TYPOLOGIES

Culture Tour

DIFFICULTY

MIN. AGE

Tour Overview:

This extraordinary journey takes you from the mighty Mekong to the golden plains of the Irrawaddy, exploring the two greatest temple complexes on earth: Angkor Wat and Bagan. Begin in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's bustling capital, where royal palaces and tragic history sit side by side. Continue to Siem Reap, gateway to the ancient Khmer Empire, where stone faces watch from jungle-covered temples. Then cross into Myanmar (Burma) to discover Mandalay's royal heritage, the thousands of pagodas rising from the Bagan plain, the tranquil floating gardens of Inle Lake, and finally the golden magnificence of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. This is a journey through the heart of Southeast Asian spirituality, history, and artistry.

Itinerary in brief :

DAY DESTINATION MEAL CITIES
Day 1 Welcome to Cambodia Phnom Penh
Day 2 Phnom Penh – Royal Grandeur & Tragic History B Phnom Penh
Day 3 Phnom Penh – Siem Reap B/D Siem Reap
Day 4 Preah Khan & Banteay Srei B Siem Reap
Day 5 Angkor Highlight B Siem Reap
Day 6 Goodbye Cambodia and Hello Myanmar B Mandalay
Day 7 Highlight of Mandalay B Mandalay
Day 8 Mandalay – Bagan B Bagan
Day 9 Bagan sightseeing by car B Bagan
Day 10 Bagan sightseeing by e-bike B Bagan
Day 11 Bagan – Heho – InLe Lake B InLe Lake
Day 12 Inle Lake Sightseeing by boat B InLe Lake
Day 13 InLe Lake – Yangon B Yangon
Day 14 Highlight of Yangon B Yangon
Day 15 Goodbye Southeast Asia B Yangon

* B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Itinerary in details:

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh Int’s Airport, process immigration procedure (visa on arrival is available or obtain in advance via www.evisa.gov.kh), Cambodia E-Arrival Card - https://arrival.gov.kh, clients can apply online or on arrival), then get your luggage and walk straight to the Exit Gate where our driver (no guide) is waiting. After self-introduced, you’ll transfer to hotel in the city (check in time is 2pm). Time to fresh-up and relax at hotel.

 

Phnom Penh, the vibrant capital of Cambodia, lies at the confluence of the mighty Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers. Once a central hub for both the Khmer Empire and French colonial rulers, the city preserves a layered history. Its pedestrian-friendly riverfront, dotted with green parks, cafés, and lively bars, is home to several landmark sites, including the ornate Royal Palace, the sacred Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, which houses ancient Khmer artifacts from across the nation. Dominating the city center is the strikingly grand, art deco Central Market – a bustling icon of Phnom Penh’s enduring spirit.

 

Recommend activities: Walking or use Tuk Tuk to Night market and enjoy local exotic food.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Morning: Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda & National Museum

Your day begins at the Royal Palace, the official residence of King Norodom Sihamoni. Built in 1866, the palace complex is a stunning example of Khmer architecture, with golden spires and ornate roofs. Your guide will lead you through the Throne Hall, used for royal ceremonies, and the Moonlight Pavilion, a graceful open-air building where classical dance performances are held.

The highlight is the Silver Pagoda (Wat Preah Keo), so named for its floor covered with over 5,000 silver tiles weighing one kilogram each. Inside, you will see the Emerald Buddha of Cambodia (a Baccarat crystal Buddha) and a life-sized gold Buddha weighing 90 kilograms, adorned with 2,086 diamonds.

National Museum: Immerse yourself in Cambodian history and art at the National Museum. Explore fascinating exhibits showcasing artifacts from the Angkor era and other periods, providing insights into the rich cultural heritage of Cambodia.

Next, we head to visit Wat Phnom: Ascend the scenic Phnom Penh Hill, where Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple with a long history, sits atop. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and experience the tranquillity of the temple grounds.

Lunch: A Cambodian lunch at a local restaurant, where your guide can recommend regional specialties.

Afternoon: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

This former high school was converted into a prison and torture center by the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979). Over 17,000 prisoners passed through S-21; only seven survived. Your guide will lead you through the classrooms-turned-cells, the photographs of victims lining the walls, and the iron bed frames still in place. It is a harrowing but essential stop for understanding modern Cambodian history. The Khmer Rouge's radical communist revolution led to the deaths of nearly two million Cambodians through execution, forced labor, and starvation.

Afternoon: The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek

Located 15 kilometers outside Phnom Penh, Choeung Ek is one of hundreds of "killing fields" where the Khmer Rouge executed and buried victims. The centerpiece is the Memorial Stupa, a glass-walled monument filled with over 8,000 human skulls sorted by age and gender. A path leads you past mass graves, and the audio tour (by former S-21 survivor Vann Nath) plays as you walk. The site is peaceful today, but the weight of history is palpable.

Evening: Return to your hotel to freshen up. Consider a quiet dinner to process the day's emotions, or enjoy a sunset cruise on the Mekong River.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Transfer to Phnom Penh airport for flight to Siem Reap. Upon arrival at Siem Reap airport, meet your local guide and transfer to city.

We depart to Tonle Sap Lake. We will visit the floating village of Kampong Phluk, which means "Port of Tusks", located 20 km east of Siem Reap. It is a village built on stilts on the Tonlé Sap. The community largely depends on fishing for a living, spending Cambodia's rainy season (June-October) fishing. During the dry season (November-April), when the waters of the lake go down, many of them work in agriculture to supplement their income. The excursion will take you to explore the floating village and allow you to see how people live and trade.

You will go to local pagoda, where you should change to clothes you can get wet in as here you will experience the ceremony “SrouchTeok”, which roughly translates into “Water blessing”. A monk will chant in ancient Pali as he splashes water over you, washing away your sins and bad luck so you can start fresh and by being a good person can increase your good luck.

 

Dinner with Apsara Dance show at local restaurant. For those travelers thirsting for cultural highlights of Cambodia, No visit to Cambodia is complete without attending at least one traditional Khmer dance performance, often referred to as 'Apsara Dance' after one of the most popular Classical dance pieces. Traditional Khmer dance better described as 'dance-drama' in that the dances are not merely dance but also meant to convey a story or message.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Drive to the rural outskirt 35km from Angkor area to visit the smallest, but magnificent, Banteay Srei built in the 10th Century and dedicated to Shiva. The temple was the birthplace of Khmer classical style architecture and the bas-relief work is the best example of Khmer classical art remaining. The pink sandstone structure bears a series of striking and beautiful sculptures, lintels, pediments and friezes. Khmers say the temple must have been carved by women for the details are too fine for the hands of a man.

We will visit the Landmine Museum where Mr. Aki Ra, a child soldier in the Khmer Rouge, has dedicated his life to helping those in need. Having spent most of his childhood fighting for the Khmer Rouge, Mr. Aki Ra was trained by the United Nations to detonate land mines; His fantastic work earned him a nomination for CNN Hero of the Year in 2010. They will stop at a local village to visit the families that are producing palm sugar.

We stop at Pradark Village, where you will see the villagers making palm sugar, handicraft for selling to tourist. It’s a nice chance for you to see the local people living at the country side with their struggling for daily life.

We depart to Preah Khan Temple. It is located northeast of Angkor Thom and just west of the Jayatataka baray, with which it was associated. It was the center of a substantial organization, with almost 100,000 officials and servants. Next is Neak Poan, “the entwined snakes” is a small temple located on an island in the center of the now dry Jayatataka baray, a water reservoir 3,500-meter-long and 900 meter wide.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

We start very early in the morning so we can capture the iconic picture of the pre-dawn facing Angkor Wat temple. Sunrise at Angkor Wat can be a busy venue especially during the months of December, January, February and March.

 

After sunrise, we will explore the vast and rich of Angkor Wat temple, taking pictures at different angles, playing with light and shadows and capturing the most beautiful devatas carved in sandstone.

 

Next destination will be the Ta Prohm "Tomb Raider" fame. Ta Prohm has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy.

 

Next, will be the impressive Bayon temple with its 54 towers and 216 faces overlooking the defunct city of Angkor Thom. The final stop will be at one of gate of Angkor Thom to capture sunset over the moat.

 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time at your leisure before your driver escorts you to the airport for your flight to Mandalay.

Upon arrival at Mandalay Airport. You will be met by our guide and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Overnight in Mandalay.

After breakfast at the hotel, start Mandalay sightseeing which includes most of the city’s outstanding historical and cultural sites such as:

  • MAHAMUNI PAGODA, famous for its life like Buddha image
  • MARBLE SCULPTURE
  • GOLD LEAF MAKING CENTRE
  • KU-THO-DAW PAGODA, known as the world’s biggest book.
  • SHWE-NANDAW MONASTERY (GOLDEN MONASTERY), famous for its wood carving
  • KYAUK-TAW-GYI PAGODA, a huge image of Buddha carved out of a single marble boulder.
  • In the evening, enjoy breath-taking and panoramic view of almost the whole city from Mandalay Hill

Overnight in Mandalay.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Bagan. On the way to Bagan, there will be the most fascinating visit for you which is the time watching the monks during worship time and enjoying their lunch at MAHA-GANDAR-YONE MONASTERY. Then enjoy U BEIN BRIDGE – built of teak logs and planks over 200 years ago by the Mayor U Bein.

Then drive to Bagan (3.5hour). On arrival to Bagan, transfer to your hotel.

The balance of the day will be leisure.

Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast at the hotel, start Bagan sightseeing. This sightseeing offers a close observation to the daily life of Myanmar people at a market and the rich architecture at the most famous pagodas in Bagan. At first, Bagan sightseeing starts with busy NYAUNG-U MARKET which is a local market in the village of NyaungOo to the northeast of Bagan. The NyaungOo Market provides great photo opportunity, and the chance for tourists to mingle with the local Myanmar people and watch how they conduct their daily lives. Then enjoy the rest of your time dedicated to discovering Bagan temples.

The main highlights are:

  • SHWE-ZIGON PAGODA, the prototype of later Myanmar stapes
  • KYAN-SIT-THA U-MIN, a tunnel with attractive mural paintings
  • ANANDA TEMPLE, the architectural masterpiece of a millennium
  • THAT-BYIN-NYU TEMPLE, the tallest in Bagan
  • DHAMMA-YANGYI TEMPLE, famous for its fine brick works
  • LACQUARE WORKSHOP
  • In the evening, enjoy breath-taking view of Bagan from SHWE-SAN-DAW PAGODA.

Overnight in Bagan.

Since it is your second day in Bagan, sightseeing will be done by bike to get another taste.

After breakfast at hotel, start sightseeing.

  • HTILO-MINLO TEMPLE, a double-storied building with artistic stucco works.
  • GAWDAW-PALIN TEMPLE, famous for its colourful glazed plaques,
  • GU-BYAUK-KYI (MYIN-KA-BAR), famous for its mural paintings of Jataka scenes.
  • MANUHA TEMPLE, built by the captive Mon King Manuha.
  • NAN-PAYA, a temple believed to be the residence of Mon King Maunha.

After lunch (own accounts) visit AH SHAY PHWAR SAW village by pony cart. It is a perfect village to enjoy how Myanmar people struggle their lives. There one can enjoy the women using a traditional spinning loom to make shawls. Explore the village. This visit will provide an insight into real rural lives of Myanmar people. Then enjoy panoramic sunset view of Bagan at sunset Hill.

Overnight in Bagan.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flight to Heho. Arrive at Heho Airport, meet our local guide and drive to Nyaung Shwe and transfer to hotel by boat to Inle Lake. Being located at the 900 meters above sea level, Inle Lake is the second largest natural lake in Myanmar with hazy blue mountains as backdrop. Afternoon, visit Indein Village, located at the western side of the lake. Passing Nyaung Ohak Monastery and follow a stair path lined up with many hundreds o wooden columns, you finally will reach the impressive Shwe Indein Pagoda Complex. From the hillside you have great view over the lake area. On the way back to the boat, walk through a romantic bamboo forest at the riverside, where you may observe local people having a bath. Afternoon continue sightseeing on the lake.

Overnight in NyaungShwe or on the lake.

After breakfast, start Inle lake sightseeing by boat. This sightseeing offers an excellent opportunity to observe Myanmar rural life up-close.

The rest of afternoon will be filled with visits to:

  • PHAUNG-DAW-OO PAGODA, the most important symbol of religion of Shan State
  • NGA-PHE-CHAUNG MONASTERY, attractive wooden monastery
  • FLOATING VILLAGES (INNPAW KHONE, POUK PAR, YWA MA, KHAR TAW)
  • A visit to these sights provides deep insight into how the people on the lake make their livings. So you can enjoy Unique One Leg rowers, their traditional fishing style, Lotus and silk weaving, boat making and cheroot making.

Overnight in NyaungShwe or on the lake.

Transfer to the Heho Airport for flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon airport, we meet our guide and transfer to city. We stop at Bogyoke Market (Scott’s Market) of hundreds of shops where you can find local products such as Gems & Jewelry, slippers, cloth, and so on. Evening stroll along the China Town and study the ways of living of Yangon citizens (which can observe the tradition and modern costume).

Overnight at hotel in Yangon, former capital of Myanmar.

Enjoy your orientation tour of Yangon with a walk from Sule pagoda to Strand Hotel where you will encounter numerous of British colonial buildings and Emmanual Church. As we save the best for the last, drop by Shwedagon, the most sparkling pagoda, also the biggest one in the country. Free to take photos and learn about Buddhist with your guide.

Overnight at hotel in Yangon.

Enjoy a final breakfast at your hotel. Take a last swim, buy last-minute souvenirs, or simply relax.

 

Transfer to Yangon International airport for departure to next destination. It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

Services

What’s include :

TOUR COST INCLUDES:

TOUR COST NOT INCLUDES:

✅ Accommodation: 14-nights with daily breakfast in double / twin shared room

✅ Meals: at local restaurant (Foods only) as mentioned in program (B: Breakfast, L: Lunch and D: Dinner)

✅ Private Transportation: Airport transfers & Tours by air con. vehicles as per program.

✅ Private boat trip as mentioned in program.

✅ Entrance fees: Sightseeing and entrance fees as specified as mentioned in program.

✅ Private Tour Guide: Local English-speaking guide during tours as mentioned in program

✅ Flight ticket: Phnom Penh – Siem Reap / Siem Reap – Bangkok – Mandalay / Bagan – Heho / Heho – Yangon (check in luggage 20kg and hand-carry 7kg).

✅ Join Tour – Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

✅ All government taxes.

✅ 24hours supporting hotline.

✅ Cold water and towel during tours

❌ Myanmar and Cambodia Visa stamp fee

❌ All International air tickets.

❌ Other meal, drink, personal expenses, tip, Travel insurance,

❌ Early check-in & late check-out surcharge.

❌ International bank transfer fees (Banking fee is covered by the sender)

❌ Another thing not mentioned in included

GENERAL NOTICE:

  • Standard check-in time is 14h00 and check-out time is 12h00 at most of the hotels.
  • Arrival/Departure: Above prices are valid only for group of clients travelling together – arrival and departure with the same flight. Arrival/departure by other flight subject to supplement charge.
  • Program is subject to change without notice due to Airlines unexpected changes of schedule or flight unexpected cancellations.
  • There will be no refund or compensation applied due to force major which effect to visit program.
  • We reserve the right to adjust the prices at any time in the event of an increase of the fuel surcharge applied by airlines companies or any other transport companies.
  • Deadline for flight tickets: We will automatically issue flights 5 days after bookings is confirmed by us, please take note and come back to me within 5 days since booking is confirmed if you find clients don’t want to issue it.

 

Consultant/Emergency Contact:

EURASIE Travel “Best for the Best“ – Head office

#AC04, Street 59CW, Borey Sopheak Meangkul, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

info@eurasietravel.com.kh / www.eurasietravel.com.kh

 

Hot lines:

+ Mr. Bonny: (+855) 12 608 108 (WHATSAPP)

    ” Possiamo dire che è stata la luna di miele perfetta. Abbiamo avuto la possibilità di entrare a stretto contatto con la gente locale, di vivere diverse esperienze molto interessanti e di visitare dei posti fantastici. Tutto era organizzato in maniera perfetta grazie anche al validissimo supporto del nostro corrispondente Roberto, che non ci ha mai lasciati soli. Da dietro le quinte ci ha assistito per tutta la durata del nostro magnifico viaggio di nozze, dandoci un valido supporto per qualsiasi cosa. Le guide e i drivers erano sempre puntuali, cordiali, molto disponibili e molto preparati. Difficile dire in una sola frase cosa ci sia piaciuto. In una sola parola: TUTTO. L’organizzazione pre e durante il nostro viaggio è stata ineccepibile. Non possiamo che ringraziare Roberto ed Eurasie per questa meravigliosa esperienza.”

    Erika e Andrea

    Tour Vietnam & Cambogia