12 Days Family Holiday in Burma with Bangkok Thai Culture

ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok | Arrive Bangkok

International Flight: Excluded

Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival in Bangkok, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Then you are at leisure to explore the Chao Phraya riverfront, go shopping, or visit a Muay Thai boxing gym on your own.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 2: Bangkok | 3D Museum | Dinner Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

This afternoon, visit the 3D Museum: Arts in Paradise. Be amazed by the ingenious paintings where the eye cannot distinguish between paint and sculpture. This interactive museum is an “Instagram” paradise. After you finish exploring, return back to the riverside hotel for some leisure time.

This evening, embark on a dinner cruise with Grand Pearl on the legendary Chaophraya River. Live music and a traditional Thai performance will make or an enchanting evening while you witness the Bangkok lights and the Temple of the Dawn as dusk takes hold. Enjoy delicious Thai cuisine at a sumptuous buffet while you reminisce over your Thailand adventures.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 3: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat

Meals: Breakfast

In the early morning, take a traditional long-tail boat to Wat Arun – the Temple of the Dawn to enjoy a stunning view and explore the gem of Bangkok.

Continue to one of the must-see sights, the spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782- and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government – the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed. It continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail. And it is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people.

Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. The robes on the Buddha are changed with the seasons by HM The King of Thailand and forms an important ritual in the Buddhist calendar. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the twentieth century, but the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious happenings.

Then return to the hotel for some leisure time in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 4: Bangkok | Ayutthaya Kingdom Discovery

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Start early and transfer North to the Ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Start by visiting Wat Phu Khao Thong. It is a temple outside of Ayutthaya started by the invading Burmese who built the base when they overtook Ayutthaya. The temple was then finished by Siam who later took back their city. Continue to Ayutthaya and start with the Royal Palace and Royal Temple – dating back to the 14th century. Continue to the nearby Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit where the largest bronze Buddha in Thailand is housed.

Enjoy a Thai lunch and some free time. Have a short visit to Wat Lokaya Sutha – the image of the reclining Buddha. Then continue to the Royal Palace at Bang Pa In, which is the Summer Palace of the Thai Royal Family. Return back to your hotel in Bangkok for leisure time.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 5: Bangkok – Mandalay | Flight to Mandalay

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast

Board a morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Then relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Hilton Mandalay

Day 6: Mandalay | Amarapura Ancient Capital

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning, transfer to the capital of Sagiang. It’s a division that is located on the Irrawady River. You’ll cross the Inwa Bridge, which was built by the British in 1934. Then, you’ll visit the Maha Ganayon Kyaung Monastery to see hundreds of monks line up for daily meals. Then, continue to visit the U Bein Bridge which is 1.2 kilometers long and is the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

U Bein Bridge – 12 Days Family Holiday Burma Bangkok Thai Culture

Next, you’ll see Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda: a dome-shaped pagoda which rises up 46 meters. At the base of the pagoda, there are 812 stone pillars, each one with a hollow and image of a Nat inside. Continue with a visit to Sagaing Hill. The hill has a number of small pagodas with many meditation centers along with Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda – pagoda painted with gold. You can stop at monasteries and nunneries to speak with monks while enjoying hot green tea.

Lunch at a restaurant.

Then continue to visit Amarapura, “The City of Immortality”, the old capital of Myanmar. At the end of the day, visit the ancient temple of Pahtodawgyi which was built in 1820.

Return to Mandalay and the rest of the day is at your leisure.

At the end of your day, you’ll enjoy a gorgeous sunset from the top of Mandalay Hill.

Accommodation: Hilton Mandalay

Day 7: Mandalay – Bagan | Explore Mandalay Highlights | Flight to Bagan

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast

Take an opportunity to learn about the distinct Buddhist culture unique to Burma. Visit the Mahamuni Image where you’ll have an opportunity to watch locals pray and place the gold paper on the statue of Buddha for a blessing. You can participate as well if you like for a small donation to the temple(only men are allowed to place the gold on the statue).

You’ll also visit a gold paper factory to see how golden leaves are made, a staple in Burmese religious practices. Then you’ll visit the 19th-century Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery) famous for its teak carvings of Buddhist mythology.

Next, you’ll see the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is a Buddhist stupa that contains the world’s largest book of Buddhism.

In the afternoon, board an afternoon flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you and transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 8: Bagan | Bagan’s Valley of a Thousand Temples

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Take a bike tour through the pagoda area to discover more interesting sites of Bagan. With over 4,400 temples, there is not enough time to possibly visit them all. Our experienced bicycle guide will leave with you from the hotel and take you through scenic natural paths where you’ll adventure through Bagan at your own pace.

Want to take a turn down this road? You choose the way if you like and your guide will give you the history of each temple and folklore of each village settlement you encounter.

Valley of a Thousand Temples – 12 Days Family Holiday Burma Bangkok Thai Culture

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 9: Bagan | Mount Popa

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel east toward to the Mount Popa, an extinct volcano standing 1518 meters high. This mountain has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion, and history since the earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits.

Learn about nats and nat worship as you climb the stairs to the top with your local guide. The view over the Myingyan Plain from the top of the volcanic peak is impressive. Transfer back to Bagan late this afternoon.

Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel

Day 10: Bagan – Yangon | Hot Air Balloon Ride | Flight to Yangon

Internal Flight: Included

Meals: Breakfast

Experience the unrivaled majesty of thousands of ancient temples drifting below you in style, comfort, and safety. You’ll rise early in the morning to beat dawn for a spectacular sunrise over the unique Bagan scene aloft in your hot air balloon. The captain will explain the safety procedures, and you can some coffee or tea before departure. Then the balloon will take off and you’ll be treated to an amazing view of the temples across Bagan. It is also great to see the other balloons in flight. After an hour’s ride, you’ll have a smooth landing.

Board an flight to Yangon in the afternoon. Upon arrival, our guide will greet and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence

Day 11: Yangon | Burmese Capital Highlights

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, visit the downtown area to see the Old City Hall and Maharbandoola Park. Then take a stroll along the old street ending at the old Strand Hotel. Next, drive to Botahtaung Pagoda which features golden decorations inside the pagoda. Continue to Bogyoke Market which sells many Burmese traditional handicrafts including stone carving, wood carving, bronze carving, painting, etc.

In the afternoon, visit Kandawgyi Park for a stroll near Chaukhtetgyi Reclining Buddha Image – one of the largest in Yangon.

Continue to the highlight of Yangon: the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, which has been described as one of the wonders of the world. Shwedagon plays a very important role in Old Burmese History and also is an important Buddhist icon. Enjoy the sunset over the pagoda.

Shwedagon Pagoda

Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence

Day 12: Yangon | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast

Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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