'Exclusive Travel Experience with Myanmar Tourism Services'

The Royal Capitals Cruise - Mandalay And Beyond To Bagan

Tour Code        : MTS-RCC - 061
Tour Duration : 06 days / 05 nights
Route                : Yangon – Mandalay – Kyauk Myaung –
                              Mingun – Amarapura - Sagaing – Ava –
                              Yandabo –  Bagan – 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 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. and Bagan – the richest archeological sights in Asia.

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 Sunday 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 hotel Governor’s Residence Hotel in Yangon. (Deluxe room).

Day 02: SATURDAY Yangon Mandalay (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay (domestic schedule flight, ~ 1 ½ hour flying). Transfer to the hotel. And visit Zegyo Market and some of Mandalay’s cottage industries, such as weaving and tapestry making, Burmese candy making, Bamboo fan making near Eindaw Yar Pagoda, Atumahsi Monastery and Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery), Kuthodaw (Maha Lawkamarazein Pagoda) which is famous as the world largest book of many stone slabs on which is inscribed the whole Buddhist Literature.Overnight stay at Mandalay Sedona Hotel in Mandalay. (Superior room).

Day 03: SUNDAY : Mandalay  Kyauk Myaung (Miles 45*Km 83 – 6 Hrs)
Arrive at Mandalay Airport in the early morning. City tour by coach including Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwe-in-bin Monastery and Mandalay Hill. Board the Ship at Gawein Jetty (11.30-12.00 hrs), welcome cocktail and lunch. Sail upstream (ETD 12.30/13.00) and moor overnight at a river village North of Mandalay.

Day 04: MONDAY : 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) visit U-Bein Bridge at sunset on the way back to ship we stop at one of the several silk-weaving factories.
Moor overnight at Sagaing. Dance and Theatre performance on the Sundeck.

Day 05: TUESDAY : Sagaing Ava Yandabo (Miles58 *Km 107 – 5 Hrs)
Visit Sagaing, a hill studded with many Pagodas and Monasteries rich in wood carving and religious art. We travel by coach to the ancient city of Ava, capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841. We explore the ruins by horse cart visiting the beautiful 200 year’s old Bagaya Kyaung teak Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. Return to the ship and cast off. (ETD 11.00 hrs). Stop at Yandabo, a picturesque river village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Explore the village stopping to some pot-making workshops to learn their unique production technique, the school and the monastery.
Continue sailing until late night. Moor overnight at a river village.

Day 06: 10: WEDNESDAY : Bagan Yangon & Departure
Disembark at Bagan by 08.30 hrs. Transfer to Nyaung Oo airport for flight back 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” Mandalay And Beyond To Bagan * (3N Downriver / Dep. Sun)

SHOULDER SEASON (29 MAR 09–22 APR 09)

“Royal Capitals Cruise” Mandalay And Beyond To Bagan * (3N Downriver / Dep. Sun)

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 – Mandalay/ Bagan - Yangon ), Accommodation : 1 night in Yangon, 1 night in Mandalay, 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.