DAY 1: ARRIVAL YANGON
Early morning transfer to Bangkok airport for flight to Yangon. Arrival and transport to the hotel for accommodation. Sightseeing in Myanmar’s capital. Among the sites you will visit are the famous Shwedagon and Botataung pagodas, Maha Bandoola Park and Nanthida Jetty to witness the daily life of the local people.
Meal: Welcome dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
DAY 2: YANGON - HEHO - INLE LAKE
Morning flight to Heho. Upon arrival, a scenic route to Nyaung Shwe Jetty by traveling the uphill and winding road over the Shan Plateau. Enjoy a boat ride on Inle Lake with the famous leg-rowers for the whole day. Visit the floating gardens, Phaungdawoo Pagoda, Ngaphaechaung Monastery (Jumping Cats'), blacksmith, silk and cotton weaving factories.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
DAY 3: INLE LAKE - INDEIN PAGODAS - INLE LAKE
Visit to Indein Pagoda and village, located at the western side of the lake. Climb up to the impressive Shwe Indein Pa-O complex from where you have great view over the lake area. On the way back we can visit Myaynigone village and Lotus fiber weaving factory (Ann's).
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake
DAY 4: INLE LAKE - FLY TO KAYAING TONG
Taking a short flight to today. Upon arrival Kyaing Tong airport, you will be transferred to your hotel. (the flight may not operate daily, please check with our consultant)
Enjoy a first glimpse of Kyaing Tong with a visit to Wan Pauk Village which is home to 250 Palaung minorities in their colorful traditional dresses with ornamental silver waist-bands. The Palaung tribe at this village are known as “Silver” Palaungs.
Your tor guide will introduce you the tradition of teeth blackened by chewing betel nuts a beauty characteristic and learn their livelihood that depends on growing paddy and other crops, raising cattle, pigs and chicken, weaving clothes and making different ornaments with silver. Then back to the town to end the day with a visit Maha Myat Muni pagoda or “Wat Pha Jao Lung in Shan” language.
Meal: not available
Accommodation: guest house/basic hotel
Trekking: 1 hour
DAY 5: KAYING TONG TREKKING
After breakfast, we experience the highlights Water Buffalo Market which takes place in the outskirts of the town twice a week.
A scenic drive for 45 minutes to the trekking point will be followed by a trail that leas to “Ho Kyin” villages, a group of typical Akha tribe villages from here we continue for another 30 minutes to Na Phi Phank village, home to Lahu and Akha tribe. Then proceed to more Akha villages namely, Phata village and Pang Ma Phai village to learn more about their daily life. Your driver will await to transfer you to Mong Zine (Khun Village) to see how they make traditional Lahu Knives Along the way back to hotel, visit en route Joe Phyu village of the Wa tribes. See sundown workers return from the fields.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: guest house/basic hotel
Trekking: 4-5 hours
DAY 6: KAYING TONG TREKKING
Breakfast at your hotel before taking a road trip to Pindauk Village where we start our light trekking. Start climbing to the habitat of Akha and Enn tribe, passing monsoon forest overlooking the valley covered with terraced rice fields looking like a huge, green patchwork blanket. Visit the villages of Enn and Akha minorities and learn more about the beliefs, customs and traditions of the hill tribes – some baptized and some still animists. Enjoy picnic lunch at the Pin Tauk Waterfall before keeping your leg to the villages of the Palaung, Black Lahu and Red Lahu. Return to Kyaing Tong.
This afternoon, embark an excursion to U Mulein Da’s Tai Khun Shan lacquare workshop producing handicraft of high-quality, distinct from the lacquareware made in Bagan and Inle. Then continue to visit Standing Buddha image. Enjoy panoramic view of the city at sunset from the One tree Hill to see a lone, 245 years old Kanyin-byu (Diptero carpus Spp) tree, before calling it a day.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: guest house/basic hotel
Trekking: 6-7 hour s
DAY 7: KENG TUNG - ACROSS MYANMAR BORDER IN NORTH
After breakfast, make a morning visit to the Central Market of Keng Tung, where many hill tribe villagers, each in their colorful costumes, gather to trade fresh produce and household goods. Check out from hotel and you will cross the border between Thailand and Laos
From there, pick up and transfer to hotel in Chiang Khong. Check in at the hotel and free time.
DAY 8: CHIANG KHONG - HOUISAY - PAKBENG
Today, we will cross the border between Thailand and Laos. Transfer to the pier for taking local long tail boat downstream on the Mekong river to Luang Prabang via Pakbeng, a small village between Houeisay and Luang Prabang. On the way, stops are made to observe rural life along the Mekong, and to explore minorities. Arrive in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in for the night.
DAY 9: PAKBENG - LUANG PRABANG
Continue for a second leg to LuangPrabang. On the way stop to visit Pak Ou cave in the side of a lime stone cliff. Arrive in LuangPrabang in late afternoon, and transfer to our hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in LuangPrabang
DAY 10: LUANG PRABANG
An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (ubiquitous sticky rice) from the faithful residents. Back to the hotel for breakfast, we then take a sightseeing tour including visit to the National Museum, the former Royal Palace, WatVisoun Temple, etc.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in LuangPrabang
DAY 11: LUANG PRABANG DEPARTURE
Free at your own leisure until our driver picks you up for your flight back home.
Leave Laos with our souvenir! End of your services
Meal: Breakfast