Your legendary tour of Myanmar commences in Bagan – an area full of history, wonder and spellbinding architecture steeped in a colorful history. Visit the most famed temples and wonder through its quaint villages that are home to crumbling pagodas with delicate murals still covering the interior walls. Continue your tour of Myanmar with a cruise upstream to Mandalay to visit the former ancient capitals of Sagaing, Ava and Amarapura. Stand in awe at the 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries in Sagaing Hill, an area widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar.
Destination: Bagan/Mandalay
Highlights: Your legendary tour of Myanmar commences in Bagan – an area full of history, wonder and spellbinding architecture steeped in a colorful history. Visit the most famed temples and wonder through its quaint villages that are home to crumbling pagodas with delicate murals still covering the interior walls. Continue your tour of Myanmar with a cruise upstream to Mandalay to visit the former ancient capitals of Sagaing, Ava and Amarapura. Stand in awe at the 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries in Sagaing Hill, an area widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar.
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide
Day 1: Bagan (Sunday/Wednesday) (G)
Today you’ll explore Bagan and its mesmerizing temples from Thagyar Pone to Ananda and Dhammayangyi. We head out early in the morning to avoid the tourist crowds at the temples and visit Myinkaba village where many religious buildings still have well preserved plaster carvings on their walls.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 2: Bagan (Monday/Thursday) (B, L, G)
Follow the legendary tracks of King Anawrahta on a tour of Bagan that traces the story of his white elephant that stopped in various locations around Bagan. After visiting a number of well known temples in the morning, we head to the jetty following lunch and board a private boat to cross the river and explore the other side of the Irrawaddy.
Overnight in Bagan.
Day 3: Bagan/Upstream North (Tuesday/Friday) (B, L, D, G)
This morning you’ll transfer to the jetty where the RV Paukan boat is waiting. Embarkation begins at 11.30 and after boarding, a welcome cocktail is served in the Saloon. The boat then cruises upstream to Mandalay
The boat casts off at 12.00 noon for the full day of cruising along the Irrawaddy River with lunch served at 13.00. In the late afternoon we stop at a typical river village and then board again for dinner served onboard.
Overnight onboard
Day 4: Cruise to Mandalay (Wednesday/Saturday) (B, L, D, G)
Continue upstream to Mandalay
Today is a full day of cruising along the picturesque river. This morning, stop to visit Yandabo village. This typical river village is known for its traditional pot-making and is also where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Moor overnight nearby a village (Ywar Thit Gyi or Pauk Myaing Pauk Taw) few miles away from Ava Bridge.
Overnight onboard
Day 5: Disembank Mandalay (Thursday/Sunday) (B, L, G)
Wake early and watch the sunrise over the Irrawaddy River. Today you explore the former capitals around Mandalay with your Exo guide. Also visit Sagaing’s local market that few tourists get to see where silver, pottery and other handicrafts are sold. Continue to Ava and Amarapura before returning to Mandalay late in the afternoon.
Return to Mandalay late this afternoon.
Day 6: Mandalay (Friday/Monday) (B, G)
This morning, you’ll explore the countryside of Mandalay by your choice of car or by bike. Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 7: Mandalay departure (Saturday/Tuesday) (B, G)
After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight.