Highlights of Myanmar with River Cruise

Yangon

It's an early start this morning to see the lively activity at Danyingone Market, locally know as the Railway Market. You'll transfer to the outskirts of the city and board the daily circular train. The train ride will last about one and a half hours passing green fields, small wooden houses and some local factories before arriving at the busy Danyingone Market. Here, you'll be greeted by locals, vendors and hawkers selling and buying colourful produce including vegetables, meats, local snacks and flowers. You'll have the chance to walk around the market and discover local foods such as Mohinga, a rice noodle with fish soup, a typical Burmese breakfast. Afterwards, return to the city by car. Your afternoon sightseeing will start at the National Museum where you'll see the eight metre high Sihasana Lion Throne, used by the last Burmese king before continuing to the Shwedagon Pagoda, the highlight of any visit to Yangon, which is at its most beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colours of twilight.

Accommodation: Jasmine Palace Hotel

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Bagan

After breakfast this morning, you'll explore local life in the unspoiled town of Salay. Visit the Yoke Son Kyaung, the oldest surviving wooden monastery, with beautiful carvings of court life and scenes from the Ramayana. Continue to wander around the town and the market and visit Mann Paya, a modern pagoda housing a 6m gold Buddha made of straw lacquer. Next, you'll join a Burmese tea party and visit an extinct temple-topped volcano dedicated to the legendary 'nat' spirits. During the journey from Bagan, stop in the small village of Shwe Hlaing for a Burmese-style tea party hosted by a local family in their home. Try some famous tea leaf salad accompanied by a cup of Burmese tea as you chat and get to know your friendly hosts. Continue to Mount Popa, an extinct sheer-sided volcano that rises out of the plain. Topped by golden stupas, it is a famous pilgrimage site for locals who come to worship at the Nat temples.Relax for a while taking in the breathtaking views across the plains, valleys and distant mountains, before starting the return journey to Bagan.

Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Cruise on the Irrawaddy River

This morning you'll make at stop at the village of Yandabo. Here you'll take a walk round the pottery village and visit the local school, built with past traveller donations. Back on board, relax and enjoy the facilities. All meals are included on your cruise.

Accommodation: Overnight onboard RV Katha Pandaw

INCLUDES : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mandalay

Your tour starts this morning with a visit to Amarapura, a former royal capital. Here, you'll visit Mahagandayon Monastery, where in the morning, monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Pause to enjoy the atmosphere of U Bein Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometre across Taungthaman Lake, and the highlight of any visit to Amarapura. From Amarapura, turn back to Mandalay itself, stopping first at Mahamuni Paya. Worshippers flock daily to the shrine at four in the morning to observe the unique face-washing ceremony. En route to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered out into tissue-thin squares. Continue to Shwenandaw Kyaung, or the Golden Teak Monastery. Built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery was once part of the Mandalay Palace. Afterwards visit Kyauktawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble. Continue to Kuthodaw Paya, known also as "the world's biggest book". Around the central stupa are miniature pavilions, each housing a slab of marble numbering altogether 729, these slabs are inscribed with the entire Tripitkata, or Buddhist scriptures. The final stop is at Shwe Kyin Old Monastery, an old monastery at the base of Mandalay Hill, which was built during the period of King Mindon.

Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Inle Lake

After breakfast, take a long-tail boat across the peaceful lake to visit local farms in Kayla Village, a village of farmers, full of beautiful floating gardens. Explore the farm, and learn about the daily lives of the farmers and how they construct the floating islands from plants and water hyacinths. Visit Pauk Par village where the Inthar people live to see the typical houses constructed on wooden stilts in the water. Spend some time with an Inthar family who will generously open their home for you to explore. Sit and chat with them while enjoying local snacks such as tofu crackers, rice crackers and tea leaf salad as starter and a typical Inthar meal as lunch. After saying goodbye to your hosts, return by boat to the jetty.

Accommodation: Ananta Inle Resort

INCLUDES : Breakfast