<34 Days! > Chongqing - Yangtze River Cruise - Shanghai - Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Hoi An - Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Yangon - Bagan - Inle Lake - Mandalay - Pyin Oo Lwin - Bangkok
Route Code: YT-09-Lyr02
Departure: According to the Cruise Sailing Dates!
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
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 Day 01: Starting in ChongqingMeet the professional local guide upon arrival at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Included sightseeing safaris get the Panda House in Chongqing Zoo and the Residence of General Joseph W. Stilwell covered if time is available. A rich buffet dinner is scheduled at the 4-star Holiday Inn Yangtze Hotel. |
Hotel: Hrbour Plaza  Meals: D |
| Day 02: Chongqing - Fengdu Embark the deluxe cruise ship which sets sail at 11:00, when your memorable Yangtze River cruise starts. After lunch, land at Fengdu, the "Ghost City" for an excursion. In the evening Captain's Welcome Party presents Chinese folk dancing and music performance. You can also join in for fun. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 03: Yangtze Three Little Gorges Begin the passage with Qutang Gorge, the shortest and the grandest of the Three Gorges. Later pass the Wu Gorge with its famous lofty and misty peaks. Disembark at Wushan Daning River for an adventurous excursion to the Three Little Gorges. The pea boat allows you to experience a speedy adventure and have a close look at mossy rocks, verdant plants, plank roads, ancient coffins and precious animals. Then continue sailing into the western section of Xiling Gorge. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 04: Three Gorges Dam The morning shore excursion is arranged to the Huang Ling Miao pier at around 8:00 to see the under constructed Three Gorges Dam. After that, return to the ship and continue sailing. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 05: Excursion to Wuhan While sailing by Wuhan, disembark for a city tour including a visit to the Hubei Provincial Museum. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 06: Excursion to Huangshan As the ship sail to Huangshan at around 9:00, land for an excursion to take in the breath-taking picturesque natural scenery of Mt. Huangshan. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 07: Excursion to Nanjing Today you will have a city tour to Nanjing, involving the visit to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and a Qing Dynasty style Bazaar surrounding a Confucian Temple. |
| Hotel: Victoria Crusies Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 08: Shanghai At 10:00 the ship arrives in Shanghai and your memorable Yangtze River cruise ends here. The local guide will meet you on board and transfer to the hotel. The Shanghai city tour covers the Shanghai Museum, the Yuyuan Garden, Bund and Nanjing Road. Dinner will be served at a fancy restaurant named Wang Bao He, which is the best place to sample Shanghai cuisine. The evening delight is the Portman Acrobatic Show held at the Shanghai Center Theatre. |
| Hotel: Sofitel Hyland Hotel Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 09: Ending in Shanghai, Fly to Hanoi, Airport Pick-up See you off at Shanghai airport according to the flight schedule to Hanoi. Upon landing in Hanoi, you will meet our professional local tour guide and driver outside the airport customs hall. Then a comfortable ride will take you to the well-selected downtown hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to restore energy, or get familiar with the surroundings. |
| Hotel: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa Meals: B |
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This morning, our guide will pick you up at your hotel lobby at the appointed time and then take you to the French-style Presidential Palace, the nearby Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (It is closed every Monday, Friday and from the end of Sep. to the end of Dec. due to the annual maintenance), and the One Pillar Pagoda. After that, we will move forward to the Chinese-style Temple of Literature and then a visit to the Museum of Ethnology follows afterwards. This afternoon, you will be escorted to take a leisure walk around the Old Quarter to appreciate the buildings in Vietnamese and French styles, and immerse yourself in the unsophisticated local folkways. A traditional Water Puppet Show will await you in the late afternoon. After that, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at a local decent restaurant and then be transferred back to the hotel. |
| Hotel: Hanoi La Siesta Hotel & Spa Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 11: Hanoi - Halong Bay Halong Bay is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, boasting vast sea, bizarre hills and rocks, karst caves and countless islets. For the coming 2 days, you will take a cruise down the Halong Bay to take in the picturesque scenery. After breakfast, a 3.5 hours' ride will take you to the Halong Pier to board the 4-star cruise ship. During the journey, you will have an onshore relaxation on a golden beach and stop by a karst cave to view stalactites in various shapes. |
| Hotel: Signature Cruise Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 12: Halong Bay - Hanoi - Fly to Da Nang - Hoi An You will spend a leisure morning onboard viewing the stunning natural landscape of the Halong Bay. Then after having brunch on the cruise, you will return to Halong Pier and then be escorted to Hanoi Airport for a flight to Da Nang. Your Da Nang local guide will wait for you at the airport and escort you to check in at the hotel in Hoi An. |
| Hotel: The Beach - Little Boutique Hoi An Meals: B |
| Day 13: Hoi An (Walking Tour & Boat trip) After breakfast, we will head to Hoi An Old Town. As a vital trading port of the Southeast Asia during the 15th-19th century, the town is brimmed with buildings of traditional Chinese and Japanese styles. You will be guided to visit Chinese-style Chua Ong Pagoda and Tan Ky Ancestral House, as well as the Japanese Covered Bridge. The day will end with a boat trip to an island village. After that, your guide will escort you back to the hotel. |
| Hotel: The Beach - Little Boutique Hoi An Meals: B, L |
| Day 14: Hoi An - Da Nang - Fly to Ho Chi Minh City You will spend a leisure morning either resting at the hotel or exploring the surroundings by yourself. After lunch, you will have a precious chance to learn the mysterious Cham culture at the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang. Then a private ride will take you to Da Nang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. You will meet your local guide at the exit of the airport after touching down at the airport of Ho Chi Minh City. Then you will be escorted to check into the hotel. |
| Hotel: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel Meals: B |
| Day 15: Ho Chi Minh City This private Ho Chi Minh City tour will start with the Thien Hau Temple, a prosperous temple famed for intricate reliefs on its roofs and eaves. Then continue the trip to the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace, where you may have a general idea of the country's modern history since the late 19th century. The French-style Notre Dame Cathedral will be your next destination, and then you will be escorted to walk across the street to visit the Central Post Office. After that, you will be led to take pictures at the European-style Opera House and Ho Chi Minh City Hall. |
| Hotel: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel Meals: B, L |
| Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City After breakfast, a comfortable drive will take you to the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City to explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, a full-featured underground barrack consisting of wells, granaries, meeting rooms, dormitories and etc. Then we will proceed to Cao Dai Temple to learn about the Caodaism, a religion exclusively prevailing in Vietnam. After that, your guide will escort you back to the hotel in downtown area. |
| Hotel: Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel Meals: B, L |
| Day 17: Ho Chi Minh City - Siem Reap After breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the airport for a flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. Upon landing, your Siem Reap tour guide will pick you up and escort you to the hotel. After settling down, you will be led to visit the Angkor National Museum to get a general idea of the history and culture of the Khmer Empire (802 – 1431). |
| Hotel: Tara Angkor Hotel Meals: B, L |
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Afterwards, we will reach at the top of the Bakheng Hill at sundown to capture the great scenery from the Bakheng Temple. And then round off today's journey with a special Apsara Dinner Show. |
| Hotel: Tara Angkor Hotel Meals: B, L, D |
| Day 19: Siem Reap Today's private Siem Reap tour will begin with the Preah Khan Temple, a temporary imperial chamber during the construction of Angkor Thom. After that, we will head for the Banteay Srei Temple, to appreciate the elaborate engravings on the relics. Finally, you will be guided to the Beng Mealea, which is hidden in jungle, to sense the primitive beauty. |
| Hotel: Tara Angkor Hotel Meals: B, L |
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After that, you will be escorted to the airport for a flight to Phnom Penh. Your local guide will greet you at the exit and then take you to the hotel by a comfortable private ride. |
| Hotel: The Fangipani Royal Palace Meals: B |
| Day 21: Phnom Penh - Yangon Your private Phnom Penh tour will begin with the Royal Palace, which is dominated by golden and white colors representing Buddhism and Brahmanism respectively. At the southeast corner stands the Silver Pagoda, which gets its name because its floor is paved with more than 5,000 silver bricks weighing 5 tons in total. Then your guide will walk you across the street to the National Museum of Cambodia to admire the precious handicrafts and artworks during the Khmer Empire. After that, we will climb uphill to the Wat Phnom to enjoy the full view of the whole city. Then take a tour to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields of Choeung EK to look back on the Cambodian genocide during 1975 - 1979. At the end of the day, you will be transferred to the airport for a night flight to Yangon in Myanmar. You will meet your local guide upon arrival and take a private ride to the hotel. |
| Hotel: Rose Garden Meals: B, L |
| Day 22: Yangon Myanmar is a Buddhism country and our private Myanmar tour will include many of its Buddhism sites and treasures. You will be free this morning to stroll around the neighborhood on your own. This afternoon, your Yangon tour guide will accompany you to take a leisure walk around the tranquil Kandawgyi Lake, and then stop by the Shwedagon Pagoda, a magnificent religious complex, which houses 68 stupas, all covered by a layer of gold foils. In the evening, you will sample a gourmet dinner while enjoying the local dance show. |
| Hotel: Rose Garden Meals: B, L |
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After that, we will take a leisure walk around the Maha Bandula Park, where the towering Independence Monument standing inside is a popular photo spot. Finally, we will go on a shopping spree at the Bogyoke Aung San Market, which has a wide variety of souvenirs, including jewels, jades, clothes, engravings, and wooden handicrafts. |
| Hotel: Rose Garden Meals: B, L |
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After a short break, we will start this private Bagan tour to the Mani Sithu Market to experience locals' life. Bagan is a historical city with profound Buddhist culture and countless temples and stupas. Once finishing the market tour, we will set out for a few religious sites, including Shwezigon Pagoda, Htilominlo Temple, Nat Taung Kyaung Monastery, and Shwesandaw Pagoda. Finally, enjoying the beautiful sunset by a private boat will the last activity of today’s trip. |
| Hotel: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort Meals: B, L |
| Day 25: Bagan Today, we will continue to soak in the Buddhist atmosphere of Bagan by visiting Thatbyinnyu Temple, Ananda Temple, Nanpaya Temple, Manuha Temple, Gubyaukgyi Temple, and Pyatthat Gyi Temple. En route, we will have a short stay at the Myinkaba Village to experience local rural life, and also stop by some lacquer workshops. At the end, a comfortable ride will take you back to the hotel. |
| Hotel: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort Meals: B, L |
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Return to the hotel and the rest of the day will be free for you to explore the city on your own. |
| Hotel: Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min Meals: B, L |
| Day 27: Inle Lake You will enjoy a boat trip on Inle Lake this morning. En route, we will go ashore to visit Indein Village, a vital religious area with 1,054 remaining golden stupas distributed on the hillside. The rest of the day will be free for your own arrangement. You can either rent a bike or loiter around to feel the local cozy lifestyle. |
| Hotel: Novotel Inle Lake Myat Min Meals: B, L |
| Day 28: Inle Lake - Heho - Mandalay You will be transferred to Heho Airport to take a morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, a comfortable ride will take you to the hotel. After settled down, your guide will accompany you to the Mahagandayon Monastery, a large-scale temple where more than 1,000 monks practice Buddhism. Later, we will head for a photography site, Irrawaddy Bridge, and then continue the journey to Sagaing Hill on the opposite bank. After that, you will be transferred to the teakwood U Bein Bridge, where you will take a boat to better enjoy the sunset view over the Taungthaman Lake. |
| Hotel: Eastern Palace Hotel Meals: B, L |
| Day 29: Mandalay - Pyin Oo Lwin - Mandalay After breakfast, you will be escorted to a town called Pyin Oo Lwin by a comfortable ride. It is recognized as the summer resort of Myanmar, full of blooming flowers all year round. The retro, exotic villas as well as the old-fashioned carriages there demonstrate the scenery of a European township. Afterwards, your guide will also show you around the large-scaled National Kandawgyi Garden Complex, boasting mirror-like lake, wide lawns, and colorful flowers. When the leisure Pyin Oo Lwin tour finishes, we will drive back to the hotel in Mandalay. |
| Hotel: Eastern Palace Hotel Meals: B, L |
| Day 30: Mandalay Today, you will firstly be driven to the eastern bank of Irrawaddy River and take a boat across the river to the Ancient Mingun City. With your guide's company, you will appreciate several religious sites there, including Mingun Pagoda, Mingun Bell, Settawya Paya and Hsinbyume Pagoda. Reverse the trip back to Mandalay and continue our journey to a few Buddhist buildings in the city proper, namely Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery, and Kuthodaw Paya. After that, round off the day with a sunset view at the top of the Mandalay Hill. |
| Hotel: Eastern Palace Hotel Meals: B, L |
| Day 31: Mandalay - Bangkok You will be free to explore the city on your own or relax at the hotel this morning. Then an afternoon flight will take you to Bangkok in Thailand. Your local guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be free for your own arrangement. |
| Hotel: Movenpick Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 Meals: B, L |
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After that, go across the road to stroll around the luxury Grand Palace and also appreciate the precious emerald Buddha enshrined in Wat Phra Kaew. Then take a boat ride to a waterside community, Klong Bang Luang. En route, we will go ashore to visit the Baan Silapin Artist Village, where you can not only take in idyllic scenery, but also appreciate the elaborate handicrafts on display. After getting back to downtown, we will conclude the day with Wat Arun, which boasts Thailand's largest stupa built in 1842. |
| Hotel: Movenpick Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 Meals: B, L |
| Day 33: Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Bangkok Today, we will have a relaxing day trip to Ayutthaya, which is the ancient capital city of Thailand. Founded in 1350, it brimmed with countless temples, palaces, and stupas during its booming period. Although most buildings are in relics now, with the explanation of your guide, you can easily imagine its prosperity in the past. After that, we will take a luxurious cruise on Chao Phraya River to return back to Bangkok. |
| Hotel: Movenpick Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 Meals: B, L |
| Day 34: Departure from Bangkok Today will be the last day of you memorable holiday. Check out of the hotel at the appointed time and then your guide will transfer you to the airport for your leaving flight. Wish you a nice journey home! |
| Meals: B |