Myanmar Royal Cities Cruise 2012

Grand voyage upstream on the legendary Irrawaddy River on newly constructed and well-appointed RV Paukan 2012 luxury flotilla. During the 5 day cruise you will enjoy guided shore excursions, world class cruising, delicious food and entertainment on board. We visit some of Myanmar’s cultural highlights and make stops in small villages enroute.

UPSTREAM

DAY 1 > BAGANDAY 2 > BAGAN – RIVER VILLAGEDAY 3 > YANDABODAY 4 > MONYWA (HPOWINDAUNG AND SHWEBADAUNG CAVES)DAY 5 > AVA (DISEMBARK) – AMARAPURA

DOWN STREAM

DAY 1 > MANDALAY (AVA – AMARAPURA)DAY 2 > MONYWA (HPOWINDAUNG AND SHWEBADAUNG CAVES)DAY 3 > YANDABODAY 4 > BAGANDAY 5 > BAGAN (DISEMBARK)

WHAT’S INCLUDED

All meals &, Coffee/Tea/WaterSightseeing as described in the ItineraryAyravata Cruises English Speaking Guide (additional non-English speaking guide is provided if more than 8 cabins are booked by parties speaking the same language)All Entrance Fees

NOT INCLUDED

Drinks, laundry, all items of a personal natureHealth-accident-baggage or travel protection plan outside the ship’s boundariesDomestic flights.Fuel surcharges if applicable

DETAILED ITINERARY

UPSTREAM

DAY 1 > BAGAN(-/L/D)

Our representative and guide will meet all guests upon arrival at Bagan airport between 07.30/08.00 am. Full day visit of a selection of the 2,000 listed pagodas and temples. Embark the ship before lunch; after continue the exploration of the archeological area. Dinner on board. Overnight on board.

DAY 2 > BAGAN – RIVER VILLAGE(B/L/D)

Explore some of Bagan's local markets selling wood carvings, fabrics, longyis and rattan products .Visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquerware making. Alternatively guests can hire a horse cart or a bicycle and explore the site on their own or have a splendid Balloon Flight over Bagan (surcharge applied - optional). Back to the ship around Noon and cast off. We cruise upstream all day. Stop at Shwe Pyi Thar village for a walk. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance in the village or sundeck.

DAY 3 > YANDABO(B/L/D)

In the morning 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. We go ashore for a walk stopping at some pot-making workshops and to visit the school and the monastery. We cruise upstream the rest of the day, moor overnight at Myin Mu jetty.

DAY 4 > MONYWA (HPOWINDAUNG AND SHWEBADAUNG CAVES)(B/L/D)

Early morning drive by coach (approx. 1 ½ hours) to Monywa to visit the Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung caves where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings dated back to the . After lunch we visit the splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda with its more than 500,000 Buddha images. Drive to Sagaing (2 hours) where we will rejoin the ship. Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 5 > AVA (DISEMBARK) – AMARAPURA(B/L/D)

After breakfast, disembark at Ava Jetty. 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 Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit U-Bein Bridge. Lunch in a local restaurant, then transfer to the Hotel or airport for your onward flight (Yangon or Heho Inle Lake).

DOWN STREAM

DAY 1 > MANDALAY (AVA – AMARAPURA)(B/L/D)

Our representative and guide will meet all guests upon arrival at Mandalay airport between 07:30/08:00 am. 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. In the afternoon we travel by sampan and coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit U-Bein Bridge and Silk factories. After dinner guests can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck (if available). Moor overnight in front of Sagaing Hill.

DAY 2 > MONYWA (HPOWINDAUNG AND SHWEBADAUNG CAVES) (B/L/D)

Early morning drive by coach (approx. 2 hours) to Monywa to visit the Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung caves where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings dated back to the . After lunch we visit the splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda with its more than 500,000 Buddha images. Drive to Myin Mu jetty (approx. 1 ½ hours) where we will rejoin the ship. Dinner and overnight on board.

DAY 3 > YANDABO (B/L/D)

In the morning 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. We go ashore for a walk stopping at some pot-making workshops and to visit the school and the monastery. Continue cruising downstream with an afternoon stop at Shwe Pyi Thar village for a walk. Moor overnight mid river.

DAY 4 > BAGAN (B/L/D)

We arrive at Bagan in the early morning. Full day visit of a selection of the 2,000 listed pagodas and temples. Lunch on board and in the afternoon continue the exploration of the archeological area. Dinner on board or in a local restaurant. Overnight on board.

DAY 5 > BAGAN (DISEMBARK) (B/L/D)

Explore some of Bagan's local markets selling wood carvings, fabrics, longyis and rattan products. Visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquerware makinG. Alternatively guests can hire a horse cart or a bicycle and explore the site on their own or have a splendid Balloon Flight over Bagan (surcharge applied - optional). Lunch on board or in a local restaurant. Disembark and transfer to the airport for your onward flight (Yangon or Heho Inle Lake) or hotel.