Ancient Capitals

Mid-morning you will board our luxurious river-cruiser, berthed on Mandalay's river bank. Lunch will be served as we sail to Mingun, site of the huge unfinished pagoda of King Bodawpaya and the world's biggest un-cracked bell. Here there will be an early-afternoon walking tour. Afterwards the ship will sail downriver to Sagaing where we will moor for the night, with a beautiful view of the illuminated pagodas of these sacred hills. Dinner and evening entertainment on board.

An early-morning yoga session will be available. After breakfast a shore excursion will show you the main highlights of Sagaing before crossing the river using a bridge built by the Colonial British in 1934 and going to the ancient capital of Ava. Home to the Burmese Kings for many centuries, the tour of Ava will be by traditional horse and cart and will include a visit to the Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful teak monastery built in 1834 which continues to be a monastic school. At lunchtime the ship will continue downriver. During the afternoon there will be cultural demonstrations onboard and a late-afternoon lecture. Tonight the ship moors at Yanderbo.

Today there will be an early walking tour into the riverbank village of Yanderbo. This is the place where, in 1826, the King of Ava signed the Treaty of Yanderbo signaling the end of the First Anglo-Burmese war. Now the villages produce a type of water pot which is reputed to keep water cooler than pots from anywhere else. As we sail on we will pass the confluence of the Ayeyarwady and it''s greatest tributary, the Chindwin River. We will arrive in Bagan in time to give you an orientation tour which will include the magnificent Ananda Temple, the pretty Sulamani Pagoda and end at one of the ‘sunset’ pagodas to watch the breathtaking vista of the sun setting over the temple-strewn plain. Tonight the ship moors at Bagan.

This morning there is the option to join a sunrise balloon flight over the area – an incredible experience. Please note that advance booking for this is nearly always required. After breakfast the morning tour will take you to the bustling Nyaung-U market and the revered Shwezigon Pagoda. Then you will make a visit to one of the famous lacquer ware shops where the fascinating production techniques of this ancient craft will be explained. After a visit to see the fine frescoes inside the Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi Pagoda you will return to the ship for lunch.In the afternoon there are two options. The first is a visit to sacred Mount Popa, an extinct volcano which is believed by the Burmese to be home to their animist spirits the Nats. This will include a stop en route at a Toddy Palm plantation.The second option will first explore the area around Myinkaba Village. Here you will visit the Manuha Pagoda which dates from 1059 and is where King Anawrahta imprisoned the Mon King, Manuha. A short distance away is the beautiful architecture of the Gubyaukyi temple. The tour will then move to the area around Minnanthu Village and will include a walk through the village itself. Farewell Dinner and evening entertainment on board.

Check-out after breakfast and start your next excursions.