Duration: 15 days/14 nights
Start/End: Yangon/Mandalay
Tour Route: Yangon – Maubin & Nyaung Don – Myanaung – Prome (Pyay) – Thayetmyo – Minhla & Magwe – Sale – Yandabo – Bagan – Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura – Mingun – Kyauk Myoung
Tour Category: Myanmar river cruise
Cruise Ship: Pandaw
Tour Highlights:
- 14-breathtaking cruises with luxury Pandaw
- Gain more local insights at the tranquil river villages
- Explore a chain of wonderful sites in Mandalay including Shwenandaw Monastery and Mahamuni Pagoda
- See the wonders of the world: U Bein Bridge: the world’s longest teak bridge, Mingun Bell: the world’s second-largest ringing bell, and Mingun Pagoda: the world’s largest unfinished pagoda
Brief itinerary:
Day 1: Yangon
Day 2: Maubin & Nyaung Don
Day 3: Danabyu & Zalon
Day 4: Myanaung
Day 5: Prome (Pyay)
Day 6: Thayetmyo
Day 7: Minhla & Magwe
Day 8: Sale
Day 9: Bagan
Day 10: Bagan
Day 11: Yandabo
Day 12: Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura
Day 13: Mingun
Day 14: Kyauk Myoung
Day 15: Mandalay Disembarkation
Day 1: Yangon
Mingalabar! Welcome to Yangon, the fascinating former capital of Myanmar.
Today greeted and picked up by our driver at the hotel and transfer to Yangon jetty to check-in at Pandaw. We then set sail up the Yangon River through Twante canal which connects the Yangon River with Irrawaddy Delta where we begin our 15 days Myanmar tour.
Here we will make a short visit to the heart of Twante. Get on a tuk-tuk to wander around the peaceful town which is famous for pottery making. You will observe many local potteries using traditional methods passed by generations to generations. A great option for you today: why don’t you try your hands on making a pot by yourself under the guidance of the local artisan to fulfill your authentic experience in the town? Then your sightseeing might include a visit to Shwesandaw Pagoda, the famous site for local pilgrimage where it is said to enshrine the sacred hair of the Buddha.
After that, get back to the ship and we sail to Maubin.
Day 2: Maubin & Nyaung Don
The morning of day 2 takes you to the tranquil town of Maunbin in the Irrawaddy Division. Share the southern coastline with the Andaman Sea, people in the town make their living from rice growing and fishing. Today soak up in the lively fresh market to gaze out at the daily trade and get to know more about the regional product. Then take a stroll through the street to observe the life of the local people.
In the afternoon, make your way to Nyang Don City to explore the lifestyle of the city-dwellers.
Tonight moor at Zakagyi for overnight.
Day 3: Danabyu & Zalon
A full day to explore the charming little town of Danabyu yet has been touristy. Spend your time to wander around the local market to get a glimpse of the local life. Then pay a solemn visit to Maharbandola memorial and marvel at Kyaikkalunbon Paya and other magnificent pagodas to see the Myanmar authentic architecture, gold leaf stupas and jewlled hti (umbrella).
Highlight your afternoon with a leisure walk in Zalon to visit the beautiful golden Buddha image.
Tonight moor for overnight at Henzada.
Day 4: Myanaung
Today is a long day of sailing to the Irrawaddy River. Enjoy your time at leisure on the board. You can join in various activities on board. You can choose either to relax on the sundeck with a cocktail or read your favorite book while the ship passing through the scenic landscape. On arrival at Myanaung, we stop to visit the markets and see colonial buildings in the town.
Day 5: Prome (Pyay)
This morning, we sail upstream and downstream A Kaut Taung area to marvel at Buddha carvings on the mountainside from your sundeck. As we arrive at Prome in the afternoon, take a scenic drive to the 5th-8th-century archaeological site of Pyu, the magnificent former center of the Pyu civilization which is the first World Heritage site in Myanmar claimed by UNESCO organization. After that, we also pay a visit to the fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculptures.
Day 6: Thayetmyo
The morning of day 6 takes you to Thayetmyo, the pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar War in 1885. Take your time to marvel at many of the buildings on the town including the covered market date from this period. Ride on a horse carriage to slowly pass through the charming street, antique house and the former British botanical garden to reach the oldest golf course in Myanmar, listen to your guide about its history before getting back to the ship.
Day 7: Mingla & Magwe
Today visit Mingla, a hilly town in Bago region where noted for the great battle during the second Anglo-Burmese war. We ride trishaws to reach the fantastic Magwe Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Take your time to explore a collection of nat shrines and hermitages in the temple precincts.
Day 8: Sale
The morning of day 8 takes you to Sale, home to more than 100 monasteries and Bagan era-shrines. Take a scenic drive through the splendid colonial-style houses in the town before heading to our highlight today: Yoke Sone Kyaung Monastery, an impressive wooden monastery with spectacular wood carvings, and impressive architecture.
After that, return to the ship and continue sailing upstream.
Day 9: Bagan
Today we sail to Bagan, the fabulous temple town of Myanmar which was recognized as the UNESCO Heritage Site for its important archaeological area. This morning, we moor at the Tan Chi Taung Moutain and enjoy the scenic view. In the afternoon, follow your guide to explore some of the most beautiful temples among over 3000 monuments dotted on the plain. You might visit Dhammayangyi temple, the largest pagoda, Shwesandaw temple one of the tallest temples in Bagan, or Ananda temple one of the most beautiful temples.
In the late afternoon, we transfer to a sunset hill in Bagan where you will have a chance to admire the highlight of Bagan: the majestic sunset on the area.
Day 10: Bagan
Today is a full day to explore Bagan and its village. Freshen up your morning with a trip to Nyaung U Market, the largest and most vibrant bazaar in Bagan to catch a glimpse at the local trade, product, and daily life. Gain more insights into the local life with a visit to the lacquerware workshop to meet the skillful artisans and observe how they create fantastic items using traditional methods.
After that, return to the ship, we continue sailing upstream. This evening, take a short walk at Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in the typical riverside community.
Day 11: Yandabo
The morning of day 11 leads you to Yandaboo, a tiny picturesque village where is famous for the clay pot making. Take a stroll through the riverside to immerse into the tranquil ambiance. Then follow your guide to the village where you will pass through the dusty road to visit some families to observe their daily life. Here you will have a chance to see how the local artisans making the clay pot using traditional methods and women carry a boutique of pots on their head. Spend your time to chat with the locals and share your own cultural experience. Then you also visit Pandaw School, which built with the donation from Pandaw passengers.
Day 12: Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura
After breakfast this morning, spend your time to discover the hidden treasure of Mandalay. Head to Mahamuni Pagoda, the main pilgrimage site in Mandalay, home to one of the most highly revered Buddha images in Myanmar. From here, proceed to Shwenandaw Monastery, the most historic building in Mandalay which is famous for dramatic wooden carving. It is the only surviving golden monastery of the Royal Palace.
In the afternoon, take a scenic drive to Sagaing. With more than 800 monasteries and meditation center merging with countless golden stupas on the green, it is an important religious center of Myanmar. Head up the Soon Oo Ponya Shin Pagoda on the top of the hill for a commanding view to the beautiful scenery surrounding. Next up, follow your guide to Amarapura, the former royal capital of Burma. Enjoy a tranquil boat ride on the Taungthaman Lake to marvel at the beauty of U Bein Bridge at the lovely light in sunset – the longest and oldest teak bridge in the world.
Day 13: Mingun
This morning, we continue our journey on the Irrawaddy River. We stop at Mingun, a beautiful site which is best known for Mingun Pahtodawgyi, a dramatic unfinished pagoda which was intended to be built as the largest Buddhist pagoda in the world. We also see Mingun Bell the second-largest working bell in the world.
Next up, follow your guide to Mingun Old Peoples Home, which originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.
Day 14: Kyauk Myoung
This morning, keep sailing upstream and stop for a visit to the spectacular potteries near Kyauk Myoung where the famous 50-gallon water pots are handmade. We take a short excursion to the village to see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week-long firing in huge kilns.
This afternoon, we sail near Mandalay.
Day 15: Mandalay Disembarkation
After breakfast, this morning, say goodbye to the crews and check-out at Pandaw to get back to the land. Trip ends. Thank you for traveling with Go Myanmar Tours.
