Join in Asia Tours -  5 Days Cruise ''Road to Mandalay''

5 DAYS CRUISE "ROAD TO MANDALAY" (northbound bagan TO mandalay)

Joint tour: Departures from Yangon every Saturday between 07 January 2006 and 29 April 2006 and between 30 September and 30 December 2006.

Few places on earth remain untouched in their natural beauty and charm from one century to the next. The ancient land of Burma, now known as Myanmar, is however, an exception to the rule, and on board the Road To Mandalay we bring you the best of this fascinating, unspoilt country.

A journey along the Ayeyarwady River is a voyage of a lifetime. From this mighty river, which runs the length of the country, treasures can be admired which have for so long been hidden from the world’s gaze.

With the comfort and personality for which the Orient-Express is famous, the "Road To Mandalay" provides the most comfortable vantage point from which to absorb the surrounding serene beauty, taking in its golden-spired pagodas, ancient temples, sleepy riverside settlements and saffron-clad monks.

ITINERARY:

Yangon – bagan     (-/L/D)

DAY 1 SAT Departure from Yangon by Air Mandalay flight to Bagan. Arrival in Bagan and transfer to Road To Mandalay. On the way, enjoy a short introduction tour to the archeological site of Bagan. Board Road To Mandalay. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, visit Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery from the Early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. Admire the fine stucco work at Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myinkaba village) and stop at a lacquer ware shop to watch craftsmen skillfully making this most famous of Bagan handicrafts. Continue to the village of Minnanthu to see how the local people live and see the sunset from one of the famous monuments of Bagan. Return to Road To Mandalay. Dinner and traditional Myanmar Puppet Show on board. Accommodation on Road To Mandalay.

Bagan – MANDALAY     (B/L/D)

DAY 2 SUN Breakfast. Early in the morning visit the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, which is Bagan's most important reliquary shrine – look out for images of the 37 'nats' housed in a small hall. Visit Nyaung U local market and continue to Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes. Return to Road To Mandalay. Road To Mandalay departs Bagan in the direction of Mandalay. Lunch on board. In the afternoon an onboard program with a lecture by the tour guides and demonstrations of how to use Tanaka and how to dress the famous Myanmar Longyi on the top-deck. Dinner on board.

Accommodation on Road To Mandalay.

MANDALAY     (B/L/D)

DAY 3 MON Breakfast. Morning at leisure. Lunch on board. Early afternoon Road To Mandalay arrives in Mandalay at Shwe Kyet Yet - Jetty, close to Ava Bridge. This afternoon, visit Mahamuni Pagoda, home to Mandalay's holiest Buddha statue, and visit Shwe Inn Bin Monastery. Make a photo stop at the south of the moat around the Royal Palace, with views on Mandalay Hill. Visit Shwenandaw Monastery. Stop to see stone carving (if time permits) and, later, to see gold leaf being beaten into wafer thin pieces (if time permits). Lastly, enjoy the sunset from U-Bein bridge, which is over a kilometre long and made entirely of teak. Return to Road To Mandalay. Dinner and Arts & Handicraft demonstration. Accommodation on Road To Mandalay.

MANDALAY – MINGUN - MANDALAY (B/L/D)

DAY 4 TUE Breakfast. Morning boat trip by local ferry to Mingun, site of a brick pagoda towering 50 meters above the Ayeyarwady River, and home to the world's largest intact bell.  The boat trip is interesting because you see all types of wooden boats and bamboo rafts, carrying goods up and down the river. Return to Road To Mandalay. Lunch on board. In the afternoon, cross Ava Bridge, built by British engineers, to visit picturesque Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today.  Hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Stop to see the silversmiths producing silver alms bowls (if time permits). Also visit the Zayar Thein Gyi Nunnery.  Return to Road To Mandalay. Dinner and cultural show on board. Accommodation on Road To Mandalay.

MANDALAY – YANGON      (B/-/-)

DAY 5 WED Breakfast. Disembark Road To Mandalay. Transfer to Mandalay Airport for Air Mandalay flight from Mandalay to Yangon.

ABOUT ROAD TO MANDALAY

The luxury river cruise ship has been created by Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express from the former MS Nederland. Since 1995 this totally refurbished ship sails between Mandalay and Bagan.  The ship has a swimming pool, a large sun deck, a spacious observation lounge with large windows in addition to the excellent cabin facilities, a restaurant able to accommodate all passengers in one sitting and satellite communications. Consultant designers were appointed to devise new internal and external decorative schemes in sympathy with the vessels new role and the “Orient-Express” brand.

The Road to Mandalay can accommodate a maximum of 110 passengers in 3 different cabin types. All cabins are fully air-conditioned and have en suite shower and WC facilities. Each cabin has a personal safe, telephone and satellite TV with in-house video. Sockets are suitable for 2-pin round plugs (220 volts). Hair dryers are available in each cabin.

Our tour prices are inclusive of transfers and tours with English speaking local guides, accommodation in cabins as per your choice, meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), entrance fees, domestic airfares Yangon-Bagan and Mandalay -Yangon with Air Mandalay, service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Note: Guests may choose to book an extension from Mandalay to Inle Lake - please refer to the following program; 

2 DAYS EXTENSION TO SHAN STATE (INLE LAKE) IN COMBINATION WITH "ROAD TO MANDALAY" 

Private tour: Departures on Saturday from Bagan or on Wednesday from Mandalay between 07 January 2006 and 29 April 2006 and between 30 September and 30 December 2006, with English speaking stationed guides (other languages on request and subject to surcharge).

ITINERARY:

bagan (Or) MANDaLAY – heho – inle lake     (-/l/D)

DAY 1 SAT / WED  Transfer from the "Road To Mandalay" to the airport. Domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho, proceed by road to Inle Lake (25 km - 1 hour). Enjoy a boat trip on Inle Lake – a photographer's dream, its calm waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes, to which scenic high hills provide the perfect backdrop. See the lake's unique "leg rowers" – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. See traditional handicrafts - silk weaving on wooden handlooms and a blacksmith shop. Lunch at Nampan Restaurant. Pass endless floating gardens, where fruit and vegetables are grown. Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries on the lake. One can see ancient Buddha statues which are more than 200 years old.  Dinner and accommodation at Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake (chalet garden view).

inle lake – heho – yangon     (B/-/-)

DAY 2 SUN / THU Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, if time permits, visit a colorful market in the Inle Lake region (on market day only), then proceed to Heho Airport. Return flight to Yangon. The car and guide will be at clients' disposal for further sightseeing or shopping until departure by international flight in the evening.)

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