Compare Bangkok, Angkor Wat and The Charms of Myanmar by Alexander+Roberts vs Best of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Day 1: Welcome to Bangkok

Accommodation: Anantara Riverside Resort

Check in to the Anantara Riverside Resort on the banks of the storied Chao Phraya River.

Day 2: Discover Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Explore the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Step into the timeless world of life along the city’s canals as you explore by long-tail boat. Then ascend the amazing Temple of Dawn.

Day 3: Damnoen Saduak Market

Meals: Breakfast

Experience the myriad colors and exotic flavors of the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, one of the largest and most authentic in Thailand. Then marvel at the world’s tallest pagoda before returning to your hotel in Bangkok.

Day 4: Fly to Siem Reap

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Park Hyatt

Upon arrival, transfer to the luxurious Park Hyatt. Then join your guide to explore Angkor Wat, the largest temple in the world. Late in the day, your guide will lead you to a prime vantage point to watch the sun set over the jungle ruins.

Day 5: A second day at Angkor

Meals: Breakfast

Another day of guided touring includes Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Khmers and renowned for its impressive Elephant Terrace and the stunning Banyon Temple. You’ll also visit the oft-photographed Ta Prohm, surrounded by the massive roots and limbs of the encroaching jungle.

Day 6: Tonle Sap to Yangon

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Experience a slice of rural life as we take you across the tranquil waters of Tonle Sap Lake to visit quiet floating communities and thriving fish farms. Then fly to Yangon and tour the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda. Built more than 2,500 years ago, it’s covered in gold and encrusted with diamonds. Enjoy an elegant dinner and two nights in a deluxe suite at the historic Strand Hotel.

Day 7: Discover Yangon

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Learn how to prepare traditional Burmese cuisine at Graceworks Myanmar, a unique community partnership that provides valuable training for city youth. After your 2-hour class, enjoy lunch and congenial conversation with these motivated young people.

Day 8: Fly to Bagan + Embarkation

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Sanctuary Ananda

Fly to Bagan and settle in to your suite aboard the luxurious Sanctuary Ananda. Guided exploration takes you to rural villages and by horse-drawn cart to explore Bagan’s most significant temples. Your touring ends with a spectacular sunset witnessed from the terrace of an ancient temple.

Day 9: Bagan + On the Irrawaddy

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Gain authentic insight into daily life here in the Burmese countryside as you mingle with farmers and villagers at the busy Nyaung Oo market. Visit the great Shwezigon Pagoda and return to ship for lunch as you sail for Sagaing.

Day 10: Cruising + Sagaing Hills

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

After a delightful morning of scenic cruising, step off to explore some of the most important monasteries that dot the Sagaing Hills. Take in the sunset from the spectacular teak bridge that spans Taungthaman Lake.

Day 11: Mandalay to Inle Lake

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Visiting a small village supported by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy, you can assist with this unique partnership that has brought a library to the villagers. Disembark in Mandalay and tour Mahumuni Pagoda, one of the country’s most revered sites. Then see the Shwenandaw Monastery, the only palace building to survive the bombings of World War II, before flying to Heho. Continue overland and across Inle Lake to your private lakeview chalet at the enchanting Inle Princess Resort.

Day 12: Explore along Inle Lake

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner

Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest monastery on the lake. Then join locals at the bustling 5Day Market and explore the ancient stupas of Inn Dein. Later this afternoon, a guided canoe adventure offers the chance to discover remote lakeside villages and to see the amazing leg-rowing fishermen of Inle.

Day 13: Back to Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Deluxe Anantara Riverside Resort

Drive to Heho for your flights to Yangon and Bangkok where you’ll be escorted once again to the deluxe Anantara Riverside Resort.

Day 14: Depart Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Your tour ends this morning. 

Day 1: Arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International airport, a company representative will pick you up from the airport and drive you to your hotel in Hanoi Central which will take almost an hour. You can spend the rest of the day in leisure. Overnight at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Lan Vien (ROH))

Day 2: Hanoi City tour

This full day tour takes us around Hanoi’s most interesting sights; including the Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and his Stilts House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam. Then we drive to peaceful West Lake with lovers street Thanh Nien, the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda and Quan Thanh Temple. In the afternoon, we visit one of the city’s museums, either the History Museum or the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Later we will tour the Old Quarter, also known as the 36 streets and guilds. Today we also tour Hoan Kiem Lake – the Lake of the Restored Sword and Ngoc Son Temple. We end today’s tour with a visit to the unique Water Puppet Show in Thang Long Theater.

Note: Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Mondays, Fridays and every afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Lan Vien (ROH))

Day 3: Hanoi to Halong Bay

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Cruise (Huong Hai Sealife (Suite))

After early breakfast we begin our four hours drive through the beautiful country side to Halong bay. We set out on our cruise from Bai Tu Long Bay area. During the cruise, we get to enjoy the beautiful islands, namely Tea pot, Mat Quy –Monster Face, Yen Ngua, Man’s Head, Tortoise and many others. Today we also have a bit of fun outside our ship and explore Hang Sung Sot, one of the largest and most famous cave in the entire Halong Bay. We continue cruising through limestone islands and stop at Ti Top Island where we can enjoy swimming or walking up to the summit and admiring a fantastic view of the Halong Bay. In the evening, you will attend the chef’s cooking demonstration and try your skills in the art of traditional Vietnamese cooking. Later you can relax or try squid fishing. Overnight on board.

Day 4: Halong Bay to Hanoi then fly to Saigon (Brunch)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Grand Luxury Wing)

There will be a Tai Chi session on the sundeck early in the morning. After breakfast we can enjoy the tranquil lagoon at Luon cave by a traditional rowing boat or by kayaking. Drive back to Ha Long city from where your driver will take you to the airport from where you will fly to Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

The itinerary above is operated by Huong Hai Sealife and thus may be altered depending on the weather without prior notice.

Day 5: Saigon: Chu Chi tunnels, city tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Grand Luxury Wing)

Today we visit the famous Chu Chi tunnels in the morning. This network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. Next, drive back to Saigon and visit several landmarks of the city which is by far Vietnam’s most modern city. Observe some of the best examples of French colonial architecture represented in the forms of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. We will also tour The Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until April 30, 1975 and The War Remnants Museum which has a wealth of images from the wars. End today’s tour with a visit to the bustling Ben Thanh Market, a fantastic place for bargains of every kind!

Day 6: Cruise Cai Be floating market then drive to Can Tho

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Victoria Can Tho (Superior))

After breakfast we drive through the Mekong Delta to the town of Cai Be which is well-known for its floating market. Next, enjoy a cruise along the waterways and canals labyrinth before stopping at the home of a Bonsai gardener for a sumptuous Delta lunch, including the popular meal of ‘Elephant ear fish’. We continue exploring the tributaries and canals of the delta throughout the afternoon before leaving for Can Tho city for a good night’s sleep.

Day 7: Can Tho to Cai Rang floating market, My Tho then drive back to Saigon

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Grand Luxury Wing)

After breakfast we take a boat to Jin In and explore the floating market of Cai Rang which is another exciting floating market in the Mekong Delta. Later, drive to My Tho where we visit Vinh Trang Pagoda which is one of the best-known temples in the region before returning to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 8: Fly to Siem Reap, tour Angkor Wat

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Tara Angkor Hotel (Superior))

After arriving at Siem Reap, Cambodia, we begin our tour of Cambodia’s 12th century capital of Angkor Thom. We begin by visiting South Gate which has huge statues depicting the churning of the ocean. Bayon Temple is known for its unique 54 towers decorated with over 200 smiling faces of Avolokitesvara. We also visit the Phimeanakas, the Royal Enclosure, the Elephants Terrace and the Terrace of the Leper King. In the afternoon, we visit the most famous of all the temples on the plain of Angkor, Angkor Wat. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Next, enjoy a wonderful sunset from the Phnom Bakheng Hills. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Day 9: Siem Reap: Angkor Complex

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel (Tara Angkor Hotel (Superior))

Today, we visit the 10th century temple of Banteay Srei Temple regarded as one of the crown jewels of classical Khmer Art. Then, we will continue our visit to Banteay Samre, which was built in the third quarter of the 12th century. In the afternoon, we will visit the unique interior brick sculptures of Prasat Kravan, then see Srah Srang (“The Royal Baths”) which was once used for ritual bathing. Then it’s off to Banteay Kdei (surrounded by 4 concentric walls), Ta Keo (constructed in the late 10th and early 11th century) and Ta Prohm (one of the area’s most beautiful temples). Overnight in Seam Reap.

Day 10: Boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake then fly to Bangkok,Thailand

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel (Centre Point Pratunam)

After breakfast, we will take a boat trip on Tonle Sap Lake to visit floating villages (complete with schools, restaurants, and hospitals), and then visit the school known as “Les Artisans d’Angkor.” We will then transfer to Siem Reap international airport for our flight to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 11: Bangkok: city sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel (Centre Point Pratunam)

Today we tour Bangkok’s most prominent landmarks beginning with Pak Klong Talad, a bustling around the clock market. Then we take a short Tuk Tuk ride to Saranrom Royal Garden where we can relax and learn about a variety of Thai plants. Next, visit the Royal Regalia Museum and admire beautiful jewelry, which used to be ornaments of the royal officers and consorts. Our next stop is the temple of The Emerald Buddha held by all Thais as the symbol of national independence. In the afternoon, we take a long-tailed boat along the Chao Phraya River and get acquainted with the local lifestyle. We pass through the Grand Palace and pay a brief visit to the Royal Barge Museum which houses ceremonial King’s Barges decorated with multi-color glasses, gilt and stuccos. Our boat ride ends at Wat Arun, the temple of Dawn. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 12: Final Departure

Meals: Breakfast

We have no activities planned for today. A representative of the company will transfer you to Suvarnabhumi Airport for your onward flight.