Enchanting Myanmar with Irrawaddy River Cruise 10 Days

Leave Yangon this morning to board a domestic flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, start your adventure by a trip to the countryside to discover the real life of the people in the rural area. Your guide will escort you to some of the households in the region for a short visit and interaction to the host. After that, exciting your morning sightseeing with a pony cart ride to ride through the dusty path and behold the exotic beauty of Bagan from a different perspective.

Bagan hot air balloon
After lunch, make your way to one of the most treasured handicraft workshops nearby Myinkaba village in Bagan where craftsmen create beautiful lacquerware. Continue visiting Manuha Temple, which built-in Mon style in 1059 and Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha. In the late afternoon, proceed to Bupaya Pagoda or Mingala Zedi Stupa to enjoy the majestic sunset over the tranquil Irrawaddy River. Overnight in Bagan.

This morning, if you wish, a chance for taking a hot air balloon ride is available. With over 2200 temples and pagodas, there is no better way to marvel at the beauty of Bagan than looking at it from above when the sun flickers over the sky. Rise before dawn this morning and depart to the balloon point to start your balloon trip for around 45 minutes to 1 hour. Together with the flight, you will be also served with coffee, tea or wine. After that, transfer to the hotel. At 12:30 pm, check-in and enjoy lunch on the board.

After lunch, your guide will take you to the Khayminga Pagoda complex to discover the different architecture of the stupas. After that, head to Ananda Pagoda, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved temples in Bagan built in Mon and Indian style. Spend your time enjoying the sunset over the Bagan plains and admire the light change on the pagoda as they exude antiquity and mystery. In the late afternoon, our driver will take you to the sunset hill far side of the Irrawaddy River to capture the magical moment of the sunset filling the sky with a reddish glow. Back to the board, enjoy a welcome briefing and champagne reception before dinner. Overnight on the ship.

Today will be a long day of cruising from Bagan to Sagaing. This morning, there are two interesting optional activities for you to choose from:
Option 1: Take a hot air balloon ride over Bagan (additional charge applies and required book in advance)
Option 2: Soak up the lively atmosphere in Nayung U Market to capture the early trading of local people and see an array of local vegetables, products, and souvenirs.

After that, head to the great golden Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the oldest and most impressive monuments in the country. This is said to be home to the important relic of the Gautama Buddha, two bones and a copy of a tooth. Later, return to the ship and continue sailing upstream towards Sagaing. Along the cruise, there will be some exciting activities on the board including longyi and Tanaka demonstration. Enjoy the delicious dinner in the Talifoo Restaurant and overnight on the ship.

Enjoy the great sunrise on the Irrawaddy River this morning from the board and then ready to attend an amazing cooking class with the Executive Chef during the morning to learn the way of cooking Burmese food. In the afternoon, docking at the jetty in Sagaing and we start today’s visit to one of the most important religious centers in Myanmar. Possessing 554 monasteries that are home 6000 monks and nuns, Sagaing Hill is where you can learn more about the monks’ life and education. We will make our first visit to Sagaing to a Monastic school to meet some of the residents and then learn more about the teaching of Buddhism in the region. Next, head up the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda on the top of the hill to marvel at the dramatic Buddha statue and marvel at the breathtaking scenery over the Irrawaddy River.

Leave Sagaing, our guide will then take you to Amarapura “The City of Immortal”. Here, visit U Bein Bridge, the legend longest teak bridge in the world crossing the serene Taungmathan Lake. For a long time, the bridge has become one of the best places in Myanmar to take the best photo of the sunset. Take a boat trip and marvel at the majestic sunset immersing everything over the bridge After sunset, return to the Sanctuary Ananda for overnight.

Power up your morning sightseeing with a welcome breakfast on the board. After that, we will make your first visit of the day at Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Burma. Inside the temple houses the golden Mahamuni Buddha image, the most highly revered Buddha image in the country. Along the way to the pagoda, you can gaze out at the local artisan’s workshop of gold leaf making and if you wish, you can try hands-on making the gold leaf under the guidance of local artisans.

Make your way to the Golden Palace Monastery where is famous for its intricated woodcarvings of Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and roofs. Finally, highlight your trip in Mandalay to Kuthodaw Pagoda to witness the world’s largest Buddhist book carved on 729 marble slabs. Overnight in Mandalay.

Following your breakfast this morning by a domestic flight to Heho, the gateway to Inle Lake. Upon arrival at Heho airport, our guide will escort you to Nyaungshwe where you will pick a boat and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy a full-day boat trip around Inle Lake while heading to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest site in southern San State housing five 800-year-old golden images of the Buddha.

Continue passing through the endless floating gardens and stilt-houses, stop at a local village to discover the silk weaving by wooden handlooms and the traditional blacksmith methods along the way. Next, pay a short visit to the beautiful wooden Nga Phe Chaung Monastery. From here, proceed to Nampan Village where you will have an opportunity to see the local cheroot factory and canoe carving. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Begin your morning with a visit to the local market which rotates every five days. It is where you will discover the hill tribes wearing the traditional outfit barter for their products. After that, we start our amazing day trip to Indein – a small village where you will look for the ancient Indein Pagoda which is noted with many stupas in different shapes. Take your time to walk through the colonnade where sell an array of exotic Burmese souvenirs.

Our trip to Indein might include a visit to the long-neck tribe women who make their living by traditional weaving. After that, return to the lake and sail back to your hotel. Along the way, be amazed by the iconic Intha fishermen who have been famous for their unique leg-rowing method. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Say goodbye to Inle Lake this morning to board a flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, enjoy a private city tour to explore the charm of the former capital city. From the airport, our driver will transfer you to the downtown city. Along the way, you will have a first glimpse at the fabulous colonial architecture featured on the ancient building on the street. You will first pass through the Post office, a lovely building, then Stand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument.
We will make our first visit of the day at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, the most important Buddhist pagoda in Bahan township of Yangon. The pagoda is home to the massive reclining Buddha image which is one of the largest statues in Myanmar. Local pilgrims often gathering at the feet of the Buddha image to pay homage and pray. Not just sightseeing, your guide will also teach you about the relation between the special symbols on the feet of the image to the art of Burmese.

Leaving the pagoda, we head to the Karaweik Hall on Kandawgyi Lake, this is one of the most beautiful stops for taking the photo in the city. Finally, fulfill your city tour at Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most beautiful and sacred religious sites in the country. Take your time to observe the great architecture, local pilgrims and monks offering their devotions and enjoy the sunset time over the pagoda.

After breakfast, enjoy your last morning in Myanmar by a visit to Bogyoke Aungsan Market, the sprawling 75-year-old Market in Yangon. Take a stroll through the vibrant market you will find an array of interesting Burmese souvenirs, from lacquerware to gems & jewelry. If you wish to purchase some unique souvenir, we can help you to bargain at the store to fulfill your experience at the Burmese market atmosphere. It will so much exciting! (Note: the market is closed on Mondays and gazette holiday). From there, take a scenic drive through the city and observe the hectic pace of life and a mix of different cultures to the region.

Then you might visit St Mary’s Cathedral and the Buddhist landmarks of Sule Pagoda and over 100-year-old beautiful Rangoon Synagogue. There you will have a chance to meet the Trustee to learn about the Jewish Life in the pagoda. Highlight your sightseeing at Chinatown and Little India, two most lively streets in Yangon where you can stop at a street vendor and see a variety of ware, some familiar, some exotic. Later, our driver will transfer you to the airport to take an international flight to your departure. Trip ends.