Burmese Days | Bagan to Mandalay: 10-Nights
$4899 $4699 per person
*Prices are CAD per person, based on 2 people sharing in a Main Deck cabin – All Dates on Paukan Princess (RV Paukan 2015)
*Upgrades for Other Cabin Categories for 2021 Dates:
– Upper Deck Stateroom: +$600 CAD pp
*Price subject to change
Upstream: Bagan – Amarapura – Sagaing – Mingun – Upper Irrawaddy (Katha, Second Defile) – Dolphins Protected Area – Mandalay
Discover Mandalay and the other former Royal Capitals (Amarapura, Sagaing and Mingun), sail up to the spectacular Irrawaddy 2nd Defile (Gorges) with several stops en route including the 50 Gallons pot-making village of Kyaw Myaung and the Colonial Teak trading Town of Katha. The river journey begins or ends in Bagan, the ancient capital of the Pagan Kingdom, one of the most amazing archeological sites of Asia recently named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We suggest a pre / post stay in Yangon and to complete your discovery of Myanmar an extension tour to Inle Lake is not to be missed. For those seeking a Tropical White Sandy Beach retreat, Ngapali Beach by the Bay of Bengal is the choice.
What’s Included:
All meals &, Coffee/Tea/Water – Sightseeing as described in the Itinerary – Complimentary local beer throughout the cruise – a glass of Wine at lunch and dinner – Ayravata Cruises English Speaking Guide (additional non-English speaking guide is provided if more than 8 cabins are booked by parties speaking the same language) – All Entrance Fees – Transfer by coach to/from Prome, Salay – Welcome & Farewell Reception, Cultural performances and other activities on board.
What’s Not Included:
Drinks, laundry, all items of a personal nature; health-accident-baggage or travel protection plan outside the ship’s boundaries, port charges of $150 CAD pp, fuel surcharges if applicable. (*)
(*) Within the above rates the fuel cost is calculated on the Myanmar Market average price of the months of April 2017 (i.e. USD 0.7 per litre). Should the fuel price rise by more than 10%, AYRAVATA CRUISES will be entitled to impose a fuel surcharge equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this rise is given to the Passenger and/or his-her Agent within 30 days prior the cruise departure date.
RIVER CONDITIONS WARNING
The Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level.
In the case of water levels being too high or low an alternative itinerary will be offered to Passenger.
Published itineraries are indication only and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop.
Though every effort will be made to ensure that the published itinerary is followed as closely aspossible, given uncertain river and other local conditions, all schedules and itineraries may besubject to alterations and delays at short notice.
The ship’s manager and captain are jointly responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety.
Passengers must accept their decisions and instructions.
MEMBER BENEFIT:
As a Trip Merchant member, you will receive a 5% savings plus any additional offers available. Inquire at time of booking.
Call for assistance: 1-800-481-9739 ext. 3
Mention Promo Code for Savings: TMPaukan
Departure Dates
March 3, *13, 23
*Reverse Routing (Downstream): Mandalay – Sagaing – Amapura – Mingun – Upper Irrawaddy (Katha, Second Defile) – Dolphins Protected Area – Bagan
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Destination
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Arrival City
Bagan, Myanmar -
Departure City
Mandalay, Myanmar -
Activity Level
Leisurely -
Passenger Limit
18 Cabins
Bagan
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 11:00 AM.
Embark the ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty between 11.00 to 12.30 noon. Welcome cocktail and Lunch on board. Safety Briefing and Orientation.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Temples of Bagan and Oxcarts ride After lunch visit of a selection of the 2,000 listed pagodas and temples in Bagan. We start visiting one of the 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. We will then pay a visit to Gubyaukgyi Temple. Approximately 900-years-old, this is where you’ll find some of the oldest and best-preserved frescoes in Bagan; they’re also accompanied by ink captions written in the old-style Mon alphabet, providing one of the earlies examples of the language’s use in Myanmar. The visit will be followed by a sunset view of the Bagan plain from Nyaung Letphet viewing mound or the Nan Myint Tower. ENTERTEINMENT: Puppet Show on the Sundeck.
Meals Provided: Lunch, Dinner
Bagan
MORNING EXCURSION: Markets and Temples of Bagan After breakfast continue the visit of Bagan. Explore first one typical local market selling wood carvings, fabrics, longyis and rattan products then stop at the ornate Shwezigone Pagoda, one of the country’s most important shrines. And if time permit, photo stop by Htilominlo Temple. Then we will visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquerware making. Lacquerware has been produced in Bagan since the 11th century and continues to play an important role in daily life, especially religious practice. The production process has remained unchanged for centuries, giving a sense of authenticity. Alternative activity: “FREE and EASY in BAGAN” - Guests can hire a horse cart, a bicycle or an e-bike to explore the site at their own pace. Back to the ship and cast off. We cruise upstream the whole afternoon.
ENTERTAINMENT: Longyi and Thanaka Demonstration. Moor overnight midstream.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Amarapura
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Amarapura After Lunch, we travel by coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit a traditional silk weaving workshop followed by U-Bein Bridge, believed to be the world’s longest (1.2 km) and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge Moor overnight at Sagaing
ENTERTAINMENT: Post Dinner Dance & Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sagaing - Mandalay - Mingun
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Mingun After Lunch, we will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the ex-Royal Capital of Mingun. Our first stop is King Bodawpaya’s monumental and uncompleted stupa. During the construction, an astrologer to the King argued that the Monarch would have died upon completion of the temple, hence the works were immediately halted. Had it been completed; it would have been the largest in the world. The cracks we see are the result of the 23rd 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 the 2,000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. Moor overnight midstream North of Mingun.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kyauk Myaung
ENTERTAINMENT: Afternoon lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” & post dinner Movie show. Moor overnight mid-stream.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tigyang
ENTERTAINMENT: Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Tigyang Visit the small village of Tigyang for an afternoon WALKING TOUR through its narrow lanes and to visit the pagoda and reclining Buddha on a hilltop with stunning views. Moor overnight at Inn Ywar Village.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Katha
MORNING EXCURSION: Elephant Camp In the morning, visit Katha Elephant Logging Camp located at the edge of the surrounding teak and hardwood forest, once used for the transportation of the Teak logs now they have found themselves “jobless” due to the logging ban but they are still taken care by their Mahout (the elephant caretaker) with the help of government and private funds. We will experience the Mahout bathing and feeding the Elephants. An interesting reading to know more about the close relationship of an elephant to its mahout is the George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant”. Back to the ship for Lunch Sail to Naung Po Village by the entrance of the Irrawaddy 2nd Defile (Gorges) and moor overnight.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Second Defile - Kyun Daw - Katha
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Katha In the afternoon arrive at the enchanting colonial town of Katha, the setting for George Orwell’s book “Burmese Days “and the place where in the 1942 hundreds of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ships were scuttled before the Japanese could seize them. Katha had been an important center for the Teak trading since the colonial days. We explore the old streets, a fresh market, the former British Club and the Tennis Court featured in the novel to learn more about how life was here during the British Rule. We then visit what is claimed to be the Bungalow where George Orwell resided, when he was posted here as a policeman, now turned into a small museum. We drive a short distance to visit a Kachin ethnic Village where you will see their traditional houses and learn about their culture, traditional dress, and their unique method of making rice wine Moor overnight in Katha
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kyauk Pone Village
ENTERTAINMENT: Afternoon lecture “Buddhism and the meditation practice” & post dinner Movie show. Moor overnight midstream.
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Kote Tak Village - Irrawaddy Dolphin Protected Area
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Irrawaddy Dolphins Protected Area In the late afternoon, stop by the village of Sheinmaga in the Irrawaddy Dolphins Protected Area. You will board a local small boat to try spotting the dolphins in their natural habitat with the help of some local fishermen, even if not lucky enough to see them popping up it will be anyway an interesting experience the interaction with the local people and the beautiful river scenery.
ENTERTAINMENT: Crew Presentation & Farewell Reception
Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mandalay (Disembarkation)
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Mandalay Int'l Airport or hotel in Mandalay can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes around 1 hr drive from ship (Gawein) to Mandalay Int'l Airport and 30 minuts to hotel in Mandalay.
Meals Provided: Breakfast