Myanmar Elite by Private Jet & Thai Splendours

Travel like the locals this morning in a tuk tuk on an early morning visit to a local temple. This is a chance to interact with local people and make a symbolic connection by putting food and flower offerings into the bowls of monks that pass by. Absorb the meditative atmosphere during the ceremony before sitting down with a monk for an informal talk on Buddhism and traditional Thai beliefs. (A translator will be provided). At the end of your talk, you will be transferred by regular vehicle back to your hotel.

Explore Bangkok’s vibrant contemporary art scene with a leading art expert as your guide today. Visit diverse galleries, discover Thailand’s most creative artists and explore the cutting edge exhibits on display throughout the city. From painting to sculpture, photography to video, this unique half day excursion is a fascinating, in-depth look at the country’s emerging arts scene. Since most of the city's small private or commercial galleries promote Thai and regional artists, a couple of hours of gallery hopping is a great way of getting a taste of the local scene. Like with many things in Bangkok, the city's galleries are scattered all over town for the most part, although The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, opposite MBK shopping complex, is the city's latest effort to create an all-integrated art experience. But still, if you would like to immerse yourself in Bangkok's contemporary art scene, plan ahead (let your Sales Advisor know what is of most interest) and do some exploring in the maze of Bangkok streets with a local expert to guide you. Popular Galleries include: La Lanta Fine Arts, National Art Gallery, Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre as well as Tonson Art Gallery.

After being picked up at your hotel, your guide will accompany you on a private transfer to China Town, a district which is full of traditional, cultural & excellent food. Bangkok is an amazing city for its culinary side of life and there is no better place that showcases this than its myriad of street food stalls. Discover delicious and amazing tastes of authentic Thai food at Chinatown, locally called Yaowarat, in the company of your guide on this gourmet walking tour. Taste a variety of dishes such as Hong Kong noodles, Dim-Sum (Pan-fried taro cake, steamed pork rib with preserved soya bean), Grilled Jumbo Prawn with Thai seafood chili sauce, Fried battered mussels, Chinese Bun, Old Chinese Herbal-Drink, Black Sesame Dumpling in Ginger Tea and Thai Tropical Seasonal Fruit. (Subject to change due to local condition). You will be transferred back to your hotel at approximately 9.30pm.

Enjoy a full day guided tour outside of Bangkok today to visit the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya. Situated approximately 75 kilometres north of Bangkok, it is one of those destinations you have to see. The mixing of cultures in Ayuthaya began in the mid-16th century when ships from Ayutthaya plied the Asian seas, trading with neighbouring countries. When the Dutch began showing up in the 17th century, Ayuthaya became a port city and trade routes were extended to China, Japan, Indonesia, Portugal, Holland and France and up to the Scandinavian countries later. Although the ancient villages of foreign traders lining the Chao Phraya riverbanks were abandoned when the city was sacked by Burmese troops in 1767, some remnants survive to showcase the cities past glory. The tour starts at the Summer Palace, a complex formerly used by the Thai kings. The facilities include vast gardens and landscaping, Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; the Warophat Phiman (Excellent and Shining Heavenly Abode), a royal residence; Ho Withun Thasana (Sages' Lookout), a brightly painted lookout tower; and the Aisawan Thiphya-Art (Divine Seat of Personal Freedom), as well as a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond. Continue to the magnificent ruins of early splendour that Ayuthaya is famous for. Visit  the most impressive ruins of this World Heritage Site and along the way, enjoy a detailed lecture on the rise and fall of Ayutthay and the importance of the various monuments by your guide - a local expert. Return to Bangkok by cruising down the Chao Phraya River on a comfortable, air-conditioned cruise ship, while enjoying a sumptuous buffet lunch on board. Upon arrival at the disembarkation point in Bangkok in the late afternoon, you will be transferred back to your hotel.

The renowned Thai Cookery School at the Mandarin Oriental has taught thousands of people from all over the world the art of preparing fine Thai cuisine. Consider partaking in a class during your stay in the city and learn how to create stunning Thai meals whilst gaining insights into the fascinating culture and traditions of Thailand. During an interactive class, you will get to see the methods and steps of Thai cookery from ingredient preparation to cooking. You are encouraged to practise grounding pastes, chopping up meat and vegetables, stir-frying, deep-frying and stewing food to create dishes of the highest quality and flavour. Please let your Sales Advisor know if you would be interested in adding a cooking class to your itinerary.

Sit back and relax on your private jet between Bangkok and Bagan. The Cessna Citation CJ3 seats six clients very comfortably. For increased interior comfort, the CJ3 cabin is more than 4 feet (1.22 m) longer than the original CitationJet's - that's nearly two feet beyond even the CJ2+'s. With all that room, even long-legged passengers can stretch out in the plush new seats with ease. The deep-cushioned executive recliners slide fore and aft. and they track inboard toward the aisle to give passengers an extra helping of room, comfort and workspace. The flight time between Bangkok and Bagan is approximately 1hour and 30 minutes.

Your visa on arrival will be looked after for you.

Upon arrival at the airport in Bagan, your guide will bring you to a temple showcasing an amazing view of the city. Bagan is known for its stunning landscape of ancient temple ruins that seem to be spread around randomly in between toddy palms and bamboo huts. Learn about the history of the city before being dropped off at your hotel.

On a half day biking excursion today your guide will show you some of the most spectacular scenary around Bagan, dotted with ancient temples. The best of all of course, is that you can stop at any time to take your time absorbing the sights and to take some photos.

The favorite temple area amongst frequent Bagan visitors is Minnanthu because of its tranquility and scenic location where the temples are often completely deserted. Your guide will acoompany you by bike to this forgotten part of Bagan and here you'll get to enjoy a lovely picnic outdoors amongst this historical setting before or after visiting two or three ancient temple ruins in the area.

Late afternoon, return to the hotel to freshen up before thinking about dinner plans.

Start your evening on a private boat ride on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River and enjoy sundowners on a sandbank in the middle of the river (as long as the water level is not too high!). Take in the sunset as your guide serves you wine and some snacks.

After breakfast this morning, you'll be transferred to the airport in Bagan by private chauffeured vehicle.

Pagan (Bagan) is one of the greatest historical areas in the country. It is best seen at sunrise or sunset. More than 13,000 pagodas were once spread over this dry plain during the golden age of the 11 great kings (roughly 1044-1287).  This came to an end with the threat of invasion by Kublai Khan from China, and this extraordinary area was abandoned. Now there are fewer than 3000 pagodas. The actual village of Pagan has a museum, market and places to eat and stay.  Within walking distance of Bagan, there are lacquerware workshops and an attractive temple. There are dozens of open temples in the Pagan area (about 40 sq km/15 sq miles), but places of special interest include the Shwegugyi Temple, built in 1311 and noted for its fine stucco carvings; the Gawdawpalin Temple, badly damaged in the 1975 earthquake, but still one of the most impressive of the Pagan temples, and the Thatbyinnyu Temple, which is the highest in Bagan.

You'll be trasported by private jet again today from Bagan to Heho. The approximate flying time is 45 minutes.

Upon arrival at Heho airport, you'll be transferred to Kalaw by private chauffeured vehicle. The transfer should take approximately 1 hour.

Your guide, who specializes in Elephant conservation will meet you in Kalaw and take you for a rewarding day in the forest surrounding Kalaw encountering elephants, their mahouts (the people who ride them) and hill tribe people living in the surrounding areas.

Very recently some young tourism professionals originating from Kalaw decided to set-up a project in Kalaw that is focused on protecting the nature, elephants and traditions of local people living in an area close to Kalaw. In a big part of this private protected forest, nature can grow undisturbed creating a natural habitat for animals that could otherwise be easily hunted and killed. The project includes creating a natural environment for some Myanmar elephants from this part of the world and helping the local population to grow out of the vicious circle of poverty through education and micro finance.

Your tour today begins with an hour of trekking through the forest before enjoying lunch in the camp.

After lunch it's time to help the mahout washing, feeding and riding an elephant.

This afternoon you'll get to walk back to the main road where you'll continue on to Inle Lake by road.

Relax on the private transfer between Kalaw and Inle Lake this afternoon. Approximate driving time should be about 2 hours.

Kalaw is a hill town in the Shan State of Burma. It is located in Kalaw Township in Taunggyi District. The town was popular with the British during colonial rule. Kalaw is the main place of the novel by Jan Philipp Sendker, "Das Herzenhören". 

Consider dining in the Inle Lake View's onsite restaurant tonight. The Bourgainvillaea offers some of the finest cuisine in the country with a focus of influences from Shan, Myanmar, India and China.

After breakfast, you will be taken to see the southern part of the lake where you will discover the ruins of Indein which are certainly worth a visit. Partly covered by vegetation the area looks like a “pagoda forest”.

Your guide will take you on a walk for about 1 hour to enjoy a fantastic view over the lake and visit the primary school in Sae Ma Village.

A home-made cooked lunch will be served in a local house.

Fully sated after lunch, you may like to test out a local canoe and paddle through the small canal. From here, a private motorboat will whisk you away to the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda where you'll be taken around the lake to discover the natural beauty of the lake, visit the floating gardens, hopefully see some of the famous leg rowers and have some tea at a local family’s house.

On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5 day rotating schedule and you will be taken to visit a colourful, market frequented by Shan and PaO people living nearby.

Visiting Inle Lake is not just about being on the water but also about discovering the Shan and Intha villages on the banks of the river. After leaving the hotel and in the company of your guide, bike past several picturesque villages and stop for a chat with the local monks at the forest monastery in Mine Thauk for a good view over the lake.

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar. Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with outboard motors. Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar. This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting.

Continue by private boat passing through the floating gardens.

An exclusive style lunch will be served on a rice carrier boat in the middle of Inle Lake which will be catered by a service and a kitchen boat from a nearby restaurant.

Later this afternoon, you'll be transferred by private chauffeur driven vehicle to Heho airport in time for your onward flight.

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar. Most transportation on the lake is traditionally by small boats, or by somewhat larger boats fitted with outboard motors. Local fishermen are known for practicing a distinctive rowing style which involves standing at the stern on one leg and wrapping the other leg around the oar. This unique style evolved for the reason that the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants making it difficult to see above them while sitting.

Sit back and enjoy the flight between Heho and Bangkok on a private jet this evening. The flight should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Relax in one of the six CIP lounges at the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport between flights and receive first class service. A wide range of refreshments are available on a complimentary basis as well as a shower service, fun space, tvs and newspapers and magazines.

The lounges are located in the following areas of the airport:
East Side:
• Airside - Concourse A, Block 2, Level 3
• Airside - Concourse C, Level 3
West Side:
• Airside - Concourse F, Level 3
• Airside - Concourse G, Level 3
• Airside - Concourse G, Block 1, Level 3 (Opposite departure gate G2)
• Airside - Concourse G, Block 1, Level 4 (Opposite departure gate G2)

Begin with VIP arrival at Bangkok’s international airport where a Soneva Kiri Host will whisk you through customs to a 16 seat Dornier 228 private plane. The one-hour cruise through the clouds lands at Soneva Kiri’s own airport where a luxuriously appointed speedboat will be waiting to transport you to the resort in five minutes.

There are lots of various tours and activities that you can choose from at Soneva Kiri. Here are a fwe of them;

Consider taking a Thai cooking class, enjoying a local fishing adventure onboard a local fishing boat (day or night), exploring Chanthaburi - where 80% of the world's supply of rubies and sapphires pass through and discovering the wonderful gem market after a visit at Prew Waterfall and National Park. Mountain biking is also an option, as is jungle trekking, and private boat chartering to unearth some of the most magnificent areas of natural beauty to be found in this corner of paradise.

Enjoy a fine dining experience at your own private waterfall today!

Take in the changing colors of the sky on a private sunset cruise as you sail around the west side of Koh Kood and quietly wander the waters, while sipping champagne and nibbling on the chef's gourmet canapes.

A visit to Angkor Wat is an unmissbale experience. Few sights on earth can match the majesty of its temples or the massive stone faces of the Bayon, the richly decorated Khmer temple. Angkor is situated in the Northwest province of Sima Reap and was once the social, religious and administrative centre of the Khmer Empire. There are more than 1,000 temples in all, built between the 9th and 13th centuries.

Depart from Soneva Kiri by speedboat which will take you to Ban Hat Lek - a Cambodian border town. From here, you'll enjoy some breathtaking views from your private helicopter as you fly north over the National park Cardamom mountain range finishing with a birds eye view of Angkor Wat Temple. Landing at Siem Reap airport, your temple guide will escort you around the temple complex.

Traveling by speedboat, you'll get to a great sport to do some snorkeling with the parrot fish at Bang Bao reef. Try to spot the lion fish along Anna's reef at Ao Tum. Away from the crowds, Koh Koods snorkeling sites are a fun way to explore.

Although you could probably stay in this little piece of paradise forever, today it's time to leave... Retrace your steps by taking a short ride onboard a luxuriously appointed speedboat which will take you to an awating 16 seat Dornier 228 private plane which will take you to Bangkok. Bon voyage!