Your 8-Day Angkor Wat and Yangon Tour begins in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the enigmatic jungle temples of the Khmers. Upon arrival, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the quaint yet bustling town of Siem Reap, a hidden gem of world-class wining and dining, kind locals, and charming markets.
After breakfast at your hotel, your awe-inspiring tour of Angkor begins. Entering through the grand South Gate, you’ll explore Angkor Thom, the last capital of the once great Khmer Empire, with the 216 enigmatic faces of The Bayon at its centre. Still within the ancient city walls, you’ll marvel at the view from the summit of Baphuon, the enormous temple mountain, affording unspoiled views over the surrounding ruins. You’ll round off the morning poring over the intricate bas-relief of the Elephant Terrace and Terrace of the Leper King, before having lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you’ll venture deeper into the jungle to the crumbling ruins of Ta Prohm. Here you’ll witness the monstrous jungle vines and sprawling tree roots that seem intent on claiming the ruins as their own. We cap off our day of adventuring with a delicious welcome dinner at a traditional Apsara dance performance at Angkor Village Resort.
After breakfast, you will witness the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat, in all its glory. This incredible twelfth century monument stands testament to the dedication and skill of the ancient Khmer people and is truly a wonder of the world.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll savour the remote peace of Banteay Srei, or the ‘Citadel of Beauty,’ some 20km away. This less-frequented woodland temple is beautifully preserved and is incomparable with any other in Angkor. En route to your hotel, we stop at a rural Khmer village to give you insight into the everyday lives of the friendly local people. The evening is yours to explore Siem Reap some more.
After breakfast you’ll head for the Tonlé Sap, dominating the map of Cambodia as the largest freshwater lake in southeast asia. While here, you’ll observe life on the lake for the fishermen and their families who make their homes on the stilt-housing in the water. Once back on dry land, you’ll have the chance to stroll through Psar Chas, a bustling old market, where you’ll find your pick of souvenirs to treat loved-ones back at home. In the afternoon, you’ll be taken to the airport for your short flight to Yangon, Myanmar, leaving Cambodia with the fondest of memories.
Upon arrival in Yangon, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the bustling city of Yangon which, while no longer the capital, remains Myanmar’s most vibrant and commercially important city.
After breakfast at your hotel, your once-in-a-lifetime tour of Myanmar begins with its most important Buddhist site, the Shwedagon Pagoda. Myanmar isn’t called the Land of Golden Pagodas without good reason, and Shwedagon is inarguably its most impressive. The 325ft stupa adorned with over 25 metric tonnes of gold leaf dominates Yangon’s skyline and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city.
Soak up the contemplative atmosphere on the main terrace as Burmese monks in saffron robes stroll by collecting morning alms. Next, you will move on to the Sule Pagoda, a golden spire at the city’s throbbing epicentre. A blend of East meets West, take in a towering gold Buddhist pagoda, colonial British architecture, Chinese vendors and a Muslim mosque, all without the turn of a head. Unwind with a pre-lunch stroll through the picturesque Mahabandoola Park before an afternoon trying your hand at bargaining for fine silks at the colourful Bogyoke Market, and sampling local life at Yangon’s thriving Chinatown district.
After breakfast you will be driven by private car to Bago, the ancient capital to the Mon ethnic group of southern Myanmar. Its abundance of treasure-filled religious sites and the remains of a once-grand palace make it an appealing day trip from Yangon. Start with a tour of Bago Market before visiting Kya Kha Wain Kyaung Monastery to learn more about the devoted lives of the Buddhist monks that live there. Follow this with a visit to the Shwemawdaw Paya, even larger than Shwedagon from the day before, ranking as the tallest temple in Myanmar. Round off the day with visits to the enormous Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha, and the four sitting Buddhas of Kyaik Pun Paya before returning to Yangon for the evening.
In the morning, you will be driven by private car to the relaxing, shaded streets of Thanlyin, once an important commercial port and the first place in Myanmar to receive Christian missionaries. Explore the haunting ruins of an 18th century, Portuguese-built Catholic church and the beautiful Kyaik Khauk Pagoda with stupendous views from its hilltop vantage point. After lunch, you’ll visit Kyauktan’s Ye Le Paya on Cat Fish Island, floating in the chocolate brown of the Ayeyarwady River. The evening is your own to relax in Yangon.
After breakfast you’ve time for one last wander around this vibrant city, and a chance to pick up those last-minute souvenirs for friends and family before your guide takes you to the airport for your ongoing flight leaving Myanmar feeling moved by the deeply spiritual culture of this Southeast Asian nation.
End of tour services!
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