Sail Along the Irrawaddy River
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Unravel the mysteries of Myanmar in this journey through an enchanting land almost untouched by the 21st century. Venture into the heart of the country on a luxury cruise along the Irrawaddy. Witness an ever-changing landscape of timeless villages and glittering stupas, experience the daily rhythms along the river and get to know some of the most endearing people in the world.
This is an Abercrombie & Kent private journey and can be tailor-made to fit with your travel dates and built around your desires.
Highlights
- Marvel at Yangon's gleaming architectural masterpiece, Shwedagon Pagoda
- Journey along the mighty Irrawaddy River on a luxury 4-night cruise
- Meet the warm and friendly people of Myanmar in stilted towns, workshops and markets
- Witness the sunset over Bagan's pagoda-sprinkled plain
- Learn the age-old craft behind Mon-style lacquerware in a hands-on workshop
- Barter with colourful hill tribes in the vibrant Fifth Day Market
- Earn 1 Qantas Point* per $1 spent on this itinerary
Itinerary
Day One
Arrive Yangon
Welcome to Myanmar with fast track arrival services. Transfer to your historic hotel.
Accommodation: The Strand Hotel (Superior Suite)
Day Two
Yangon
Discover the four unique wonders of this city once known as the “Queen of the East”. Join your guide on a visit to the Botataung Pagoda and venture into the intriguing hollow stupa. Take a look into the future as you experience a traditional fortune reading by one of Yangon’s most experienced astrologers. Head downtown to discover the city’s colonial architecture and bustling Bogyoke Aung San Market. Later, marvel at the Reclining Buddha Pagoda and step inside the Buddha Shrine Hall filled with effigies. Your final stop is the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda, a diamond-encrusted masterpiece with a gold stupa towering 98 metres above the city. Join pilgrims lighting the oil lamps which encircle the magnificent stupa. As darkness descends, the glittering golden stupa, illuminated by the newly-lit oil lamps and carefully placed spotlights, is a sight to behold (Not available between May to September).
Meal Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: The Strand Hotel (Superior Suite)
Day Three
Yangon – Mandalay
Transfer to Yangon airport for your flight to Mandalay. Board Sanctuary Ananda, your platform for discovery for the next four nights. If there’s time before setting sail, discover the highlights of Mandalay. Visit one of the country’s most revered Buddhist places of worship, Mahamuni Pagoda. Continue to the beautiful teak Shwenandaw Monastery, the only palace building to survive World War II bombings, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, where 729 marble slabs inscribed with Tripitaka texts have earned it the title “the biggest book in the world”.
This afternoon, visit the pagoda-sprinkled Sagaing Hill, an important religious centre that’s home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns. Meet novice monks at a monastic school and acquire a deeper understanding of Buddhism. Later, drink in breathtaking views from the top of the hill on the terraces of the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda. Stop at Amarapura, once known as ‘The City of Immortals’, and listen to the clack-clack of weaving looms as you wander through this charming place. Stop awhile at the U Bein Bridge, believed to be the longest teak bridge in the world, and witness the sunset in this spectacular place.
Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sanctuary Ananda (Deluxe Suite Bagan Deck)
Day Four
Cruising the Irrawaddy River
Sail north to the quaint village of Sin Kyun, just north of Mandalay. Take an optional tour to witness first-hand the way of life in a place seldom viewed by outsiders, and learn about the positive impact being made by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy. Then, set sail towards Tan Chi Taung Mountain. From your perfect viewpoint on the ship, take in the village of Mingun and its massive unfinished pagoda guarded by two gigantic lions. After a decadent lunch, choose from a menu of activities. Enjoy an onboard demonstration of how to tie a longyi (the skirt that both men and women traditionally wear) and how to make and apply tanaka (natural sun cream). And learn about Myanmar’s history and culture from the onboard expert.
Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sanctuary Ananda (Deluxe Suite Bagan Deck)
Day Five
Cruising the Irrawaddy River
Taste a unique blend of traditional flavours in a hands-on cooking class with the ship’s executive chef. Then, enjoy a leisurely morning sailing downstream as you enjoy the many luxuries onboard Sanctuary Ananda. Indulge in a spa treatment, relax by the pool or simply soak in the timeless landscape of fishing canoes, teak villages and hills glinting with golden spires as you sail towards Bagan. On arrival, venture to the top of Tan Chi Taung mountain for your first glimpse of the Bagan plain, dotted with more than 2,000 pagodas and stupas. Back onboard, enjoy sundowners in the elegant Kansi Panorama Lounge before a candlelit dinner on the banks of the Irrawaddy.
Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sanctuary Ananda (Deluxe Suite Bagan Deck)
Day Six
Cruising the Irrawaddy River
Rise early for an optional sunrise balloon ride over the pagoda-sprinkled landscape (additional fee). Visit the vibrant local market of Nyaung U where farmer gather to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from fruit and vegetable to china and lacquerware. Continue to the great golden Shwezigon Pagoda and see where relics of the Gautama Buddha lie, and on to Ananda Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in Myanmar. Watch the dramatic sunset over the temple-dotted plains, followed by a local performance and farewell dinner onboard – the perfect end to your cruise adventure.
Meal Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Sanctuary Ananda (Deluxe Suite Bagan Deck)
Day Seven
Bagan
Leave your cruise ship behind and journey to the village of Myinkaba. Explore a place where locals still rely on centuries-old craft techniques. Step inside a lacquerware workshop for your hands-on masterclass in one of Myanmar’s ancient handicrafts.
Meal Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel (Orchid or Jasmine villa)
Day Eight
Bagan – Inle Lake
Fly to Heho and check into your elegant, boutique hotel on the edge of Inle Lake, a culturally vibrant, untouched corner of the world. See where fisherman row using their legs, farmers work on floating land, and stilt villages punctuate the landscape. Visit the Phaung-Daw-U Pagoda and see the five golden Buddha images carried from Malaysia to Myanmar by the 12th century King Alaungsithu. Then, visit the wooden Nga Pe Chaung Monastery built on stilts over the lake.
Meal Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Villa Inle Resort (Lake Front Villa)
Day Nine
Inle Lake
Start your day with a visit to the Fifth Day Market, the lively rotating market that travels by boat around the towns. Browse handmade crafts and fresh produce grown on the floating gardens, while admiring the vibrant dress of different hill tribes. See firsthand why Inle Lake is renowned for its silk weaving in the village of Inn Paw Khone. This afternoon, cruise through a densely-forested river to visit Indein perched on a hillside in the southwestern corner of the lake. Slow down to wander through this typical lakeside village and watch daily life unfold before walking through a bamboo grove and up a beautiful stairway lined with wooden columns to old Shwe Inn Dein, an impressive collection of ancient Shan style stupas. Bask in the stunning view across the lake and beyond, to the hills in the east and the rolling countryside to the west.
Meal Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Villa Inle Resort (Lake Front Villa)
Day Ten
Inle Lake
Enjoy a day at leisure. Optional tours may include a visit to Aythaya, Myanmar’s first and most notable vineyard. Sample some of their fine wines in the heart of the beautiful estate surrounded by countless rows of vines nestled high on the mountainside. Or take a leisurely bike ride to Nanthe village to see the Kyauk-phyu-jyi pagoda and a vibrant town on the lake to visit the Shan Royal Palace, a tomato warehouse and bamboo weaving factory. Pause at Red Mountain Winery for wine tasting before visiting the Intha Heritage Bamboo School. Alternatively meet a traditional Shan chef for an immersive culinary experience. Visit the vibrant local market by boat to select the freshest ingredients before being welcomed into your chef’s stilted house for a unique cooking class followed by lunch (additional cost).
Meal Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Villa Inle Resort (Lake Front Villa)
Day Eleven
Inle Lake – Yangon
Transfer to Heho for the flight back to Yangon where you are transferred to a local restaurant for lunch. Later, weave your way through Yangon’s hive of independent galleries and artist’s studios with a leading curator and researcher to discover a flourishing creative arts scene often missed by passing visitors. Your guide today has been an active part of the city’s arts scene since 2009 and founded Myanm/art, an institution that promotes local contemporary art to domestic and international audiences. See the city through her eyes as she leads you to hidden exhibition spaces in historic buildings. Get a brief overview of the nation’s art history at the curator’s own gallery. Then continue to various venues scattered around the downtown area to learn more about the nation’s emerging artists, their unique visions and dynamic body of work. Or visit Sule Pagoda. If the Shwedagon is the soul of Yangon, then the Sule Pagoda is its heart. This evening is at leisure or you may wish to dine at the acclaimed Le Planteur, one of the finest restaurants in the city (additional cost).
Meal Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Belmond Governor’s Residence (Deluxe Garden View Room)
Day Twelve
Depart Yangon
Transfer to the airport where your journey ends.
Meal Included: Breakfast
Departures & Rates
Twin Share Per Person: from $6,425
Solo Traveller: on request
This is an Abercrombie & Kent private journey and can be tailor-made to fit with your travel dates and built around your desires.
Ask one of our Travel Specialists about Packaging Flights with your Tour and Save
*Rates are subject to availability and seasonality and may change without notice. Rates are based on two adults sharing. For solo travellers or single person occupancy rates or further information on terms and conditions, please contact our Travel Specialists at time of booking.
Accommodation
The Strand Hotel
Highly acclaimed as one of Southeast Asia’s leading luxury hotels, and with a name synonymous with welcoming and intuitive service, the iconic Strand Yangon has been a city landmark since 1901 situated on Strand Road in the heart of downtown Yangon, near the Yangon River and the main commercial and diplomatic districts. A member of Leading Hotels of the World, the property underwent a complete refurbishment in 2016, with all 31 suites redecorated in keeping with the Strand’s legendary style and timeless elegance, while being upgraded with the latest air-conditioning, sound and communications systems.
The restored Strand Grill features a colonial-style dining room and gourmet menu of Asian and international cuisine, while the informal Strand Café, which overlooks the bustle of Strand Road, is open throughout the day and features polished teak flooring and black lacquer ceiling fans, complemented by traditional Burmese antiques. The Spa at The Strand Yangon offers a comprehensive treatment menu, including a traditional Myanmar massage, Signature Strand Massage, and Bathing Ritual.
Sanctuary Ananda
The luxurious, all-suite Sanctuary Ananda carries guests in style on voyages of breathtaking beauty and discovery on the mysterious rivers of Myanmar. Most of the cruises travel along the majestic Irrawaddy River between Bhamo and Yangon visiting temples, pagodas, palaces and monasteries along the way – while cruising down its great tributary, the Chindwin, reveals places rarely seen before. Sanctuary Ananda offers 2, 3, 4 and 7 night ‘Discovery Cruises’ as well as 10 and 11 night ‘Exploration Cruises’ which allow guests more time to explore these waterways.
The Suites
Sanctuary Ananda offers two suites, 14 deluxe suites, four luxury suites and the Owner’s suite. All are air-conditioned with either double or twin beds, an en suite bathroom with monsoon showers and a large private balcony. The four luxury suites have spacious indoor seating and can accommodate a third guest. The ultraluxurious Owners Suite has a king-sized bed, dressing area, a free-standing bathtub and monsoon shower, as well as private living and dining areas with superb panoramic views of the river. Contemporary luxuries, standard to every cabin include iPod docking station and iPad TV connectivity.
Daily Activities
Days start with complimentary, early morning meditation and sunrise yoga on the sundeck. While cruising during the day, guests can relax on a sun lounge or take a dip in the outdoor plunge pool. In the afternoons and evenings, local Burmese experts talk about the culture, history and attractions of Myanmar.
Luxury on Board
Traditional materials like local silk, polished teak and beautiful lacquerware have been used in the ship’s design celebrating Myanmar’s rich craft heritage and creating contemporary luxury. The ship has one of the highest staff to guest ratios on the river. Other facilities include a sundeck with outdoor pool, restaurant, lounge, and the enticing Thambyadine Spa and gym
Facts
- Launch year: 2014
- Length: 61m
- Beam: 11.7m
- Draught: 1.2 m
- Passengers: 48
What’s included
- All meals during full sailing days with lunch and dinner on day of embarkation and breakfast on day of disembarkation.
- Soft drinks and local beer during the day, local wine with lunch and dinner
- All sightseeing as stated in set itineraries
- A private guide whilst touring and butler service in the Owner’s Suites
- Full balconies for every suite
Aureum Palace Hotel
Located amidst the ancient temples of Bagan, the Aureum Palace Hotel is a tranquil paradise, set in 27 acres of tropical gardens beside a lake. All 114 rooms, 72 of which are housed in 45 villas, are decorated with quality antiques, rich fabrics and local handicrafts. Bedrooms are spacious; bathrooms are large and lavishly equipped. For the ultimate in privacy, three of the villas feature private pools and separate dining areas with a full-time butler and staff at guests’ disposal.
Dining options are extensive with Burmese, Shan, Thai and other exotic regional cuisines available. The Spa offers aromatherapy treatments and massage by appointment and there is a swimming pool and fitness centre.
Villa Inle Resort
Villa Inle Resort and Spa has a stunning location in 20 acres of private grounds on the lakeside with a selection of villas that have been created to blend in with the environment. Beautifully appointed with hand-selected local paintings and antiques, the villas have spacious living areas and bathrooms. There is one main restaurant serving a selection of authentic Shan, Western, Myanmar and Inthar cuisine which will delight all.
The hotel has planted a selection of exotic fruit trees, so guests can pick their own fresh fruit, and an organic vegetable garden. The spa is the perfect place after a day of sightseeing, with four treatment rooms and qualified therapists ready to rejuvenate and relax mind, body and soul.
Belmond Governor’s Residence
A romantic, colonial-style mansion dating from the 1920s, Belmond The Governor’s Residence is redolent of the days when it was home to the ruler of Burma’s southern states. With its fan-cooled verandas and teak armchairs, this delightful Belmond hotel in the elegant Embassy Quarter of Yangon, conjures up a bygone era while offering every modern comfort.
Set in a verdant garden dotted with lotus pools, the hotel is truly magical at the end of a day spent visiting the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda. Dinner is served alfresco in the balmy evening air by lantern light, as tropical fragrances scent the breeze.
