During this 5-day river journey you will be treated to the best Myanmar has to offer. The all-suites, ‘Sanctuary Ananda’ vessel is being built in Rangoon (cruises will start in November 2014) by local and international experts and combines luxurious and comfortable facilities, onboard entertainment, culinary experiences and wellness with shore excursions led by expert guides. On this 5-day Mandalay to Bagan voyage we visit the royal capitals of Sagaing, Amarapura and Innwa all located near Mandalay and cruise downstream to Pakokku, a quaint town along the Irrawaddy River. In Bagan we explore the most beautiful temples of this mighty kingdom destroyed by the Mongols. From Bagan we make an excursion to Salay known for its authentic and traditional style teak monastery.       

While in Bagan we highly recommend the magnificent sunrise hot air balloon flight (additional tour at extra cost)

Brief Itinerary

 Day 1: Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura – U Bein Bridge

Day 2: Sail to Innwa Kingdom

Day 3: Bagan highlights

Day 4: Sail to Salay – Monastery

Day 5: Depart Bagan

Day 1: Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura – U Bein Bridge                      [-/L/D]

You check in around 12.30 and settle into your suite. If you arrive on an early flight, you can take an optional tour by bus of Mandalay (extra charge and subject to availability) visiting the Mahamuni and Kathodaw pagodas, Shwenandaw monastery and a gold leaf beating workshop. Lunch will be served shortly after check in. During the afternoon you visit the holy Sagaing hills, a important religious and monastic centre, and stop by a convent, the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and a silversmith (time permitting). You drive on to Amarapura and visit a textile workshop before visiting the U Bein Bridge, the longest and oldest teak wood Bridge in the world, at sunset. A welcome dinner will be served when you return on board followed by a local performance in the Kansi panorama lounge.

Day 2: Sail to Innwa Kingdom                                                         [B/L/D]

A meditation and yoga session will be available before breakfast. Next you visit the ancient imperial capital of Innwa (Ava) by horse-drawn cart including Bagaya monastery, a brick monastery and watch tower. You will for sure admire the beauty of the passing scenery, while sailing downstream on the sundeck, by the pool or through the large windows in the Kansi panorama lounge; or simply relax on your private balcony. A variety of on-board activities will be offered during sailings including a longyi and tanaka demonstration, a cooking school with the chef, and an opportunity to try local cigars and betel nut amongst other things.

Day 3: Bagan highlights                                                       [B/L/D]

A meditation and yoga session will be available before breakfast. On arrival in the local village of Pakokku you travel by trishaw and visit a shoe factory, a local market filled with many colours and flavours with a huge variety of vegetables and spices on offer, and a cheroot factory. After lunch you will arrive in the historic area of Bagan where you will visit the Ananda Temple, Htilominlo Temple, which belonged to the last of the temple builders, and discover the local craft of lacquer ware in a workshop in Myinkaba. You finish the day by watching the sun set over the incredible landscape of pagodas from the heights of Pyathatgyi Temple before a local performance on board.

Day 4: Sail to Salay – Monastery                                         [B/L/D]

In the early morning before breakfast, you can take a balloon tour and see the landscape of pagodas from above (extra charge and subject to availability) or watch the sunrise from a temple with a meditation expert. After sailing throughout the morning you will arrive in Salay where you will take a ride in a trishaw to visit the Yoke Sone monastery, a Bamboo Buddha image and Thartana Yaunggyi. In the afternoon visit the gilded Shwezigon pagoda, and the Wetkyi-in Gubyaukgyi temple in Bagan before returning to the ship in a horse-drawn cart for a farewell dinner.

Day 5: Depart Bagan                                                                        [B/-/-]

You have an early morning breakfast and check out at 6.30am. If you are departing on a later flight, you can take a tour by bus in Bagan (extra charge and subject to availability) and visit Minanthu village, Thone Zu Pagoda, a brick factory and a jaggery (brown sugar) workshop.

Included

•          3 meals per day during cruise

•          Soft drinks and local beer whilst on-board

•          Guided excursions for the respective itineraries with English-speaking guides

Excluded

•          International and domestic airfare

•          Airport transfers      

•          Wine and spirits and gratuities

 This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The ‘Price From’ quoted is for a party of 6 to 8 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

• REMARKS:

We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:

>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels): > 110 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night

Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details
 

 TBA