Taste of Bagan and Mandalay Cruise

Upon arrival, meet your driver for a private transfer to the port to embark your luxurious cruise at the quay of Bagan. After a warm staff welcome, you will be offered some refreshments as you move into your abode for the next days. You’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch as the ship sails towards Pakkoku, an old trading town on the western riverbank of the Ayeyarwady. On shore, your tour takes you to some of the small industries in this area, such as a cheroot-rolling factory and a producer of ‘Burmese slippers,’ or flip-flops, and a visit of the thriving market offers an insight to local goods and trading. Pakokku is also well-known for the production of tobacco, so, if you would like to buy some Burmese cigars, this is the place. Continue with a tour of the Shwegu Temple, featuring incredible, intricate carvings made from rare Yamanei wood. Back on board, your vessel continues her journey, eventually arriving at the utmost highlight of this journey - Mandalay. The ship will dock at the Mandalay pier in the early afternoon, and, as the evening approaches and the Burmese sun immerses everything in a golden light, a special event will take place at the Kipling’s Bar. Dress in style as you toast to the past during an old-fashioned British club gathering, where gents may whiff cigars and ladies sip on tasty gins with tonic. Tonight, enjoy dinner on board and, if you would like, take advantage of the open air cinema under the stars on the sun deck while watching classic films. (B,D) Note: Sun deck cinema available pending weather conditions. Approximate duration for each visit: Pakkoku: 2.5 hours. Approximate distances: Bagan to Pakkoku: 2.5 hours.

For early morning risers, there is a special opportunity to participate at a yoga session on the sun deck. Strengthen your muscles and ease your mind by merging with the Ayeyarwady and its therapeutic flow upstream. Leave from Pakkoku for our next stop, the quiet Yanderbo, a small riverside village. Explore the village on foot where you will quickly learn that the villagers here are extremely friendly, charming and open to connect. The range techniques and skills used to produce a variety of pots and utensils is perplexing and you can try some of these while visiting. Back on board a delightful lunch buffet awaits you as the ship continues its journey northwards. In the afternoon you will learn more about some of the long-lasting traditions of Longyi and Thanaka during demonstration of this regional attire. Before dinner, you may like to enjoy one of the various treatments in the Thanzin Spa. Dinner is served on board this evening and, if you feel like it, you can catch another classic film under the stars. (B,L,D) Note: Sun deck cinema available pending weather conditions. Approximate duration of the visits: Yoga session: 1 hour. Walking tour at Yanderbo Village: 45 minutes. Longyi and Thanaka demonstration: 1 hour. Approximate distances: Pakkoku – Yanderbo 4 hours and 15 minutes.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the ship sails northwards to arrive in Ava where you will disembark for a wonderful private discovery of the highlights of this former royal capital. By horse-drawn carriage you will explore the area, spotted with distingueshed ancient monasteries, including Bagaya Kyaung, a jaw-droppin teak monastery built in 1834. Back on board, a feast of a lunch buffet is served as you coast further northwards. Take some time to observe the beautiful Sagaing Hills with loads of scattered pagodas as the ship passes by. You will dock at Mandalay at the early afternoon where a magnificent private tour shows you some of the most interesting sights. Observe the incredible process of the gold-leaf beating, visit a silk-weaving manufacturer and finally have a stroll through the amiable streets hosting many marble-carving workshops. The ultimate highlight of this day is a sunset cruise in a small rowing boat around the famous 200 year old “U-Bein Bridge.” After some time to refresh, and before dinner, you are invited to watch a traditional dance and music performance by students and teachers of the Mandalay Art School. (B,L,D) Approximate duration:Yoga session: about 1 hour. Ava: about 3 hours. Sagaing: about 45 minutes. Amarapura: about 45 minutes. Approximate distances:Yanderbo – Ava: 2 hours. Ava – Sagaing: 45 minutes. Sagaing-Mandalay: 45 minutes.

After disembarkation, you will be picked up from the cruise ship and transferred to the airport to continue on to your next destination. (BL,D)