A CHATTERED CABIN IRRAWADDY RIVER CRUISE (MANDALAY- BAGAN)
(6Days/5Nights)(2 Nights on Board)
Take in some serious culture and then relax to the max on cruise on this tour. These tours make the most of the visitors’ time and discover the most important landmarks and places of interest in Mandalay, Mingun, Sagaing, Yandaboo Village, Chindwin Confluence and final experience the magnificence of Bagan where thousands of ancient temples dot a plain. Take a 6-day break and be truly amazed and refreshed!
This most compact tour starts at the last royal capital of Mandalay and we then proceed to the temple city of Bagan by a chattered cabin cruise.
Coverage: MANDALAY-MINGUN-SAGAING-YANDABO VILLAGE-BAGAN-MANDALAY
Start City: Mandalay
End City: Mandalay
Duration: 6Days/5Nights
Operational period: All Year Round
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival Mandalay (transfer + sightseeing)
Day 2: Mandalay-Mingun-Sagaing-Mandalay (by a chattered cabins cruise)
Day 3: Sagaing-Yandabo village-Chindwin Confluence (by a chattered cabins cruise)
Day 4: Chindwin Confluence-Nyaung U Jetty (+ Bagan Sightseeing)
Day 5: Bagan-Mt.Popa-Bagan (by private fully A/C car)
Day 6: Bagan-Mandalay International Airport (by private fully A/C car)
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY1: ARRIVAL MANDALAY (transfer + sightseeing)
On arrival at Mandalay International Airport you are welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel. After refreshment, we visit the rest of the day sightseeing in Mandalay, the last royal capital and environs. Although quite a young city and a hub of commerce it is the main centre for monastic learning for over a century now.
(1) We visit the Maha Muni, a spectacularly gold-encrusted Buddha image said to be cast in the life-time of Buddha himself and the most sacred Buddhist site in upper Myanmar.
(2) Mandalay, the last royal capital of Myanmar is the best place to see all the traditional arts and handy craft workshops such as making of gold leaves, wood carvings, marble carvings, tapestries etc…. .
(3) Afterwards, we visit Mandalay Palace and the nearby, Shwe Nandaw Monastery - noted for its exquisite wood carvings and Kuthodaw Pagoda - known as the world biggest book.
(4) We finish the day’s tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to experience a tropical sun-set with panoramic views of the city and the Ayeyarwaddy River. Dinner at local restaurant and over night in Mandalay.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Meals: Welcome Dinner
DAY 2: MANDALAY-AMARAPURA-MINGUN-SAGAING (by a chattered cabins cruise)
After breakfast at hotel, we begin the days’ tour with:
A drive to the ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of immortality for a visit to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; local weaving cottage industry of cotton cloth, the two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taung thaman Lake and if there is time, observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. We then proceed to Mandalay MGRG Jetty to catch the cruise embarkation time 11:30 am.
The embarkation time is 11: 30 am at MGRG Jetty and cast off at 12:30 pm. Welcome drink is provided. For us own safety, Safety Information briefing is given in the Dining Room followed by Lunch. Ship will be cast off after safety briefing. In the afternoon, it will be arrived to Mingun where you will visit the Unfinished Pagoda, the largest working bell in the world and the “home for the aged”. Our English speaking guide will accompany the guests during the visit.
Sightseeing time will take 2 hours and then come back to the ship, continue downstream to Sagaing. Moor Overnight near Sagaing. After dinner, you will be performed by Myanmar cultural dance on the sundeck.
Accommodation: on board at near Sagaing
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 3: SAGAING–YANDABO VILLAGE–CHINDWIN CONFLUENCE (by a chattered cabins cruise)
Ship will be cast off early in the morning and it will arrive to Sagaing. After having breakfast, approx: around 9:00am, it will be One & Half hour’s excursion by coach to visit the most important Buddhist Religion site. If we’ve enough time, we’ll also visit to Silver Smith workshop. We’ll be back to ship about 10:30 am and continue downstream to Yandabo Village.
In the late afternoon, it is the Sightseeing time to Yandabo Village. The economy of that village is famous for the production of terracotta from the riverbank clay. We will look around the pottery making process at various stages. Yandabo is historically recognized for the signing of the Yandabo Treaty which took place under a tree on the riverbank in 1826 between the British and Royal Burmese House-hold of Ava. Shore excursion time is 1 hour. Back to ship and cast off. Continue sailing downstream and moor overnight at Chindwin confluence.
Accommodation: on board at Chindwin Confluence
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 4: CHINDWIN CONFLUENCE-NYAUNG U JETTY + BAGAN SIGHTSEEING
Cast off early in the morning, continue sailing downstream and it will arrive to Nyaung U Jetty (Bagan) at approximately 9:30 am. After disembark from the ship, our Bagan station guide will come and pick you up by private air-conditioned coach at Jetty. Afterwards you will begin a tour of Bagan’s highlights;
(1) A morning visit to the interesting local Nyaung Oo Market where you can buy some cotton clothing or local woven fabrics and souvenirs, catching a glimpse of local life and culture.
(2) Shwe-Zi-Gon; completed in 1084, noted for its glazed plaques depicting scenes from the Jatakas, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas.
(3) Wet-kyi-Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with its exquisite mural paintings of 13th century
(4) The majestic HtilominloTemple; built in 1211 AD and one of the largest temples, noted for its fine plaster carvings on the arch pediments and friezes.
(5) In the afternoon, have a lunch at local restaurant and check in hotel then we proceed to lacquer ware workshops to learn about the fascinating technique of this art.
(6) Ananda Temple, 1090AD, a masterpiece of early period temple-architecture with four huge standing Buddha Images.
(7) Dhamayangyi Temple; the biggest and finest brickworks temple in Bagan
(8) Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha (a captured king's impression of life in prison)
(9) Nam Phaya an earliest masterpiece with its fine stone carvings (photo stop at Seinnyet Nyima Pagodas, a temple and a stupa with exquisite design) and enjoy a spectacular sunset from a suitable temple.
Dinner with a Culture Show at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 5: BAGAN-MT.POPA-BAGAN (by private fully A/C car)
For this day’s tour:
(1) We leave the Bagan temples and take a short drive to Mt. Popa. We join local pilgrims on a 777-step winding staircase ascent of the Mt Popa and see the Nat (spirit) shrines that line the walkway along with the monkeys that live on the mountain. Mt. Popa is known as the abode of Nats(spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and you can also see the Nat museum, which houses 37 life-size nat statues sculpted from teak.
(2) On the way back to Bagan, we will experience the traditional toddy palm sugar, and peanut oil production. We may stop several places for making the photos and knowing the countryside. If time allows, continue on Minanthu village to observe the daily life of the people and then return to Bagan.
Dinner with a Puppet Show at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 6: BAGAN-MANDALAY (by private fully A/C car)
Early in the morning, depart from Bagan and drive to Mandalay International Airport to catch in time for your return international departure flight by a private fully air-conditioned car. It will take approximate 4 hours drive (169 km) from Bagan to Mandalay International Air-port.
Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast