14 Day Mandalay to Yangon with Ananda Cruise
Once stepping foot in Mandalay – the second largest city of Myanmar, you can easily feel therich culture and tradition of the last Burmese Royal capital as well as the charm of a riverside city. Although Mandalay does not seem to stop from developing, the city is still a culture hub of Burma where traditional values are preserved.
When you arrive at Mandalay airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in city centre (about 1 hour). Check in and free at leisure (early check in is upon availability, your room is at your disposal from 14.00).
Today morning will start with a small trip to the highlights of Mandalay with GawWein Jetty. Our guide will pick you up from the hotel at 8am and the trip will start at 9am. Mahamuni pagoda is the first stop in our trip, then we will visit Shwenandaw Monastery - the ancient sophisticated teak wood monastery and our final stop is the shimmering Kuthodaw pagoda. This gilded architecture is known as the World’s largest book for its surrounding of 729 white marble slabsinscribed with Buddha teachings.
After finishing this short tour, you will be transferred to check in at Sanctuary Ananda cruise at 12:30pm.
You will enjoy your lunch onboard of the lavish ship while we sail towards the magnificent Sagaing Hill.This afternoon, we will visit a special Monastic school and anorphanage where you can have a chance to meet the locals, to know about the Buddha teachings and may be give a hand to help in need people. Next, we will climb to the top of the hill to visit the Soon U Ponya Pagoda and to catch the spectacular panorama of the mighty Irrawaddy river as well as the scenic surrounding areas.
Later, we will visit another former capital city of Burma – Amarapura which is known as “The City of Immortal”. In the glorious time, the city used to have the populations of around 200,000 residents. You day will end with the magical sunset moment on the longest teak bridge – U Bein which is listed in one of the best places to enjoy sunset in Myanmar.
Go back to Sanctuary Ananda ship to enjoy a fine dinner while watching the traditional performance.
The itinerary of Sanctuary Ananda cruise today will start with the visit to the charming Sin Kyun village in the North of Mandalay where Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy is the sponsor. Here, we design an optional tour for those who want to have a slice of local life.
Then, the ship continues to move to the South, to the peaceful village of Mingunwhere you can see a gigantic unfinished pagoda standing magnificently on the bank of the river from the cruise.
You will enjoy your delicious lunch onboard. Following that, are a lot of fascinating activities like longyi wearing and thanaka applying demonstrations. Your dinner will be served after that.
This morning, you will spend your time trying making some exotic dishes with our Professional chefs. One of them will take you to the local market in Pakokku to pick up the freshest ingredients.
You will have lunch onboard and then we will continue our journey with a visit to a pagoda complex where you can see a wide range of stupas in different shape and size. Shwezigon Pagoda will be your next stop in the trip. The architecture is said to preserve 2 bones and a copy of a tooth of Gautama Buddha.
When the day comes to an end, you can have an opportunity to contemplate the spectacular sunset over the temples plain of the ancient city of Bagan.
Your day will start with a delicious breakfast and then we will head to explore the ancient city of Bagan. Ananda temple will be the first stop in our journey. The locals believe that this building is the most beautiful temples in Burma.
Your will have your lunch at Popa mountain resort and contemplate the beauty of Mt. Popa from a spectacular angle. Later, you might want to discover this special mountain by climbing 777 staircases between the lush vegetation to reach to the top. Along the way, you will catch the image of pilgrims giving offerings and paying homage to the figures.
Back to the ship before it’s getting dark. You will enjoy the sunset onboard of Sanctuary Ananda cruise. The dinner will be served on the sandbank of Bagan under the lights of the candles.
Today is your last day in Bagan. After finishing your breakfast, you will check out at 9am in Taung Phi Jetty.
You will be picked up from Ananda cruise for a sightseeing tour. The tour starts with a visit to the vibrant local market, then to some notable monuments in Bagan such as Shwezigon pagoda and Gubyaukgyi temple – a cave temple with beautiful mural paintings.
Lunch on your own account. The journey continues with the stop at thelacquerwareworkshop where you can have a chance to learn about the procedures of making this traditional product and to admire the beautiful and sophisticated final products.
This afternoon, you will pay a visit to one of the most famous temples in Bagan – Dhammayangyi temple. This construction is the largest temples in thenational archeological zone, and also the popular tourist spot with the unique style of a flat – top pyramid. Next, we head to Sulamanipagoda where hides the most elaborate ornaments in Bagan’s temples.
For a perfect ending, you will watch the big red sun casts its orange glow on the temple plain of Baganin the Shwesandaw pagoda.
- Check in hotel and stay overnight in Bagan.
Balloon over Bagan is an interesting way to see the magnificent of the temple plain. You can give it a try (balloon riding on your own account) and we guarantee that the experience is worth every penny. After that, we will pick you up and take you toNyaung U airport to fly to Heho airport – Inlelake. Next, you will be transferred to Pindaya cave where an impressive collection of Buddha statues are displayed. Then, the trip continues to Inle Lake – the second largest body of water in Myanmar. Visiting this picturesque spot, you will feel like getting lost in the tranquil area of rustic villages, sublime landscape and friendly people.
- Check in hotel and stay overnight in Inle Lake.
After breakfast, your journey to Lake Inle starts with a boat trip at 8:30am.
This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy the beauty of this lake as well as have an insight into the local life. The boat will take you through numerous lush floating gardens of a wide range of fruits and vegetables. You will also see an incredible image of one – leg rowing fishermen on the lake. That is the special technique of Intha people who use one of his leg rowing the boat and the other one standing still while his hand holding the drone to catch the fish.
Our next stop is PhaungDawOo pagodawhich is the largest and most magnificent architecture on Inle Lake. The pagoda is said to own five sacred golden Buddha images. The trip continues with a visit to NgaHpeKyaungor Cat monastery. This is also a significant floating construction made of wood where you can see a lot of cats and some of them may entertain you with hoop jumping. Finally, we will pay a visit to Nan Pan village where people make cheroots (Myanmar cigar), cotton and lotus silk.
Back to hotel in the late afternoon.Overnight in Inle Lake.
Your trip will start at 8:30amwith a visit to theone and only “5 Day Market” in Inle Lake. The market is a place for people from in and around the lake to come and sell their products. It is always bustle and vibrant market with the appearance of many ethnic groups in their most colorful costume.The items sold here are also various.
Have lunch and we will head to Indein where hundreds temples lining up in the greenery area. Spend some time to explore and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
Back to hotel in the afternoon.Overnight in Inle Lake.
After breakfast at hotel, you will be transferred to Heho airport to fly to Thandwe. When you arrive, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the resort in Ngapali beach to check in.
It is your own free time to relax on the beach and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the Bay of Bengal. Meal on your own and overnight at resort in Ngapali.
It is your own free time to relax on the beach and enjoy the serene atmosphere of the Bay of Bengal. Meal on your own and overnight at resort in Ngapali.
You will be transferred to Thandwe airport to fly to Yangon. Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel to check in. Free and overnight in Yangon.
After breakfast, at 8.30AM, we will pick you up from your hotel to explore the city with visiting to the Shwedagon Temple, the most spiritual pagoda for the Burmese. Then the private car will transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.
What's Included
INCLUSION FOR CRUISE
- Prices are in US$ per person for the duration of the cruise, based on two people sharing.
- Rates include all meals, soft drinks and local beer during the day, local wine with lunch and dinner, English guided excursions, and all port charges.
- Prices exclude international and internal flights, wine (outside of meals), spirits and gratuities.
- Rates are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without prior notice anytime at the sole discretion of Sanctuary Retreats.
INCLUSION FOR LAND TOUR
- All transfers & transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
- Domestic air tickets with airport tax: Bagan – Heho, Heho – Ngapali, Ngapali - Yangon
- Boat trip as per itinerary
- Meals as listed in the itinerary: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner
- English speaking guide (other languages upon request)
- Sightseeing and entrance fees as specified
- Government taxes and service charge
- Mineral water on coach
What's Not Included
EXCLUSION
- International flights in/out Myanmar
- Visa Fees & Travels insurance
- Early check-in & late check-out surcharge
- Personal Expenses (telephone, laundry, Mini bar, etc…)
- Meals & drinks not mentioned
- Tips & gratuities for guide and driver
- Surcharges if any (increasing of fuel charges, admission fee, Christmas & New year with prior notice)
- Other services not mentioned in "inclusion"
DEPOSIT AND PAYMENT
To confirm a booking: A 30% deposit of total service cost will be required at the time of booking. The remaining balance should be made at least 65 days prior to your departure date. The deposit or remaining balance should be made by Credit card or Bank transfer with following details:
PAY BY CREDIT CARD
Kindly make deposit/payment via our secured online payment system which protected by SSL Protocol. Your card information will not be stored at our system. We accept Credit Card, Visa Card, Master Card, American Express and JCB card.
Note:
When you pay by Credit Card, please add 3% of service fee for Visa Card, Master Card, JCB card and 4% for American Express
In some cases, your transaction may be not successful due to:
- In correct card information
- Not enough credit balance
- Your card has not been activated for online payment. You should contact the Issuer Bank for the card activation.
BANK TRANSFER
Our travel consultant will advise you at the time of booking.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Booking Deposits are not refundable and are not transferable to other Tours or Bookings. If you wish to change any incidental component of your Booking, such as any pre or post-tour accommodation or add-ons, you must contact us in writing by email. You may pay a change fee to us in case the order makes the increase of service cost. You may cancel a Booking by sending us written notice of cancellation via email and your cancellation will be liable to pay a cancellation fee in accordance with cancellation policy of particular cruises.
Cancellation policy applied for FIT: for booking from 1 to 3 cabins
| Period prior to cruise date | FIT cancellation charge of total booking value |
| Before 61 days | Lost deposit |
| 60 days to 31 days | 50% of booking value. The balance (if any) will be credited for future booking |
| 30 days and less | 100% of the total booking value |
Cancellation policy applied for GIT: for booking from 4 cabins up
| Period prior to cruise date | GIT cancellation charge of total booking value |
| Between 180 - 121 days | Lost deposit |
| Between 120 - 91 days | 50% of booking value. The balance (if any) will be credited for future booking |
| Between 91 - 60 days | 100% of the total booking value |
A name change for a guest or a change to the tour departure date is considered a cancellation of the original Booking.
All tour prices are quoted in US Dollars. We may vary your tour price at any time before you have paid the tour price in full to the extent necessary to meet any increase in the tour costs for reasons outside our control, including airfares, fuel, government taxes and charges, exchange rate fluctuations or other tour related costs or tariffs. We will not vary the tour price after we have received the total tour price from you, regardless of any increases in the costs incurred by us. We will notify you of any such variation via email.
MYANMAR VISA
A valid passport with a valid Entry Visa to Myanmar is required of all visitors. A Tourist visa allows a maximum stay of 28 days, extendible for an additional 14 days.
You all need visa for Myanmar before arrival. Please get your Myanmar visas if you have your Myanmar Embassy or Consulate at your country. As normally, it will take you from 7 – 10 days.
Besides, it is our great pleasure to inform you that Myanmar Tourist E-Visa Application System has been officially launched on 01st September 2014. Those who are supposed to travel to Myanmar can be able to obtain entry tourist visa through online. For more detail information, please kindly visit at http://evisa.moip.gov.mm
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