Sanctuary Ananda Cruise 12 Days 11 Nights - Upper Ayeyarwady

Check in no later than 8.45am and settle into your suite. Lunch will be served on board as we set sail for the charming pottery-making village of Nwe Nyein.

Today we wil spend sailing towards Nwe Nyein. which means you have ample time to enjoy the luxuries on board Ananda. As you will be sailing all day, why not take advantage of our spa treatments? We have a range of specially prepared offers on our holistic spa treatments for use on board today and tomorrow.

Join us at the Kansi Panorama Lounge for a welcome briefing along with a champagne and canapés reception followed by the welcome dinner on board

the ship.

Overnight in Nwe Nyein.

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• Day 1

After an early breakfast, we’ll take you on a walk to a pottery factory in the village of Nwe Nyein on the western bank of the Ayeyarwady River. Here we’ll watch the craftsmen create beautiful pots as they work their potters’ wheels with their legs.

As we glide down the river, you can enjoy talks and demonstrations on traditions such as how to wear a longyi (sarong) and the thanaka make-up technique (the local cosmetic used to protect skin from the hot sun).

We’ll then spend the day travelling through soul-stirring riverscapes to Kyar Nyet where we will dock for the night.

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• Day 2

We depart from Kyar Nyet early in order to arrive in Tagaung in the morning. After a fine breakfast we shall depart to explore ancient Tagaung, which dates back to the Pyu Dynasty. This rich archaeological site still has the original city walls which have been extremely well preserved. Next we’ll sail upstream to Katha which we will reach the following morning.

Join evening lecture where you will learn about Myanmar’s history.

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• Day 3

Start the day with a meditation session on the Sun Deck and for those who wish to learn how to prepare Asian delicacies, our chef will be happy to demonstrate.

We arrive into Katha mid-morning and after lunch on board you will have the chance to visit this charming town.

Since Katha was featured in George Orwell’s Burmese Days, we’ll take you by tuk-tuk to the author’s former house in what was the British Club.

After the visit, we will sail upstream to Shwe Gu where we’ll moor overnight. This evening we will screen one of the most famous movies about Aung San Suu Kyi, The Lady, in the Kansi Panorama Lounge with canapés.

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• Day 4

The ship will set sail from Shwe Gu at 5.30am and the day will be spent aboard Sanctuary Ananda.

While sailing towards Bhamo, just relax aboard the sundeck and watch the beautiful scenery and famous landmarks.

Enjoy a Kachin traditional dance performance before dinner.

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• Day 5

We arrive at Bhamo at lunchtime where there will be non-stop spectacular rivers scenes for you to admire before we dock to explore the town in the afternoon.

Our visit to Bhamo will let you see the market and downtown Bhamo, which includes a trip to Shwe Kyi Na pagoda and historic Catholic churches.

We’ll set sail for Moeda village just before lunch, and as we travel down the river we’ll pass the notable ‘spirit rock’ which has been sculpted into the shape of a parrot.

In the afternoon, visit an elephant logging camp where you can watch how elephants and people work in harmony.

Tonight, take part in a cocktail demonstration during which you will learn how to make Golden Land and Chindwin cocktails and taste them first hand.

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• Day 6

Join a morning meditation session on board the Sun Deck or relax during a leisurely cruise to Kyar Nyat.

Just before lunch, a lecture will take place in the Kansi Panorama Lounge.

In the late afternoon, take a guided walking tour of the small village of Kyar Nyat and you’ll spy archaeological treasures and get an authentic taste of local life.

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• Day 7

This morning we will head South. While we sail, join our chef for a cooking demonstration of traditional Asian cuisine. For the next leg of the cruise, gaze at riverside pagodas such as Anya Thi Ha Taw on its island in the Ayeyarwady. Next stop is Sin Kyun, a village sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy and specializes in farming and hat making. We will arrive about mid-morning.

You can take an optional tour to witness first-hand the way of life in this unspoilt location seldom viewed by outsiders. Following the village headman's request for a library and a house for an English teacher, Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy has donated the money necessary to begin this new partnership. We hope that with the support of Sanctuary Ananda guests, we will be able to provide further funds to improve the quality of life of the villagers.

• 
• Day 8

We’ll cruise southwards to Mingun where the monumental temple and 90-tonne Mingun Bell, one of the world’s heaviest ringing bells, awaits.

In the afternoon visit Amarapura, once known as ‘The City of Immortals’. Today, the leisurely ‘clackclack’ from the looms of the cotton and silk weavers has replaced the noisy bustle of this former capital.

We will visit one of the textile workshops, followed by the U-Bein Bridge, a spectacular place to enjoy the sunset. This long teak bridge snakes across the ever evolving Taungthaman Lake. After sunset, catch a boat up the Ayeyarwady River and return to the Sanctuary Ananda.

In the evening, you will have the chance to watch a marionette show.

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• Day 9

This morning, see Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwenandaw Monastery where hundreds of age-old marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist religious texts at Kuthodaw Pagoda are referred to by some historians as the ‘biggest book in the world’.

We’ll spend the afternoon sailing downstream to Bagan, which means you have ample time to enjoy the luxuries on board Ananda. Maybe have a spa treatment or relax by the pool with a book from our library?

In the afternoon, take part in a back of house tour of Sanctuary Ananda where you will learn how the ship works behind the scenes, from the engine control room to the wheel house.

In the evening, we will screen the movie about Yangon and enjoy delicious canapés in the Kansi Panorama Lounge.

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• Day 10

Enjoy breakfast as we spend the morning sailing towards Bagan. After lunch, visit bustling Bagan by bus and its Nyaung-U local market and the great golden Shwezigon Pagoda. Then travel to the incredible 1091-built Ananda Temple.

The day’s finale is a quiet moment on the terraces of the Pyathatgyi Temple. Admire the light change on the pagodas as they exude antiquity and mystery. Finally the sun sets behind the hills on the far side of the Ayeyarwady River, filling the sky with a reddish glow, a truly magic moment.

A local perfromance will take place on board before a romantic sandbank dinner.

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• Day 11

Enjoy an early breakfast back on board before check out at 9am.

As your cruise trip comes to an end, we thank you for sailing with us on board the Sanctuary Ananda and immersing yourself in the magic of Myanmar.

• 
• Day 12

Welcome on board the Sanctuary Ananda.

Check in at 1pm and settle into your suite. Lunch will be served on board shortly after check in.

Next, we will visit Bagan to see the Ananda Temple - one of the four great temples in Bagan. The Ananda is regarded by folklore as one of the most beautiful temples in Myanmar. A traditional horse cart will then take us to Htilominlo Temple; a two storey red-brick temple built around 1211 AD.

The day’s finale is a quiet moment on the terraces of the Pyathatgyi Temple. Admire the light change on the pagodas as they exude antiquity and mystery.

Finally the sun sets behind the hills on the far side of the Ayeyarwady River, filling the sky with a reddish glow. A truly magic moment!

Join us at the Kansi Panorama Lounge for a welcome briefing along with a champagne and canapés reception. This will be follwed by a candlelit sandbank dinner with a local performance.

• 
• Bagan01

We’ll spend today sailing upstream towards Sin Tea, which means you have ample time to enjoy the luxuries on board Ananda. As you will be sailing all day, why not take advantage of our spa treatments? We have a range of specially prepared offers on our holistic spa treatments.

Visually Myanmar is unique: the eye is constantly delighted by scenes of casual, almost unintended beauty. A group of ladies perch on rocks chattering as they do their daily wash. An ox-cart waits on the banks for a boat to arrive and unload its goods set in a background of soft browns, noble tamarind trees with white and golden pagodas gracing the distant hills. There is no better way to enjoy this riverine picture than from the Kansi panorama lounge or the Pool deck.

Enjoy the on board activities including a longyi (sarong) and thanaka (cosmetic) demonstration.

Around midday we will be sailing past Sagaing, an important religious and monastic center, home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns. Sagaing was the capital of a Shan kingdom for nineteen years but in 1364, the founder’s grandson moved the capital across the river to Inwa (Ava).

Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure while cruising towards northern Myanmar. Today you can learn more about Myanmar during our lecture – covering the country’s incredibly rich history, more recent & controversial events and prospects for the future.

After lunch, take part in a back of house tour of Sanctuary Ananda where you will learn how the ship works behind the scenes, from the engine control room to the wheel house.

Visit Nwe Nyein, the home of the pottery makers. Vast mat-sheds are filled with pots of all shapes and sizes; watch the master-potters deftly working the wheel with their feet. The pottery making technique requires great skill which you will be able to watch first hand while walking through this bustling town. We’ll then spend the day travelling through soul-stirring riverscapes to ancient Tagaung.

On the way, we will screen movies about one of the most famous politician of Myanmar: "Aung San Suu Kyi, The Lady" in the Kansi Panorama Lounge with canapés.

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• Day 2

Join the early morning meditation session on the Sun Deck, followed by breakfast while sailing past the picturesque island pagoda at Thihataw. Next, explore the ancient city of Tagaung on foot. Another of the Pyu Dynasty (1-9 CE) cities, the city wall can be seen, and there is an interesting museum. After lunch, enjoy the lecture in the Panorama Lounge while sailing upstream to the charming small town of Katha.

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• Day 3

Enjoy the cooking demonstration lead by our amazing chef. Arrive to Khata later morning and explore this charming, small town, featured in ‘Burmese Days’. Tuk-tuk’s will ferry you to Orwell’s own house, the former British Club and along Strand Road.

After the sightseeing we will set sail towards Kyak Htone Gyi.

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• Day 4

We’ll set off in the early morning to visit an elephant logging camp where you can watch how elephants and people work in harmony.

Upon your return we will set sail through the beautiful scenery and pass famous landmarks like the parrot head, which marks the entrance to the second defile that can be admired from the Sun Deck. This is the largest gorge in the Ayeyarwady and not to be missed. While you are on the Sun Deck keep a lookout for the rare Irrawaddy dolphins. As we continue sailings there will be nonstop spectacular rivers scenes for you to admire.

Enjoy the traditional Kachin dance performance before a gourmet dinner.

• 
• Day 5

Our morning visit to Bhamo will let you see the market and downtown Bhamo, which includes a trip to Shwe Kyi Na pagoda and historic Catholic churches. Here we will visit the bustling town which boasts a vibrant market; with many stall owners in their ethnic dress – maybe Paulaung or Lisu.

We’ll set sail for Moeda village at midday. In the late afternoon, you can browse the old wooden shop-houses of Moeda’s market and take in the colors and aromas of the fresh produce and food stalls here.

In the evening enjoy a cocktail presentation by our on board mixologist. You can learn how Golden Land and Chindwin cocktails are made and taste it first hand.

Join a morning meditation on the Sun Deck or simply relax during a leisurely cruise to Kyar Nyat – this is the day to take full advantage of the many amenities and activities aboard the Ananda while soaking up the beauty of the scenery along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River.

In the morning, join our on board lecture to learn more about Myanmar's history. We also encourage you to keep an eye out for the Irrawaddy dolphins which are often spotted along this part of the river.

Later in the afternoon we will arrive at the small village of Kyar Nyat, which is where we’ll dock. Next, take a guided walking tour of the small village of Kyar Nyat and uncover archaeological treasures and get an authentic taste of local life.

• 
• Day 7

Join our chef for a morning cooking demonstration and learn how to prepare delicious Asian dishes.

The river now narrows as Male with its two white stuppas side-by-side marks the entrance to the Third Defile or gorge. A beautiful section of river unfurls old vessels full of huge teak trunks sail slowly downstream, their pilot boats ever watchful for the sandbanks.

Relax during a leisurely cruise to Sin Kyun and take full advantage of the amenities and activities on board the Ananda while soaking up the beauty of the scenery along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River and admire riverside pagodas like Anya Thi Ha Taw.

This afternoon we will visit the quaint village of Sin Kyun, just north of Mandalay. It is sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy. You can take an optional tour to witness first-hand the way of life in this unspoilt location seldom viewed by outsiders. Following the village headman’s request for a library and a house for an English teacher, Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy has donated the money necessary to begin this new partnership. We hope that with the support of Sanctuary Ananda guests, we will be able to provide further funds to improve the quality of life of the villagers.

Enjoy the movie Rangoon and delicious canapés in the Kansi Panorama Lounge.

• 
• Day 8

Today cruise to Mingun, to view the monumental Mingun Temple, a colossal unfinished stupa that towers above the surrounding landscape, and the Mingun Bell, one of the world’s heaviest ringing bells.

Return to the ship and cruise southward to Sagaing. Visit the pagoda sprinkled Sagaing Hill, an important religious and monastic centre, home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns. Here we will visit a Monastic school and orphanage where you will have the opportunity to meet some of the residents and understand the teachings of Buddhism.

Next, take in the views from the top of the hill on the terraces of the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda which are truly breathtaking. Below and all around, pagodas of different shapes and sizes dot the landscape.

Amarapura, was once known as ‘The City of Immortals’. Today, the leisurely ‘clack-clack’ from the looms of the cotton and silk weavers has replaced the noisy bustle of this former capital.

Visit the U Bein Bridge, a spectacular place to enjoy the sunset. This long teak bridge snakes across the Taungthaman Lake and each evening you can watch monks crossing the bridge to collect food donations. This is a very spiritual and time travelling experience. The view of the bridge as the sun goes down is perhaps one of the most beautiful sights in Mandalay, making it an excellent photography opportunity. After sunset, return to the Sanctuary Ananda.

This evening you will enjoy a local puppet show.

• 
• Day 9

Enjoy breakfast before checkout.

As your cruise comes to an end, we thank you for sailing with us on board the Sanctuary Ananda and immersing yourself in the magic of Myanmar.

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• Mandalay