DAY 1 ARRIVE YANGON, MYANMAR
Arrive in Yangon, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.
DAY 2 YANGON | QUEEN OF THE EAST
Begin your explorations with a stroll through Scott Market (Bogyoke Market) amid shops filled with antiques, old coins, Burmese jade and handicrafts. After lunch at a local restaurant, tour Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar. Standing nearly 330 feet tall, the venerated stupa is covered in gold leaf and topped by a finial encrusted with thousands of diamonds, rubies, sapphires and other precious gems. Continue to the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, a 213-foot-long statue with an expressive enamel face. View the story of the Buddha’s life embossed on the soles of the statue’s staggered feet. Return to your hotel, with time to relax. (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 3 INLE LAKE | TRANQUIL & TRADITIONAL
Fly to Heho, your gateway to Inle Lake and drive to the village of Nyaung Shwe, where you stop at a local Shan paper workshop. Explore the 19th-century Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, built entirely out of teak wood. After lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, board a boat and see the floating gardens of Inle Lake. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, a local shrine that houses five small gilded images of the Buddha, as well as Nga Phe Kyaung monastery. (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 4 INLE LAKE | FIVE-DAY MARKET
After breakfast, pay a visit to the Five-Day Market to see regional hill tribe people in traditional dress bartering for goods and produce. Try your hand at making a cheroot (Burmese cigar) and stop at a blacksmith’s workshop and a weaving factory, followed by lunch at the Intha Heritage House, serving authentic Intha dishes from recipes handed down through generations. Return to your hotel. (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 5 MANDALAY | ICONS & EVENING PRAYERS
Fly to Mandalay and drive to nearby Ava. Explore the ruins by horse-cart, including Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, Bagaya Monastery and the Watch Tower. Return to Mandalay, where you check in to your hotel. This evening, witness evening prayers at Shwe Kyin Monastery. (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 6 MANDALAY | U BEIN BRIDGE
View the more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist religious texts, referred to by some as the biggest book in the world, at Kuthodaw Pagoda. Stop at a gold leaf workshop and visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Then, board luxurious all-balcony ‘Sanctuary Ananda,’ your home for a four-night cruise upon the Irrawaddy River. After lunch, disembark to visit Sagaing, renowned for its monasteries and pagodas. Take in views from atop the Sagaing Hills. Visit the U Bein Bridge to see the spectacular sunset. Then, return to the ship for dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 7 CRUISING THE IRRAWADDY | A TIMELESS JOURNEY
Early this morning, sail north to the quaint village of Sin Kyun to witness firsthand the way of life in this location seldom visited by outsiders. Afterwards, relax on deck observing local village life, or receive a spa treatment. Later, attend a longyi (traditional Burmese cloth) demonstration, followed by a talk on Myanmar’s past, present and future. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 8 CRUISING THE IRRAWADDY | TEMPLES & PAGODAS
After breakfast, take a cooking class with the ship’s Executive Chef. After lunch on board, head to the top of Tan Chi Taung Mountain to enjoy your first glimpse of the Bagan plain, containing more than 2,000 pagodas and stupas. Tonight, a candlelit sandbank dinner is served with the backdrop of the twinkling lights of Bagan. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 9 BAGAN | BALLOONING OVER BAGAN
Rise early for a hot air balloon ride (seasonally and weather permitting) over Bagan, as dawn illuminates the gold- and sand-colored stupas. Next, explore Nyaung Oo Market, Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Temple. Then, proceed to a pagoda complex in Bagan to watch the sunset before returning to the ship for dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
DAY 10 YANGON | BURMESE ASTROLOGY READING
Disembark and fly to Yangon. Meet a traditional Burmese astrologer, who specializes in advising individuals on important life decisions — such as when to marry or buy property — in order to correctly choose days for these events that will bring good fortune. Your afternoon is at leisure, perhaps for some last-minute shopping. (Breakfast, Lunch)
DAY 11 DEPART YANGON
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart. (Breakfast)
On this independent journey, embark on a four-night Irrawaddy River cruise aboard luxurious, all-balcony 'Sanctuary Ananda,' see Shwedagon Pagoda and explore Bagan's many temples.
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A Ready-to-book, Private Itinerary Designed for You
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Exclusive Insider-Access Opportunities
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English-Speaking Local Guides
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Private Sightseeing
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Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
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Full Breakfast Daily
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Entrance Fees and Taxes
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24/7 A&K On-Call Support
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The prices shown are U.S. dollars per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. Prices quoted for land/cruise arrangements are subject to increase without notice. Once we have received your deposit, land/cruise prices are guaranteed. Air prices quoted via phone or email are subject to increase and are guaranteed only from the time that full payment is received. Also, air prices or air promotions mentioned on this site or on the phone do not include baggage fees imposed by airlines. Sorry, we are unable to offer air from countries other than the U.S. However, for those international customers who are able to arrange their own transportation to the trip origination city, we are able to offer the land/cruise portion of the package at the price quoted.
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