10-Day Myanmar and Laos Highlights Tour

Welcome to Myanmar, the Land of Golden Pagodas. Your Myanmar and Laos Tour begins in the mesmerising city of Yangon. 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 this bustling city which, while no longer the capital, remains Myanmar’s most vibrant and commercially-important city.

After breakfast you will be taken to the airport for your short flight to the breathtaking plains of Bagan, where thousands of ancient stupas stretch as far as the eye can see. Upon arrival, you’ll take a tour around the giant, gold-plated Shwezigon Paya, the most hallowed of all the temples on the plains, before stopping for lunch.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit Ananda Pahto, famed for its outstanding architecture and decorative detail, and Dhammayangyi Pahto, Bagan’s largest temple. Next we visit the gorgeous Sulamani Temple before enjoying a pleasant horse-ride through the countryside to the grand Shewsandaw Pagoda. Climb to the top to watch the sun set behind a myriad of ancient stupas silhouetted against the burning orange sky. The remainder of the evening is yours to relax in your riverside resort hotel.

In the morning, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Myanmar’s cultural capital, Mandalay. Upon arrival, your tour begins with an insight into the lives of the saffron-robed monks that call this nation home. A private car will drive you the short distance to the tree-shaded Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monstery at Amarapura, the ‘City of Immortality.’ Amarapura was Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital, entirely separate from Mandalay, but is now a leafy suburb connected to the city. Take a meditative stroll around the expansive monastery grounds and chat with local monks before heading for the gilded pagodas that top the hills of Sagaing, stopping at a silk-weaving workshop En Route. Explore the crescent-shaped collonade of 45 Buddha images at Umin Thounzeh, before ascending to Pon Nya Shin Temple to take in breathtaking views over the Ayeyarwady River and innumerable white and gold stupas that cap the highest peaks.

Next you’ll head for Inwa (The Kingdom of Ava), another historic royal capital, where after a spot of lunch you’ll explore the remarkably backwater ruins by horse-drawn cart. Round off the day at the iconic U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak-wood bridge, where private boat will take you to the perfect spot on the lake from which to appreciate the sun setting behind the stilted bridge of silhouetted monks. The evening is yours to relax in Mandalay.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be taken to the airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a private driver to complete the journey to the stunning lake at Inle. After check-in at your hotel on the lake, you’ll board a traditional motorised longboat for a glimpse of one of the most extraordinary places on Earth. The calm waters of Inle are the life-blood for the many ethnic minority communities you can see still living in the stilt-houses in the lake’s shallow waters. Peacefully observe the  the distinctive leg-rowing of the graceful Intha fishermen; marvel at a labyrinth of vegetable plantations floating on the lake’s surface; see long-necked Palaung women, paper mills and silver smiths. Relax as the layered Shan Hills are reflected in the glassy waters as the sun sets, before returning to your resort for a glass or two of wine by the lake.

After breakfast at your resort, you’ll be driven to Heho for your flight back to Yangon. Once here, you’ll see why Myanmar is known as the Land of Golden Pagodas, starting with 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 quick stroll in the picturesque Maha Bandoola Park nearby. Next up is arguably Myanmar’s most impressive pagoda, and ranks as the most important religious site in the country. 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 as saffron-robed Buddhist monks light candles at the stupa’s base, the setting sun shimmering against the golden spire.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ve time for a wander around bustling Bogyoke market, the perfect place to pick out those last-minute souvenirs for friends and family. When its time to leave, your guide will take you to the airport for your flight to Vientiane, Laos, a quaint capital of charming markets and streetside noodle stalls.

Upon arrival in Laos, a friendly local guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. Once you’ve dropped off your bags, your fantastic tour of the city begins, starting with the fascinating National Museum, where you’ll have a chance to gain a foundation understanding of Lao history that will help you make sense of what’s yet to come in this incredibly country. After the museum, it’s on to Wat Sisaket, the oldest wat (temple) in Vientiane, serving as home to a host of gorgeous murals and a beautifully ornate ceiling. The final stop of the morning is Wat Prokeo, housing some of the country’s finest sculptures.

After lunch, you’ll be driven the short journey northeast of the city to Pha That Luang, the most important national monument in Laos. This beautiful golden temple sits at the centre of a high-walled  cloister with tiny windows and is said to enclose a piece of Buddha’s breastbone. After the Lao national icon, you’ll call in on a more recent monument, erected after Laos claimed independence from France, as you make your way back to the city. You’ll round off the day with a trip to Wat Si Muang, famed for its supernatural powers. The rest of the day is yours to relax, perhaps taking a sunset stroll along the Mekong before retiring to your hotel.  

This morning can be spent at your leisure, perhaps wandering the vibrant downtown market and sampling the city’s famous roadside noodle stalls. After lunch, your guide will deliver you to the airport for your short flight to Luang Prabang. After you’ve checked in to your hotel, you’re free to familiarise yourself with this sleepy mountain-city of red-roofed Buddhist temples and French architecture.

This morning, your journey of discovery begins with a serene cruise down the Mekong, idling past scenes of rural riverside life and spectacular mountain scenery until you reach the Pak Ou Caves. Nestled among the limestone cliffs where the Mekong and and Nam OU rivers meet, the caves are split into two: one called Tham Ting; and the other Tham Theung. Both are filled with thousands of Buddha images and statues which have been deposited here over the centuries.

A short distance away from Pak Ou Caves, we visit the village of Ban Xang Hai, which has for centuries made the clay jars which are used to ferment Lao wine. Nowadays, the village also specialises in producing a wide range of ‘Lao Lao’ whisky and ‘Lau Hai’ wine. Be sure to try just a little before we head back down to Luang Prabang in the late afternoon.

After your trip to the caves, enjoy private tour of the city, calling in at Wat Xiengthong, Luang Prabang’s stunning Golden City Temple, Wat Aham, with its depictions of Buddha’s life painted on the walls, and the Royal Palace Museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about Lao history and culture. In the evening, you’re free to relax, or do a little exploring on your own.  

You’ll start the day by observing the early-morning alms ritual of the saffron-robed monks that call this city home, perhaps even receiving a blessing. After breakfast at your hotel, you will head to explore more of Laos’ natural beauty at the stunning Khouang Si Waterfalls. After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a variety of Lao Minority Group villages, learning about their unique traditions and cultures, experiencing a totally different way of life. Spend the evening relaxing in your hotel, or venture out on your own.

Today is yours to relax until it’s time to head for airport for your ongoing flight, leaving Southeast Asia with many wonderful memories and stories to share with your loved ones back home.

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