Duration: 11 days/10 nights
Tour Route: Mandalay – Sin Tae – Own Pin Seik – Ngar Own – Masein – Hae Nin – Sitthaung – Masein – Kani – Kani – Monywa – Yesagyo – Bagan
Start/End: Mandalay/Bagan
Tour Guide: English speaking guide, other languages upon requests
Tour Category: Myanmar river cruise
Cruise Ship: Anawrahta
Tour Highlights:
- Visit some idyllic villages on the riverside and learn about the unique culture and gain insights into the local life of the villagers
- Admire the stunning scenery along the Chindwin River from Sanctuary Ananda
- Get to know more about the alluring culture of Myanmar through interesting onboard talks
- Explore the treasure of Bagan on a visit to the most famous temples in the region
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Mandalay – Sin Tae (L, D)
Day 2: Sin Tae – Own Pin Seik (B, L, D)
Day 3: Own Pin Seik – Ngar Own (B, L, D)
Day 4: Ngar Own – Masein (B, L, D)
Day 5: Masein – Hae Nin (B, L, D)
Day 6: Hae Nin – Sitthaung (B, L, D)
Day 7: Sitthaung – Masein (B, L, D)
Day 8: Masein – Kani (B, L, D)
Day 9: Monywa – Yesagyo (B, L, D)
Day 10: Yesagyo – Bagan (B, L, D)
Day 11: Bagan (B)
Day 1: Mandalay – Sin Tae (L, D)
Mingalabar! Welcome to Mandalay, the city of great culture and hidden treasure.
Today, manage to arrive at Mandalay jetty before 1.30 pm to check in on the board. For passengers who come early, you can join in a short sightseeing tour to gaze out at the beautiful Mandalay. We will visit Mahamuni Pagoda, where houses one of the most sacred Buddha images in the country. Kuthodaw Pagoda, the world’s largest Buddhist book; and Shwenadaw Monastery, an impressive wooden monastery which used to be a part of the Royal Palace.
After settling on the board, we start your 11-day river cruise along Chindwin towards Paung Pyin. Today, get to know more about the old traditions of the region while watching interesting performances on the board such as the traditional costume, Thanaka make-up, cooking class, and history lessons.
A great option for you this evening, join in the Kansi Panorama Lounge for a welcome briefing along with a champagne and canapes followed by the welcome dinner on board.
Day 2: Sin Tae – Own Pin Seik (B, L, D)
This morning we continue our journey to Monywa. Enjoy your morning time on the board at leisure and behold the unspoiled scenery on the riverside. About 2.30 pm, we will reach Monywa. Disembark from the ship and make your way to Thaboddhay Pagoda – an intricately golden pagoda where you will witness a spectacular part of the world. Marvel at hundreds of crumbling stupas and 580,000 Buddha images on the niches around the inner wall. Before getting back to the board, move to Bodhi Tataung where you will witness two fabulous Buddha statues: one is the world’s second-longest reclining Buddha image with 111 meters long and another is the world’s third tallest standing Buddha with 116 meters high. Take your time to see the golden image glittering in the sunset time.
Day 3: Own Pin Seik – Ngar Own (B, L, D)
Rise before dawn this morning to capture the lovely sunrise on the river, then join in the meditation session on the sundeck to relax your mind. Next up, if you wish to learn how to prepare Asian delicacies, the chef will be happy to demonstrate. Our ship then will continue sail toward the village of Maukkadaw. Around the late afternoon, we will arrive at the port where we disembark to explore the town and its stunning teak buildings surrounded by the tropical jungle. Venturing around the village to soak into the fresh cool air. Finally, head to the brick monastery to learn more about the long-lasting history of the region.
This evening, you will have a chance to watch a movie about Aung San Suu Kyi, The Lady, is a famous politician, diplomat, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Day 4: Ngar Own – Masein (B, L, D)
The morning of the 4th day delivers you a lecture presented by the guide to get more knowledge about the country and region. Passing through the lush gorges, past wild jungle and tranquil riverside villages. You are about to enter the forgotten world that few tourists access. Following your afternoon with a visit to explore Kalewa, a picturesque town in the western Sagaing region. Located high on the banks of the Chindwin River, it offers a panoramic view to the confluence of two rivers: the Chindwin and the Myit Tha with the dramatic mountain backdrop.
After returning to the board, join in interesting talks on board to learn more about the country’s culture, tradition, and history.
Day 5: Masein – Hae Nin (B, L, D)
This morning continue leads you through the mesmerizing landscape to reach Mawleik, an enthralling little village on the west bank of Chindwin River. Leave the ship to explore the bustling market and gaze out at the beguiling colonial buildings hide in the peaceful aura.
We return to the ship at 11.30 am and continue our journey toward the north. After lunch, take part in a lecture on board to broaden your knowledge about the ancient country.
This afternoon, we recommend you have tea in the panoramic lounges while sailing towards the exotic cottages in the rural village of Hae Nin. The ship will anchor here for overnight.
Day 6: Hae Nin – Sitthaung (B, L, D)
Be an early birth this morning and enjoy the meditation in the fresh air of the morning from the sundeck. Today, we sail southward to Sitthaung, where you will behold the emerald green paddy fields on the way to the village pagoda. This is the final resting place of a number of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamers scuppered in 1942.
Later on, make your way to Paung Pyin, the northernmost point of the cruise. Here we will discover the life of people on the Uyu River, a major tributary of the Chindwin River which get a lot of attention from locals gathering here to look for gold.
Day 7: Sitthaung – Masein (B, L, D)
This morning offers you an opportunity to enjoy great service on the board while the ship sailing toward Masein. Why don’t join in a cooking demonstration to test your knowledge of local delicacies and learn simple ways to make scrumptious Asian dishes.
We then dock at Masein at 2.30 pm. Visit and capture the misty blue and green hills rise high on the horizon. Take this chance to explore a row of 28 white-washed pagodas line the crest of a sloping hill and file down towards the river.
In the evening, enjoy a movie about Yangon and serve delicious canapes in the Kansi Panorama Lounge.
Day 8: Masein – Kani (B, L, D)
This morning enjoy your time at leisure before the ship arrives at Minkin at 11 am.
On arrival, you’ll get the chance to marvel at the extraordinary blend of European and Burmese architecture of the Mahar Minkyuang Monastery. Your guide also takes you to the Shwe Sagar Buddha image to see the Buddha image carved from a single tree trunk almost 1000-year-old. After the visit, we will proceed to Kani, a small town in the western bank of Chindwin River to spend an overnight there.
Day 9: Monywa – Yesagyo (B, L, D)
Start the day with a visit to the ancient cave temples Po Win Taung and Shwe Ba Taung set on the side of the hill. The entrance to the cave is rimmed with traditional motifs of vines and flowers. You can also witness the mythical and traditional design elements on the wall. Once getting inside of the cave, you will have a chance to marvel at the fabulous man-made masterpiece and nature’s creation. Spend your time to wander around the great display of wall painting dating back to from the 17th century.
After dinner in the evening, there’s a chance for you to take part in a cocktail demonstration during which you learn how to make cocktails. Enjoy it!
Day 10: Yesagyo – Bagan (B, L, D)
The morning of day 10 leads you to Bagan toward Pakkoku. Leave the ship for a short visit to the local market and explore the cotton-blanket weaving in the town. We will reach Bagan in the early afternoon. Make your first visit in Bagan to the awe-inspiring Ananda Temple. Dating back from the 11th to 12th century, the temple is one of the finest examples of the Mon architecture style. To date, it remains as one of the four great temples in Bagan that worth you a visit.
Next, we head to Htilominlo Temple, a magnificent two-story redbrick temple. Take your time to witness the traces of murals and fragments of the original fine plaster carvings as well as glazed sandstone decorations outside the temple.
In the late afternoon, move to Pyathatgyi Temple, where to climb on the top to behold the stunning beauty of the sunset over the plain. Sit back and see the sun filling the sky with a reddish glow creating a dramatically magic moment.
Back to the board, tonight, enjoy your last night on Sanctuary Ananda with a candlelit sandbank dinner served with local performance.
Day 11: Bagan (B)
After breakfast, say goodbye to the crew and check-out at the board. Burma tour ends.
For those who depart on a late flight, you can join in an optional tour in Bagan. We will visit a local village in the heart of Bagan to observe the real life of the people. Then we also gain more about the local production as we head to a lacquerware workshop. Take this chance to interact with the artisans and learn how to create beautiful items using traditional methods.
