|
8 - Day Myanmar Tour
Including Nostalgic Irrawaddy River Cruise |
|
DAY 1 SUN/THU: Meet on arrival at Yangon International Airport and transfer to hotel. Today's sightseeing tour includes the old colonial-style city center, the gilded SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years, BOGYOKE (SCOTT'S) MARKET (closed on Mondays) and a visit to a gem shop. The tour continues to CHAUK HTAT GYI, a huge reclining Buddha image, followed by a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL royal floating barge. An extended visit to SHWEDAGON PAGODA, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments, will conclude the tour of this picturesque Garden City. The golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Lunch to your own account. Myanmar cultural show and dinner at hotel. Overnight in Yangon. Yangon - Bagan (B/L/D) DAY 2 MON/FRI: Transfer to Yangon Airport for domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to hotel and proceed on a sightseeing tour, starting with a busy local market and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century, KU BYAUK GYI, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes, KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its spectacular panoramic view of the area's many monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with its four huge standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. Bagan - RV Pandwa - Pakokku (B/L/D) DAY 3 TUE/SAT: Early start by horse-drawn carriage (when available) to DHAMAYAZIKA STUPA, the biggest pentagonal stupa in Bagan, to see the sunrise. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Mid morning transfer to RV PANDAW for embarkation and check-in. The river journey on this nostalgic ship starts at around noon. Set sail for PAKOKKU, observing a rich and varied river life and magnificent scenery. Late afternoon, dock in PAKOKKU, a port city set south of the Chindwin confluence. Visit the important market, local pagodas and a weaving shop by trishaw. Lunch, dinner and overnight on board. Pakokku - Sameikkon (B/L/D) DAY 4 WED/SUN: The cruise continues past the Chindwin to SAMEIKKON. Go for a walk in Sameikkon, a delightful village and once a wealthy trading post of the colonial era, leaving a legacy of many splendid houses. There is a wonderful network of teak footbridges that connect the village to the local monastery. Lunch, dinner and overnight on board. Sameikkon - Mandalay, Amarapura & Sagaing (B/L/D) DAY 5 THU/MON: Set sail to MANDALAY where a Travel guide is waiting to greet you upon arrival of the ship. After disembarkation, drive to Amarapura, 15 km from Mandalay. Visit MAHAGANDAYON, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study; continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the royal capital. Visit BAGAYA MONASTERY with its superb collection of Buddha statues, then proceed to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees, to enjoy a magnificent view over the surrounding areas and a scenic sunset. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight in Mandalay. Mandalay (B/L/D) DAY 6 FRI/TUE: A comprehensive sightseeing tour of Mandalay includes MAHAMUNI PAGODA, with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves, SHWE NAN DAW KYAUNG (or golden PALACE MONASTERY), a superb example of a traditional wooden building, and KUTHODAW PAGODA (known as the world's largest book), consisting of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. A visit is also made to a jetty to observe daily life along the river and to a craftsmen's workshop to see Kalaga tapestries being created. Dinner and overnight in Mandalay. Mandalay - Yangon (B/-/D) DAY 7 SAT/WED: Drive to the new Mandalay Airport for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to the hotel for check-in. The balance of the day is at leisure to pursue individual interests. Lunch to your own account, dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Yangon Yangon - Departure (B/-/-) DAY 8 SUN/THU: Transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure. Remark: Every effort will be made to ensure that the published cruise itinerary is followed as closely as possible, however, given uncertain river and other local conditions, all schedules and itineraries are subject to alterations and delays at short notice. International flights need to be booked as follows: Arrival in Yangon : morning |