This 12-day expedition leads you through the most appealing sites along the Chindwin River – the largest tributary of the country’s lifeblood Irrawaddy River. Start in Mandalay, the cultural heart of Myanmar, our river cruise gives you a chance to explore the serene beauty and unspoiled part of the Golden Land. Taste the local flavor in some iconic village, mingle with the friendly people to see the vibe of diverse culture, and see the alluring of the magic comes to life over thousands of temples in Bagan. So, what are you waiting for?
General Information
Duration: 12 days/ 11 nights
Start/End: Mandalay/Bagan
Tour Route: Mandalay – Monywa – Moktaw – Maukkadaw – Kalaywa – Sittaung – Toungdoot – Homalin Mawlaik – Pho Win Taung – Shwe Ba Taung – Bagan
Tour Category: Mandalay to Bagan cruise
Cruise Ship: Anawrahta
Time Table:
| Year/Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Otc | Nov | Dec |
| 2019 | 20 | 03 17 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | 19 | 03 17 |
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Mandalay Embarkation (L, D)
Day 2: Ah Mymint Village & Monywa (B, L, D)
Day 3: Moktaw (B, L, D)
Day 4: Maukkadaw & Kalaywa (B, L, D)
Day 5: Kalaywa (B, L, D)
Day 6: Sittaung (B, L, D)
Day 7: Toungdoot & Homalin (B, L, D)
Day 8: Sailing (B, L, D)
Day 9: Mawlaik (B, L, D)
Day 10: Pho Win Taung – Shwe Ba Taung (B, L, D)
Day 11: Bagan (B, L, D)
Day 12: Bagan Disembarkation (B)
Day 1: Mandalay Embarkation (L, D)
Today, welcome by our guide and then transfer to the quay of Mandalay to embark on the luxury Anawrahta cruise. After settling into the cabin on board, enjoy your leisure time and relax by swimming in the 360-degree viewpoint or experiencing the treatments in Thazin Spa on the way cruising to Sagaing.
This afternoon, attend the lecture “Myanmar’s way of life” to get a better understanding of Burmese history and culture. Watch a presentation on traditional Longyi and Thanaka” which show you the act of wearing Myanmar’s traditional dress and putting Thanaka makeup.
Next up, join in an afternoon tea in the Kipling’s Bar. Take your time to savor the flavor and breathtaking view of Irrawaddy River.
Day 2: Ah Mymint Village & Monywa (B, L, D)
Wake up in the sound of bird-singing this morning and take part in a yoga session on the sundeck to refresh your health. After breakfast, disembark to visit Ah Mymint Village. Explore the village life, ancient temples with impressive mural paintings and a wooden monastery dating back to centuries ago.
Lunch will be served on the board after that. Then we spend an afternoon discover Monywa, a charming town boasts several interesting attractions. Make your way to Thanboddhay Pagoda, one of the most colorful temples which features more than 580,000 images of the Buddha and hundreds of golden spires. Take leisure walk to Laykyun Setkyar Standing Buddha – the second tallest Buddha image in the world, measuring 116 meters.
Back to the board, enjoy BBQ dinner along with a Ramayana dance performance, a famous Ballet performing the epic Hindu Ramayana saga.
Day 3: Moktaw (B, L, D)
A full day to discover Moktaw, a river village where you will spend time to take a look at the local daily life by visiting some workshops and markets. If luckily, you might witness a special ceremony at the local monastery.
In the afternoon, join in a ship tour with the cruise general manager exploring the fascinating Anawrahta vessel.
As the sun immerse everything in golden lights, dress up in style to participate in a special party “A toast to the past” which takes place at Kipling’s bar. Enjoy the classical music, soft drinks and share your stories with other passengers.
Day 4: Maukkadaw & Kalaywa (B, L, D)
Rise before dawn to capture the majestic sunrise from your balcony. Then take a walk through Maukkadaw village to discover impressive buildings built in the traditional style surrounded by tropical jungle. Take your time to wander around the old village to see the simple life of the villagers.
Later on, return to the ship and continue your journey through the fabulous scenery to Kalaywa. Attend the Burmese Speaking Lesson to learn some essential Burmese word to prepare for a visit to the market tomorrow.
Day 5: Kalaywa (B, L, D)
Start the day with a visit to the lively Kalaya on a local tuk-tuk to see the real-life of the people here. Head up the hilltop to visit a Buddhist pagoda and marvel at the fantastic view to the town and Chindwin River.
After that, soak up the vibrant atmosphere in the local market to observe the trade in the region and watch people barter for the good. Take this chance to practice the Burmese language you learned yesterday at a stall to bargain and buy some interesting items.
Back on the board, continue sailing to Sittaung.
Day 6: Sittaung (B, L, D)
The morning of day 6 gives you 2 great options: you can choose either in a lecture on the board or wander around the town to breathe the fresh air and see the laid-back pace of life in the region.
On arrival at Sittaung, a small village on the western bank of Chindwin River, your guide will lead you to visit the ships of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company which used to be the greatest river fleet that was ever assembled worldwide.
Get back on the board, we keep sailing upstream. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.
Day 7: Toungdoot & Homalin (B, L, D)
Power up your day with a relaxing yoga session held on the sundeck. After breakfast, participate in a performance about Burmese traditional customs of betel-chewing as well as smoking cheroots. After that, relax on the ship. You can have some drinks at the bar, get treatment at the spa or watch the scenery from your private balcony.
In the afternoon, disembark to visit Homalin, a stunning town surrounded by forested mountains. Gain the fabulous view from the high vantage point of the Buddha Lotus Garden and marvel at a collection of Buddha statues depicting scenes of Buddha’s life.
Highlight your trip to the village of Naga tribe. While watching their fascinating performance, you will have a chance to savor their traditional food and drinks. What’s a better way to know more about the people than spending time join their tribal dance and share them the delighted feeling?
Day 8: Sailing (B, L, D)
Today will be a long day of sailing upstream the Chindwin River. Spend the whole day to relax on the board. Join in a cooking class in the late morning to learn how to make various local dishes. Moreover, you will be provided with recipes to try out after coming home.
In the afternoon, watch a presentation on the subject of “Buddhism in Myanmar” to gain more insights into the religion of the Burmese. Enjoy a BBQ dinner served in the evening with an interesting performance.
Day 9: Mawlaik (B, L, D)
A full day to discover Mawlaik – the administrative capital of Sagaing under the British colonial. To date, people in Mawlaik remain their traditional way of life with homes are made of wood with open-air windows. Start your sightseeing from the post office and take a leisure walk in the town, you can find nowhere the busy noise of car or scooter humbling on the street.
Then join in a mini-golf match in Maewlaik Golf Course. After lunch, if time permits, we will visit the small village of Kyi Taung Oo where noted for the only surviving wooden monastery pre-dating the Konbaung Dynasty’s Foundation in the 18th century.
Day 10: Pho Win Taung – Shwe Ba Taung (B, L, D)
This morning, relax on the journey on the river. In the afternoon, hop on a 45-minute bus ride to Pho Win Taung, an exotic cave of magnificent Buddha images which previously had been left for decades. Wander around the cave and admire the collection of wood and stucco Buddha. If you like, buy some fruits as you will meet some monkey who will follow you boldly.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional puppet show on board in the lounge.
Day 11: Bagan (B, L, D)
Today Anawrahta ship will continue cruising to Bagan – one of the most wonderful cities in Myanmar. On arrival, visit Ananda Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in Bagan reflects the style of Mon and Indian architecture. End of the day, make your way to Shwesandaw Temple, one of the tallest temples in Bagan, sit back and wait for the most expected scene of the day: the magnificent sunset over the area.
Day 12: Bagan Disembarkation (B)
After breakfast, say goodbye to the crew and disembark from the board. Myanmar tour ends. Thank you for making your journey with Go Myanmar Tours!
