Myanmar & the Irrawaddy
Journey to spiritually rich Myanmar to experience the serenity of Inle Lake, observe life along the banks of the Irrawaddy River from aboard ‘Sanctuary Ananda’ and watch the rising sun illuminate thousands of temples in timeless Bagan.
Highlights
- Cruise in luxury for three nights on the legendary Irrawaddy River aboard all-balcony ‘Sanctuary Ananda’
- Participate in the ceremonial lighting of a thousand oil lamps at the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda
- Enjoy privileged access to a local celebration of a young monk’s first entry to the monastery
- Soar above thousands of pagodas and capture the photographs of a lifetime on a magical hot air balloon ride in Bagan
- Experience floating gardens and a private viewing of a traditional Intha boat race on tranquil Inle Lake
Pricing
Luxury small group tour starting at $5,995* USD per person, based on double occupancy
11 Days – Yangon to Yangon
Included with this luxury Small Group Journey
- English-Speaking Resident Tour Director® and Local Guides
- Hand-Selected Luxury Accommodations
- Airport Meet and Greet with Private Transfers
- Travelling Bell Boy® Luggage Handling
- Breakfast in Bed on Select Days
- Full Breakfast Daily; Select Lunches and Dinners
- Your Choice of Activity on Design Your Day®
- Traveller’s Valet® Laundry Service
- Internet Access
- Entrance Fees, Taxes and All Gratuities Except Resident Tour Director
- 24/7 A&K On-Call Support
- Guaranteed Departures with Just Two Guests
Day
Day 1
Location(s)
Yangon
Meals
Description
Arrive in Yangon, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Accommodation: Governor’s Residence, A Belmond Hotel (2 nights)
Day 2
Yangon
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, enjoy your first taste of Myanmar, a profoundly Buddhist country, where many ancient traditions still flourish. Visit Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) to see where locals gather, socialize and shop. After lunch, see the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, a 213-foot-long statue with an expressive enamel face. This evening, transfer to Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar, for a sunset oil-lamp lighting ceremony. Standing nearly 330 feet tall, the venerated stupa is covered in gold leaf and topped by a finial encrusted with thousands of precious gems. View this mesmerizing wonder firsthand, as your local guide explains the history behind the holy relics it enshrines, which include strands of hair from the head of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. Tonight, gather for a special welcome dinner.
Day 3
Yangon – Bagan
Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Bagan, a city with more than 2,000 Buddhist pagodas and temples, the first of which was built by King Anawrahta in 1044. Upon arrival, you are taken to a local restaurant for lunch before continuing to your hotel. After a short rest, visit a local lacquerware workshop. This evening, sip in a Scenic Sundowner from a special viewing platform overlooking Bagan’s temple-dotted landscape.
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort
Day 4
Bagan
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, explore Nyaung Oo Market and observe locals selling and bartering for goods. Then, witness a shinbyu (novitiation ceremony), a coming-of-age ritual celebrating an aspiring young monk’s first entry to the monastery. Enjoy privileged access to this time-honored tradition and the village festivities. Visit the well-preserved Ananda Temple, built in 1090. Next, Ride Like a Local by a horse-drawn cart to see the wonderful Kubyaukgyi Temple, renowned for its murals. Board luxurious all-balcony ‘Sanctuary Ananda,’ your home for a three-night cruise on the timeless Irrawaddy River.
Accommodation: ‘Sanctuary Ananda’ River Cruise (3 nights)
Day 5
Cruising the Irrawaddy
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for an exhilarating hot air balloon ride (weather permitting) over Bagan, as dawn illuminates the gold- and sand-colored stupas. After breakfast on board, listen to a special onboard talk about Myanmar’s history and vision for the future, followed by demonstrations of the longyi (traditional Burmese cloth worn by men and women) and thanakha (a white cosmetic paste made from ground bark).
Day 6
Cruising the Irrawaddy
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, learn the secrets of Burmese cuisine during a cooking demonstration at a delightful Chef’s Table experience. After lunch, disembark to visit Sagaing, a former royal city renowned for its monasteries, pagodas and stupas. Proceed to Amarapura, where you embark by boat to view the picturesque U Bein Bridge — the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Watch locals riding bikes, carrying crops and commuting from work cross this tall, iconic landmark for an insight into everyday life here, as well as an ideal sunset photo opportunity.
Day 7
Mandalay
Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast on board, explore a gold-leaf workshop, where the metal is hammered paper-thin and prepared for use in some of Myanmar’s holiest sites. This afternoon, visit the Shwenandaw Monastery and view the more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist religious texts at Kuthodaw Pagoda, referred to as the biggest book in the world. Later, witness evening prayers at Shwe Kyin Monastery.
Accommodation: Rupar Mandalar Resort
Day 8
Mandalay – Inle Lake
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Heho and drive to Nyaung Shwe to visit a Shan paper workshop. Enjoy a firsthand look at the artisans who produce this distinctive paper, using fibers from the mulberry tree, and craft a wide range of items from it, most notably Burmese parasols. Enjoy a special lunch on board a floating restaurant set on Inle Lake. This afternoon, board a boat and explore the lake’s ingenious floating gardens. To create these gardens, used for growing fruit and vegetables, fishermen gather together lake plants, such as water hyacinths and seagrass, and anchor them with bamboo poles embedded in the lake bottom. Layers of mud, ash and more vegetation are then applied to form a farmable surface strong enough to stand upon. Transfer to your lakeside boutique hotel for the evening.
Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort (2 nights)
Day 9
Inle Lake
Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:
Enjoy an Artisan Visit to see cigar-like cheroots handmade at a local workshop, and tour a weaving factory.
Bicycle Through the Countryside in the company of a local guide, taking in the lush surroundings and local life.
Attend a Cooking Class led by a local chef for the hands-on opportunity to prepare traditional Burmese dishes.
After lunch, privately witness an Intha boat race with afternoon tea. Marvel at the coordinated effort required by the 20 participants per boat, each using the traditional single-leg rowing technique that local fishermen still employ.
Day 10
Inle Lake – Yangon
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly to Yangon and transfer to your hotel. Later, savor afternoon tea with a local writer, artist and intellectual who shares her insight into contemporary Burmese culture and politics. Tonight, toast your time in Myanmar at a special farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Governor’s Residence, A Belmond Hotel
Day 11
Yangon
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.
*Hotel rooms are subject to availability and are confirmed by the supplier at time of booking; they may be replaced by other hotel rooms of similar category at the sole discretion of the supplier.
Interested in the itinerary above? Click on the “START PLANNING” button below and reference “Myanmar & the Irrawaddy” in the form, or give us a call at 587.997.5969 to book.
An adventure designed specifically for you
Let us work with you to tailor a journey based on your travel style and interests. We can use the existing itinerary above as a foundation, or build one from scratch to create your ideal vacation. Connect with us to start the conversation.
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*Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change and availability.