14-Day Essenctial Tour to Myanmar and Thailand: Travel in Smiles

Upon arrival, your guide and driver will greet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel. You will have the rest of the day to adjust to the jetlag or spend some leisure time wandering around your hotel.

Jump onto a train at Yangon Circular Railway for an overview of this city. This journey takes about 3 hours even though it's only for a distance of 45 kilometers. Being seated among different commuters on their way to schools, offices, and marketplaces will give you a better idea about the local people's daily lives and you will learn why Yangon is more laid-back compared with other capital cities in Southeast Asia.

A museum is the best place to learn about a city quickly so visit the National Museum of Myanmar to learn more about this city. U Thant House, the residence of the former UN Secretary-General U Thant, is a window for you to learn about his life and story.

If you want to witness how important the giant reclining Buddha is to local devotees, Chaukhtatgyi Paya is a must-see. The Shwedagon Pagoda is the holiest place for local devotees and is also the landmark of Yangon. This gilded pagoda is studded with nearly 5,000 diamonds and some gems. When the sun is setting, the pagoda glitters in the dusk. You are presented with a picturesque, sacred, and particularly soul-touching picture.

Before you go to the airport and leave for Mandalay, pay a visit to Aung San Suu Kyi's house. Under house arrest, she spent 15 years of her life at this house.

After a 35-minute flight, you will arrive in Mandalay. Your Mandalay tour starts with a visit to the Bagaya Monastery, which is home to many monks and novices, offering free education for local youths at the same time. Spend some time exploring the historical site of Sinkyone Fortress. Even though there aren't many buildings there now, you can still understand that it played an important role during the British conquest in the 19th century.

Hold your breath and be amazed by the sight of U Bein Bridge stretching its enchanting outline in the fading light of the day.

Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar. The Burmese deity and ethnic identity are fully expressed in this city.

You will start the day at the Mahamuni Buddha Temple. Local devotees get up early in the morning and go there regularly for a daily face washing ceremony (this starts at 4am), with offerings that include fresh towels, flowers, and food.

A special teak monastery named Shwe Inn Pin Monastery differs from others as more than 30 monks live there. You will learn about the monks' daily lives by chatting with one of them.

Exploring Kuthodaw Pagoda before lunchtime, you will learn why it deserves the reputation of being the world's largest book.

Learn the craft of making gold leaf at a factory and show your generosity by putting gold leaf on the largest Buddha image in Mahanyatmuni Pagoda, just like the locals.

Climb up Mandalay Hill for incredible views if you still feel energetic or go back to your hotel to catch up with some rest.

(Please note: The main chamber of the Mahamuni Buddha Temple is available for male visitors only. Female visitors can watch a live video in the front foyer.)

Say goodbye to Mandalay and land in Bagan on a morning flight. After checking in at your hotel, escape from the crowded city and head towards West Pwasaw Village for a Burmese cooking class.

Learn about recipes and ingredients (mainly fish products and raw vegetables) from your friendly and experienced chef, then head up to the kitchen and cook some Burmese cuisine. Afterward, treat your palate with some homemade delicacies. Knowing that some of the cost for the cooking class is donated to support schooling and housing in the community makes your cuisine even better.

The Shwezigon Pagoda, constructed in 1060, is the antecedent of a Burmese-style pagoda. It's also the most recognized shrine in Nyaung-U.

The stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bagan Archaeological Zone, is an ideal destination for every traveler. Adorned by the morning mist, hundreds and thousands of temples, stupas, and pagodas sprawl out solemnly and magnificently. Covering 25 square kilometers, you will visit typical sites, such as the Ananda Temple, Dhammayangyi Temple, the Mahabodhi Temple, and Dhammayangyi Temple.

Please note that an optional hot-air balloon flight is available: Take a 1-hour balloon flight over Bagan to get the best panoramic view of temples, stupas, and pagodas, which will undoubtedly become one of the most poetic and picturesque moments in your lifetime. Available reservation time: October to March, with a fixed schedule every morning. A sunset flight is available upon special request. This activity is in great demand so it's recommended to make a reservation 3 months in advance to secure your booking.

It takes about 40 minutes to get from Bagan to Heho (the airport town near Inle Lake) by flight. Inle Lake, situated at a higher altitude, greets you with its cool breeze.

Have lunch in a floating restaurant and start your journey. You may have questions about the floating houses and gardens, and how the local fishermen row their boats with one leg. As your boat cruises along the lush water and past the tranquil villages, you will learn about the ethnic cultures, traditions, and lifestyles from your knowledgeable guide. The locals collect weeds from the depths of the lake to fertilize vegetables and fruits in their farmlands. The lake is their homeland, which they build and develop from generation to generation.

Time spent at Inle Lake is never boring and a visit to a local market makes your journey even more delightful. Explore one of the village's local markets, which is held every 5 days. Busy with boats crossing the water, a bustling market, and exquisite handicrafts, you will have a better insight into how the locals trade and live.

Boating through narrow riverbanks and sneaking into a hidden path, the magnificent Indein Pagoda complex will burst into your view. Hundreds of small stupas spring out at the lakeshore and the moss-covered surfaces tell you about their historical story. There's no need to control your heartbeat from getting such a pleasant surprise; just enjoy it and commit this charming sight to memory.

It's hard to end this unforgettable Myanmar journey but exotic Bangkok awaits you. A private transfer from the airport to your hotel is provided. Settle into your hotel and relax.

Bangkok is not only the capital of Thailand but also a bustling, exotic city for travelers.

Traffic jams can't be avoided if you don't pick the right time to go out. Your local guide will transfer you to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market early in the morning to catch the best time to visit (8–10am) to avoid the tourist crowds. Take a long-tail boat down to the floating market — paddling along the canal among lots of boats, the picture-postcard images you've seen before become a reality.

After spending 1 to 2 hours at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, you will return to Bangkok to visit three highlights: the spectacular Grand Palace, the impressive Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and the famous Jim Thompson House.

There are no activities in the morning so you can get up late or wander around your hotel before taking an afternoon flight to Phuket.

It's time to switch into vacation mode after landing in Phuket.

Sunshine, beaches, and cool water — enjoy your vacation as you wish.

Fly to Bangkok to catch your onward flight back home. Global Highlights is more than happy to be part of your unforgettable 14-day Myanmar and Thailand tour, and we hope to help you again soon.