Indulgent Indochina

During our travels in Asia we are lucky to be given access to some of the region’s most innovative, inspiring and staggeringly luxurious hotels. It’s a tough gig! When we asked Indochina Specialist Anna to design her own ultimate trip to the region she couldn’t help but include her pick of the best-of-the-best. The result is a truly luxurious journey through Myanmar, Thailand & Cambodia, combining cities and islands, that has made a few of us well-up with envy.
 

Highlights

  • ’Go Local’ in Yangon
  • Learn to cook Burmese cuisine under the tutelage of the former personal chef to the US Ambassador to Myanmar
  • Experience a traditional massage at one of the oldest massage schools in Thailand
  • Be wowed by the skills of performers at Phare, the Cambodian Circus
  • Savour a sunrise breakfast in the grounds of Angkor
  • Relax at three of the best barefoot luxury resorts in Asia

Yangon, Mergui Archipelago, Bangkok, Koh Kood, Siem Reap, Angkor Temples, Koh Rong


Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Yangon, 'Go Local'

On arrival in Myanmar, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your Yangon hotel. 

In the evening, it’s time to ‘Go Local’ with one of our Burmese friends. Take a stroll with your companion, stopping for a drink in a local café or bar, before immersing yourself further into the country’s culture and enjoying the company of a local friend, who’ll be ready to show you a side of Yangon that only locals know. Perhaps enjoy some street food and live music, join your companion at their local temple, or even to share a drink and some food with their family or friends.

Day 2
Experience Yangon's circle train, walking tour, Shwedagon Pagoda

Explore the lively India Town market before hopping aboard the ‘circular railway’ commuter train as it weaves its way through waking neighbourhoods. Disembark at Hledan to visit the huge reclining Buddha at nearby Chaukhtatgyi Paya and, after lunch, go downtown to the ancient Sule Pagoda, where you can see fortune-tellers in the small rooms surrounding this highly significant site. Continue to Mahabandoola Park and Burma’s Independence Monument, then walk along the river bank, past the Custom House, the British Embassy, the General Post Office and evocative The Strand Hotel, once home to the likes of Orwell, Kipling and Somerset Maugham. Mingle with the locals over a cup of sweet chai in a traditional tea shop, before visiting Myanmar’s most iconic site: the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda. Try local flavours at the surrounding makeshift food markets, and see the pagoda magically illuminated as night falls.

Day 3
Three Good Spoons Cooking Class

Spend your morning at Three Good Spoons, a not-for-profit organisation offering relaxed, fun cooking classes, whose profits help disadvantaged local women. Start at Yaetarshay Market to buy fresh, local ingredients, before returning to prepare three delicious Burmese dishes under the expert tuition of Chef Kevin, and enjoying the fruit of your labours for lunch. The remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Day 4
Fly to Kawthaung, Speedboat to Wa Ale Resort

Take a flight to Kawthaung this morning, where you will be met by the team from Wa Ale Resort and transferred to the jetty for a 2-hour luxury speedboat journey to the island. On arrival you will be welcomed by Wa Ale staff and guided along a man-made rock pathway to the Main Pavilion for check in. Then it's time to explore, or simply kick back and relax.

Days 5 & 6
Relax & explore

Your stay at Wa Ale Island Resort can be as active as you wish. Snorkel, dive, kayak or paddleboard around the stunning coast, trek inland to explore the jungle trails, or simply relax on the deserted golden sands.

Day 7
Journey to Bangkok

Today you will journey from the pristine beaches of the Mergui Archipelago to the bustling city of Bangkok; travelling first by boat, crossing the Thai border, then on by car to Phuket, and finally a short flight. Having arrived in Bangkok you will be met and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Day 8
Visit the Grand Palace & Wat Pho, Traditional Thai Massage

Start the day with a visit to the stunning Grand Palace, the most important royal landmark in Thailand, where you can see some of the buildings used for different occasions, including the Funeral Palace, Reception Palace, Throne Hall, Coronation Hall, Royal Guest House, and the Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. 

Continue on to Wat Pho, home of the famous reclining Buddha that measures a staggering 45 metres in length. This Buddhist temple complex is also home to one of the oldest Traditional Thai-massage schools in the country, where you will enjoy a one hour traditional Thai massage. Practised for centuries to de-stress and revitalise, this traditional massage is given through clothes. Following your treatment, feeling suitably relaxed, transfer back to your hotel. 

Day 9
Chao Phraya River & klongs by longtail boat

Board your long-tail boat at the bank of the Chao Phraya River for a cruise along Bangkok’s ‘River of Kings’. This is a crucial lifeline for the city, and there’s no better way to discover the true heart of Bangkok, and learn more about its local ways of life away from the busy city centre, than aboard a traditional boat. Enter the labyrinth of ‘klongs’ (small canals), where you may notice a slower pace of life as you pass by old teak houses, countless temples, vendors selling vegetables from wooden boats, and children splashing around at the canal edge. Disembark for a spell at the Royal Barge Museum, which houses some of the ornately carved royal barges used by Thailand's Kings on state occasions, and learn about the craftmanship required to build them. Your final stop will be the majestic Wat Arun, the ‘Temple of the Dawn’, which is one of Bangkok’s best-known landmarks with its a distinctive 70-metre tall central ‘prang’, encrusted with coloured glass and porcelain. Having had a good look around, return to your hotel.

Day 10
Flight & boat to Koh Kood

Transfer to Bangkok Airport where you will be met by a representative from Soneva Kiri and board the resort’s private plane for the hour-long flight to Koh Mai Si, followed by a 5 minute luxury speedboat transfer to Soneva Kiri’s jetty. Located on one of Thailand’s most pristine islands, Soneva Kiri is one of the top barefoot luxury resorts in Asia. Having checked in to your private pool villa, the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Days 11 & 12
R&R time

Your day is at leisure. If you can drag yourself away from your private pool villa you may wish to explore Koh Kood’s idyllic bays by speedboat, spend the day snorkelling or kayaking, trek through the island’s rainforest, or simply indulge in a treatment in the Six Senses Spa. If you’re looking for a memorable meal be sure to book the unique Treepod Dining experience.

Day 13
Travel to Siem Reap, Evening Phare Circus show

Taking the boat and private plane back to Bangkok, check in for your onward flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia where you will be met by your guide, who will transfer you to your hotel. 

This evening you'll visit the Phare big top to experience the Cambodian Circus. Phare is not your average circus experience: the performers are all graduates of Phare Ponleu Seplak, an NGO offering training opportunities for disadvantaged youth, and they use theatre, music, dance and circus arts to tell uniquely Cambodian stories. The nightly shows are both inspiring and entertaining. Once the show has finished you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Day 14
Angkor Temples cycling

Set off early from your hotel for a day of temple exploration by bicycle. Cycling is a great way to traverse the area, allowing you to control the pace of your day, and thanks to the flat terrain the going is easy. Take a leisurely loop around the temples, taking time to appreciate the ancient craftsmanship and humour in the bas reliefs. Break for lunch at a local restaurant, and see the fabulous Ta Prohm Temple overtaken by 100 year old fig trees and giant creepers. Afterwards, there’ll be time to relax back in Siem Reap.

 

Day 15
Gourmet sunrise breakfast & Angkor Temples exploration

You'll be collected just before 5am (it is worth it!) and driven to the shore of an expansive lake within the Angkor temple compound, which was historically used as a place for ritual washing. Here, a gourmet breakfast will be awaiting your arrival. Arranged by the renowned kitchen at the Heritage Suites (arguably the best in Siem Reap) the menu includes treats such as freshly baked croissants, fresh seasonal fruits, eggs any way and Cambodian fried rice, served alongside fresh juice, tea and coffee. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the sun rises over the water, before beginning your exploration of Angkor Wat, and the complex of ruined temples and palaces around it. You’ll be driven between them, so you can fit quite a few in (if you want to), and our guides know when to see the ruins at uncrowded times.

Day 16
Car & boat to Song Saa Private Island Resort

Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to Sihanoukville. On arrival you will be met by staff of Song Saa Private Island Resort and transferred by car and speedboat to the resort, located within Cambodia’s untouched Koh Rong Archipelago. 

Song Saa Private Island is as seductive as the name implies, and the resort spans the islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, connected by a footbridge over a marine reserve established to safeguard the islands’ reefs and marine life including turtles, seahorses and exotic species of tropical fish. Having checked in, it's time to kick off your shoes and sink your toes into the sand!

Days 17 & 18
Relax at Song Saa

Enjoy a few days relaxing on the beach.

 

Day 19
Depart Phnom Penh

Your day is at leisure until transferring by speedboat and car to Phnom Penh airport in time for your onward flight.

Booking Policy

  • We will arrange all internal flights used within our holiday itineraries. We can also arrange discounted flights from all USA, AU & UK airports to Asia and we are a fully bonded TOUR operator. If you would like a quote for your international flights then please complete the required section on the enquiry form.
  • You will require a visa to enter Cambodia and Myanmar, and possibly Thailand. Your consultant will be happy to advise you on all your visa requirements.
  • Please ensure that you have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity remaining after your return date. You will also need at least one blank page for each of the countries you are visiting.
  • You will require a comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical costs associated with hospitalisation, emergency travel and repatriation back to your home country. We offer our customers a specially discounted insurance policy, ideally suited to the needs that a trip such as this creates. Tick the insurance box in the enquiry form and we will send you a quote to suit your needs.
  • You will undoubtedly require vaccinations for your visit to Asia. Please consult your doctor or a vaccination clinic for the most up-to-date advice. They will also be able to advise you of the most suitable anti-malarial medication if required. It is important that you do this well in advance of your departure date.
  • Only once you are completely happy with any holiday itinerary we create for you will we ask for a payment. In order that we can secure availability for your booking we would typically require a deposit of 30%.
  • We care about the places and the communities that you will travel through. It is important to us that we travel as responsibly as possible throughout Asia and that we are giving something back to the regions and the people that make these journeys so special. Full details on our approach to responsible travel can be found on a dedicated section of this website.
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What our clients say about us

Zeev
Dec 2023
star star star star star
We took a 16-day private tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. The tour company suggested a detailed itinerary, and we accepted it with minor changes. We had three domestic flights, and on every landing were met by our local guide on arrival. All guides spoke fluent English and were very knowledgeable. This was a trip of a lifetime. Dont miss the Red Bridge cooking school class in Hoi An - the chef has created a phenomenal program that starts with the tour of the local market and explanation of the vegetables and spices used in local cuisine. Highly recommended!
Daniel
Oct 2023
star star star star star
My family and I completed a 12 day cycling trip with Vietnam Private Tours, and we had a blast. Our route started in Saigon, rode along the Mekong river, discovered Mekong delta, and relaxed on the Phu Quoc beaches is southern Vietnam. We loved the adventurous off-road routes, and we were comfortable the whole way thanks to the excellent support staff. We also loved supporting Vietnam Private Tours because of the amazing work they do with many charities, especially the incredible children’s hospital in Mekong delta.
Richard
July 28, 2023
star star star star star
We just finished a 14-day cycling tour from Saigon to Siem Reap, spending 7 nights on board the Mekong River. We rode bikes 30k to 70 km daily, to the Mekong Delta rice fields. My Way Travel really understood that not everyone would will to ride, so they already made provision for people who didn’t ride with us. The guides were excellent and so was the trip. We really loved the boat, it had everything we needed on it. A group of 16 people were accommodated in 8 cabins, which means there were 2 people in a cabin. The food and drinks were all in abundance. Free Wi-Fi and laundry service were available too. The local people were amazingly friendly, and the environments really gave us a sense of relief. The hotels at either end of the trip were exemplary. Above all, we have made our minds to always use My Travel on every trip occasion, due to the great experience we had with them.
Ani
Dec 2023
star star star star star
Had an awesome time biking to Mekong Delta from Saigon last week. Beautiful views, peaceful rural paths, and lots of cool stops. The guides took great care of us. Definitely recommend VPT for biking in Mekong Delta and other tours in Vietnam.
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