Fascinating Myanmar (Downstream) (14 days / 13 nights)
YANGON – MANDALAY – SALE – BAGAN – INLE LAKE - YANGON and 5 nights
on board the luxury Ayayarwaddy Cruise
Day 1: Yangon
Arrival in Yangon International Airport. Welcome by the local guide and drive to the city. An orientation tour is arranged in the city of Yangon which is known as garden city with colonial buildings. In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda and enjoy the time at the pagoda platform until the sunset.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon – Mandalay – Amarapura
Early morning flight to Mandalay and drive to Mandalay City and tour in the last Royal capital of the country, whose name has become a myth. Visit to the Mahamuni Pagoda, with one of the most venerated Buddha statues of Myanmar. Visit to various handicraft and art workshops, including stone carving, bronze casting, traditional embroidery and a gold leave workshop. In the afternoon, excursion to Amarapura and visit to the world’s longest teak-bridge, named U-Bein.
Overnight in Mandalay
Day 3: Mandalay
Visit to the fascinating Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung or Golden Palace monastery, entirely built with teak wood. Stop at the interesting central market. In the afternoon, time at leisure.
Overnight in Mandalay
Day 4: Mingun (B/L/D)
Transfer to the jetty and embarkation on board RV Thurgau Exotic II. Welcome and lunch on board. In the afternoon, visit by foot in the famous Mingun Pagoda, entirely built by brick. Its facade is marked with a distinctive crack. The world’s largest hanging, intact and working bell is located in Mingun. In the evening traditional Burmese dance performance on board and farewell cocktail.
Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5: Sagaing – Ava (B/L/D)
Excursion by bus to the beautiful Sagaing Hill with its over thousand of hermitages and sanctuaries. Sagaing is an important place for Buddhist devotees and meditation centre in Myanmar. Visit to the Sun-U-Ponnya-Shin Pagoda on the hill top to enjoy the view and stop at a nunnery. In the afternoon visit the ruins of Ava (Inwa) by horse cart.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 6: Yandabo (B/L/D)
Morning cruise downstream. Presentation on board about Burmese traditions and customs. Visit in the picturesque village of Yandabo with its many family-running potteries. Yandabo attained fame when the peace agreement between the two Kingdoms after the second Anglo – Burmese War was signed here.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 7: River Village – Tan Gyi Taung (B/L/D)
In the morning, walking tour through a typical Burmese riverside community along the Irrawaddy River. Arrive at Tan-Gyi Taung in the late afternoon and climb the hill by local jeeps to enjoy the view. Afterwards elephant dance performance by local artists on the river shore.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 8: Sale (B/L/D)
Walking tour in the little town called Sale with its impressive colonial villas and the 150-year old “Yout Saun Kyaung” teak monastery with magnificent carvings. Inside the monastery, one can find a beautiful small museum with a collection of Buddhist art.
Farewell cocktail, dinner and overnight on board.
Day 9: Bagan
After breakfast, disembarkation in Bagan. Sightseeing in Bagan by bus; Bagan is the former royal capital and, with more than 2229 religious monuments. It is one of the major archaeological zones in South East Asia. Full day visit to the most important temples and pagodas.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 10: Bagan
Breakfast at the hotel. Continuation of visit in Bagan including a lively local market in Nyaung U, and a visit in a village to see the ways of life of the people of this region. Enjoy the sunset with the overlooking view of Bagan from a temple.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 11: Bagan – Heho – Inle Lake
Transfer to the airport and flight to Heho. Drive to Nyaung Shwe where Inle Lake is located on the Shan-Plateau in a marvelous hilly landscape, famous for its floating market and “leg-rowers". Board on private boat in Nyaung Shwe and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy the cruise tour on the Lake Lake: various arts and craft workshops such as: silk- and louts fiber weaving workshop, "cheroot" cigars manufactory, silver- and black-smith. Visit to the Phaung Daw U Pagoda with its five Buddha statues.
Overnight at Inle Lake
Day 12: Inle Lake - Indein
After breakfast, visit to a 5-days market where inhabitants of the surrounding mountain villages with different ethnical backgrounds meet for their weekly shopping. Then continue tour to the western bank of Inle Lake upstream on a creek to get Indein Pagodas where thousands of Shan style stupas exist. One will also get a chance to stroll around bamboo forest and visit local villages to experience village life of tribal people.
Overnight at Inle Lake
Day 13: Heho – Yangon
In the morning transfer to the airport in Heho and flight back to Yangon. Welcome and further visit in Yangon including the famous Scott Market with uncountable shopping possibilities.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 14: Yangon - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, time at leisure. According the flight time, transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure.