Myanmar On Cruise Ship Along Irrawaddy River 10 days

On arrival at Yangon International Airport, please look for your guide or driver holding a card bearing your name. Transfer to hotel. The rest of the day can be spent at leisure. Over night at hotel in Yangon.

Early morning transfer to the airport to take domestic flight to Mandalay. Arrive at Mandalay, transfer to Gawein Jetty and board the ship. Enjoy welcome cocktail and have lunch on board. Sail upstream to Mingun, visit the unfinished pagoda also home to Mingun Bell, considered as the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell. *** Cruise tour will be shared with other groups.

Explore Mandalay: Mandalay Hill where spiraling staircases lead to sweeping views of the city and its temples and the nearby Kuthodaw Pagoda which contains a collection of 729 Buddhist marble slabs, known as “the world’s largest book”. Next, visit the workshops to learn about local cottage industry: gold leaves making, tapestry making, wood carving, marble carving and bronze casting. Back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon, we visit Mahamuni Pagoda. Continue to Amarapura, the “City of Immortality”, visit a silk weaving workshop, then take a strolling on the U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak wood bridge. Enjoy the sunset and you'll have chance to mingle with locals.

Visit Sagaing Hill, regarded by many as the living center of Buddhist faith in modern day Myanmar where over 600 monasteries for monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies and mediation. Back to the ship for lunch. Visit the ancient city of Inwa (Ava), capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841. Explore the ancient city by horse-cart, visit the beautiful Bargaya Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. Dinner on board.

Early morning, drive by coach (approx. 2 ½ hours) to Monywa. Visit the amazing 12th century Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung Caves, adorned with hundreds of Buddha statues placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings. Lunch is served at local restaurant in Monywa. After lunch, we visit the splendid Sambodhi Kat Kyaw pagoda, home to more than 500,000 Buddha images. Drive to Myin Mu Jetty (approx. 1 ½ hours) where we will rejoin the riverboat. Dinner on board.

Arrive in Yandabo, a picturesque village famous for its terracotta pots made from the clay of the riverbank. We go ashore for a walk around the village, stop at some pot-making workshops and visit village school, monastery. Return to boat, sail downstream toward village in Shwe Pyi Tha. Lunch and dinner on board.

A truly extraordinary day as you arrive in Bagan, the country's spiritual center and one of the largest and most unforgettable archaeological sites in the world. Over 2,000 pagodas, stupas and temples dot the golden plains of the city - an astonishing sight to behold.Optional Tour: Balloons over Bagan (with Extra cost) The Balloon is guided by gentle wind and chance to see slowly the sun rising. Extra cost: USD 285 per person for Standard Service and USD 335 per person for Premium Service. (plus USD 10 per person on International New Year Period).

Full day excursion to Mount.Popa (1.5 hour) to see an extinct volcano with spectacular views and the birth place of the Myanmar ‘Nats’ (spirits). Climb to the top to visit Taung Kalat Monastery, enjoy panoramic view of the whole area. Have lunch at the Popa Mountain Resort. On the way back to Bagan, we will visit the toddy palm producing home cottage. Dinner and overnight on board.

Morning disembark at Aye Yar Jetty around 9:00 am. Then transfer to the airport to take flight to Yangon. You will be welcomed by tour guide at the airport. Transfer to hotel for check in. Start your interesting discovery of Yangon. The sightseeing tour start with visit to the old colonial-style city center with City Hall, Maha Bandula Park with Independence Monument, Strand road and Yangon Jetty by Car. Then continue visit to Botataung Pagoda and Ahma Mya Nan Nwe, a devotee to the Botahtaung Pagoda. She was known to be a dragon guarding the pagoda. Later visit Bogyoke Aung San Market, closed on Monday, formally known as Scott Market, where you can buy literally all sorts of items from luxury goods, handicrafts, food stuff, clothing, jewelry to consumer goods... Afternoon, visit to Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda with the colossal reclining Buddha. Then we make a short stop at the Royal Lake where we can admire the view of the Karaweik Hall overlooking this scenic lake. Finally, visit world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, witness the golden dome light up at the sunset. After tour, transfer to your hotel.

Depending on the time of your departure flight, you could take the chance to visit the local markets in Yangon or take a ride on the Yangon Circle Train before heading for the airport for your flight home. End of tour.