The Land Of The Golden Buddha

Bangkok Prepare yourself spiritually for the travels ahead by participating in a solemn Buddhist ceremony of alms offering to the monks. In return, they perform a sacred chant and offer you a saisin, a symbolic string that has been blessed and is said to protect the wearer from harm. Wander through the colorful Flower Market to see orchids of every color and variety and explore one of Bangkok's most interesting temples, Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). Then, visit the magnificent Grand Palace, a complex of brightly colored buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics that is one of the most beautiful examples of an ancient Siamese court. Bangkok's Royal Palace is an intriguing blend of Italian Renaissance architecture and classical Thai roofing. Continue to Thailand's most important and sacred temple, where the greatly revered Emerald Buddha (made of green jade or jasper) is located. So small and distant that it can hardly be seen, the jade image symbolizes the independence, strength and good fortune of the country. Gaze at the beautiful frescoes that dress the interior walls and observe the murals between the window frames that depict Jataka scenes from the life of Buddha. Gather with fellow travellers tonight for a welcome dinner aboard a private rice barge as it cruises the Chao Phraya River. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok B L D

Bangkok/Luang Prabang, LaosAs you fly to Luang Prabang, watch as the dense, lush rainforest below suddenly opens into a cluster of colorful, gently sloping temple roofs, providing a first peek at one of Indochina's most beautiful cities. Spend the rest of the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the magnificent Phoussy Temple for a panoramic city view, then participate in a traditional baci (ceremony). The next day, embark on a boat trip up the Mekong River to the Buddhist caves at Pak Ou, known for their Laotian-style sculptures of Buddha. Stop to see the Thamting (Pak Ou Holy Caves) and Thamphoum caves, as well as a local whiskey distillery and a weaving village. After lunch, visit Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang's most magnificent temple, built in classic Luang Prabang style with a low sloping roof. Inside, richly decorated wooden columns support a ceiling vested with dharma (teaching) wheels. La R?sidence Phou Vao B L D

Luang Prabang/Hanoi, VietnamBoard a flight to Hanoi and attend a traditional water puppetry performance this evening. The next day, visit the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Walk to the One Pillar Pagoda, built to resemble a lotus blossom rising out of a sea of sorrow, and continue to the Temple of Literature (Van Mie) and the Fine Arts Museum. Travel by rickshaw through the Old Quarter to the Vietnam Art Gallery, owned by art consultant Suzanne Lecht, who has lived and worked in Hanoi for years. She presents an informative lecture on contemporary Vietnamese art. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi B L D

Hanoi/Ha Long Bay/Hanoi Board a chartered helicopter for a flight to picturesque Ha Long Bay, which resembles a beautiful and mysterious Chinese painting. Cruise the bay, stopping at grottoes along the way. The islands that dot the water are home to many species seldom found on the mainland, including monkeys, tropical birds and abundant marine life. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi B L D

Hanoi/Siem Reap, CambodiaSiem Reap is the gateway to the fabulous Khmer temples of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the next three days, discover the beauty and relics of the mighty Khmer Empire that ruled much of what is now Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The highly advanced Khmer civilization had an enormous influence on the cultural and artistic development of the other peoples of mainland Southeast Asia. Meet Darryl Collins, an art historian and expert on the temples of Angkor, who presents an informative talk about the Khmers and their temples. You have a full day to spend in the Angkor complex, which includes Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious structures in the world and still a thriving spiritual center; the Bayon Temple, considered to be the single most outstanding monument to Khmer culture; Angkor Thom, where you find the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and Phimeanakas; and Ta Prohm Temple, noteworthy for the silk-cotton and strangler fig trees growing among its ancient buildings. Ride into the village on a cyclo to see a puppet performance, and fly by helicopter to Boeng Mealea, an extraordinary temple that is slowly disappearing under encroaching jungle. One of the highlights of your journey is an exclusive, private dinner at the 10th-century Kravan Temple. Imposingly lit in a deep crimson glow and surrounded by striking ice sculptures, the ruins of Kravan cast a vivid silhouette against the forest and still night sky, seeming to transport you back in time. Enjoy an evening of delicious Royal Khmer cuisine and wines, accompanied by a performance by a Khmer classical orchestra and Apsara dancers. Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor B L D

Siem Reap/Phnom Penh This morning's flight takes you to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's charming capital city. Embark on a highlights tour of the city to see the Royal Palace; Khmer artwork in the National Museum; and the dazzling Silver Pagoda, which became a propaganda piece for the Khmer Rouge's regime of the mid-1970s. This afternoon, explore the Tuol Sleng Museum, a former high school that was overtaken by Khmer Rouge in 1975 and converted into the horrific Security Prison 21. Raffles Hotel Le Royal B L D

Phnom Penh/Bangkok/ Yangon, Myanmar Fly via Bangkok to Yangon, where the remainder of your day is at leisure. The Strand B L D

Yangon/Bagan/Yangon More than 2,000 temples and shrines once stood in splendor before the sword of Kublai Khan on the plain of Bagan, a treasure trove of Buddhist art history. Explore this 11th-century capital city and visit a few of these pagodas, temples and stupas (shrines), including the Shwezigon Pagoda. It is Bagan's greatest reliquary, built to house the Buddha's collarbone, frontal bone and a tooth. Its location was determined by setting loose the white elephant that carried Buddha's tooth from Ceylon. The Shwezigon Pagoda was built where the elephant rested. Stop at the Htilominlo Temple, the last Burman-style temple built in Bagan. This imposing structure rises 150 feet, with four Buddha figures on the ground and four more on the first floor facing the cardinal points. Several old horoscopes, painted to protect the building from damage, adorn the walls. You also make a stop in the little village of Wetkyi-In at the Kubyaukgi Temple, dating from the early 13th century. It has a pyramidal spire and contains some of Bagan's finest frescoes of the Jataka tales, stories that depict the Buddha's previous incarnations. Just outside the city, visit the Nyaung Oo local market, where locals meet to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from vegetables to china and lacquer ware. The Strand B L D

YangonExplore this city of wide, tree-lined boulevards. Yangon bustles with small shops selling everything from antique dishes to silver-backed dressing table sets left over from colonial days. Visit the Botatuang Pagoda, an unusual 131-foot hollow stupa. The original pagoda was destroyed in 1943 when it took a direct hit from an Allied bomb. During the cleanup, a golden casket containing a hair and two other relics of Buddha were found. Continue to the Sule Pagoda, referred to as the "heart of the city." The British established the pagoda as the center of the urban area when they structured their grid-street system around it in the mid-19th century. You also pay a visit to the Reclining Buddha Pagoda. The name is actually a misnomer because it is not a pagoda, but rather a pavilion housing a 230-foot statue. Sponsor the noonday meal of 1,000 monks at the Kalaywa Monastery. Witness their beaming smiles and nervous laughter as you glimpse the daily life of young monks. At sunset, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, a masterpiece of gilded stupas and stately Buddhas. The Strand B L D

Yangon/Bangkok/USA or CanadaFly to Bangkok and connect with your international flight. B