4-Day Irrawaddy River Cruise

• In Bagan, we meet at the town’s Aye Yar jetty where the beautiful Anawrahta cruise boat waits to take you on a journey into the hinterland. Ensure you arrive before 11am to complete embarkation procedures before the vessel sails off to the ancient trading town of Pakokku.
• Along the way, you will enjoy scenic views and glimpses of local life on the banks of the Ayeyarwady river. Don’t miss Myanmar’s longest bridge just a few minutes before we dock at Pakokku. This town has been known for small-scale industries and our guide will explain the workings of local trading practices. You will visit a few of these workshops, perhaps a factory rolling cheroots or making Burmese slippers. Tobacco is a strong industry here and you can pick up Burmese cigars to take home with you.
• A spot of historical architecture also comes with a visit to Pakokku, including the Shwegu Temple and its breathtaking carvings of rare Yamanei wood. You will be treated to a special evening event at Kipling’s Bar before hopping across to Hintha hall for a delicious dinner.
• Your accommodation for the night is on board the Anawrahta cruise vessel.
• Meals: Lunch and dinner are provided

• The surrounding riverine views and quiet shore life offers the perfect ambiance for yoga at sunrise, if you are an early riser. Our expert will be out on the sun deck guiding you through the class. If not, laze about in bed until breakfast, when the ship sails off to Yandabo.
• You will notice the point where the Ayeyarwady River meets its biggest tributary, the Chindwin River as you fuel up for the day. We then arrive at Yandabo, a picturesque village on the banks of the river that is home to very friendly locals.
• Our guide will lead you to the flourishing pottery workshops in the area where you can observe their unique skills in making a variety of clay pots and perhaps take back a tip or two. On board, the chef cooks up a delicious buffet for lunch after which you can enjoy the company of new friends, on board activities and treatments.
• Our Irrawaddy River Cruise also offers demonstrations on wearing the longyi - the traditional Burmese sarong - and thanaka - a unique beauty treatment - in the afternoon, followed by a presentation on the culture and history of the country.
• Your accommodation for the night is on board the Anawrahta cruise vessel.
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided

• The first stop on the itinerary on this Irrawaddy River Cruise is Ava, the erstwhile royal capital. Our guide will accompany you on an interesting horse carriage ride through the town and point out ancient monasteries of note and other places of interest.
• The peaceful town is home to a beautiful monastery built of teak way back in 1834 called Bagaya Kyaung, where monks continue to study to this day. You will also see the artistic Nan Myint watch tower and Maha Aung Mye Bonzan Monastery. Our guide will then lead you to a hidden gem where you can enjoy a relaxing aperitif that truly encapsulates the peace and beauty of Ava.
• Later, we head on to Mandalay and you will see the scenic Sagaing Hills dotted with pretty pagodas as the cruise ship sails by.
• A tour is scheduled for the afternoon to help you discover the city more intimately. Our Irrawaddy River Cruise will bring you up close with the ancient crafts of the area, including gold-leaf beating and silk-weaving, as well as marble carving. These intricate crafts are back-breaking and require skills passed down the ages.
• The highlight of our Irrawaddy River Cruise is a sunset sail in a small rowing boat around U-Bein Bridge, the 200-year-old structure made entirely of teak.
• Your accommodation for the night is on board the Anawrahta cruise vessel.
• Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided

• Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we help you disembark at Gawein jetty in Mandalay for your onward journey.

Points To Note

• We do our utmost to run the itinerary as scheduled above, but are not responsible for changes arising out of weather conditions, cruise schedule modifications and other operational factors.