'Exclusive Travel Experience with Myanmar Tourism Services'

The Royal Capitals Cruise - Bagan To Mandalay And Beyond

Tour Code        :  MTS-RCC - 081
Tour Duration : 08 days / 07 nights
Route                : Yangon – Bagan – Yandabo – Ava –
                              Mandalay – Kyaw Myaung – Mingun –
                              Amarapura – Sagaing – Mandalay – Yangon
Vacation Type : Cruise

This program is presented to you for your visit around Myanmar for its main tourist destination. Explore from Yangon – the garden city and the main gate way to Myanmar to Bagan – the richest archeological sights in Asia, Mandalay – the culture canter and it environs its environs, Amarapura – city of immortality, Sagaing – the Best Place of Meditation and Mingun - home to the world biggest ringing bell.

Transportation between each destination by domestic flight on Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan (F-100 or ATR-72/42) can be done throughout the year.

The RV Pandaw and other 5 similar so called "class P " design vessels was commissioned after the end of the Second World War by the Inland Water Transport Board of the Union of Burma government with the technical expertise of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company at that time acting as Agents to the I.W.T. Board. RV Pandaw was built in Scotland on the Clyde by the famous ships builder Yarrrow & Co on 1947 with the same design of the pre-war Quarter Wheeler steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. After being boarded up in order to protect her from the sea waves, she left Scotland for the delivery voyage to Burma on 1950. On the 12th January 1951 she started to serve the Inland Water Transport (Irrawaddy Flotilla was nationalized on the 1st of June 1948) on the route Mandalay-Bhamo for both cargo and passengers transportation. In the 1998 she was converted into a 16 cabins luxurious river cruise vessel by the revived Irrawaddy Flotilla Company founded by the Historian Mr.Paul Strachan. IFC has operated the vessel in the rivers of Myanmar for 5 years until 2003. In the second half of the 2003 Interconnection Co. Ltd signed the charter agreement with IWT and the RV PANDAW underwent a major renovation at the Yangon Dalla Dockyards. As far as the Hotel side is concerned new furniture has been specially designed and new Food and Beverage equipment have been bought. And the program may be changed due to the cruise schedule. This program is fixed arrival on every Wednesday due to the RV Pandaw 1947 Schedule.

Detailed Tour Program
 

Day 01: FRIDAY : Arrival Yangon
Arrive Yangon international airport, welcome by tour guide. Transfer to the hotel for check in. Visit Chauk Htatt Kyi (the six storied in meaning but actually the huge reclining Buddha Image, Sule (the eight sided stupa located at the center of Yangon, the Independent Monument. Visit Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide – its golden stupa is the ‘ Heart ’ of Buddhism Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated buildings and statues. And overnight stay at Governor’s Residence Hotel in Yangon. (Deluxe room).

Day 02: SATURDAY : Yangon Bagan (B)
After breakfast, early morning flight to Bagan (domestic schedule flight, ~ 1 ½ hour flying) situated in Central Myanmar, on the East bank of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, to discover its glorious past and histories. Arrive Nyaung U Airport and check in at the hotel. Whole day sightseeing of Bagan’s most important temples and pagodas ranging from the temples with the earliest wall paintings to the prototype pagada the influenced the designs of later Buddhist monuments. Tour highlights include colorful Nyaung Oo Market, and Shwezigon Pagoda – built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, then go to Ananda Temple – King Kyansittha’s masterpiece and the crowning achievement of the early style temple of architecture, next is Thatbyinnyu Temple – the highest building on the Bagan plain, after that visit to Htilominlo Temple – the largest temple of Bagn – noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. In the afternoon observe the process of traditional lacquer ware, one of Myanmar’s best known handicrafts and a specialty of Bagan. Then visit Manuha Temple, Myingabar Gubyaugyi Temple – an early period Pyu-style temple of Hindu influence with some of the oldest mutual paintings in Bagan and Dhamanyangyi Temple noted for its remarkable brickwork. Lastly watch sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River from Buphaya or Shwesandaw Pagoda. Overnight at Thirirpyitsaya Sakura Hotel in Bagan. (Deluxe G/V room).

Day 03: WEDNESDAY : Bagan Yandabo  (Miles 60*Km 111 – 7.5 Hrs)
The cast off time is at 10.30 hrs (check-in 10.00 hrs). We cruise upstream all day. Lunch will be served at 13.00. In the early evening we arrive at Yandabo, a picturesque village that specializes in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance in the village or sundeck.

Day 04: THURSDAY : Yandabo – Ava/Inwa (Miles 58*Km 107 – 7.5 Hrs)
Early Morning we go ashore for a walk through the village stopping to some pot-making workshops to learn their unique production technique, the school and the monastery. Back to the ship for breakfast and cast off (ETD 09.00 hrs). We continue upstream to the ancient city of Ava, capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841.

Day 05: FRIDAY : Ava  Mandalay - Kyauk Myaung (Miles 45*Km 83 – 6 Hrs)
We explore Ava by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. We travel by sampan and coach to Mandalay visiting Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe-in-bin Monastery and if time permits Mandalay Hill. Back to the ship for lunch and proceed upstream (ETD 12.30/13.00). Moor overnight nearby a river village North of Mandalay.

Day 06: SATURDAY : Kyauk Myaung  Mingun Amarapura (Miles 54*Km 100 – 5 Hrs)
Visit the spectacular potteries-making village of Kyauk Myaung, and see the manufacture stages of the famous 50 Gallons (200 Litres) pots (1.5 hours visit). Cruise back downstream to Mingun (Eta 14.00 hrs). Visit the unfinished pagoda, the largest working bell in the world and the “home for the aged”. Continue downstream to Mandalay and travel by coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit U-Bein Bridge at sunset.
Moor overnight at Sagaing. Dance and Theatre performance on the Sundeck

Day 08: SUNDAY : Sagaing (Disembark)  Yangon
Disembark between 08.30 to 09.00 hrs. Visit by coach Sagaing, a hill studded with many Pagodas and Monasteries rich in wood carving and religious art and transfer to the Mandalay International airport for flight to Yangon. Leisure till the flight time. Transfer to Yangon International Airport for your departure flight to conclude this unique experience

SAILING DATES

PRICES PER PERSON IN US$ (VALID FROM 12 NOVEMBER 2008 TO 22 APRIL 2009)

HIGH SEASON (12 NOV 08–25 MAR 09)

“Royal Capitals Cruise” Bagan To Mandalay And Beyond

SHOULDER SEASON (29 MAR 09–22 APR 09)

“Royal Capitals Cruise” Bagan To Mandalay And Beyond

IMPORTANT NOTE: For All departures should the occupancy be less than 12 PASSENGERS the Company reserves the right to cancel the cruise up to 60 days prior the departure date. A written confirmation notice will be released to all booked clients and/or their agents within and not later than 60 days prior the departure date. In case of cancellation an alternative cruise will be offered and if not acceptable all down payments will be refunded.

Price Includes: All meals & Coffee/Tea/Water on board, Sightseeing as described in the Itinerary, English Speaking Station Guide, All Entrance Fees, Domestic flight Fare (Yangon – Bagan/ Mandalay - Yangon ), Accommodation : 1 night in Yangon, 1 night in Bagan, Airport / Jetty Transfer as per programme.

Price excludes: Drinks, laundry, all items of a personal nature; health-accident-baggage or travel protection plan outside the ship’s boundaries, fuel surcharges if applicable

(*) Within the above rates the fuel cost is calculated on the Myanmar Market average price of the last 6 months of year 2006 (i.e. USD3 per gallon). Should the fuel price increase by more than 15%, AYRAVATA CRUISES will have the right to impose a fuel surcharge equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this increase is given to the Passenger and/or his-her Agent within 30 days prior the cruise departure date.