Crossing the Shan Hills from Burma to Thailand

Day 1 Depart the UK

Today depart the UK on the non-stop Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. (N)

Day 2 Bangkok to Yangon – by air

Arrive into Bangkok and connect directly onto Yangon where you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. In the afternoon travel into the city with your guide for a brief walk through the colonial centre and welcome cup of tea from one of the many street cafes. (N)

Accommodation in Yangon: Savoy Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Belmond Governor’s Residence Hotel

Day 3 Yangon

Today tour Myanmar’s largest city where you can visit the wonderful Kandawgyi Lake, the colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatgyi and the interesting National Museum. The magical Shwedagon Pagoda is a 2,500 year old temple, is one of the most sacred of all Buddhist sites in Myanmar. Covered in over 60 tonnes of gold leaf, it is one of the city’s most well-known landmarks and it was described by Kipling as ‘a golden mystery’. (B)

Accommodation in Yangon: Savoy Hotel (or similar)

Upgrade option: Belmond Governor’s Residence Hotel

Day 4 Yangon to Bagan – by air

This morning leave Yangon and fly to the ancient city of Bagan where you will be met and taken to your hotel for a three night stay. Bagan is one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia and a highlight of any visit to the country. Thousands of temples and pagodas dot the vast flood plain of the Irrawaddy River and, at sunset, end the day with a marvellous panoramic view of these ancient houses of religion. (B)

Accommodation in Bagan: Bagan Thande Hotel

Upgrade option: Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Hotel

Day 5 Bagan

After an early morning breakfast depart for a full day of sightseeing with your guide in and around the ancient city of Bagan. Visit one of the finest, largest, best-preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples the magnificent Ananda Pahto, Thatbyinnyu Pahto which rises 61m and was built in the mid-12th century and the last remaining Hindu temple, Nathlaung Kyaung. If visiting between October and April, see the sky come alive with hundreds of hot air balloons, floating in the sunset. (B)
Accommodation in Bagan: Bagan Thande Hotel

Upgrade option: Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Hotel

Day 6 Bagan – visit Mount Popa – 56kms (one way)

Leaving Bagan, travel inland from the Irrawaddy River for a full day visit to fascinating Mount Popa. This scenic drive through the rural heartland of central Burma provides a wonderful opportunity to see, and visit, some of the small villages that line the route. Mount Popa itself said to have risen from the earth in a volcanic eruption dated to 442BC and today is believed to be home to spirit Gods or ‘Nats’ and many pilgrims come here to perform ceremonies at the numerous shrines. Later in the afternoon return to your hotel in Bagan. (B/L)

Accommodation in Bagan: Bagan Thande Hotel

Upgrade option: Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Hotel

Day 7 Bagan to Mandalay – by air

This morning you will be transferred to Bagan Airport in good time to catch your onward flight to Mandalay. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay. In the afternoon visit Mahamuni Paya which houses the highly venerated Mahamuni Buddha image and then the Shewenandaw Kyaung before climbing Mandalay Hill to enjoy the sunset. (B)

Accommodation in Mandalay: Hotel by the Red Canal (or similar)

Upgrade option: Mandalay Hill Resort

Day 8 Mandalay – visit Amarapura and Inwa

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the 18th century capital of Amarapura. Here you will explore various pagodas such as Pahtodawgyi Paya and Kyauktawgyi Paya which still remain as do a number of palace ruins and U Bein’s Bridge. Later continue your journey to the ancient city of Inwa, which was the capital of Northern Myanmar and subsequently the Burmese Kingdom from the 14th century to the 18th century. Discover the dramatic Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery where the crypt is a haven to bats. Return to Mandalay in the afternoon. (B)
Accommodation in Mandalay: Hotel by the Red Canal (or similar)

Upgrade option: Mandalay Hill Resort

Day 9 Mandalay to Keng Tung – by air

Today return to Mandalay Airport in good time to catch your onward flight to Keng Tung where you will stay for two nights. On your arrival visit Naung Tong Lake and the giant standing Buddha image set on the site where Keng Tung was founded one thousand years ago. (B)

Accommodation in Keng Tung: Princess Hotel (or similar)

Day 10 Keng Tung

This morning leave Keng Tung and visit some of the surrounding minority villages for which this region is famous. Places of interest today include the village of Pin Tauk which is home to the colourful Akha, Lahu and Ann communities as well as Palaung where the local women still wear traditional dress and decorative silver rings. (B)

Accommodation in Keng Tung: Princess Hotel (or similar)

Day 11 Keng Tung to Sop Ruak via Tachilek

After breakfast leave Keng Tung and travel through the beautiful Shan Hills to the town of Tachilek on the Burma-Thai border. Cross into Thailand and continue by road to Sop Ruak, the heart of the ‘Golden Triangle’, where you will stay for the next three nights. (B/L)

Accommodation in Sop Ruak: Anantara Golden Triangle Resort

Upgrade option: Four Seasons Tented Camp

Days 12 – 13 Sop Ruak

Over the next two day explore the ‘Golden Triangle’, a location surrounded by the borders of Burma, Thailand and Laos at the intersection of the Mekong and Ruak Rivers. Visits will be made to rural Hmong hill tribe villages and there is also an opportunity to travel by long tail boat from Chiang Khong to visit the ancient town of Chiang Sean. (B/L).

Accommodation in Sop Ruak: Anantara Golden Triangle Resort

Upgrade option: Four Seasons Tented Camp

Day 14 Sop Ruak to Chiang Mai

Today leave Sop Ruak for the beautiful drive south to Chiang Mai where you will stay for the next two nights. Situated in a high valley at the foot of the Doi Suthep Mountain, charming and relaxed Chiang Mai is the country’s second city and the cultural hub of northern Thailand. (B)

Accommodation in Chiang Mai: Tamarind Village (or similar)

Upgrade option: Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Alternative upgrade option: Dhara Dhevi Resort

Day 15 Chiang Mai

After breakfast explore Chiang Mai with your guide starting at Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple within the city walls and Wat Phra Singh, the largest in the town. From here continue to Doi Suthep Mountain and climb the 300 steps to the summit spending time to explore Wat Phrathat and enjoy the spectacular views. (B)

Accommodation in Chiang Mai: Tamarind Village (or similar)

Upgrade option: Four Seasons Chiang Mai

Alternative upgrade option: Dhara Dhevi Resort

Day 16 Chiang Mai to Bangkok – by air

Today transfer to Chiang Mai Airport in good time to catch your onward flight to Bangkok. On your arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you will stay for the next two nights. Bustling, eccentric, intriguing and unforgettable, Bangkok is the gateway to Southeast Asia and a cosmopolitan melting pot of cultures and customs. With fabulous markets and wonderful historic sites, Bangkok is a colourful, intriguing and friendly city. (B)

Accommodation in Bangkok: Ariyasom Villa (or similar)

Alternative option: The Sukhothai

Upgrade option: Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Day 17 Bangkok

This morning explore Bangkok. Although a very modern city, Bangkok retains vestiges of a more traditional way of life and no better place is this seen than on the Chao Phraya River and its small adjoining canals. Travelling by boat, pass through floating markets and stilted homes as daily life continues around you. Also visit the beautiful Grand Palace, and the superb Temple of the Golden Buddha, as well as Wat Phra Kaeo and the Reclining Buddha at Wat Po. (B)

Accommodation in Bangkok: Ariyasom Villa (or similar)

Alternative option: The Sukhothai

Upgrade option: Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Day 18 Bangkok to the UK

This morning you will be met and transferred back to Bangkok Airport in good time to catch your onward Thai Airways flight to the UK. (B)

Crossing the Shan Hills from Burma to Thailand

18 days from £5390 per person

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Itinerary: Crossing the Shan Hills from Burma to Thailand

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