train and continue another hour by car to Pyin Oo Lwin. Visit the botanical gardens and some of the colonial houses this town is famous for. Overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin

 

In the morning depart for Mandalay by car for about 1.5 hours.  Visit the exquisite Shwenandaw pagoda and Kuthodaw pagoda, often referred as the “world’s biggest book.” Hike up the Yankin Hill to see Nga Yant Min (King of Mudfish) Cave and receive meritorious prosperity by pouring water over the fish statues. Afternoon, you will check in at your hotel before exploring Amarapura, the 18th century capital of Myanmar on bicycles. Stop along the way at a local teashop and visit a colorful market. Continue to Mahamuni pagoda, the most sacred temple in Upper Myanmar. Visit a local weaving workshop and see how tiny bits of gold are flattened into thin gold leaves where locals paste them onto Buddha images. Walk over the famed U-Bein Bridge, a 158 years old teak wood bridge - the longest teak bridge in the world. Return to hotel by your bicycle. Overnight in Mandalay

 

Your morning is free to relax at the hotel or explore Mandalay city on your own. Transfer to the airport for your noontime flight to Bagan, the most famous archaeological zone in Myanmar. On arrival in Bagan, you will be taken to a temple with a good view over the Bagan archaeological zone. Learn the history of this ancient capital which was a central power base in the mid nineth century under King Anawratha, who unified Burma under Theravada Buddhism. You will also visit other remote temples and enjoy a spectacular sunset view over thousands of temple ruins. Overnight in Bagan.

 

A hot-air balloon ride at dawn is available today. Enjoy breathtaking views of the temple-studded landscape of Bagan. The dry, arid conditions have uniquely preserved more than 4000 stupas and temples built here between the 11th and 13th centuries.

Explore the less visited temples today by mountain bikes along small unpaved lanes. Stops are made to enjoy some of the most spectacular views of ancient temples and you can stop whenever you wish for more photo opportunities. Arrive at noon at a temple in Minnanthu area where a picnic lunch is awaiting. After, continue by your bike to explore some of most famous temples before returning to your hotel. 

 

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Heho. Upon arrival, drive another 2 hours to Kalaw, at 4300 ft above sea level. Kalaw was once a favourite hill station for British administrative officials and a summer resort. On arrival in Kalaw, your guide specialized in elephant conservation will welcome you and start a half day trek through the forest. Along the way, learn about the different vegetation and animals in this area. Arrive in a local village and meet the village elders before helping to prepare a typical local dinner. Overnight at hotel in Kalaw

 

Wake up to a local village style breakfast in the jungle. This morning, you will visit an elephant camp and be a mahout for half a day. Learn the basic commands to give an elephant, help to feed and wash the elephants. After a simple lunch at the camp, you will drive back to Kalaw. Rest of the afternoon is free at leisure to explore this charming hill station. Overnight at hotel in Kalaw 

 

Today you will cycle about 4 hours from Aung Ban to Indien, south of Inle Lake. The trip is mostly off-road and technically easy with most of the roads flat or downhill. You will bike through numerous Pa O villages where few foreigners are seen. Stop on the way to enjoy the fantastic views over the lake and the Shan countryside. Lunch is served in a local village before visiting the ancient ruins of Indein, which are partly covered by vegetation and resemble a “pagoda forest”. After, continue to your hotel by private motorboat and relax with a spectacular sunset view over the lake. 

 

Transfer to the airport for your short flight to Yangon. Upon arrival be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a 1 hour foot massage and continue to Bogyoke market for some last shopping. The rest of the day is free for your last night in Burma. Overnight in Yangon. 

Start early this morning at 7am or 7.30am with a visit to the bustling fish market on the Yangon River. Continue to a vegetable market and sample the famous Burmese breakfast called Mohinga, a mild fish soup with noodles and crackers. By this time, the monks are walking through the streets to collect their alms and you have the opportunity to donate some food to them. Head back to your hotel for a full western breakfast and later, explore the different faces of Yangon from famous landmarks to the hidden markets that have seen few westerners. Starting from a famous tea shop in the 1960s, you will visit the Sule Pagoda, colonial downtown, the harbour, the historic Strand Hotel and the Kandawgyi Lake. Stop over at the reclining Buddha before taking the famous circular train which takes you right behind the Bogyoke Aung San market. Afternoon, experience the full history of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the daily lives of local people living in the immediate surroundings and a deeper insight to the local spiritual beliefs in Nats – the Myanmar spirits. The tour begins from the bottom of the hill, passing local workshops, markets and monasteries. Participate in popular local activities that include offerings to the pagoda, a visit to a traditional medicine shop, and a chat with a fortune teller. Overnight in Yangon

 

Spend some last free time to explore the city on your own way until our guide and driver get you to transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Hanoi. The Myanmar adventure tour ends up Yangon airport. 

Arrive in Noi Bai Airport. Being met by our Vietnam tour guide at the airport and transfer to our hotel in downtown Hanoi. Overnight Hanoi

 

After breakfast in the hotel you will take an interesting guided city tour of Hanoi including Ho Chi Minh complex (the Mausoleum, the House & Garden and the Museum) and One Pillar Pagoda, a unique ancient architecture. After here we move to Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam’s first university, dates back to 1070. Its peaceful gardens and pavilions offer a relaxing respite from Hanoi’s busy streets. Lunch in local restaurant. 

In the afternoon, we visit one of the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, Tran Quoc Pagoda & West Lake. Free time for shopping. In the evening, enjoy a special Water Puppet show and have welcome dinner with local delights. Overnight in Hanoi

 

Leave Hanoi for Halong Bay at 8am.

On the way we will have a short break for refreshment at a handicraft center. Upon arrival in Halong City we board a wooden boat for a fine seafood lunch and a beautiful cruise. We will cruise to Luon Cave and Soi Sim Island for awesome Halong kayaking. We will pass a floating village, where we anchor for dinner and overnight.

 

After breakfast we start paddling to Van Chai Floating village and then continue paddling to Dark Cave. Tide permitting, we explore this amazing cave by kayak. The cave is a 200m long, dark tunnel thrusting through a limestone mountain. The tunnel is the only entry to a secluded and beautiful lagoon. Lunch on support boat in front of the cave. After lunch we paddle to Ba Trai Dao Lagoon, along a stunning and fairly rough sea channel, to explore its beautiful beaches. Continue paddling to Lan Ha Bay, which is smaller than Halong Bay but much more interesting with lots of secluded beaches. Cruise back to Halong Bay for dinner and overnight on mother boat

 

Breakfast on the junk and enjoy the sundeck of the junk while she navigates amazing rock formations to get back to Halong City. We will visit the cave there. Lunch on the junk before reach Halong Harbor for a drive back to Hanoi by shuttle bus. Overnight in Hanoi

 

08:00am the driver will pick you up at hotel. Leave behind the hustle & bustle of the city to the outskirt where a small village locates, on the left bank of the Red River - Bac Bien Village.

08:20. Arrive in local guide (Dan)’s house. Welcomed coffee, tea and snacks. Tour guide gives a briefing session and self-introduction and about his village, tour, bikes.

08:50. Start pedaling through small alleys of Bac Bien village to the Duong river’s bank. Then take a local boat ferry to cross the river to its left bank.

Ride a bike along the dike, from villages to villages, where we can see many traditional typical houses; pagodas, temples, local market and be caught in the beautiful rice paddy fields, gardens of vegetables and corns.

We have a rest at a “local bar” in village to have a drink & get interesting historical story about An Duong Vuong’s dynasty (over 2000 thousand years ago)

Visit Coloa Museum, An Duong Vuong King temple. Then, Cycling around the vestige of citadel with the beautiful gardens, rice paddy fields, villages.

Have lunch with Vietnamese food at a local restaurant

Pedal through some other villages to a dike of the Red river, cross 2 villages outside of the dyke. We come in a local house in traditional style, have a conversation with the villagers to understand more about their lives, works. Cycling on the dyke along the Red river, we will see the meeting point of 2 rivers. We stop under an old tree by the river for drinks, snacks, and photos. Heading back to the ferry. Crossing the Duong River by ferry again.

Stop by a local temple, which is located by the Red river. By good luck, we have a chance to see a unique ceremony of Vietnamese people –“Len Dong” or “Going into a trance”. This ceremony is very interesting, and unique to foreigners.

Have a drink with a family in the village to know more about their life, and the changes of the village & surrounding area. At around 04.00 PM: we drive back to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi 

 

Pick up at your hotel at 8 am and leave Hanoi for Mai Chau, the beautiful gate way to the mountainous area of northern Vietnam. On the way we will have a short stop for refreshment.

Upon arrival in Mai Chau we will pick up our local guide and continue driving to Xa Linh Village, where we will have our lunch in a Hmong house before setting off on a beautiful trekking in the afternoon. After lunch we will begin our trek on the village’s road and then walk on dirt path used by the locals. After 40nims we will reach Tra Day Village, home to a small community of Black H’mong minority people. From the Tra Day village we trek on rocky path to Hang Kia, a small and scenic village which is home to a group of Flower H’mong minority people. Tonight we will stay overnight with a Hmong family. 

 

After breakfast in the house we will say goodbye to the family and begin an exciting trekking day. Right after the village we will walk on jungle trail for one hour. The trail could be a bit wet due to the dense trees that keep sunlight away. After that we descend the hill passing farm and terraces. The scenery is stunning with mountains, terraces and expansive valley. During the trek we will some breaks for snack, rest, and photographing. After crossing a small river we reach a village of White Thai minority group, where we have lunch in a local house. After lunch, you may wish to have a short nap in the house. In the remainder of the day we will walk on village road to reach Buoc Village, a beautiful village of White Thai minority people. The road runs zigzag along the valley and through lots of scenic village. Tonight we will have dinner and stay overnight with a Thai family. 

Accommodation:  Home-stay
 

 After breakfast we say goodbye to the hosts and take a short walk to the pick-up point where we start driving west to Laos. Lunch on the way before arriving at the border. Upon arrival, we will meet our Laotian guide and will be transferred to Vieng Xay, we will visit Viengxay (approximately 1 hour) where you can explore this traditional town and the surrounding beautiful landscape of limestone peaks and forests.

 

The town of Viengxay contains hundreds of caves which sheltered local people and the country's future leaders for a vital period in world history.

 

In the 1960s Laos was caught up in the conflict known to the world as the Vietnam War. For nine years, from 1964 to 1973, more than 20,000 people lived in a 'hidden city' they built inside the limestone peaks all around the area to try to survive daily aircraft bombing raids directed by US forces.

 

They were only able to farm or work at night, so inside the caves they built everything they needed for their society to survive, including schools, hospitals, markets, a radio station and the headquarters of the Lao Patriotic Front - also known as the Pathet Lao.

 

Take the audio tour that tells the story of the 'hidden city' through the history that created it and interviews with local people and discover the area's beauty as well as its fascinating hidden history. We will spend the night at the simple guesthouse in Vieng Xay.

 

This morning we head to Xieng Khoang, the capital of Phonsavan Province via the town of Xam Nua. The drive is long (6 hrs) but interesting as we drive through a mountainous area with stunning mountains, dense forest, winding rivers and rice terraces. Lunch will be in small local restaurant en-route. Upon arrival in Xieng Khoang, we check in hotel and relax. If there is time, we can take a stroll around the town. 

After breakfast in hotel we take a short drive to the Plain of Jars, where we will see some hundreds of stone jar of different sizes laying on the fields. These stone jars date back from some thousand year ago and no one know what they were made for. From here we drive further west to Luong Prabang. Lunch will be served in local restaurant en route. We will arrive in Luong Prabang around 4.30 or 5 pm. After hotel check-in we can walk to the evening market.

 

Luong Prabang is a charming ancient town, which was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO thank to its outstanding historical and cultural value. Today we take our time to explore some of most important monasteries in town and the royal palace as well as the museum. A special afternoon tour brings us to some more remote places and markets. We learn about the history of Luang Phabang as well as about the kings family and their former life…

 

Leave the town after breakfast we will proceed to the Elephant Camp about 15 km out of town and in the middle of a green surrounding. After crossing the small river we will be introduced to asian elephants and go out for a scenic ride. Enjoy the new perspective and the wonderful nature on this 1,5 hr ride. Make our way through forests and along the Nam Khan river up to the waterfalls of Tad Sae. (in dry season we ride a village trail) After a visit and lunch break we will be instructed for the soft 4-hr kayaking back into town. Some easy rapids are along the way down to Luang Phabang and of course wonderful nature and great views. 

 

Another day through mountains and valleys and down to the small town of Vang Vieng which welcomes us with amazing limestone mountains laying along Song River and great outdoor activities. Lunch will be in local restaurant en route. Arrive in Vang Vieng in the afternoon. After hotel check-in we can take a stroll around the town or take a swim in Song River.

 

Today we discover the nature beauty of Vang Vieng. We will be transferred shortly to the Khmu village of Viengsamay about 10 km north of Vang Vieng. From here we paddle down stream the Song River. On the way we stop to explore some stunning caves, take a short trek and visit to the Organic Farm, where mulberry tea and a variety of fruit wines are produced. Back to Vang Vieng Town around 4.30 pm.

 

A short transfer brings us into the capital of Laos, Vientiane. Still a small town it is the centre of politics and education. Many temples and monasteries invite for sightseeing as well as the national monument. In the afternoon we have free time to explore the town or just hang out on the bank of the magic Mekong which lies right in front of the city.

 

Enjoy the last sound and sights of VienTiane with visit to Wat Sisaket, the Buddha museum where more than ten thousand Buddha statues in the niches can be seen; and That Luang, the national symbol and recognized throughout the world. This biggest stupa is also a gathering  place for national Buddhism ceremony.
Free time after that until we are transferred to airport for flight back home. Trip concludes