Compare Burma: Land of Golden Temples & Floating Gardens by Gutsy Women Travel vs Cycle Indochina & Angkor by Exodus Travels

Day 1: Depart U.S. to Bangkok, Thailand

We depart the U.S. on an overnight flight across the Pacific and cross the International Date Line.

Day 2: Arrive Bangkok, Thailand

Accommodation: Avion Apart Hotel or similar

Arrive in Bangkok late in the evening. An OAT representative will meet you at the airport and assist with your transfer to our Bangkok hotel. Travelers on our optional Vientiane & Luang Prabang trip extension arrive earlier in the day.

Day 3: Fly to Rangoon, Burma , Explore Rangoon

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Sedona Hotel Yangon or similar

After breakfast at our hotel, we fly to Rangoon, Burma, and stop to exchange money before beginning our discovery of Burma’s largest city and former capital. Also known as Yangon, the architecture of many buildings in the downtown district of Rangoon reveal vestiges of British colonial rule. Our first stop is Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to an enormous reclining Buddha whose crown is encrusted with diamonds and precious gems.

Explore Rangoon on a guided walking tour Then we'll transfer to our hotel and enjoy lunch on our own. This afternoon we'll come together for a Welcome Briefing before witnessing the most sacred Buddhist site in all of Burma—Shwedagon Pagoda. Also known as the Golden Pagoda, the 2,000-year-old hilltop temple complex covers more than twelve acres and dominates the Rangoon skyline. We’ll view the gold-draped, gem-studded pagoda at sunset, when the fading light shimmers off its 326-foot-high spire. Few places in the world radiate such a palpable sense of beauty and serenity as Shwedagon Pagoda.

This evening, we celebrate the start of our Burma discovery during a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.

Please note: Depending on your flight schedules, these activities may occur on Day 9 instead.

Day4: Explore Rangoon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Sedona Hotel Yangon or similar

Discover local culture and traditions on a tour of Burma Today we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Rangoon. We’ll begin by walking through the city center, taking in the bustling markets and colonial buildings. We’ll also visit the Sule Pagoda, which serves as the heart of the city—both geographically and metaphorically. According to legend, this large golden pagoda was built more than 2,500 years ago during the time of the Buddha. Since then, a number of important political events and rallies have unfolded at the base of the pagoda, including the 8888 uprisings and the 2007 Saffron Revolution.

To learn more about the 8888 uprisings, so called because they occurred on August 8, 1988, we’ll travel by bus to Inya Lake—where many of the protestors were killed and arrested. The uprisings were spearheaded by students who stood against the Burma Socialist Party regime but soon spread to other parts of the country. Together, students, monks, children, doctors, and others fought for democracy, and their legacy lives on the shores of Inya Lake today. We’ll mingle with some of the local students, and maybe sample a snack from one of the neighborhood eateries, before continuing to the residence of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s beloved human rights activist. Behind this humble exterior, she was held under house arrest for nearly two decades. We’ll return to Rangoon for lunch and then an afternoon at leisure.

Enjoy dinner on your own this evening.

Day 5: Fly to Bagan - Explore Temples of Bagan, Cruise the Irrawaddy River, Home-Hosted Dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate or similar

Early this morning, we’ll transfer to the airport for a short flight to central Burma. Our destination is Bagan, also known as the “City of Four Million Pagodas.” Many of the pagodas and temples are small and simple—but the number of them is staggering. Although Bagan’s centuries-old shrines, pagodas, and stupas do not actually total in the millions, there are well over 2,000 of them scattered along the remote 26-square-mile plain, flanked on one side by the Irrawaddy River. This qualifies Bagan as the largest temple city on the planet, as well as one of the most important archaeological areas in all of Asia. The majority of ruins in Bagan were constructed between the eleventh and 13th centuries, a time when Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire.

After a brief stop at Shwe Sandaw Pagoda, we head to a village market in the town of Nyaung-U: a great opportunity to mingle with the locals and wander among stalls that feature locally-grown crops, rattan items, tea leaves, and colorful traditional clothing. Then we make a short stop to see Shwezigon Paya, a beautiful gold-domed pagoda constructed early in the twelfth century that is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha.

Next, we witness the beauty of Ananda Pahto, a terraced temple peaked in shimmering gold that is considered a symmetrical masterpiece. Built around 1090 by a Burmese king inspired by tales of visiting Indian monks, Ananda’s perfection qualified it to serve as a prototype for successive Burmese temples. Inside its whitewashed walls are four large statues of Buddha, each with a different facial expression.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll check into our hotel (set on the banks of the Irrawaddy River), followed by some time at leisure. Then we’ll visit a lacquer ware shop to learn about this local tradition before heading to a nearby jetty. Here, we’ll board a boat to gain a new vantage of the Irrawaddy (also called the Ayeyarwady). The people and the country’s economy depend on this natural resource, as you will undoubtedly observe by the countless number of barges, bamboo rafts, and fishing boats that ply the waters around us. From on board, we will be able to observe how everyday life plays out along the riverbanks.

Another treat is in store for our small group this evening, when we visit a local family as guests in their home for dinner. Your Trip Leader is sure to provide you with insights into local customs and traditions before your visit.

Day 6: Bagan - Optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride , Optional Ancient Bagan with Dinner and Show Optional Tour

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate or similar

Discover Bagan's thousands of pagodas during a hot air balloon ride You may wish to rise early this morning for an optional hot-air balloon ride, a memorable opportunity to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the sun rising over the ancient temples of Bagan. Afterwards, enjoy a Champagne toast and return to the hotel for breakfast.

Then we gain another unique perspective of Bagan by traveling by horse-drawn carriage ride through the archaeological zone. Witnessing the morning sun illuminating the ancient temples of Bagan is an unforgettable experience. We’ll see Damayangyi Temple and visit Khayminga Temple for a panoramic view of our surroundings. Then we’ll return to the hotel for lunch on our own.

After a busy morning, enjoy time at leisure this afternoon and dinner on your own. Or perhaps you’ll join our optional tour to discover Ancient Bagan. Travel to the Bagan Archaeological Museum for a tour of the relics here, including dolomite plaques and bronze lotus flowers. Then continue to the Nanmyint Viewing Tower for a breathtaking view of Bagan plains, studded with ancient pagodas. Afterwards, we’ll visit a nearby village to learn more about local life. Then enjoy dinner and classical Burmese performance at a nearby restaurant, all included with the tour. Please note: On Mondays and Tuesdays, the Bagan Archaeological Museum visit will be replaced with a guided tour of temples in the Bagan plains.

Day 7: Discover Bagan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate or similar

Experience Dhammayangyi the largest temple in Myanmar This morning after breakfast, we’ll head to a Bagan workshop to learn how to make a popular dish called pone ye gyi, a soy-bean sauce often served with noodles.

After this glimpse of modern life in the area, we return to the ancient world to tour Gubyauk Gyi Temple, which dates back to the 13th century AD. We’ll venture inside to see its colorful frescoes and stuccowork. Then we witness locals making palm sugar, before visiting the monumental Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, rising some 200 feet.

Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and an afternoon at leisure. We gather again for dinner as a small group this evening.

Day 8: Fly to Mandalay, Visit Myawaddy Nunnery and Mandalay Royal Palace

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Sedona Hotel Mandalay or similar

See the ancient city of Inwa After an early breakfast, we transfer to the airport for a 30-minute flight to Mandalay. We'll explore several highlights of Mandalay, which briefly served as capital of the last Burmese kingdom in the mid-19th century. We first visit the Mahamuni Paya, home to a highly venerated Buddha image, one of the most sacred in Burma. Over the centuries, devout Buddhists have been applying gold leaf to the 13-foot-high seated Buddha; that gold surface is now estimated to be about six inches thick. Then we visit Myawaddy Nunnery. Here, we’ll gain insights into Burma’s Buddhist traditions, observe more than 200 of the nunnery’s novice nuns during their lunch, and perhaps have a chance to participate in an informative discussion with the abbess.

Today, enjoy lunch on your own and some time at leisure, before we visit Mandalay Royal Palace, where Burma’s last two kings lived. Tonight, we’ll dine together at our hotel.

Day 9: Explore Mandalay, Optional Sagaing tour with dinner OPTIONAL TOUR

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Sedona Hotel Mandalay or similar

View the U Bein Bridge near mandalay Following breakfast this morning, we depart for Mandalay Hill. Upon arrival, we’ll ride an escalator to the top, where Mandalay Hill Monastery offers sweeping views of the city below. Next we visit Kuthodaw Paya, often referred to as “the world’s biggest book” due to its marble slabs inscribed with the entire collection of early Buddhist writings (which, if read for eight hours a day, would take more than a year to finish). We’ll then explore Shwenandaw Kyaung, a traditional Burmese wooden monastery before traveling to a nearby gold-leaf workshop, where we’ll learn how sheets of gold are beaten into gossamer-thin pieces. Placing gold leaf on a Buddha image brings great merit to the faithful, so the layers of gold leaf on Buddha images throughout Burma get thicker and thicker with the passing years.

After lunch on your own, enjoy a free afternoon to explore Mandalay and dinner on your own. Or join our optional tour to Sagaing, a nearby religious center on the banks of the Irrawaddy. The tour includes tours of two of Sagaing Hill’s gilded temples and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 10: Explore Mingun, Discover Amarapura and the U-Bein bridge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sedona Hotel Mandalay or similar

See the largest fully functioning bell in the world in Mingun After breakfast, we enjoy a pleasant boat ride a few miles upriver from Mandalay to the village of Mingun, home to a massive unfinished pagoda and the largest, un-cracked, fully-functioning bell in the entire world. Cast in bronze in 1808, the gigantic Mingun Bell is 13 feet high and weighs in at about 200 tons. The bell was meant to be a part of the Mingun Paya, which would certainly have been the world’s largest pagoda had King Bodawpaya not died in 1819 before its completion. An 1838 earthquake split the one-third-completed monument, reducing everything except its enormous base to rubble.

Next, we return to Mandalay by boat along the Irrawaddy and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Take some time at leisure this afternoon before a short drive to another ancient royal capital, Amarapura. Upon our arrival, we’ll visit the world’s longest teak bridge. The U Bein footbridge stretches almost three-quarters of a mile over Thaungthaman Lake, and is heavily utilized by the local monks in saffron robes who carry alms bowls back and forth to monasteries. Constructed of more than 1,000 teak posts, the U Bein has withstood the elements for over two centuries. We hope to catch a memorable sunset by the bridge before heading back to Mandalay for dinner at a local restaurant.

Please note: Depending on your flight schedules, these activities may occur on Day 3 instead.

Day 11: Fly to Heho, Pa-O village visit, Explore Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Pine Hill Resort or similar

Myanmarian women carrying firewood to the local friday market We rise early for our flight to Heho. Upon arrival, we visit a local village inhabited by members of the Pa-O tribe, one of the many ethnic minorities in Burma. After a tour of the village, we transfer to Kalaw, situated along the edge of the Shan Plateau in eastern Burma. Popular with trekkers, Kalaw is surrounded by hill-tribe villages and also serves as the gateway to Inle Lake. The town is comprised of a mixed ethnic population—including descendants of the Nepali Gurkhas and Indian Hindus brought here by the British during colonial rule to build roads and railways.

After an included lunch at a local restaurant, we drive up the hillside to Myin Ka Village for a light trek around their plantations, where we'll learn more about the Pa-O culture.

We return to Kalaw to visit Christ the King Church, a Catholic church founded almost 100 years ago by an Italian missionary. Then we'll climb approximately 280 steps to Theindaung Monastery to enjoy panoramic views of the town.

This evening we head to a restaurant in Kalaw for an included dinner.

Day 12: Kalaw, A Day in the Life of a Danu community Foundation Visit

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Pristine Lotus Spa Resort, Inle Resort or similar

Encounter local farmers living near Kalaw A diverse variety of ethnic hill tribes reside in small villages nestled among the hills that surround Kalaw—including the Palaung, Danu, Pa-O, Taung Yo, and Danaw tribes. After breakfast, we first make a stop at the Kalaw morning market.

Then we set out to experience A Day in the Life of Myin Ma Htie village, home to members of the Danu hill tribe. Our discoveries include a meeting with a Buddhist monk for meditation and an enlightening discussion; a visit to a village school (when in session) to meet with Danu schoolchildren; a village walk; and trip to a surrounding vegetable plantation that supplies the village with food. Then we get an authentic taste of tribal life by helping prepare a traditional lunch with our Danu village host. A conversation with village elders and a demonstration in making local rum drinks conclude our time in Myin Ma Htie.

Day 13: Explore Inle Lake , Visit local craft workshops

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Pristine Lotus Spa Resort, Inle Resort or similar

Discover life along Inle Lake Today’s discoveries on Inle Lake begin with a boat ride to Nga Hpe Kyaung, a stunning wooden temple and Buddhist monastery built on stilts. You may hear people calling this “Jumping Cat Monastery,” because in the past, the monks there used to train their cats to do tricks. Then we continue to Nampan, a village built on stilts over the water. Here, we’ll visit workshops to learn about cheroots, popular cigars made by hand and wrapped in tree leaves, and see how Inle Lake canoes are built. We also see a lotus fabric weaving workshop, where women make a fiber out of the stems of lotus plants and weave fabric on wooden looms.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we continue to the village of Tha Ley to view the eleventh-century Phaung Daw Oo Paya, one of the most sacred sites in Burma. Four ancient Buddha images reside in a pavilion inside the pagoda—images that are so laden with gold their features are unrecognizable. During an 18-day pagoda festival each fall (featuring many leg-rowing contests), the images are ferried around the lake aboard a gilded barge shaped like a hintha, or swan.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 14: Inle Lake , Meet with Paduang "long-neck" hill tribe

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Pristine Lotus Spa Resort, Inle Resort or similar

Discover mysterious hilltop ruins while touring Burma After breakfast, we depart by boat to visit some local workshops that produce Shan paper and traditional umbrellas. Here, we'll meet with some women of the famous Padaung hill tribe, and we'll be able to discuss with them their ancient tradition of wearing heavy brass ornaments around their neck and limbs. Then we visit Inthein (or Indein), a lakeshore village where we view the mysterious hilltop ruins of hundreds of hundreds of ancient pagodas cloaked in thick vegetation, followed by lunch in a local restaurant.

This evening we enjoy a Farewell Dinner at our hotel.

Day 15: Fly to Rangoon , Visit Bogyoke Aung San Market , Fly to Bangkok, Thailand

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Avion Apart Hotel or similar

After breakfast, we transfer to Heho for a flight to Rangoon. Upon arrival, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then we wander through the some 2,000 stalls of Bogyoke Aung San Market. Also known by its old British moniker, Scott Market, Bogyoke is a great place to interact with locals while haggling for all manner of Burmese handcraft items. Please note: If the market is closed on the day we visit, we will enjoy alternate activities.

We return to the airport for our flight to Bangkok. Dinner is on our own tonight in Bangkok.

Day 16: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

We rise before daybreak for an early morning flight back to the U.S. If you are continuing on the post-trip extension to Phnom Penh & Angkor Wat, Cambodia, you'll fly to Phnom Penh.

Day 1 Start Bangkok

There will be a group meeting and briefing in the evening with your leader, followed by an optional group dinner. Your main luggage will be transported ahead of you to the start point early in the morning so please bring this with you to the meeting; just hang on to what you need for the night/morning. You will be reunited with your luggage mid-morning tomorrow. Accommodation: Royal Princess Larn Luang Hotel (or similar)

Day 2 Early transfer to the old kingdom of Ayutthaya; warm-up ride on trail

There’s an early start this morning as we venture out of Bangkok to the ancient town of Ayutthaya. Our two-hour transfer takes us into the heart of this fascinating site and we start cycling by the huge reclining Buddha. Much of the old town was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century and we will cycle through the remaining shrine towers and enormous temples to appreciate the past magnificence. Accommodation: iRabbit Hotel (or similar)

Day 3 Cycle to Kabin Buri

Today we follow minor roads through rural Thai landscapes including rubber and eucalyptus plantations, tapioca and rice fields. There are a few easy rolling hills but the route is mostly flat. The ride ends when we join a busier road before driving the final short distance to the town of Kabin Buri by bus. Accommodation: Serenity Hotel & Spa Onsen (or similar)

Day 4 Ride to Aranyaprathet

Leaving our hotel early in the morning, we ride towards Tha Krabak, where we can stop by a reservoir for a swim and a view of the untouched jungle on the other side. We will break for lunch before cycling on quiet but well-maintained scenic roads on the way to Aranyaprathet, 6.2mi (10km) from the Cambodian border. Accommodation: La Villa Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Day 5 Into Cambodia and on to Siem Reap

After breakfast we drive to the busy border and complete customs formalities as we cross into Cambodia at Poipet. We then drive to Siem Reap. Due to years of civil war, the country is poorer and less developed than its neighbours. Apart from growth in the capital and around Siem Reap, the way of life in the countryside is still much the same as it has been for centuries. This afternoon's ride from Siem Reap takes us past Wat Athvea, a modern temple in the grounds of the ruins of an Angkorian temple, and ends at a market and picnic area outside of Siem Reap. Accommodation: Angkor Holiday (or similar)

Day 6 First of two full days to explore the temple complex of Angkor by bus and bike, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Banteay Srei

Today we may choose to have an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds drawn to the wonders of Angkor. The various temples are spread over a wide area and are linked by shady avenues; meandering our way between them by bike gives us a unique perspective. Our cycle tour will include the jungle-covered Ta Prohm, with the amazing roots of the fromager trees clinging to the ancient stones; Angkor Thom, with the Bayon temple of 37 towers (originally there were 49) topped with the four faces of the king; and, of course, the incredible Angkor Wat, which has a huge moat, long causeway and massive towers. Accommodation: Angkor Holiday (or similar)

Day 7 Second day at the Angkor temple complex

Today we cycle outside the main Angkor complex to the outlying temple of Banteay Srei, 21.7mi (35km) from Siem Reap town. Our route takes us past paddy fields, and through pretty villages. Banteay Srei was built in the 10th century and contains some of the finest examples of Khmer sculpture. Although much smaller than the later temples, the buildings here are covered in exquisite carvings. In the afternoon, as we cycle back to Siem Reap, we can stop and visit a few of the less-visited Angkor temples. Siem Reap town is pleasant to wander around; the market has plenty of interest and excellent shopping and there is vibrant nightlife. This afternoon, there should also be time to visit the Tonle Sap Lake, a branch of the Mekong River. This optional trip includes a boat ride to see the floating fishing villages. Anyone wanting to do this visit may need to miss part or all of the ride back to Siem Reap, depending on timings. The cycle is approximately 43.5mi (70km) if riding the full distance to and from Banteay Srei. Accommodation: Angkor Holiday (or similar)

Day 8 Drive to Phnom Penh, stopping at Sambor Pre Kuk

Today we take a bus journey of approximately seven hours along National Road 6 to Phnom Penh, with a couple of stops along the way. We visit Sambor Prei Kuk, the most impressive group of pre-Angkorian monuments in Cambodia, with some of the oldest structures in the country. We'll also pause for a traditional Khmer lunch at a community restaurant. The road is currently undergoing some resurfacing, so some sections will be a bit bumpy. We should arrive in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in the late afternoon, the perfect time for a sundowner on the Mekong. Accommodation: Ohana Hotel (or similar)

Day 9 Sightseeing including Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields

The fortunes of Phnom Penh have shifted dramatically during its history and the terrible years of the Khmer Rouge and subsequent civil war through the 1970s and ‘80s have scarred the country. During our stay we visit two sites, which give us a vivid impression of some of the horrors. There is the Genocide Museum, which is the former Khmer Rouge prison known as S-21 or Tuol Sleng, in the city centre. And 9.3mi (15km) out of town is the area known as the Killing Fields, a mass grave and execution site for the former inmates of S-21. While visiting Tuol Sleng and the Killing Fields may not appeal to everyone, we feel they give us an important understanding of what the country and people endured. On a more positive note, the city is on the rise again and is a fascinating place with fine examples of French colonial architecture. We tour the Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda. There is also excellent shopping at the Russian market, and the lively Mekong waterfront area. Accommodation: Ohana Hotel (or similar)

Day 10 Transfer to Takeo then cycle to Vietnam border and Chau Doc

This morning we transfer south out of Phnom Penh to the town of Takeo. Here the road becomes quieter and we mount our bikes for the 31mi (50km) ride to the Phnom Den-Tinh Bien border. Once border formalities have been completed, we cycle approximately 18.6mi (30km) to Chau Doc. Accommodation: Chau Pho hotel (or similar)

Day 11 Drive/cycle through the Mekong Delta to Vinh Long; catch boat to homestay guesthouse

This morning, we ride from our hotel along a lovely quiet backroad lined with villages and dwellings before stopping for lunch and transferring the rest of the way to Vinh Long by bus. Leaving the bikes on the mainland, we take another boat (20 minutes) to reach our homestay guesthouse on an island in the Mekong Delta, known as the 'rice bowl' of Vietnam. After settling in we can explore the area on foot. The rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta form an amazing network of waterways. The area is best known for its abundant rice production, but in many areas farmers are now moving to more profitable fish farming and fruit and vegetable growing. The evening is tranquil with dinner at the homestay and true Delta hospitality. We spend the night sleeping at a simple guesthouse built in the style of a local house. Bedding, a mosquito net and a small towel are provided. Accommodation: Homestay Guesthouse Mekong Delta

Day 12 Transfer to Cai Be for floating market; scenic cycle along Mekong river bank; transfer to Ho Chi Minh City

We leave by boat, stopping en route to see Cai Be floating market, a small-scale traditional trading spot. A little further, we make a short stop to see cottage industries producing items such as popped rice, pancakes, wine and other homemade products. We start our ride towards Cai Lay, where we take a scenic route through orchards and alongside the Mekong. Back on the bus in My Tho, we drive to the heat, hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, still usually known as Saigon. This is an exciting and absorbing city where scooters pack the streets and temples stand alongside modern developments. Devastated by the Vietnam War, it is now a free-market city where (almost) anything goes. Accommodation: Acnos Hotel (or similar)

Day 13 Free day in Ho Chi Minh City

The whole day is free to explore Ho Chi Minh City, shop and relax. There are many interesting things to see – the Saigon River, Ben Thanh Market, Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral are all within easy walking distance. Alternatively, a short cyclo (cycle taxi) ride takes you to the War Remnants Museum, home to a sobering photographic record of the Vietnam War. If you’re interested, your leader can arrange an optional visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are two hours outside the city. Used by the Viet Cong during the war, the network covers three levels and approximately 149mi (240km) of tunnels. Originally these were very narrow but some areas have been widened to allow tourists to explore the system. Accommodation: Acnos Hotel (or similar)

Day 14 End Ho Chi Minh City

You’ll begin your return home after breakfast this morning. To make your journey as easy as possible, there’s a free shared transfer to the airport. To utilise the free departure transfer, this must be requested with Exodus before your trip. And if you’d like to explore this invigorating city a little more, you can always speak to your sales consultant about extending your stay at the hotel.