Luxury Myanmar [14 Days / 13 Nights]

Day 01, Arrival Yangon (By AM Flight), Excursion Yangon (By Car)                     [L/D]

Welcome to the garden city, Yangon, Myanmar !

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you are welcomed by our esteem guide with your name board and transfer to the hotel for check in. After a short refreshment, ahead to Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda which is 72 meters long reclining buddha image and then visit the most revered Buddhist temple in Burma, the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda  located on top of Singuttara Hill, where many locals and Buddhists come to worship. The over 2500 years old pagoda was renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15 century. All Buddhist people believe that the relics of four enlightened Buddha were enshrined in the Shwedagon pagoda. Enjoy your sunset and drive back to the hotel. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

(Yangon has a population of over five million people, Yangon is the bustling former capital of Myanmar. The city boasts verdant parks, beautiful colonial buildings and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Yangon was declared the capital of Myanmar in the late 19th Century by the British. They rebuilt the town after a fire destroyed it in 1841, hence the colonial influences in the architecture. The British renamed the city Rangoo, however it has been restored to its original Burmese name of Yangon since 1989 when the country was also renamed Myanmar (replacing the British name of Burma.)

Day 02, Excursion Yangon, Yangon – Mandalay (By PM Flight), Excursion Mandalay         [B/L/D]

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with our friendly guide. Your morning walking tour starts at Pansodan Road, the tour passes through leafy Bank Street, lined with fascinating historic buildings. We then visit key sites in the city’s central area, including City Hall; one of the most beautiful examples of mixed British colonial and traditional Burmese architecture, Sule Pagoda; over 2000 years ago ancient shrine, the High Court; colonial-era Indo-Saracenic Architecture, including its clock tower and its red-bricked exterior and the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue while exploring historic residential streets. After that, we will go for a walk to Kandawgyi Park. Thereafter, visit Bogyoke Market - a shopping market with more than 2000 shops selling all kinds of products but of special mention is the beautiful exotic “Shan Bag” velvet slippers, lacquer ware, Gems shops and all sorts of handicraft.,. [The Synagogue is only open in the morning and closed on Sundays.  Bogyoke market is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.]

Then transfer to the Yangon international airport for you flight to Mandalay. 

Upon arrival at Mandalay airport, our driver will meet you and transfer to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 03, Mandalay – Mingun (By Luxury Cruise)                          [B/L/D]

TRANSFER : Transfer from 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 minutes from Mandalay Hotel to ship (Gawein). Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 11:30 AM.

EMBARKATION : Board the Ship at Gawein Jetty (11.30 AM -12.00 NOON), welcome cocktail and lunch.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Mingun

Sail upstream to Mingun. 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. Overnight at Mandalay.

Day 04, Mandalay - Amarapura (By Luxury Cruise)            [B/L/D

MORNING EXCURSION: Mandalay

Visit central Mandalay: Mandalay Hill where spiraling staircases lead to sweeping views of the city and its temples and the nearby Kuthodaw Paya, which contains the world's biggest book, and Shwe Nandaw Kyaung (Golden Monastery), then visit to the Workshops of gold leave making, Tapestry making, Woodcarving. Back to the ship for lunch.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Amarapura

In the afternoon we visit to Mahamuni Pagoda and marble carving – nearby Pagoda. Then Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit a traditional silk weaving workshop followed by U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest wooden bridge (1.2 km) and enjoy the sunset there. Dinner on boat.  Overnight on boat at Sagaing.

 Day 05, Sagaing – Ava (By Luxury Cruise)           [B/L/D

MORNING EXCURSION: Sagaing

Visit Sagaing, a hill studded with many Pagodas and Monasteries rich in wood carving and religious art.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Ava

In the afternoon, we visit the ancient city of Ava, capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841 by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watch tower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. Dinner on boat.  Overnight near a river village.

 Day 06,  Monywa (By Luxury Cruise)             [B/L/D

FULL DAY EXCURSION: Monywa

Early morning drive by coach (approx. 2 ½ hours) to Monywa to visit the Phoe Win Taung cave, where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings dated back to the 14th century. Serve Lunch at a local restaurant in Win Unity Hotel in Monywa. After lunch we visit the splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda with its more than 500,000 Buddha images. Drive to Myin Mu jetty (approx. 1 ½ hours) where we will rejoin the ship. Dinner on boat. Overnight on boat near Myin Mu.

 Day 07,  Yandabo (By Luxury Cruise)             [B/L/D

MORNING EXCURSION: Yandabo

In the morning we arrive at Yandabo, a picturesque village that specializes in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24,1826. We go ashore for a walk stopping at some pot-making workshops and to visit the monastery. Sail downstream stream. Lunch on boat.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Visit River village for a walk. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance sundeck. Moor overnight mid-river.

 Day 08,  Salay – Bagan (By Luxury Cruise)             [B/L/D

MORNING EXCURSION: Salay

In the late morning, we walk ashore at Salay, a small town founded in the 13th century with Bagan-era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings. We explore the Salay House, a restored 1906 colonial trading company warehouse on the bank of the Irrawaddy. Our walk takes us along the town’s main Strand Street towards the local market before turning away from the river to visit the beautiful Yoke Soun Kyaung Taw Gyi wooden monastery. This ornately carved teak monastery was designed as a copy of the Crown Prince House of Mandalay, and is now a museum boasting remarkable wood carvings and artifacts. Pass some interesting Bagan-era monuments on our way to visit Mann Paya, a pagoda with a beautiful lacquerware Buddha, before returning to our ship with a stroll past some of Salay’s many beautiful colonial. Back to the ship for Lunch.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Bagan

After lunch, we visit 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. Then visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquer ware making. Dinner and moor overnight at Bagan.

 Day 09,  Bagan (By Luxury Cruise)             [B/L/D

MORNING EXCURSION: Bagan

This morning our excursion takes us to one of the most incredible areas of Myanmar: Bagan. Once the center of the Pagan Empire, Bagan today is a tourist, artist, and archeological mecca. We will start the tour with ShweZigon Pagoda construction during the reign of King Anawrahta and a Buddhist religious place, is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha. Next explore some of Bagan’s local markets selling wood carvings, fabric, longyis and rattan product. Then stop by Thatbyinnyu Pagoda for photo shoot on the way back to ship for Lunch. Optional: In the very early morning before breakfast Balloon Flight over Bagan (surcharge applied)

AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Bagan

After lunch, visit the massive Htilominlo, built by King Htilominlo on the site where he was chosen from the five sons of King Nadaungmya to be the crown prince of Pagan. While the murals that once decorated much of the inside of this temple have only survived on the ceilings, Htilominlo boasts the finest plaster carvings which still remain undamaged on the arch pediments. Then a visit to Bagan would not be complete without exploring one of the most famous temples of Bagan, Ananda. Built in 1105 CE during King Kyanzittha’s reign, it is one of only four surviving temples from this period. We will explore the cruciform of the temple, with four standing Buddhas facing north, south, east, and west. After that we stop by Dhammayan Gyi Pagoda for photo shoot. 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 10, Disembark – Nyaung Oo – Thandwe (by AM flight) – Ngapali Beach (by car)           [B/L/D

Morning disembarks at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty around 9:00 am. Then transfer to the Nyaung U airport for your flight to Thandwe. 

On arrival at the Thandwe airport, transfer to Ngapali Beach for your hotel check in. You can relax under a palm tree and go swimming occasionally. Water is very clear and the white sand on the beach won't disappoint either. The beach looks west, meaning that there will be not so much of sun in the morning but a beautiful sunset in the evening. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 11, Relaxing at Ngapali Beach, Enjoy Hot air ballooning                           [B/L/D

In the morning, the hot air ballooning team will pick you up at the hotel and you will be transferred to the launch site, in the comfort of a shared vehicle. Safety instruction will be given before the fantastic flying over the world’s most breathtaking scenery of the Bay of Bengal’s unspoiled coastline. During the wonderful flight, you can take in the 360-degree panoramic view of the entire region. Enjoy Myanmar’s wonderful western coastline with rolling hills, lush jungle paradise, traditional villages, gilded temples and the mighty Kisspanadi river that meanders through quaint old Thandwe, Ngapali’s colonial town. As you eventually drift back to earth, you will be greeted by a dedicated crew, and can celebrate your flight with a glass of chilled sparkling wine, in true aeronautical tradition. Before you return to your hotel, you will accept the Ballooning cap and personally signed flight certificate. The rest of the day, free at your own leisure. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 12, Relaxing at Ngapali Beach (Half day boat trip + beach activities)           [B/L/D

After breakfast at the hotel, our team will pick you up and depart to the starting point. Before enjoying the fantastic activities, receive a safety briefing and equipment  for the half day boat trip visiting Pearl Island and White Island. Today beach activities include snorkeling, fishing, exploring the tropical colorful marine life and fish, and visiting the Lighthouse. After relaxing at the white sandy beach, return to the hotel. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully]

Day 13,  Thandwe – Yangon (By AM flight) , Excursion in Yangon           [B/L/D

After breakfast, take a leisurely stay at the hotel till the flight time and then transfer with a sharing vehicle to the Thandwe Airport for your flight to Yangon. 

Arrival in Yangon, meet with our friendly guide and transfer to the hotel for check in. After a short refreshment, visit to The National Museum of Myanmar, the five-story museum has an extensive collection of ancient artifacts, ornaments, work of art, inscriptions and historic memorabilia, related to history, culture and civilization of Burmese people.  In the evening, enjoy Myanmar’s national treasure puppet show, a unique place where Myanmar traditional and cultural heritage of string puppetry can be seen or learned. [Overnight at the Hotel peacefully] 

Day (14), Departure Yangon (By AM Flight)                  [B]

After breakfast at the hotel, meet with our driver and transfer to the Yangon International Airport for your flight back to your home country or next travel destination country. 

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