10 Day Myanmar with 4 Night Anawrahta Cruise

Prepare for the fascinating and hospitable Myanmar. Your first destination of the Free and Easy Travel trip is the former capital city of Yangon (also known as Rangon) which should amaze you with its unique combination of the glorious past and the bustling present. Yangon is where the gold light of ancient Buddhist temples can be found right next to shimmering modern sky-crappers, where nostalgic colonial architecture meets the shiny buildings of this very century. 

Upon your arrival at the airport in Yangon, you will be greeted and transferred (with a guide) to the hotel for check-in. Let's start your trip with Asia Private Travels! The rest of today is free. Enjoy the city. 

The first destination of the day is the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda which is located in the very center of Yangon. The site is home to the massive lounging Buddha statue with a length of 70 meters. Then contemplate the tranquil beauty of the Royal Lake of Kandawgyi Park in the uptown part of the capital which is a favourite location of the locals to watch sunrise and sunset. 

Learn an interesting lesson about Buddha and the religion of Myanmar when climbing the stairway to the well-known Shwedagon Pagoda. Look for some exotic Buddhist merchandise like monk robes, alms bowls, offerings and incense en route. The Pagoda of Shwedagon is a gilded site to the

Burmese and the pride of Yangon. The stunning images of the site should definitely linger in your mind for a long time. 

In the second half of the day, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Heho. From Heho to Inle Lake, stop en route to visit Nyaung Shwe village. Contemplate the beautiful landscape of Myanmar. Observe the way people make Shan paper and handcrafted umbrellas at the village and afterward visit the Monastery of Shweyanpyay which are made of teak wood. 

Check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free. Prepare for another wonderful exploration tomorrow.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, be transferred to the incredible Inle Lake to feast your eyes on its peaceful and marvelous beauty. 

Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar embellished with floating gardens and splendid mountainous scene and this is a must-go destination in the itinerary of Asia Private Travels. The beauty of the lake is not completed without the features of living humans as you can find wooden fishing boats and unique local stilted houses around the lake. Firstly, pay a visit the traditional morning market on the lake which is closed in every full-moon and dark-moon days. The market is a major trading site of the lake whose location changes every five days. 

On the way, our dearest tourists can enjoy the calm images of fishermen rowing their boats with just one leg and original stilted houses of the local people of Intha. The fascinating floating flower beds of the lake are made of a totally natural mixture of Hyacinth plants, soil and bamboo poles. 

The next stop of the day is the Monastery of Nga Hpe Chaung which is home to numerous Shan Buddha Images. The monastery was once famous for the “jumping cats”. Then we head for Phaung Daw Oo Stupa to see five scared statues of Buddha coated with gold leaves. 

If time permits, we shall stop en route at some villages to observe the way local people handmake exotic products like lotus silk, cigar, blacksmiths, silversmiths and wooden boats (only available in certain time of the year).

Then return to the hotel after one busy but exciting day of discovery.

Today morning is free at your leisure. Then be transferred to the airport to fly to our next destination of the 10 Day Myanmar with 4 Night Anawrahta Cruise– Bagan. 

Bagan is an ancient city well-known for its magnificent complexes of temples. The city was the capital of Myanmar from the 11th to the 13th century, filled with countless stunning Buddhist stupas. The light of that glorious era can still be found on many of these well-preserved stupas.

Furthermore, immerse yourself with about 2000 temples made of red brick although that number is nothing compared to the legendary history of Bagan. 

Then travel to the harmonic river of Irrawaddy for a visit to a special cave temple. Explore the fascinating architecture, which dates back to the period from 9th to 14th centuries of Ananda Temple and a few other temples around the area. 

The historical value of Bagan is not only preserved by temples and stupas but also by the people as well.

Learn about the Burmese life as you blend in the life of local craftsmen in some famous workshops where lacquerware and other products are made with traditional techniques passed down for generations.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel to charge up for another day of Bagan exploration with Asia Private Travels. 

Look for some lovely souvenirs when visiting the local Nyaung Oo market. Then set your feet on the ground of the Shwezigon Pagoda, built under the reign of King Anawrahta in the 11th century. Discover some other small religious sites and villages of Bagan and dive in the peaceful atmosphere of this area before heading for other highlights of today’s trip.

The temple of Thatbyunnyu is considered the highest temple of Bagan. Then visit the massive Dhammayangyi temple and contemplate the enthralling structure of Sulamani Temple.

At the end of the day, do not miss the legendary sunset of Bagan when the whole area is coated with the heavenly halo of the sun.

Get on the board and start our amazing Anawrahta Cruise at Aye Yar Jetty at 11 o’clock. Then, be introduced to our lovely crews. Relax and chill on deck. 

Today’s lunch is served on board. Enjoy the meal as we set sail to Pakokku – an ancient town well-known for the longest bridge of Myanmar. Pakokku has long been a trading point located on the west bank of Ayeyarwady river. 

Set your feet on the ground of Pakokku and have a wonderful trip exploring the town. We start our lesson about Burmese culture today with the local workshops where they make the exotic “Burmese cigars” called cheroot and “Burmese slippers”. Look for those special cigars at the colourful local market and blend in the lively life of the local Burmese. 

A day in Myanmar would be incomplete without visiting a Buddhist temple. So today’s choice is the Temple of Shwegu. The site is home to captivating Yamanei wooden carvings and a sacred image of Buddha. We hope you find peace there. Enjoy the temple until returning back to the ship for another tasty meal on board. The next destination of the cruise is the city of Mandalay. You should find yourself in the city around 2.00 PM. 

Tonight would be special as you attend the storytelling event at the Kipling’s Bar and let the Burmese tales carve deep into your mind.

Have dinner at Hintha Hall. If the weather is fine, there will be a movie to enjoy on the ship’s open sundeck.

Wake up early this morning to take the yoga sun salutations exercise on deck because it’s not every day that you can contemplate such glorious sun like in Myanmar. Refresh yourself with breakfast on board before paying a visit to the village of Yandabo. 

After the ship passes the cross point of the Irrawaddy river and Chindwin river, get off the board to start exploring the lovely village. Yandabo was a milestone of Myanmar history as right here, the King of Ava marked an end to the First Anglo – Burmese war with a truce treaty in 1826, which was later known as the Treaty of Yandabo. The village is also an interesting attraction famous for the technique of making special clay pots which are capable of keeping water cool for a long period. You will understand their mechanism as our Asia Private Travels guide should explain it to you on the trip.

Don’t hesitate to try making pottery products of your own. It would be exciting enough. Enjoy the tranquillity of the site as you meet some locals and take part in activities. 

Follow up, get back to the cruise to have a tasty buffet lunch served on board. The boat sails north-wise.

There comes a few options for you now, whether to chill on the deck and have some great view of the river or have a refreshing treatment in our spa. Then participate in some activities to know more about Myanmar history, Burmese culture and tradition.

Visit our splendid Thanzin spa and give your body the treatment it deserves after days of Myanmar exploration. Dinner at Hintha Hall restaurant. 

If Buddha blesses the weather tonight, there should be another movie night beneath the starry sky.

Yoga exercise is available this morning as well for early birds. The ship is now heading to Ava, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ava that ruled upper Myanmar from 1364 to 1555.

The cruise drops the anchor at Ava as you get on a horse-cart to explore the captivating temples and monastery sites of the city. Some of today’s stops are the wooden Bagaya Kyaung monastery built in 1834, the monastery of Maha Aung Mye Bozan and the magnificent Nanmyint watchtower.

Buffet lunch is served on board like yesterday. And our cruise continues to the city of Mandalay – the capital of the very last dynasty of Myanmar.

On the way, stop at Sagaing Hills to visit old beautiful pagodas. You should find yourself on the ground of Mandalay around 2.00 PM in the afternoon.

Start our Mandalay discovery with a workshop where they make gold leaves and a silk weaving house that still preserves the traditional techniques well. Walk along colourful street adorned with stunning marble carvings. Don’t miss the legendary sunset of Mandalay in Taungthman Lake where it stands the longest teakwood bridge of the world. 

Return to the boat for dinner and an interesting performance on board. Movie night is available if the weather permits.

Another day, another wonder. Immerse yourself with the most well-known landmarks of the city. Kuthodaw Pagoda is located at the foot of Mandalay Hill. The site comprises of a gilded pagoda, hundreds of shrines housing inscribed marble slabs and several pavilions. Kuthodaw is also called the world’s largest book, named after the 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings.

Our next stop is the Pagoda of Mahamuni which is home to a gilded image of Buddha and also an important religious site of the pilgrim. Then, visit Shwenandaw Monastery constructed in the 19th century before returning to the cruise for lunch. The monastery holds stunning architecture and captivating wood carvings.

From Mandalay, the cruise sets sail to Mingun where we will visit a stupa that dates back to the reign of King Bodawpaya in the 18th century.

Although the site was never completed because of a prophecy that its construction would harm the King’s life, the stupa is now the largest brick landmark of Myanmar. Mingun is also home to the second biggest bell whose weight is up to 90 tons. 

Return to the cruise afterward. We serve exotic tea, cocktails and sweets on deck. The boat returns to Mandalay as the sun descends. Dinner is provided. As tonight is your last night on board, relax and enjoy our special performances onboard.

Wrap up your Myanmar trip with breakfast on board before saying goodbye to the cruise. Disembarkation at 9:00 AM at Gaw Wein Jetty. End of service with Asia Private Travels.