| Descriptive Itinerary |
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| Wednesday |
Morning flight to Mandalay. On arrival you transfer to the Road To Mandalay berthed on the Ayeyarwady River at Shwe Kyet Yet opposite the beautiful Sagaing Hills studded with numerous white pagodas. You will be greeted by the ship's Captain, the Hotel Manager and Road To Mandalay staff. Settle into your comfortable private cabin, complete with ensuite facilities.
After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of the key sights of Mandalay. Four hundred miles north of Yangon, Mandalay is the capital of Upper Burma and is little more than a century old. To the Burmese people Mandalay represents Burma's past and present and is regarded as the center of Burmese culture and Buddhist learning. Visit the Maha Muni Pagoda one of the most important religious structures in Mandalay and the object of intense devotion to pilgrims from all over the world. The Shwe Nandaw Monastery was once part of the royal palace and is the only building that has survived the ravages of the last century. Return to Road To Mandalay for a relaxed dinner and local entertainment before retiring for the night.
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| Thursday |
After an early breakfast there is an opportunity to visit the Sagaing Hills, crossing one of the very few bridges that spans the Ayeyarwady River. Sagaing is considered to be the living center of the Buddhist faith in Burma and the hundreds of monasteries reverberate with the echoes of cymbals, gongs and pagoda bells. Sagaing is also famous for its silver and silversmiths who still work in much the same way as their ancestors did.
Returning to the Road To Mandalay mid morning, the ship gets underway and begins its journey south towards Bagan. The rest of the day is spent relaxing on board, admiring the many beautiful views from the top deck, observing the local river life or taking part in one of the tanaka and longyi demonstrations. An on-board guide lectures on local places and customs.
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| Friday |
The ship arrives at Bagan mid-morning and you disembark for your first glimpse of this awe-inspiring plain. Bagan is the most amazing sight in Burma and arguably in the whole of SE Asia. During the 11th to 13th centuries the kings of Burma devoted their resources to building pagodas and temples. Today, over 2,000 temples and pagodas remain on the banks of the river. Many temples have suffered earthquake damage and survive in various states of preservation. A guided orientation tour introduces you to the highest, biggest, most important temples, such as the Htilominlo Temple and the Shwezigon Pagoda.
After lunch on board you have the opportunity to rejoin the guide and visit the inside of some of the more significant pagodas - Ananda Pagoda, considered to be the masterpiece of Mon architecture and the Gubyaukgyi Temple home of some of Bagan's finest frescoes of the "Jataka" tales. Alternatively, you can hire a bicycle or horse-drawn cart for a few dollars and explore this fascinating area on your own. Late afternoon you climb the steep exterior slopes of one of the pagodas for the breathtaking vista of the sun setting over the plain, turning the brick-built temples and pagodas a fiery red. Dinner and local entertainment await you on board.
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| Saturday |
A full day excursion to Mount Popa, 60km south-east of Bagan. Mt Popa is 1,518 m high and is believed to be the sacred home of the Nats. Part of it has recently become a national park. On top of a rocky crag is a picturesque complex of monasteries, pagodas and shrines, which you can climb to via a winding, covered walkway. The 20-minute climb is steep and stiff, but it gets cooler as you get higher. The view from the top is one of the most beautiful panoramas in central Myanmar. Halfway up is the shrine to the Mahagiri nats. (Nats are a collection of deities including spirits of trees, rivers, ancestors and snakes.) Lunch is taken at the Mount Popa Resort. Dinner and overnight on board Road To Mandalay. |
| Sunday |
At leisure until the ship departs. A final opportunity to visit the wonders of Bagan before settling back on the top deck of the ship, drink in hand, to view the passing scenery on your journey north. The ship anchors mid-river for the evening and provides a marvelous opportunity to observe the stars and galaxies usually obscured in more populated areas. Dinner and overnight on board. |
| Monday |
Early afternoon Road To Mandalay arrives at its northern berth of Shwe Kyet Yet, a quaint little Burmese village on the banks of the river. After lunch enjoy an excursion to Ava. Founded in 1364, Ava was the capital of a Burmese Kingdom for nearly 500 years. The earthquake in 1838 caused serious damage to the city and inside the remains of the city walls a number of small villages have sprung up. A round-trip by horse cart is the best way to see this picturesque setting. Sights include the wooden Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, built of 267 teak posts and containing ornate wood carvings. The Htilaingshin Pagoda provides good panoramic views of Sagaing and Ava Bridge. The Nanmyin Watchtower, also called the 'leaning tower of Innwa', is 27 meters high and is all that remains of King Bagyidaw's palace. Heavily damaged by an earthquake and leaning over because the earth was sinking right beneath it. Shwezedi Pagoda is known for its elaborate and interesting mirror work. |
| Tuesday |
After breakfast you set off by local ferry, privately hired for Road To Mandalay guests, to Mingun. There is plenty of river life to observe along the way - ferries, teak and bamboo rafts, paddle steamers and numerous small boats which always appear ready to sink at any moment. Once there, visits are made to the most important sights. The Hsinbyume Pagoda, one of Myanmar's prettiest pagodas, built in 1816, snow white, consisting of seven concentric terraces leading to the central stupa. Mingun Bell is the world's largest working bell. It weighs 87 tons, is 3.7 meters high and 5 meters wide at the base. The Mingun Pagoda was started in 1790 to house the tooth of the Buddha. Construction was halted at the turn of the 19th century due to the economic ruin. The upper sections of the pagoda collapsed during the 1838 earthquake, but the base of the pagoda still towers nearly 50 meters above the Ayeyarwady River. Return by ferry for a late lunch. The afternoon is at leisure - an opportunity to visit something in the area that is of particular interest to you. Dinner and overnight on board. |
| Wednesday |
After an early breakfast, you are transferred to Mandalay's airport for your onward flight. |
Itineraries are subject to change anytime without notice.
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