Myanmar Cruise Tour

Tour Name : Myanmar Cruise Tour
Tour Duration : 09 Days / 08 Nights
Route : Yangon – Mandalay - Bagan – Yangon
Vacation Type : Tour and Cruise

This program is presented to you for your visit around Myanmar for its main tourist destinations. Explore from Yangon – the garden city and the main gate way to Myanmar to Mandalay – the culture canter and its environs, Sagaing – the Place of Meditation and Mingun - home of the world biggest ringing bell and Bagan – the richest archaeological sights in Asia. You will find the local peoples and landscape beyond your imagination.

Transportation between each destination by domestic flight on Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan (F-100 or ATR-72/42) can be done throughout the year.

The RV Pandaw and other 5 similar so called "class P " design vessels was commissioned after the end of the Second World War by the Inland Water Transport Board of the Union of Burma government with the technical expertise of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company at that time acting as Agents to the I.W.T. Board. RV Pandaw was built in Scotland on the Clyde by the famous ships builder Yarrrow & Co on 1947 with the same design of the pre-war Quarter Wheeler steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. After being boarded up in order to protect her from the sea waves, she left Scotland for the delivery voyage to Burma on 1950. On the 12th January 1951 she started to serve the Inland Water Transport (Irrawaddy Flotilla was nationalized on the 1st of June 1948) on the route Mandalay-Bhamo for both cargo and passengers transportation. In the 1998 she was converted into a 16 cabins luxurious river cruise vessel by the revived Irrawaddy Flotilla Company founded by the Historian Mr.Paul Strachan. IFC has operated the vessel in the rivers of Myanmar for 5 years until 2003. In the second half of the 2003 Interconnection Co. Ltd signed the charter agreement with IWT and the RV PANDAW underwent a major renovation at the Yangon Dalla Dockyards. As far as the Hotel side is concerned new furniture has been specially designed and new Food and Beverage equipment have been bought.

Detailed Tour Program

Day 01: FRIDAY Arrival Yangon

Arrive Yangon international airport, welcome by tour guide. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Visit Chauk Htatt Kyi (the six storied in meaning but actually the huge reclining Buddha Image, Sule (the eight sided stupa located at the center of Yangon, the Independent Monument. And study the ways of living of Yangon citizens (which can observe the tradition and modern costume) and Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide – its golden stupa is the ‘ Heart ’ of Buddhism Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar People praying and making offerings at Shwedagon, and it’s a fascinating place to spend time watching the world go by. And overnight stay at hotel in Yangon.

Day 02: SATURDAY Yangon Mandalay (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay (domestic schedule flight, ~ 1 ½ hour flying). Transfer to the hotel. And visit Mahamuni Buddha Image, Zegyo Market and some of Mandalay’s cottage industries, such as weaving and tapestry making, Burmese candy making, Bamboo fan making near Eindaw Yar Pagoda, Atumahsi Monastery and Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery), Kuthodaw (Maha Lawkamarazein Pagoda) which is famous as the world largest book of many stone slabs on which is inscribed the whole Buddhist Literature.. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight stay at hotel in Mandalay.

Day 03: SUNDAY Mandalay Mingun with RV Pandaw 1947 (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. Leisure at hotel and about 11:30, transfer to the Gawein Jetty and embarking the RV Pandaw 1947. Welcome cocktail in the saloon. Lunch on board. After lunch, sailing to Mingun and visit Mingun with an English speaking cruse manager. Moor overnight at a sandbank mid-stream.

Day 04: MONDAY Mandalay Sagaing with RV Pandaw 1947 (B, L, D)

Early in the morning cruse down stream. During the 2 hours journey, you can admire the natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sun desk or just sitting outside your own cabin. Enjoy sunrise over Sagaing Hill. After breakfast, visit Sagaing. The cast off time is 11:15. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, stop at Yandabo, a village specialize in Pot –Making where the peace treaty of the first Anglo – Burmese war was signed on Feb 24, 1826. Cruise all day and moor overnight near a river village.

Day 05: TUESDAY Bagan with RV Pandaw 1947 (B)

Early in the morning, proceed downriver to Bagan. After breakfast (if time permit) visit another typical river village. Enjoy sunrise near Bagan. Disembark at Aye Yar Jetty around 10:15. Our guide will welcome you at the jetty and transfer to the hotel. Then full day visit included: Shwezigon Pagoda – built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, then go to Ananda Temple – King Kyansittha’s masterpiece and the crowning achievement of the early style temple of architecture, next is Thatbyinnyu Temple – the highest building on the Bagan plain, after that visit to Htilominlo Temple – the largest temple of Bagn – noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. In the afternoon observe the process of traditional lacquer ware, one of Myanmar’s best known handicrafts and a specialty of Bagan. Then visit Manuha Temple, Myingabar Gubyaugyi Temple – an early period Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence with some of the oldest mutual paintings in Bagan and Dhamanyangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. Lastly watch sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River from Shwesandaw Pagoda. Overnight at hotel in Bagan.
 

Day 6: WEDNESDAY Bagan (B)
Option: Balloon Over Bagan (BOB)

It is a unique opportunity to see the Bagan with ‘BALLOONS OVER BAGAN’. You get a magnificent birds-eye view of thousand year-old pagodas, temples and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River as it has never been seen before. The balloon is guided by gentle winds not exceeding 24 km/h. Eight/Six passengers plus a pilot fit into the balloon’s basket. The champagne flights at sunrise last just under an hour and take off daily from October through March. Price is US $ 230 / pax. Due to the limited capacity, advance bookings at an early stage are highly recommended.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit tropical village to visit an old Noodle Cottage and observe the daily life the people in Taung Bi Village. Afternoon visit Kyaugu Umin Temple, which is an interesting rock cave tunnel, and Nagayon, an elegant and well preserved temple containing many Buddha images, the main one which is twice life size and shelters under the hood of a huge serpent. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: THURSDAY Bagan Mt. Popa Bagan (B)

After breakfast, drive to Mt. Popa (~ 50 km, 1 ½ hour driving) where a house for Myanmar spirits. On the way you can find the beauty of typical villages and the ways of making Toddy Candy. Return to Bagan. Afternoon, visit Bagan for the rests of the famous pagodas. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: FRIDAY Bagan Yangon (B)

After an early breakfast, transfer to Nyaung U airport for your onward flight to Yangon (domestic schedule flight, ~ 1 ½ hour driving). On the way to the hotel, visit Kabar Aye (the World Peace pagoda) and Maha Pasana (the great cave for Buddhist synod) and check in at the hotel. After lunch, shopping at Bogyoke Market (Scott’s Market) of hundreds of shops where you can find local products such as Gems & Jewelry , slippers, cloth, and so on. Evening stroll along the China Town and study the ways of living of Yangon citizens (which can observe the tradition and modern costume). Overnight stay at hotel in Yangon.

Day 09: SATURDAY Yangon departure (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Leisure till the flight time. Transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight to conclude this unique experience.

*** End of Our Services***

Tour price net per person in US $ (Validity: 1st October 2010 to 30th April 2011, except 24th Dec 2010 – 07th Jan 2011 & 12th April – 21st April 2011)

Service Included:

• Accommodation in twin or double sharing room with daily breakfast
• Meals : Daily breakfast at hotel
• Meal : Lunch and dinner
• 2 domestic flights : Yangon – Mandalay // Bagan - Yangon
• Transfer and transportation with private air-coned coach as per program
• Mandalay to Bagan by RV Pandaw Cruise (2 Nights Cruise)
• Entrance fees for the sightseeing spots as per program (except Museums)
• Experienced and fluent English speaking station guide fees (except on boat)

Service Excluded:

• Meal : X’mas & New Year Eve Compulsory Dinner

• New Year Celebration Supplement on boat

• International Airfares and Airport Tax (US $ 10 / Pax)

• Travel Insurances

• Extra Tours not mentioned in the program

• Visa on arrival fees

• Personal Expenses such as Drinks, Tips, Camera Fees, Laundry Service, Phone Charges, etc…