RIVER JOURNEY TOURS

10-Day Highlight With Pandaw Cruise 2 Nights

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TUESDAY

DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by your Asiantour guide and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI; and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

WEDNESDAY

DAY 02          YANGON – HEHO – PINDAYA - INLE LAKE

After breakfast, transferred you to airport for flight to Heho. Upon arrival to HEHO, drive to PINDAYA (60 km - 1 ½ hours). After lunch at a local restaurant, visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. Transfer by road to NYAUNG SHWE (90 km – 2 ½ hours) and by boat to the hotel (20 minutes).
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

THURSDAY

DAY 03          INLE LAKE

After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. The visit begins with the local market in the Inle Lake region (Remark : on market days only) and proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex.
After Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, you will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks and the weaving village of INPAWKHON.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake. 

FRIDAY

DAY 04          INLE LAKE – HEHO – MANDALAY

After breakfast transfer to Heho Airport (25km – 1 hour) for a domestic flight to Mandalay. Drive to Hotel for check-in.
In the afternoon, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including the SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; the GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wooden building and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book made of marble. Then proceed to MANDALAY HILL for sunset.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

SATURDAY

DAY 05          MANDALAY / AMARAPURA / AVA

After breakfast, excursion to Amarapura, 15 km from Mandalay. Visit one of the most revered religious monuments of Myanmar,, MAHAMUNI PAGODA before continue to MAHAGANDAYON, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues.
Afternoon embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts.
Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

SUNDAY

DAY 06          MANDALAY – ( BAGAN )(BY RV PAUKAN CRUISE)

After breakfast, transfer to jetty for boarding to PV Paukan Cruise.
MANDALAY (GAWEIN) – MINGUN
Check-in Time - 12.00 am
The embarkation time is at 12 noon at Gawein jetty. Welcome Cocktail in the saloon.
Upstream to Mingun
Cast off time is at 12:30 hrs. Lunch will be served at 13.00. The sailing time is about 2 hrs. English speaking manager (or your private guide) will assist the guests during the visit of the Mingun Pagoda Complex.
Moor Overnight at a sandbank mid-stream. After dinner guests can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck (if available).

MONDAY

DAY 07          ON CRUISE

MINGUN – SAGAING –RIVER VILLAGE

Downstream to Sagaing
Early in the morning cruise downstream. During the 2 hours journey the passengers can admire the natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or just sitting outside their own cabin. Enjoy the sunrise over Sagaing Hill
Visit Sagaing
After breakfast passengers can go ashore to visit Sagaing with the assistance of Ship Manager or their own guide.
Downstream to Bagan
The cast off time is at 10.30 hrs. Lunch will be served at 13.00. In the late afternoon we 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.
Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint.

TUESDAY

DAY 08          ARRIVE BAGAN

BAGAN

River Village
Early in the morning we proceed downriver to Bagan. After breakfast (if time permits), visit another typical river village.

Check-Out Time
Enjoy the sunrise near Bagan. Passengers will disembark at Aye Yar jetty around 9:30 hrs.
Arrival to Bagan jetty, meet your guide in Bagan and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon, learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

WEDNESDAY

DAY 09          BAGAN – YANGON

After breakfast, stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including HGNET PYIT TAUNG PAGODA; SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; HTILOMINLO TEMPLE, noted for its plaster carvings and KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments.
In the afternoon, visit ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images and horse-carriage will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Transfer to airport for domestic flight to YANGON.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Optional: Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. Supplement : US$.250 nett per person

THURSDAY

DAY 10          DEPART YANGON

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for departure flight.

The Itinerary is subject to changes depending on flights, road conditions, river conditions and availability of rooms.

NGAPALI and NGWE SAUNG BEACH EXTENSIONS

Our Ngapali and Ngwe Saung Beach Extensions are ideal for guests who wish to spend some relaxing days at one of the most beautiful and unspoiled beaches in Asia. Air Mandalay and Air Bagan operate daily non-stop flights between Yangon and Thandwe (Ngapali Beach). Air Bagan operates flights from Yangon and Heho to Pathein (Ngwe Saung Beach) – request the updated flight schedule information from our office.
Direct flights to Ngapali also operate from other destinations in Myanmar.