Meet & Greet: On arrival at Bangkok airport, you will be welcomed to Thailand by your guide and then transferred to your hotel to check in and relax for the rest of the morning.

Afternoon guided tour of the Grand Palace & Wat Pho: This afternoon, set out to explore a couple of Bangkok's most important sights. Start at Wat Traimit with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5.5 tons of solid gold) and Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok and home to a colossal Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings. Afterwards, you will visit the Grand Palace which is one of the most beautiful examples of ancient Siamese architecture and has been the residence of the Kings of Thailand for over two centuries. Here, you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple. Return to your hotel as the sun starts to set and from where you will get great views of Wat Arun just over the river.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Riva Arun Studio) 

Morning guided tour of the Flower Market, the Klongs, the Royal Barges & Wat Arun: This morning, meet your guide and set out to visit the colourful flower markets. Afterwards, board a long-tailed boat to Thonburi, in the west of Bangkok, situated on the right side of the Chao Phraya River. Its many canals had originally given Bangkok the name "Venice of the East." Passing along the canals in the boat gives you a first-hand impression of the scenic life along Bangkok‘s waterways. Later, visit the Royal Barge Museum, where you can see eight of the country's most unique and stunning vessels: the Royal Barges. These boats are reserved for auspicious ceremonies and state occasions like the very rare Royal Barge Procession, and have only made an appearance on the water 16 times in the last 65 years. Your final stop of the morning is Wat Arun, locally known as Wat Chaeng, and situated on the west (Thonburi) bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is easily one of the most stunning temples in Bangkok and is spectacularly lit up at night time.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon, you have time for independent exploration of the Thai capital.

Accomodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Riva Arun Studio)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: This morning, you will be transferred to the jetty, where you will board the Mekhala cruise boat for your river journey to Ayutthaya.

Mekhala River Cruise: Your excursion starts as the boat casts off around 1.30pm from Sathon Pier, and heads up the Chao Phraya River, passing the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of Dawn. Along the way, you'll be able to observe the way of rural life along the river. Arriving at Pathum Thani in the afternoon, you will visit a fresh market where local people shop for food, fresh produce and a variety of Thai sweets. At sunset, the Mekhala will dock at Wat Kai Tia, a Buddhist temple located in a tranquil rural village. An exquisite candlelit dinner of mouth-watering Thai delicacies will be served on the deck. Afterwards, you will spend the night on board the boat, in your air-conditioned cabin.

Please note that the following cruise itinerary is subject to alteration dependent on sailing conditions.

Accommodation: Stay tonight onboard the Mekhala (Standard Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Mekhala River Cruise: Start the day by cruising to the small village of Baan Saladang, an aged-old Mon community that migrated from Burma to this area in the early 19th century. The villagers here have successfully maintained their traditional life style, customs and natural surroundings. You will also see a collection of well-preserved typical Thai houses in this charming village. Afterwards, you be served a delicious breakfast on board and later in the morning, you will disembark at Bang Pa-In pier for a tour of the nearby summer palace of the Chakri dynasty, Bang Pa-In. The original Bang Pa-In was built by King Prasat Thong on the island and was used as a country residence for the later kings of the Ayuttaya period.

Private transfer: After the visit to Bang Pa-In, you will meet up with your guide and continue to Ayutthaya by road to check into your hotel.

Guided tour of Ayutthaya: After checking in, you will set out to explore Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand, to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will see the 3 ancient pagodas at Wat Si Sanphet and Wat Prananchoeng. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. After lunch, continue your exploration with a visit to the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpitr and then drive over the river to visit Wat Chaiwatthanaram located by the Chao Phraya River. This temple was based on the temples at Angkor. A royal monastery, the temple's unique feature, is a huge prang which is surrounded by smaller prangs. After the sightseeing, return to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sala Ayutthaya (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai: After breakfast, set out on the 4 hour drive to Sukhothai in central Thailand. A stop will be made at Lopburi, where you can see the famous Monkey Temple before carrying on to Sukhothai. On arrival, you will check into your hotel.

Afternoon guided tour of Sukhothai: This afternoon, visit Sukhothai Historical Park and the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379). Sukhothai was the first truly independent Thai Kingdom which enjoyed a golden age under King Ramkhamhaeng, who is credited with creating the Thai alphabet. At the historical park, visit important ruins of the Royal Palace and Buddhist temples including Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai's largest temple with a main Chedi in lotus-bud shape and a ruined viharn, Wat Sra Sri, where a large viharn contains a stucco Buddha image and Wat Sri Chum, which is located north of Wat Mahathat and was originally surrounded by a moat.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Sukhothai Heritage Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Sukhothai to Mae Sot: After breakfast, set out on the 3 hour drive to the Thailand / Myanmar border passing mountain ranges and small local communities along the way. Ultimately, you will reach the border town of Mae Sot - famous as a local trade hub and a sanctuary for many Burmese refugees. On arrival, you will check into your hotel.

Afternoon guided tour of Mae Sot: This afternoon, you will have time to explore the border town of Mae Sot. Start with a visit to the lively local market and witness traditional trading along the Moei River. Afterwards, visit Wat Thai Wattanaram with its giant 45 metre reclining Buddha statue. The temple was originally known as Wat Thai Yai as the construction of the temple was greatly influenced by Burmese culture and Mahayana Buddhism. Being a border town you can expect to see a fascinating mixture of people ranging from Burmese men, Hmong & Karen women, bearded Muslims, Thai army rangers and foreign NGO workers as you look around.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Centara Mae Sot Hill Resort (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Mae Sot to Mawlamyine: After breakfast, you will transfer to the border and, following completion of the immigration formalities, you will bid your Thai guide farewell and cross into Myanmar to meet up with your Burmese guide who will welcome you to the country. Afterwards, drive to Mawlamyine which will take around 4 hours, and on arrival, check into your hotel.

Afternoon guided tour of Mawlamyine: This afternoon, set out to explore Mawlamyine. You will take a trishaw ride through this once thriving port city and colonial post. The sightseeing includes a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda - one of the major temples in Myanmar, Seindon Mibaya Kyaung - where King Mindon's queen sought refuge, the first Baptist church and Zyegyi Market. Later, find a view point to watch the sun start to set over the town and the river.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mawlamyaing Strand Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Bilu Island: After breakfast, set out to explore the region in more depth. Due to a new bridge you can now drive the short journey to Bilu Island which sits across the river from Mawlamyine. Here, a true Myanmar experience far away from modern civilization awaits you. On arrival, you will discover the serene scenery of paddy fields and quaint villages. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route. Visit small wood workshops, where typical Myanmar walking sticks, pipes, pens and even rubber bands are produced. Return to Mawlamyine late afternoon, to enjoy the sunset from Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, which is also known as the Kipling Pagoda due to the gleaming spire that was eulogized by Rudyard Kipling. Later, return to your hotel to relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mawlamyaing Strand Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road and shared boat journey to Hpa An: After an early breakfast, transfer to a nearby jetty to board the Hte-La-Y. The boat will depart from Mawlamyine at 07.00 and you will set off, with your fellow passengers, up the Thanlwin River bound for the charming town of Hpa An. The journey will take around 4 hours and you will see some beautiful karst scenery, and witness rustic riverside village life, along the way.

Private transfer: On arrival at the jetty in Hpa An, you will meet up with your driver and you will be transferred to your hotel to check in.

Afternoon at leisure: This afternoon, you have some time to relax at the hotel or undertake local exploration by bike.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Keinnara Hpa-An (Kayin Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast

Guided tour of Hpa An: Today, set off to visit Sadan Cave, a naturally formed cave that takes 15-20 minutes' to walk through, along a long dark tunnel (with lights). On the other side of the cave, you will find beautiful countryside and a small lake, on which you can enjoy a short canoe ride, passing under a stone cave and past paddy fields. After reuniting with your driver, visit the local market in downtown Hpa An and the Cultural Museum of the Karen (closed on Mondays and public holidays). Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant and afterwards, you will visit Shweyinhmyaw Pagoda, which is located at the banks of the Thalwin River. Towards the end of the afternoon, you will make a stop at Kyauk Ka-Lat, an unusal pagoda, which is built on layers of natural karst rock formations. Surrounded by a lake, the scenery guarantees a great photo opportunity. After your day exploring, you can watch the sunset here before returning to your hotel for an evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Keinnara Hpa-An (Kayin Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Hpa An to ‘base camp' at the Golden Rock: This morning, set out on the drive to Kin Pun 'base camp' which is actually a small town situated at the base of Mount Kyaiktiyo, from where you reach the Golden Rock. The drive will take around 3 hours. On arrival in Kin Pun, you will transfer to the bus station, where you board a purpose built truck for your ascent to the Golden Rock.

Please note: The trucks used for the journey up to the Golden Rock are open top and offer bench seating. The trucks will only depart from base camp once they are full. You may therefore find you have to wait a while, whilst the truck fills up with pilgrims and other travellers.

Guided tour of the Golden Rock: From Kin Pun ‘base camp', you will visit one of Myanmar's landmarks, Kyaiktiyo, which is famous for its precarious position and religious importance. The 'Golden Rock' is a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. To reach the pagoda from Kin Pun, you will join local pilgrims, and other tourists, in one of the open trucks with bench seating that have a monopoly on the route. Please note the trucks will not depart until they are completely full, so there may be a pause before you set off, and the 6 mile journey (45 minutes) on a steep and twisting road may be a little uncomfortable. Once at the top of the mountain, you will disembark from the truck and then walk for around 5 minutes until you reach your hotel. Local porters will be on hand to carry any luggage you may have with you, but you will need to negotiate a small fee for their services. Having checked in, you will then walk 500m to the pagoda complex, where you can get amazing views of the famous rock and the surrounding countryside. A visit to the Golden Rock is a must for all devout Buddhists, so you can expect to be surrounded by a colourful mix of pilgrims, monks and nuns. Watch the rock change colour as the sun sets and then return to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Mountain Top Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Sunrise on the Golden Rock: Should you wish to this morning, rise early to witness the stunning sunrise over the Golden Rock. This will require an early, pre-breakfast start and is optional!

Road journey from the Golden Rock to Yangon: After breakfast, you will return by road back to Yangon, a journey of around 5 hours. There will be a stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Bago. Closer to Yangon, there is an opportunity to visit the Taukkyan War Cemetery which is the largest of the 3 allied war cemeteries in Burma. The cemetery was founded in 1951 as a final resting place for service personnel previously buried in four battlefield cemeteries at Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktil and Sahmaw - which were difficult to access and maintain. The last was an original ‘Chindit' cemetery, containing many of those who died in the battle for Myitkyina.

Guided visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda: Late afternoon, start your sightseeing in Yangon with an extended visit to one of the world's most spectacular monuments - the Shwedagon Pagoda. This famous pagoda is 99m high, covered in gold leaf and shimmers in the sunlight. Lying as it does to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, the Shwedagon has until now dominated the skyline of Yangon. A visit late in the day is a perfect time to see this impressive temple as the temperature drops and locals gather to worship, pay their respects and create a wonderfully spiritual atmosphere.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon (Deluxe Room City View)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided tour of Yangon: This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Yangon's Central Station for a train journey on the circular ‘commuter' train line (about 40 minutes; please take note that the trains are very basic, often crowded and their schedule not reliable). You will get off at Hledan Station and immerse yourself in this lively local Myanmar neighbourhood, where today's more modern lifestyle mixes with old traditions. Visit the colourful Hledan Market and join the locals in a tea shop where they discuss important issues of the day. Continue on to Yangon University and drive through Thaton Road, from where you will see the University Tennis Court, the football ground, the swimming pool, the Institute of Medicine 1, Institute of Education, and other sites around this once world-renowned academy. Later, lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. This afternoon, your journey continues with an afternoon tour through Yangon's colonial style city centre. Start on Pansodan Street which is famous for some of Yangon's most impressive colonial buildings. Continue to Pansodan jetty to observe the frenetic daily life on the Yangon River, and on to Sule Pagoda which dates back some 2,000 years. You will then have a chance to visit the magnificent reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi, followed by a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a 'hamsa bird shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. After the sightseeing, return to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon (Deluxe Room City View)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Yangon to Ngwe Saung: This morning, you will be transferred through the Irrawaddy Delta to the beach resort of Ngwe Saung. This is a journey of approximately 5 hours and rest stops will be made along the way. There is also an opportunity to stop and look around the town of Pathein on the way (please discuss with your driver). On arrival in Ngwe Saung, you will be taken to your resort to check-in and relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Myanmar Treasure Beach Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure in Ngwe Saung: You have free days to relax at your hotel on the beach, or to explore more of the local area independently. Excursions can be arranged at the hotel or from the village.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Myanmar Treasure Beach Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey from Ngwe Saung to Yangon: At the appropriate time today, you will be collected from the hotel by a driver and you will be driven back to Yangon, this is a total journey time of approximately 5 hours. On arrival in Yangon, you will transfer to the airport in time to check in for your onward flight.

Flight: TG306 Yangon - Bangkok 19.40 - 21.35

Meals: Breakfast