Journey of Mystical Wonders: Myanmar – Thailand – Laos – Cambodia

Depart in the evening from Los Angeles airport. AV Travel tour leader will fly with the group.

Across The Pacific Ocean.

Arrive this morning in Yangon (Rangoon), capital of Myanmar, lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards with shimmering Buddhist stupas float above the treetops. Yangon became the capital in 1885 when the British completed the conquest of Upper Myanmar and Mandalay which also ended the last Burmese kingdom. A local expert guide will lead you on a full day guided tour of the downtown area where the British colonial influence is still prominent. Enjoy some free time at the famous Scott Market that offers a vast selection of beautiful Burmese handicrafts. In the afternoon, visit some of Yangon’s renowned pagodas including the reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda and magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda. Towering over the city, Shwedagon Pagoda, built some 2,500 years ago, is the most sacred spot in the country. It’s covered with gold plates and the top dome is encrusted with thousands of sparkling diamonds and rubies. The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are best viewed at sunset when you can admire the amazing sight of the change in colors. (B/L/D)

Bagan “the city of four million pagodas” that assembles the very essence of Myanmar’s Buddhist culture.is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Shwezigon Paya: King Anawrahta started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between 1086 and1090. Gubyaukhyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit. (B/L/D)

Mandalay. The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. Myanmar’s second largest city and once was the center of commerce and a repository of ancient culture. You’ll visit the Mahagandayon Monastery. Every day at mid morning, monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from the faithful Buddhists. Enjoy a guided tour visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda, housing one of the most sacred statues of Buddha. Stop to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating where gold is meticulously hammered into tissue-thin squares. Proceed to the Shwe Kyaung, the Golden Teak Monastery that was once part of the Mandalay Palace, famous for its intricate woodcarvings. Later, visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, exhibiting the Buddhist scripture that is carved on hundreds of massive marble slabs. Conclude your day by savoring the panoramic views from atop Mandalay Hill. (B/L/D)

Visit Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, the reclining Buddha is almost as large as the enormous figure in Bago. It’s housed in a large metal-roofed shed on ShwegondaingLan. Visit Chaukhtatkyi Reclining Buddha Image: 230 ft(70 m) long in the poseof rest, the original image was built in 1907. Visit Bogyoke Aung San Market has over 2000 shops and the largest selection of Myanmar handicrafts and souvenirs you’ll find under several roofs, from lacquerware and Shan shoulder bags to puppets and jewelery. (B/L/D)

Depart to the western Shan State, you will find picturesque Inle Lake, famous for its floating villages and gardens & the unique way of life of the local Intha people, with their living communities based entirely on the water. The lake, sits in a valley between two mountain ranges, feels like a different world to the rest of Myanmar: in villages and towns across the lake, wooden houses are built on stilts. It is one of Myanmar’s most popular destinations for travelers, so when you travel around the lake, part of what you see will inevitably be geared towards tourists. (B/L/D)

Enjoy the splendid view of sunrise over the lake. And visit Indein Village situated at the west of the lake. It is very good to enjoy the beautiful nature of the surroundings such as bamboo terrace along the way up to Shwe Indein Pagoda, a complex of 1054 weather-beaten statues, from there, take a panoramic view of the lake and valley. After that, take lunch at a restaurant at your convenience time. On the way back, visit Ywar Ma village – here can see Gold and silver Smith workshops such as Mya Hin Thar and Aung Chan Thar smiths, etc. Then, enjoy the wonderful sunset over the lake on the way return to hotel. (B/L/D)

Flight to Chiang Mai, the ancient city that is known as “The Rose of the North”, offers excellent food, accommodations without the frenetic pace of a modern city life. It represents a modern Thai culture with its own charms and personality. You’ll visit some of the most interesting temples in town when travel high into the mountains namely Wat Doi Suthep, one of the most revered temples in Thailand. You will have a chance to explore villages where locally produced items are available only to local villagers such as silk, cotton, pottery, stoneware, and traditional arts. For many of us, elephants are simply an attraction at a local zoo but for Thai people, elephants play an important role in every aspect of Thai social culture from ceremonial events to transportation and farming. Witness at first-hand how these elephants work and play at the elephant camp Mae Sa Valley and participate in an elephant ride is definitely one of the many highlights of your Chiang Mai visit. (B/D)

Drive to visit Chiang Rai. Your first stop will be Maekhajan hot springs a good spot to take a morning cup of coffee before heading up towards the stunning Wat Rong Khun often named The White Temple due do its dazzling white colour inlaid with mirrored glass. After Chiang Saen you will continue up to the Golden Triangle. The tour will proceed to Mae Sai the Thai border town with Myanmar this is a good spot for some shopping, local dry foodstuffs and Chinese imports and counterfeit goods are all in abundance here. On the return leg to Chiang Mai we will stop at an Akha/Meo hill tribe village as well as the Karen Long Neck village. Visiting one of the numerous Karen Long Neck villages in Thailand is one of the most exotic experiences on the planet. The mystery and beauty that sound the tradition of using brass rings for exaggerated jewelry is something better seen in person than in a book. We had ethical questions on if it these hill tribe villages would feel like human zoos. It is a real-life National Geographic Magazine to have to see to believe. (B/L/D)

Visiting to Chiang Mai would not be complete without a trip to the temple on top of Doi Suithep, an imposing mountain to the west of the city. The highly sanctified chedi and temple at the top is a popular pilgrim spot for visiting Thais and the views of the entire valley are humbling. Also on top of the mountain you can visit Phuping Palace gardens and Hmong villages, or go walking in the lovely forests of Doi Pui peak, which looms behind it. The Mae Sa Valley offers a plethora of sights and activities for visitors. The botanical gardens and lovely ten-tiered Mae Sa waterfalls are the chief nature attractions, but there is also a lovely elephant camp straddling the tumbling river, an orchid farm, and a selection of animal shows, including monkeys, dogs and snakes. (B/L/D)

Flight to Luang Prabang. a ancient capital of Laos, is best known for its beautiful scenery and high numbers of ancient temples. This former royal capital has a rich variety of architecture, from the old facades of French colonial homes to the glittering temple rooftops. Luang Prabang is the splendid old capital of Laos featuring a cluster of shimmering royal temples, administrative buildings and remnants of the faded grandeur of the Laos monarchy. Luang Prabang is a tiny jewel encircled by palm trees and dense tropical foliage. From a distance, only the golden-spired stupa can be seen among the greenery.
Situated on a tongue of land at a strategic junction of the Mekong and Khan River is Mount Phousi, a high rocky outcrop with forested slopes, dotted with sacred shrines and stupas. The serene atmosphere of Luang Prabang remains one of the most well-preserved cities in Asia. (B/L/D)

Start a city tour with a visit to the Royal Palace Museum, which hosts a valuable collection of artifacts. Visit the magnificent Wat Xiengthong with its roofs sweeping low to the ground representing classical Laotian architecture. Visit the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. Later in the day adjourn atop the Mount Phousi for spectacular views of the town and a great sunset. A leisurely jaunt around Luang Prabang Marke. (B/L/D)

You will have an early rise today to participate in the daily early morning ritual of saffron-clad monks with their black alms-giving bowls being given offerings from local people. Today, you’ll board a short flight to Seam Riep, which is known as the gateway to the world famous temple Angkor Wat, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built by the Khmer kings, the ancient rulers of Cambodia, the exquisitely carved temples and proportioned layout of Angkor Wat is a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. (B/D)

Begin a tour with a visit to Angkor Thom via the Southern Gate and explore the ancient city, then proceed to visit the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terraces and the Leper King Terrace. Continue to visit Ta Prohm, is an incredible sight. There are enormous fig trees & gigantic creepers which embrace themselves in the stone foundations of the structure giving the impression of man’s creation being reclaimed by the powerful forces of nature. One of the area’s most beautiful temples, Ta Prohm has been relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other monuments of Angkor, it was abandoned and swallowed by the jungle, looking very much the ways most of the Angkor temples appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon them. The most important visit is the magnificent Angkor Wat with its extraordinary architecture will provide an opportunity to experience a spectacular sunset over the monuments. We stroll around this massive monument, exploring the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple. (B/L/D)

Begin of this charming capital with a visit to the city’s namesake, Wat Phnom. Founded in 1373, the pagoda was built to house Buddhist relics washed ashore by the river. Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom. Visit the Silver Pagoda so named because of its floor that is comprised of 5,000 silver tiles. Visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom. See the different structures of this pagoda-style compound and stroll in its beautiful garden. (B/L/D)

Fly back to Los Angeles or Saigon with an extra fee. (B)