12-Day Cambodia and Myanmar Adventure Tour

Your 10-Day Myanmar and Cambodia Tour begins in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s industrious capital at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and the Tonlé Sap. 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, perhaps to stroll along the idyllic, recently-remodelled waterfront.

After breakfast, your experience of this city rich in history begins with a stroll around the pristine gardens of the Royal Residence, before taking in the impressive collection of sculpture, relics and prehistoric artefacts in the National Museum of Cambodia. Next you’ll marvel at the soaring spires and golden nagas of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, glinting in the mid-morning sun before sampling the many artisans workshops nearby.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll spend a reflective afternoon touring the Killing Fields and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Cambodia’s recent tragic history is well-known, yet you can’t truly appreciate the great strides forward this quaint Kingdom has made without understanding the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, committed less than 40 years ago. The evening is your own to indulge in all this now rejuvenated city has to offer.

Today you’re free to explore this lively city on your own, soaking the carefree ambience and rich culture, perhaps visiting the sprawling Central Market housed in an unusual art deco mall. Indulge your senses with the fascinating new sounds, smells, and sights of the capital, and when it’s time to leave, your guide will collect you and take you to the airport for your short flight o Siem Reap, having seen the very best of this colourful capital.

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, the gateway to the enigmatic jungle temples of Angkor, 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 quaint yet bustling town, 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 Yangon, a mesmerising City of Gold which while no longer the capital, remains Myanmar’s most vibrant and commercially important city.

After breakfast in your hotel, your once-in-a-lifetime tour of Myanmar begins with a morning around Sule Pagoda, the city’s vibrant 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 Maha Bandoola Park.

After lunch, your driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a local tour guide who will drive you to your riverside hotel to briefly rest before taking to the waters of the Ayeyarwady River for a private boat cruise as the sun sets over distant Mt. Popa.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be met by a friendly English-speaking cycling guide. The backcountry roads that weave between the myriad of ancient gilded stupas make for an awe-inspiring setting for a bike ride. As well as taking in the highlights at towerng Ananda, golden Shwezigon and mysterious Dhammayangyi, you’ll see several hidden gems, some of which can be scaled to get a different view of the Bagan plain. Aside from temples, you’ll also get a taste for the lives of local residents as we pass through fields, farms, and bamboo villages. We’ll round of the morning with traditional snacks, and of course a spot of sweet Myamnar tea. We’ll then drive you back to your hotel to escape the midday heat, recommencing the tour in the afternoon.

After lunch we take a horse-drawn cart ride into the countryside to see gorgeous Sulumani Temple. As one of the latest constructed temples (built in 1181) on the plain, the more sophisticated design allows for its hallways to be flooded with light. We also stop by its smaller twin situated near by for a panoramic vew of Sulamani and the other temples dotted across thte plains. We finish off the afternoon by scaling the grand Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch the sun set behind a myriad of ancient stupas silhouetted against the burning orange sky.The evening is yours to relax at your riverside resort.

Start the morning with a champagne breakfast at the Oriental Ballooning launch pad before taking to the skies in a hot air balloon for an unforgettable experience as the sun rises above the misty temple-studded plains. After your awe-inspiring flight, retreat briefly to your hotel for breakfast and a rest before we drive you to the airport for your short flight to Heho. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a private driver to complete the journey to spectacular Inle Lake. After check-in at your lakeside resort, the evening is yours to relax in the unique tranquility of this veritable waterworld.

After breakfast at your lake hotel, 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 a serene morning by the lake, your guide will ferry you back to dry land and drive you to the aiport in Heho to catch your flight toYangon. In the evening you’ll take a private guided tour of the mighty Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s most important religious site. 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 light candles to place at the stupa’s base, the setting sun shimmering against the golden spire.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ve time for one last wander to pick out those last-minute souvenirs for friends and family, we recommend nearby Bogyoke Market. When its time to leave, your guide will take you to the airport for your return flight home, or on to your next destination, having enjoyed an action-packed week in this Golden Land.

Find Out More Related Tours

10-Day Cambodia and Vietnam Highlights

More Detail

8-Day Cambodia and Laos Discovery Tour

More Detail

14-Day Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam Culture Discovery Tour

More Detail