Majestic Wonders of Southeast Asia – 25 Days

Begin with a visit to Wat Traimit, home to a solid gold Buddha weighing several tons, and Wat Po, renowned for its majestic Reclining Buddha and traditional massage school. After lunch, explore the sacred Royal Grand Palace, a stunning example of Thai architecture, and Wat Phra Kaew, housing the revered Emerald Buddha carved from a single jade block. Conclude at Wat Arun, the iconic Temple of the Dawn, celebrated for its riverside beauty. Return to your hotel to unwind. Overnight in Bangkok.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a leisurely morning before transferring to the airport for a flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, your guide will escort you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, exploring the city’s vibrant markets or relaxing. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast

Ascend to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s iconic mountain temple, featuring a golden pagoda and panoramic city views. Visit Wat Chedi Luang, known for its massive stupa, Wat Chiang Man, the city’s oldest temple, and Wat Phra Singh, home to a revered Buddha image. After lunch, hop on a traditional tricycle (samlor) to explore the Old City’s moats, gates, and the Three Kings Monument, honoring Chiang Mai’s founder, King Mengrai. Tour the City Art & Cultural Center to learn about the city’s history and diverse cultures, then browse the bustling Warorot Market for local goods. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel to the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary and change into traditional clothing. Learn about elephant care, prepare fruit for feeding, and interact closely with these gentle giants, observing their behaviors. Enjoy a special lunch and watch the elephants play freely. Capture stunning views and photographs before departing with warm tea or coffee. Return to Chiang Mai for dinner and relaxation. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Relax until your transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay, Myanmar. Upon arrival, visit the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda, home to Myanmar’s second-holiest Buddha image. Explore the Golden Palace Monastery, renowned for intricate woodcarvings, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, dubbed the “world’s largest book” with 729 marble slabs of Buddhist scripture. End the day at the 200-year-old U Bein Teak Bridge, a photographic gem, for sunset views. Overnight in Mandalay.
Meals: Breakfast

Cruise along the Irrawaddy River to Mingun, 11 km from Mandalay, to see the massive Mingun Bell, the world’s largest intact bronze bell, and the unfinished Mingun Paya. Stroll through art-filled lanes and observe bullock taxis. Visit Ava, then cross the Ayeyawaddy River via Ava Bridge to Sagaing Hill, home to 600 monasteries. Explore a silverware workshop, clay pot-making, and a nunnery to learn about Buddhist nuns’ lives. Watch the sunset from Sagaing Hill. Overnight in Mandalay.
Meals: Breakfast

Fly to Heho, the gateway to Inle Lake, Myanmar’s most scenic lake surrounded by hills and stilted villages. Drive to Nyaung Shwe and board a boat to your hotel. Cruise Inle Lake, visiting the revered Phaung Daw U Pagoda, home to five sacred Buddha images, and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, known as the “Jumping Cat Monastery” for its hoop-jumping cats. Explore Nampan Village to see cheroot (cigar) making and canoe carving. Overnight in Heho.
Meals: Breakfast

Navigate Inle Lake’s scenic channels, observing farmers tending floating gardens. Visit Indein Village, with its ancient stupas and shrines, and wander through colonnaded stairways and shop stalls. Encounter the “long neck” Padaung tribal women and explore stilted weaving villages. Marvel at the Intha people’s unique “leg-rowing” technique. Overnight in Heho.
Meals: Breakfast

Fly to Bagan and begin exploring its architectural wonders. Visit a bustling local market to experience daily life, then tour iconic pagodas and temples, including a lacquerware workshop to observe traditional craftsmanship. Climb a temple for panoramic sunset views over Bagan’s ancient plains. Overnight in Bagan.
Meals: Breakfast

Discover authentic Myanmar life at Phwar Saw Village, where villagers warmly welcome guests. In the afternoon, explore Bagan’s temples via pony cart, accessing hidden paths unreachable by car for a unique perspective. Overnight in Bagan.
Meals: Breakfast

Drive 45 km to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano rising 4,981 feet. Climb 777 steps to a Buddhist shrine adorned with monasteries and pagodas, enjoying spectacular views. Return to Bagan and fly to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.
Meals: Breakfast

Relax until your transfer to the airport for a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and unwind. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast

Explore Hanoi’s heritage, starting at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum, Stilt House, Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, and One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius. After lunch, tour the Museum of Ethnology, showcasing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, and Hoa Lo Prison Museum, known as the “Hanoi Hilton.” Enjoy a 1-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter, browsing markets and boutiques, and watch a traditional Water Puppet Show. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Drive 180 km to Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board a cruise, enjoy a welcome drink, and receive a briefing. Savor lunch while passing Dong Islet, Fighting Cock Islet, Hoa Cuong Fishing Village, and Swan Islet. Explore the bay by kayak or swim in the Frog Pond area’s emerald waters. Enjoy a sunset party with music, tropical fruits, and local wine. Join a cooking class to make spring rolls or relax in the Jacuzzi. Savor a romantic evening meal and try squid fishing. Overnight on the cruise.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Start with a Tai Chi session on the sundeck, followed by coffee and pastries. Visit Sung Sot Cave, Halong Bay’s largest, with stunning limestone formations. Enjoy brunch while cruising back to the pier, passing Oasis Bay Lounge. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Hue. Check into your hotel and relax in this poetic city. Overnight in Hue.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Board a Dragon Boat on the Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, a symbol of Hue’s Buddhist heritage. Explore the royal tombs of Khai Dinh and Tu Duc, showcasing Nguyen Dynasty artistry. After lunch, tour the Imperial Citadel, the Nguyen Dynasty’s seat from 1802 to 1945, and the Hue Royal Fine Art Museum in the former Dien Long An Royal Palace. Visit Dong Ba Market to observe local life, then drive to Hoi An. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Join a Farming & Fishing Eco Tour at Tra Que Village, helping farmers prepare land, fertilize with seaweed, and water fields. Cycle through the countryside, then board an eco-tour boat for a river cruise. Try traditional net fishing and paddle a bamboo basket boat through coconut palm-lined waterways. Enjoy lunch onboard with vegetables from Tra Que. In the afternoon, explore Hoi An Ancient Town on a walking tour, visiting the Japanese Covered Bridge, Pottery Museum, Tan Ky Old House, Cantonese Congregation, and Chinese-style pagodas. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Enjoy a free morning in Hoi An before transferring to Danang for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Check into your hotel and relax. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast

Discover Ho Chi Minh City’s highlights, starting with the Reunification Palace, former home of South Vietnam’s president, and the War Remnants Museum, offering insights into the Vietnam War. Visit the French colonial Notre-Dame Basilica and Old Post Office. After lunch, explore Cholon (Chinatown) and Thien Hau Pagoda in District 5. Shop at the vibrant Ben Thanh Market, then enjoy a Water Puppet Show at the Golden Theater. Spend the evening at the Ben Thanh Night Market or atop the Bitexco Tower. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel to Cai Be to visit the bustling Cai Be Floating Market, where locals trade fruits and vegetables. Stop at workshops crafting rice paste, coconut candy, and pop-rice. Cruise smaller canals by rowboat, passing traditional homes, and observe farmers’ activities. Enjoy lunch at a local home with traditional music and exotic fruits. Bike through village paths to see orchards and ancestral farming methods. Return to Ho Chi Minh City via Vinh Long. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Relax until your transfer to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Upon arrival, your guide will escort you to your hotel (check-in from 2:00 PM, subject to availability). Visit Angkor Wat, the iconic temple surrounded by a vast moat, and catch a mesmerizing sunset. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Drive through the countryside to Banteay Srei, the “Citadel of Women,” famed for its intricate pink sandstone carvings, and Banteay Samre. Stop at a village (October–April) to see palm sugar production. In the afternoon, explore the jungle-entwined Ta Prohm, where nature reclaims ancient stones. Visit Angkor Thom, entering via the Western Gate with its Buddha faces, and see the Terraces of the Elephant and Leper King, the restored Baphuon Temple, and the enigmatic Bayon Temple with its 216 giant faces. Climb Bakheng Mountain for a sunset view. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Witness sunrise at Angkor Wat, then return for breakfast. Visit the Roluos Temple Complex, the first Khmer capital, including Preah Ko and Lolei. In the afternoon, cruise Tonle Sap Lake to Kompong Phluk, a stilted village. Paddle a canoe through the flooded forest, spotting macaque monkeys, and visit a Buddhist temple with vibrant ceiling paintings. Watch sunset over the temples. Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely morning before transferring to Siem Reap International Airport for your departure flight, concluding this majestic Southeast Asian journey.
Meals: Breakfast