Irrawaddy Explorer
The sleek, 188-ft Irrawaddy Explorer plys the great Irrawaddy River of Burma, and even before she leaves the dock, she will take you into another world to the grace and style of the British colonial era. Launched in 2014, this all-suite, luxurious river boat is the perfect vessel for your exploration. The friendly team of 33 will provide you with excellent service and do much to contribute to your enjoyment throughout your journey, while the atmosphere on board will be relaxed and informal.
Embarkation
12:00 PM: EMBARKATION FROM GAWEIN JETTY
Board the ship at Gawein Jetty as we welcome you with cocktails.
Lunch onboard in Customs House Dining Room.
Enjoy an afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
LOCATION
Mandalay
DAY
1 / 6
Mingun, Sagaing & Amarapura
AM: After breakfast 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.
PM: After Lunch, we visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. Next we continue by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge.
ENTERTAINMENT: Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:30PM-10:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
2 / 6
Ava
AM: This morning we will explore AVA Kingdom ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 by horse cart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex.
PM: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon.
ENTERTAINMENT: Longyi and Thanaka Demonstration (4:00PM-5:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
3 / 6
Yandabo, Hnaw Kone
AM: On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
PM: This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving.
We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
ENTERTAINMENT: BBC Documentary “The Life of the Buddha” (4:00PM-5:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
4 / 6
Bagan
AM: 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 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. After that we will climbing aboard traditional, ceremonial oxcarts for a short ride through the temples of Bagan. 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.
PM: After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquerware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to 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. 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.
ENTERTAINMENT: Traditional Myanmar Puppet Show (9:00PM-10:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
5 / 6
Disembarkation
8:00 AM: After your breakfast, disembarkation at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty, Bagan.
TRANSFER: Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 30 minutes drive for transfer from ship (Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
LOCATION
Bagan
DAY
6 / 6
Embarkation
TRANSFER: Transfer from airport or hotel to Jetty can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls note that it takes approximately 30 minuts drive from Airport and Hotel to ship (Koe Lone Ye Kin).
EMBARKATION: Bagan
Embark the ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty between 11.00 to 12.30 noon. Welcome cocktail and Lunch on board.
AFTERNOON EXCUSRSION: The Art and Sunset Over Bagan PM:
PM: After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquer ware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to 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. 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.
LOCATION
Bagan
DAY
1 / 6
Hnaw Kone
AM: Markets and Temples of Bagan. This morning, we transfer by motor coach to Bagan’s largest open market, where fresh produce, meats, spices, woodcarvings, longyis, thanaka, and rattan products are sold every day. We have the opportunity to watch the negotiations and transactions taking place, and if we are lucky, see one of the local women carrying their purchases on their heads. After our walk through the market, we proceed to the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. This important religious site dates to the reign of King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Empire. The construction of this complex spanned both King Anawrahta’s lifetime, as well as his son and successor King Kyanzittha’s lifetime. The golden stupa at its center is said to contain a bone and tooth relic of the Buddha, a gold image of Anawrahta and a Chinese emerald Buddha. After exploring this large temple complex we will say goodbye to the temples of Bagan as our coach returns us to the ship and we set sail.
PM: Hnaw Kone Walking Tour. This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
ENTERTAINMENT: Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration (2:00PM-3:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
2 / 6
Yandabo
AM: On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
PM: Lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” (3:30PM-4:30PM)
Burmese Karaoke Party (5:30PM-7:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
3 / 6
Ava, Sagaing & Amarapura
AM: This morning we will explore the town of Ava by horsecart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemeepagoda complex. After visiting AVA, we continue to visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery.
PM: After Lunch, we travel by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge.
Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:00PM-10:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
4 / 6
Mingun, Mandalay
AM: After breakfast 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.
PM: Enjoy a afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
Farewell Reception and Crew Farewell (6:30PM-7:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
5 / 6
Disembarkation
8:00 AM: After your breakfast, disembark at Gawein Jetty.
LOCATION
Mandalay
DAY
6 / 6
Embarkation
12:00 PM: EMBARKATION FROM MANDALAY
Lunch onboard in Customs House Dining Room.
PM: Mandalay Enjoy a afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
Safety Briefing and Orientation (2:00PM-2:30PM) Welcome Reception and Crew Welcome (6:30PM-7:30PM)
LOCATION
Mandalay
DAY
1 / 10
Mingun, Sagaing & Amarapura
AM: Mingun Walking Tour. After breakfast 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.
PM: Sagaing & Amarapura. After Lunch, we visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. Next we continue by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge ENTERTAINMENT: Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:30PM-10:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
2 / 10
Ava
AM: Ava. This morning we will explore AVA Kingdom ruled upper Burma from 1364 to 1555 by horse cart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex.
PM: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon.
ENTERTAINMENT: Longyi and Thanaka Demonstration (4:00PM-5:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
3 / 10
Yandabo, Hnaw Kone
AM: Yandabo. Walking Tour On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
PM: Hnaw Kone. Walking Tour This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
BBC Documentary “The Life of the Buddha” (4:00PM-5:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
4 / 10
Bagan
AM: Bagan viewing tower and Oxcarts ride This morning we take you to Bagan viewing tower to see the scenic view of Bagan. After that we will climbing aboard traditional, ceremonial oxcarts for a short ride through the temples of Bagan.
PM: Temples of Bagan This afternoon 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 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. 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.
Traditional Myanmar Puppet Show (9:00PM-10:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
5 / 10
Bagan
AM: Markets and Temples of Bagan This morning, we transfer by motor coach to Bagan’s largest open market, where fresh produce, meats, spices, woodcarvings, longyis, thanaka, and rattan products are sold every day. We have the opportunity to watch the negotiations and transactions taking place, and if we are lucky, see one of the local women carrying their purchases on their heads. After our walk through the market, we proceed to the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. This important religious site dates to the reign of King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Empire. The construction of this complex spanned both King Anawrahta’s lifetime, as well as his son and successor King Kyanzittha’s lifetime. The golden stupa at its center is said to contain a bone and tooth relic of the Buddha, a gold image of Anawrahta and a Chinese emerald Buddha. After exploring this large temple complex we will say goodbye to the temples of Bagan as our coach returns us to the ship and we set sail.
PM: The Art and Sunset Over Bagan After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquerware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to 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, Mom, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. 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.
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
6 / 10
Salay
AM: Salay Walking Tour. This 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. We 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 buildings.
PM: Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration (3:30PM-4:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
7 / 10
Magwe
AM: Magwe by Trishaw This morning we venture out into the district capitol city of Magwe aboard Trishaws (three wheeled bicycle where one person sits alongside the driver). A short walk takes us to the local market. After some time to explore and shop at the market we board our trishaws for a ride through the city to visit Mya Tha Lun pagoda. Mya Tha Lun is a beautifully gilded stupa set atop Naguttama Hill which offers a wonderful view of the river and surrounding area.
PM: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon with lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today”
Lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” (3:30PM – 4:30PM) Burmese Karaoke Party (5:30PM-7:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
8 / 10
Thayet, Prome & Sri Ksetra
AM: Thayet Myo This morning we will put you on Tuk-Tuk to visit the charming town of Thayet Myo, stopping at the oldest golf course of Myanmar with a fascinating history (guests may hit from the first tee). We then visit the local market, passing colonial homes constructed during the British colonization of Burma.
PM: Prome and Sri Ksetra Once controlled by the Mon tribe during the Bagan Era, and then conquered by the Burmese King Alaungpaya in 1754, Prome (known as Pyay to the locals) boomed along with the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1890s and is now an important trading post for goods traveling between northern and southern Myanmar. This afternoon we drive to Thayekhittaya (also known as Sri Ksetra, the “Fabulous City” in the Pali language), an ancient Pyu city that ruled in this area between the 5th and the 9th centuries. We visit the well-documented Sri Ksetra Museum, full of excellent maps and artifacts including Hindu deities, Buddha images from as far back as the 6th century, Pyu beads, and silver coins.
Farewell Reception and Crew Farewell (6:30PM-7:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
9 / 10
Disembarkation
7:00 AM: DISEMBARKATION FROM PROME
Guests will enjoy a scenic drive from Prome to Yangon post-disembarkation (Meeting Point Sule Shangri-La Hotel).
LOCATION
Prome
DAY
10 / 10
Embarkation
EMBARKATION FROM YANGON
Ship transfer meeting point: Sule Shangri-La. Guests will enjoy a scenic drive from Yangon to Prome. TRANSFER: Transfer from hotel in Yangon to Prome will be provided. Pls take note that it takes approximately 7 hrs drive from Yangon to Prome (7:00 AM - 2:00 PM). Departure from Sule Shangrila Hotel Yangon is 7:00 am. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to departure in order to check in with our representative.
PM: Prome and Sri Ksetra Once controlled by the Mon tribe during the Bagan Era, and then conquered by the Burmese King Alaungpaya in 1754, Prome (known as Pyay to the locals) boomed along with the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1890s and is now an important trading post for goods traveling between northern and southern Myanmar. This afternoon we drive to Thayekhittaya (also known as Sri Ksetra, the “Fabulous City” in the Pali language), an ancient Pyu city that ruled in this area between the 5th and the 9th centuries. We visit the well-documented Sri Ksetra Museum, full of excellent maps and artifacts including Hindu deities, Buddha images from as far back as the 6th century, Pyu beads, and silver coins.
Welcome Reception and Safety Briefing (6:30PM-7:30PM)
LOCATION
Yangon
DAY
1 / 10
Thayet
AM: Thayet Myo This morning we put you on Tuk-Tuk to visit the charming town of Thayet Myo, stopping at the oldest golf course of Myanmar with a fascinating history (guests may hit from the first tee). We then visit the local market, passing colonial homes constructed during the British colonization of Burma before returning to the ship for an afternoon of scenic cruising.
PM: Enjoy sailing the whole afternoon with BBC Documentary “The Life of the Buddha”
BBC Documentary “The Life of the Buddha” (3:30PM-4:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
2 / 10
Magwe
AM: Magwe by Trishaw This morning we venture out into the district capitol city of Magwe aboard Trishaws (three wheeled bicycle where one person sits alongside the driver). A short walk takes us to the local market.
PM: After some time to explore and shop at the market we board our trishaws for a ride through the city to visit Mya Tha Lun pagoda. Mya Tha Lun is a beautifully gilded stupa set atop Naguttama Hill which offers a wonderful view of the river and surrounding area.
Longyi and Thanaka Demonstration (3:30PM-4:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
3 / 10
Salay, Bagan
AM: Salay Walking Tour This 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. We 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 buildings.
PM: Temples of Bagan This afternoon 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 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. 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.
Traditional Myanmar Puppet Show (9:00PM-10:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
4 / 10
Bagan
AM: Bagan viewing tower and Oxcarts ride This morning we take you to Bagan viewing tower to see the scenic view of Bagan. After that we will climbing aboard traditional, ceremonial oxcarts for a short ride through the temples of Bagan.
PM: The Art and Sunset Over Bagan After lunch, we visit a local workshop where the traditional methods of creating lacquerware (known as yun-de in Burmese) are still practiced. After a demonstration of the labor-intensive process required in making each piece, we have time to shop before continuing on our tour. A short coach ride takes us to 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. 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.
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
5 / 10
Hnaw Kone
AM: Markets and Temples of Bagan This morning, we transfer by motor coach to Bagan’s largest open market, where fresh produce, meats, spices, woodcarvings, longyis, thanaka, and rattan products are sold every day. We have the opportunity to watch the negotiations and transactions taking place, and if we are lucky, see one of the local women carrying their purchases on their heads. After our walk through the market, we proceed to the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. This important religious site dates to the reign of King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Empire. The construction of this complex spanned both King Anawrahta’s lifetime, as well as his son and successor King Kyanzittha’s lifetime. The golden stupa at its center is said to contain a bone and tooth relic of the Buddha, a gold image of Anawrahta and a Chinese emerald Buddha. After exploring this large temple complex we will say goodbye to the temples of Bagan as our coach returns us to the ship and we set sail.
PM: Hnaw Kone Walking Tour This afternoon we sail to the village of Hnaw Kone, and enjoy our second leisurely walk of the day. Hnaw Kone is a typical, rural, river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During our exploration of the village we will stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. We will watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skillfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes.
Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration (2:00PM-3:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
6 / 10
Yandabo
AM: Yandabo Walking Tour On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. Today, it is a picturesque village famous for its pottery. As we take a leisurely walk through the village, we have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
PM: Lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” (3:30PM-4:30PM) Burmese Karaoke Party (5:30PM-7:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
7 / 10
Ava, Sagaing & Amarapura
AM: Ava. This morning we will explore the town of Ava by horsecart, visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex.
PM: Sagaing and Amarapura. After lunch, we visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Here, stop to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Irrawaddy and across to Mandalay. Next continue onto a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. Next we continue by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge. Myanmar Traditional Dance Performance (9:00PM-10:00PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
8 / 10
Mingun, Mandalay
AM: Mingun Walking Tour After breakfast 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.
PM: Mandalay Enjoy a afternoon tour Mandalay. We visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then we proceed a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar, and the Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
Farewell Reception and Crew Farewell (6:30PM-7:30PM)
LOCATION
Irrawaddy River
DAY
9 / 10
Disembarkation
8:00 AM: DISEMBARKATION IN MANDALAY
After your breakfast, disembark at Gawein Jetty, Mandalay.
LOCATION
Mandalay
DAY
10 / 10
With a cuisine as diverse as the region, the culinary director has innovatively created a menu which highlights the diverse cuisine of Myanmar, as well as Western favorites that will be reflected in sumptuous buffets and artfully prepared, multi-course dinners. You can also enjoy complimentary wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on-board, to accompany your 5-star cuisine. Located on the Colonial Deck, the restaurant seats all passengers in one sitting.
Watch the passing scenery from the Writers Lounge on the Sun Deck, browse the books in the library or enjoy handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and on-board entertainment in the relaxing environment of the bar. The spacious observation and sun deck area is furnished with chaise lounges and features comfortable, shaded, seating areas. The attentive staff are always available to offer a cool beverage.
The Explorer Spa is an oasis to relax, rejuvenate and truly pamper yourself. You can enjoy a traditional Myanmar massage along with oils and creams made with the ground bark of the thanaka tree. Western spa treatments utilising all-natural products are also available. There is a small fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and panoramic views of the passing landscapes. On the longer cruises, there are lectures on culture and traditions and performances of classical dance and marionette shows.
This marvelous journey transports you through areas of Myanmar rarely visited by Westerners and many that are only accessible by river. Every port will tell a story from the more-than-2200 intricately carved temples to the handmade pottery that is made in the village of Yandabo and floated down the Irrawaddy as it has been for hundreds of years.
Perfect for solo travelers, couples and friends, an Irrawaddy Explorer Cruise is not only about discovering the essence of Myanmar but also living the dream in the elegance of a past era.
Accomodations
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Accommodation in double/twin cabins
- All meals while on board
- Coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, local beer and a glass of house wine with lunch and dinner
- All excursions as described in the itinerary
- English speaking guides
- Entrance fees (for sightseeing as mentioned in the itinerary)
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
- Gratuities
- Transfers to/from cruise port (can be arranged for an additional charge)
- Airport taxes
- Travel insurance
- Domestic or international airfares
- Cost of medical treatment, including evacuation
- Cost of any relevant visa or reciprocity fee
- Souvenirs, spa treatments or additional services
- Anything not clearly listed as included
