The Irrawaddy River has witnessed the history of Myanmar and gave it life. On its banks are located all the “must see” highlights of the Golden Land from the city of Pyay (Prome), where the roots of the Bamar civilization can be found, to the Royal Capitals of Mandalay, Amarapura and Ava passing through the glorious city of Bagan with its 3,000 temples and pagodas where sat the First Myanmar Empire yond Mandalay the river wonderful second life.
There is no better way to visit all Myanmar than taking a “boutique” cruise on the Irrawaddy in the comfort of our ships. No more long coach trips and the hassle to pack and unpack luggage.
We offer optional pre/post land arrangements in Yangon and to complete the visit of Myanmar an extension to Inle Lake which is not to be missed.
(Upstream: Bagan - Hnaw Kone - Yandabo - Ava - Sagaing - Amarapura - Mingun - Mandalay)
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
(Downstream: Mandalay - Mingun - Amarapura - Sagaing - Ava - Yandabo - Hnaw Kone - Bagan)
Duration: 6 Days / 5 Nights
Ship Images
IMAGES OF THE CRUISE
Extension Tours
(2 Nights / 3 Days)
(2 Nights / 3 Days)
(2 Nights / 3 Days)
(2 Nights / 3 Days)
(2 Nights / 3 Days)
(3 Nights / 4 Days)
ITINERARY
Itinerary Upstream
DAY 1 : BAGAN(EMBARKATION)
TRANSFER: Transfer from airport or hotel to Jetty can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls note that it takes approximately 30 minuts drive from Airport and Hotel to ship (Koe Lone Ye Kin).
EMBARKATION: Bagan
Embark the ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty between 11.00 to 12.30 noon.
Welcome cocktail and Lunch on board.
AFTERNOON EXCUSRSION: The Art and Sunset Over Bagan
After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquer ware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to Gubyaukgyi Temple (Great Painted Cave Temple), where the richly-colored paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12th century and we will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Myazedi Stupa, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance: an inscription consecrating Gubyaukgyi in four languages (Pyu, Mon, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. For our final stop of the day we proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill where we will view the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship.
DAY 2 : BAGAN-HNAW KONE
MORNING EXCURSION: Markets and Temples of Bagan
This morning, we transfer by motor coach to Bagan’s largest open market, where fresh produce, meats, spices, woodcarvings, longyis, thanaka, and rattan products are sold every day. We have the opportunity to watch the negotiations and transactions taking place, and if we are lucky, see one of the local women carrying their purchases on their heads. After our walk through the market, we proceed to the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. This important religious site dates to the reign of King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Empire. The construction of this complex spanned both King Anawrahta’s lifetime, as well as his son and successor King Kyanzittha’s lifetime. The golden stupa at its center is said to contain a bone and tooth relic of the Buddha, a gold image of Anawrahta and a Chinese emerald Buddha. After exploring this large temple complex we will say goodbye to the temples of Bagan as our coach returns us to the ship and we set sail.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Hnaw Kone Walking Tour
This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
ENTERTAINMENT: Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration (2:00PM-3:00PM)
DAY 3 : YANDABO
MORNING EXCURSION: Yandabo Walking Tour
On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
AFTERNOON: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon.
ENTERTAINMENT: Lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” (3:30PM-4:30PM)
Burmese Karaoke Party (5:30PM-7:00PM)
DAY 4 : AVA-SAGAING-AMARAPURA
MORNING EXCURSION: AVA
This morning we will explore the town of Ava by horsecart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Sagaing and Amarapura
After Lunch, we visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. Next we continue by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge.
ENTERTAINMENT: Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:00PM-10:00PM)
DAY 5 : MINGUN-MANDALAY
MORNING EXCURSION: Mingun Walking Tour
After breakfast we will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the small town of Mingun. Our first stop is King Bodawpaya’s monumental, uncompleted stupa. During construction, an astrologer to the king argued that the king would die upon completion of the temple, and work was immediately halted. Had it been completed, it would have been the largest in the world. The cracks we see are the result of the 23 March 1839 earthquake that shook the area. We continue our walk to the Mingun Bell, which was the heaviest working bell in the world until 2000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. After having the opportunity to stand inside the bell as it is rung, we have time to shop in the local market, famous for its makeshift galleries that display inexpensive art from both local and internationally known artists.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Mandalay
Enjoy a afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
ENTERTAINMENT: Farewell Reception and Crew Farewell (6:30PM-7:30PM)
DAY 6 : MANDALAY (DISEMBARKATION)
DISEMBARKATION: (8:00AM)
After your breakfast, disembark at Gawein Jetty.
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Mandalay Int'l Airport or hotel in Mandalay can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 1 hr drive for transfer from ship (Gawein) to Mandalay Int'l Airport and 30 minuts to hotel in Mandalay.
Itinerary Downstream
DAY 1 : MANDALAY
TRANSFER : Transfer from airport or hotel to Jetty can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls note that it takes approximately 1 hr drive from Mandalay Int'l Airport and 30 mints from Mandalay Hotel to ship (Gawein).
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 12:00 noon.
EMBARKATION ONBOARD SHIP: (12;00PM)
Lunch onboard in Customs House Dining Room.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Mandalay
Enjoy a afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
ENTERTAINMENT: Safety Briefing and Orientation (2:00PM-2:30PM)
Welcome Reception and Crew Welcome (6:30PM-7:30PM)
DAY 2 : MINGUN-SAGAING - AMARAPURA
MORNING EXCURSION: Mingun Walking Tour
After breakfast we will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the small town of Mingun. Our first stop is King Bodawpaya’s monumental, uncompleted stupa. During construction, an astrologer to the king argued that the king would die upon completion of the temple, and work was immediately halted. Had it been completed, it would have been the largest in the world. The cracks we see are the result of the 23 March 1839 earthquake that shook the area. We continue our walk to the Mingun Bell, which was the heaviest working bell in the world until 2000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. After having the opportunity to stand inside the bell as it is rung, we have time to shop in the local market, famous for its makeshift galleries that display inexpensive art from both local and internationally known artists.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Sagaing and Amarapura
After Lunch, we visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. Next we continue by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge.
ENTERTAINMENT: Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:30PM-10:30PM)
DAY 3 : AVA
MORNING EXCURSION: AVA.
This morning we will explore AVA Kingdom ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 by horse cart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex.
AFTERNOON: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon.
ENTERTAINMENT: Longyi and Thanaka Demonstration (4:00PM-5:00PM)
DAY 4 : YANDABO-HNAW KONE
MORNING EXCURSION: Yandabo Walking Tour
On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Hnaw Kone Walking Tour
This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
ENTERTAINMENT: BBC Documentary “The Life of the Buddha” (4:00PM-5:00PM)
DAY 5 : BAGAN
MORNING EXCURSION: Bagan
This morning we take you to visit Dhammayangyi Temple the largest of all the temples in Bagan, the Dhammayan as it is popularly known was built during the reign of King Narathu. After that we will climb aboard traditional, ceremonial oxcarts for a short ride through the temples of Bagan.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: The Art and Sunset Over Bagan
After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquerware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to Gubyaukgyi Temple (Great Painted Cave Temple), where the richly-colored paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12th century and we will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Myazedi Stupa, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance: an inscription consecrating Gubyaukgyi in four languages (Pyu, Mom, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. For our final stop of the day we proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill where we will view the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship
ENTERTAINMENT: Traditional Myanmar Puppet Show (9:00PM-10:00PM)
DAY 6 : BAGAN(DISEMBARKATION)
DISEMBARKATION: (8:00 AM)
After your breakfast, disembarkation at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty, Bagan.
TRANSFER: Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 30 minuts drive for transfer from ship (Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
CRUISE PRICE INCLUDES
All meals &, Coffee/Tea/Water - Sightseeing as described in the Itinerary - Complimentary local beer throughout the cruise - a glass of Wine at lunch and dinner - Ayravata Cruises English Speaking Guide (additional non-English speaking guide is provided if more than 8 cabins are booked by parties speaking the same language) - All Entrance Fees - Transfer by coach to/from Prome, Salay - Welcome & Farewell Reception, Cultural performances and other activities on board.
CRUISE PRICE EXCLUDES
Drinks, laundry, all items of a personal nature; health-accident-baggage or travel protection plan outside the ship’s boundaries, fuel surcharges if applicable. (*)
(*) Within the above rates the fuel cost is calculated on the Myanmar Market average price of the months of April 2017 (i.e. USD 0.7 per litre). Should the fuel price rise by more than 10%, AYRAVATA CRUISES will be entitled to impose a fuel surcharge equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this rise is given to the Passenger and/or his-her Agent within 30 days prior the cruise departure date.
RIVER CONDITIONS WARNING
The Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level.
In the case of water levels being too high or low an alternative itinerary will be offered to Passenger.
Published itineraries are indication only and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop.
Though every effort will be made to ensure that the published itinerary is followed as closely aspossible, given uncertain river and other local conditions, all schedules and itineraries may besubject to alterations and delays at short notice.
The ship’s manager and captain are jointly responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety.
Passengers must accept their decisions and instructions.
