Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport and after collecting your luggage and completed immigration and customs, please proceed to exit and look for “Meeting Point” which is situated in front of International arrival exit (inside the terminal) where you will find your guide waiting for you, holding a signboard with your name on it.
Transfer from the Airport to your hotel.
The regular check-in time is at 1400; early check-in is NOT included, subject to availability and at additional cost.
PLEASE NOTE: BUDDHA IMAGES IN MYANMAR: Myanmar government has recently become strict about the import/export of Buddha statues and images and also the use of images of the Buddha as tattoos or other decoration. We would like to inform all travellers in Myanmar to exercise caution with regards to displaying the Buddha image and not to openly display a tattoo of the Buddha or any clothing with the Buddha image. Likewise, do not attempt to take antique Buddha images out of the country without proper documentation and permission.
Yangon continues to retain much of its former charm despite recent modern developments and a growing population of over seven million people.
Start the day with a visit to the Sule Pagoda, a 2,000-year-old golden temple in the heart of the city. Continue past Mahabandoola Park filled with locals going about their daily activities before going for a stroll through downtown Yangon with its faded colonial atmosphere. Visit the beautiful Central Post Office dating back to 1908 before exploring the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, known for its 70m (230ft) Reclining Buddha.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the National Museum, home to priceless ancient artefacts including an 8m (26ft) high, jewel-encrusted throne belonging to the last king of Myanmar. Visit the Bogyoke Market before heading to the Indian Quarter.
End the day with a visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites, before returning to your hotel.
- Suggested departure time: 09:00
- Tour duration: 09 hours
- The Myanmar sun can be hot. It is recommended that guests wear long pants, sandals and bring along a hat
- All visitors to pagodas/temples need to take off their shoes
- The National Museum closes at 15:00 and is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays. The Bogyoke Market closes at 16:30 and is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Bagan.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
Upon arrival at Nyaung-Uairport, proceed to exit gate and look for meeting point which is situated in front of arrival exit gate (inside the terminal), you will be met by a representative carrying a signboard with your names.
Transfer to your hotel.
The regular check-in time is at 1400; early check-in is NOT included, subject to availability and at additional cost.
Depart from your hotel and drive to Ngat Pyit Taung Temple to explore some of the temple’s caves. Continue to Ngat Pyit Taung Monastery and visit the monastic primary school and learn about Myanmar’s educational system. Most of the children studying here are from underprivileged areas. You are welcome to bring donations in the form of school supplies.
After lunch, continue to the busy river town of Nyaung U. Visit workshops to learn about how local products are made including soya bean paste, handmade lacquer and wooden handicrafts and farming carts.
Return to your hotel in the afternoon.
- Suggested departure time: 09:00.
- Tour duration: 07 hours.
- The Myanmar sun can be hot. It is recommended that guests wear long pants, sandals and bring along a hat.
- All visitors to pagodas/temples need to take off their shoes.
This morning is free at leisure until time you meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to the jetty for your overnight cruise to Mandalay.
Around noon you embark the luxurious Anawrahta, berthed at the quay of Bagan. After a warm welcome by staff offering some refreshments you move into your “home” for the next days.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch as the ship sails towards Pakkoku. Pakkoku is an old trading town on the western riverbank of the Ayeyarwady. Right before the arrival you see the longest bridge of Myanmar, Pakokku Bridge.
On shore the tour takes you to some of the small industries in this area, such as a cheroot-rolling factory and a producer of ‘Burmese slippers’ (“flip-flops”). Local handicraft vendors try to make their living selling these. A visit of the thriving market gives you an insight of the local goods and trading. Pakokku is also well-known for the production of tobacco. If you are interested in buying Burmese cigars, this is the place.
You continue touring to the Shwegu Temple. This temple features incredible, intricate carvings made from rare Yamanei wood. It also houses a unique Buddha image seated on a lotus throne. Back on board Anawrahta continues her journey north on the Ayeyervady.
As the evening approaches and the Burmese sun immerse everything in a golden light a special event will take place at the Kipling’s Bar. Dress up in style as you send “A toast to the past” during a British club gathering where gents may whiff cigars and ladies sip on tasty gins with tonic. Share some tales of the old (British-Burmese) days. Isn’t sometimes the time to lose time. Adjacent dinner is served at the Hintha Hall.
If you feel like it you can join the open air cinema under the stars on the sun deck showing classic movies (weather conditions permitting).
For early morning risers there is a special opportunity to participate at a yoga session on the sun deck. Strengthen your muscles and ease your mind by merging with the Ayeyarwady and its therapeutical slow flow upstream.
You leave in the morning from Pakkoku for your next stop, Yanderbo. While having breakfast the ship passes the confluence of the Ayeyarwady and its greatest tributary, Chindwin River.
You arrive at the quiet, small riverside village of Yanderbo. A unique and fascinating gem of a village where in 1826 the King of Ava signed the Treaty of Yanderbo, signaling the end of the First Anglo-Burmese War. Nowadays the villagers produce a type of water pot, which is reputed to keep water cooler than pots from anywhere else in the country. Anawrahta’s broad-knowledge guides will offer you the explanation to this phenomena. On foot you explore the village. You quickly notice that the villagers here are extremely friendly, charming and open for chit-chats. You will definitely take back home some enchanting memories. Their techniques and skills to produce a variety of pots and utensils are perplexing. Try yourself to work on one of these pots.
Back on board a delicate lunch buffet awaits you. The ship continues its journey northwards. Gaze on the river banks of this eternal stream from your bench on the sun deck or alternatively, a spa treatment would have the same recreation effects.
In the afternoon you learn more about some of the long-lasting tradtions (Longyi and Thanaka demonstration). A fascinating presentation about the history and culture of Myanmar follows afterwards. Before dinner you may like to enjoy one of the various treatments in the Thanzin Spa.
Dinner is served at the Hintha Hall restaurant.
If you feel like it, you can take a seat at the open-air cinema under the stars on the sun deck showing a classic movie (weather conditions permitting).
Join the morning yoga class to get in the right form for the day.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the ship sails northward before arriving in Ava.
In Ava disembark for a wonderful discovery of some highlights of this former royal capital. By horse-drawn carriage you explore this area, sprinkled with many kinds of distinguished ancient monasteries and fanes.
It is the peace of Ava which you will then hopefully absorb during a laid-back apéritif at a secret place in the middle of this sacred spot on Earth.
Back on board a lunch buffet is served and Anawrahta continues the cruise northwards, eventually arriving at the utmost highlight of this journey - Mandalay. Take some time to observe the beautiful Sagaing Hills with loads of scattered pagodas while the ship is passing by. Dock at Mandalay in the early afternoon (approx. 2pm).
In the afternoon a magnificent tour shows you some of the most interesting sights of Mandalay. Observe the incredible process of the gold-leaf beating, visit a silk-weaving manufacturer and finally have a stroll through the amiable streets hosting many marble carving workshops.
The ultimate highlight of this day is a sunset cruise in a small rowing boat around the famous 200-year-old U-Bein Bridge, a true Kodak moment. After some refreshing time on board, you are invited to watch a traditional dance and music performance by students and teachers of the Mandalay Art School.
After dinner our nightly open-air cinema is offering another classic movie on the sun deck (weather conditions permitting).
Wake up in the early morning and follow the going-ons on the Ayeyarwady before breakfast is served.
08:30 - Disembark at Gaw Wein Jetty. Meet your guide and transfer to the airport for your flight to Heho.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
Upon arrival at Heho airport, proceed to exit gate and look for meeting point which is situated in front of arrival exit gate (inside the terminal), you will be met by a representative carrying a signboard with your names.
Transfer from airport to Nyaung Shwe, then take a private boat trip to your hotel.
The regular check-in time is at 1400; early check-in is NOT included, subject to availability and at additional cost.
Time for your own explore or leisure at hotel. (NO guide and car at disposal).
Or you can take the below optional tour (at additional cost):
OPTIONAL TOUR: INLE LAKE FULL DAY TOUR Tour duration: 8.5 hours
Depart your hotel and spend a full day exploring the freshwater Inle Lake, Myanmar’s second largest at 22km (13mi) long and 11km (7mi) wide. Located at an altitude of 880m (2,887ft), the lake is also one of the highest in the country, with a cool climate and exceptional flora and fauna. Enjoy a boat trip on the lake to the floating gardens, observing en route the beautiful surroundings including Inle’s famous leg-rowers who display remarkable balance in using just one leg to propel their boats.
After lunch at a local restaurant on shore, depart for the southwest part of the lake to visit the Inthein pagoda complex. Walk along a small covered path from the Pa O village to a monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden under vegetation. The main stupa area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surroundings and into the valley with the lake in the distance. Later, return to your hotel.
This morning is free at leisure until you meet your guide at 13:00 in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Mandalay.
A flight suggestion will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
The regular check-out time is at 1200. Late check-out is NOT included and subject to availability and at additional cost.
Upon arrival at Mandalay airport, please proceed exit and look for "Meeting Point " which is situated in front of arrival exit (inside the terminal). Your guide will wait for you with a signboard with your names on it.
Transfer from the Airport to your hotel.
This morning is free at leisure until you meet your guide in the hotel lobby and transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Bangkok and connect to your international flight.
A flight suggestion to Bangkok will be made and tickets purchased on your behalf.
In Bangkok you connect with your homebound flight and continue under your own arrangements.
END OF ARRANGEMENTS
