Golden Triangle - Three Countries Tour - 15D/14N

Photo of Yangon, Courtesy of Myanmar Tourism BoardAn itinerary created to cover in 15 days the best of Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Heho, Chiang Mai, Golden Triangle, Pakbeng, Luang Prabang, and Vientiane.

Included: Accommodation in shared twin rooms with daily breakfast - All meals as specified in the program on table d’hôte basis (at local restaurants) - Entrance fees - Transfers and tours with English speaking local guides - Transportation by air-conditioned van/minibus/coach - Boat trips (as specified) - Domestic airfare within Burma: Yangon / Bagan / Mandalay / Heho / Yangon - Service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Not included: Travel insurance - International air-ticket Yangon – Chiangmai (approx. US$138.-per person, this airfare is subject to change without prior notice) - International air-tickets to Yangon and ex Vientiane - Visa fee for Myanmar & Laos - International airport taxes - Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc.

Departures: Fridays.

Remarks: - No operation (dry dock) from 01-30 June 2008. Operate with Minimum of 2 passengers. * Itinerary subject to change depending on confirmed flights, road conditions and availability of rooms.

Photo of Mandalay, Courtesy of Myanmar Tourism BoardDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Friday: Yangon (L, D) - Upon arrival at Yangon airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Dinner and overnight stay at Nikko Royal Lake Hotel (****) or similar in Yangon.
  • Day 2 Saturday: Yangon - Bagan (B, L, D) - After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, visit pagodas and temples of Bagan. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top. Dinner at a riverside restaurant. Overnight stay at Myanmar Treasure Resort (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan.
  • Day 3 Sunday: Bagan (B, L, D) - After breakfast, embark for visits to Tayokepyay Temple in Min Nan Thu Village; Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples. Dinner with puppet show at local restaurant. Overnight stay at Treasure Hotel (***, Superior room) or similar in Bagan. Optional: Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April.
  • Day 4 Monday: Amarapura - Ava - Sagaing - Mandalay (B, L, D) - After breakfast transfer to Bagan airport for a domestic flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival to Mandalay continue directly for an excursion to Amarapura. After lunch at a local restaurant, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital Inwa (Ava) by horse cart. Visit Nanmyint Watch Tower. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel (****) or similar in Mandalay.
  • Day 5 Tuesday: Mandalay - Heho - Pindaya - Nyaung Shwe (B, L, D) - After early breakfast, transfer to Mandalay airport for a domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival, proceed by road to Pindaya (65 km – 1 ½ hour) and visit Pindaya Caves, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. After lunch, drive to Nyaung Shwe (95 km – 2 ½ hours) and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay at Shwe Inn Thar (**/*, Superior room) or similar on the Inle Lake.
  • Day 6 Wednesday: Heho - Yangon (B, L, D) - After breakfast, depart for an excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. See the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the lake. Visits are made to Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda; the weaving village of Inpawkhon and to one of the local markets in the lake region. (Note: on market days only). In the afternoon transfer to Heho airport (32km – 1 hour) for a domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival to Yangon, transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Nikko Royal Lake Hotel (****) or similar in Yangon.

    • Photo of Chiang Mai, Courtesy of Thailand Tourism Board

  • Day 7 Thursday: Yangon - Chiang Mai (B, L, D) - After breakfast, complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the Kaba Aye (World Peace) Pagoda and the Mahapasana Cave. After lunch, transfer to the Yangon Airport for flight to Chiang Mai. Enjoy a typical Thai Kantoke dinner (19.30-22.30) with presentation of ancient dances from north Thailand. Overnight at the Amari Rincome Hotel (****) or similar in Chiang Mai.
  • Day 8 Friday: Chiang Mai (B, L, D) - After breakfast at the hotel depart for an excursion north of Chiang Mai for a visit to an elephant camp. B.B.Q. dinner and camp fire at the Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge followed by a Meo dance performance. Overnight stay at the Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge.
  • Day 9 Saturday: Chiang Mai - Mae Salong (B, L, D) - After breakfast, depart by minibus for Fang and Thatorn via Chiang Dao. Enjoy refreshments and take a stroll through the local market. Visit Huay Luek, a Meo hill tribe village after arrival to Thatorn, a small village just a few kilometers away from the Burmese border. Enjoy lunch at the Mae Kok River Lodge and continue by minibus to Ban Santikeree at Doi Mae Salong, a Yunnanese village. Dinner and overnight stay at the Wiang Inn or similar.
  • Day 10 Sunday: Mae Salong - Golden Triangle (B, L, D) - After breakfast, visit the scenic Golden Triangle View Point where it is possible to see all the way to Myanmar and Laos. This is the heart of Golden Triangle, where the 3 countries meet. Take a short boat trip around the Golden Triangle. Dinner and overnight at the Imperial Golden Triangle Hotel (****) or similar.
  • Day 11 Monday: Golden Triangle - Chiang Khong - Houei Sai - Pakbeng (B, L, D) - After early breakfast, transfer by minibus to Chiang Khong on the border, for custom & immigration clearance. Cross the river by ferry boat to Ban Houei Say in Laos for meeting by Laotian guide. Then transfer to pier for cruise down the Mekong River by the “Luang Say” boat. Arrive to Pak Beng before sunset and check-in at Luang Say Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River and overnight the Luang Say Lodge (charm but very simple) in Pakbeng.
  • Day 12 Tuesday: Pakbeng - Luang Prabang (B, L, D) - Full breakfast at the lodge, (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding village of minorities exchange their goods). At 08:30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. Dinner and overnight at the Villa Santi Hotel (***) or similar in Luang Prabang.
  • Day 13 Wednesday: Luang Prabang (B, L, D) - After breakfast, Luang Prabang city tour. Lunch at the hotel. Then depart by road to Khouangsi Waterfalls, with picnic lunch at Ban Thapene Village. Late afternoon return to Lang Prabang and continue to visit Ban Phanom, a village specializing in hand weaving. Dinner and overnight at the Villa Santi Hotel (***) or similar in Luang Prabang.
  • Day 14 Thursday: Luang Prabang - Vientiane (B, L, D) - After breakfast, visit former King’s Palace (now a museum), then climb up to visit Phousy Hill for overlooking the city and visit local open air market for shopping . Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Vientiane. Arrive in Vientiane, transfer to the hotel for check-in. Vientiane city tour including Vat Sisaket, Hophrakeo, Thatluang Stupa and Arc Of Triumph. Dinner and overnight at the Lao Plaza Hotel (****) or similar in Vientiane.
  • Day 15 Friday: Vientiane (B) - After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flight international departure flight.

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Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, Escorted Journeys, Asia, Special Destinations, Laos, Burma - Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina, Active Travel, Educational, Cultural, Art / Architecture, Join-In Tour, River Cruises, Hosted Tours


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