Myanmar Signature

Welcome upon arrival at Yangon airport and transfer to the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel.Afternoon at leisure. Evening visit to the 2,500 year old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats. At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitors a spectacular show of lights and shadows.

On your morning excursion on Inle Lake, enjoy its scenic beauty as you witness unique fishing canoes whose Inthar fishermen operate the rudder with their legs and adopt unique techniques to fish and to collect seaweed and lakebed mud to make floating gardens used as vegetable plantations. Then visit NgaPeChaung (Jumping Cat) Monastery built over 150 years ago and featuring a number of old Buddha images before travelling onwards to a Silversmith factory. Lunch at an outside local restaurant in Inle Lake.. Visit to see local craftsmen such as silk weavers and silversmiths at work. Later, visit the famous Paungdaw Oo Pagoda. On the way back to Nyaung Shwe you will pass through villages catching a glimpse of rural lakeside life.

After breakfast, we explore the southern part of the lake by boat sailing through small creeks to reach Indein Village, where we will discover the hidden treasures of Pao Tribes people. This small village located on the lake’s south west bank is famous for its ruined clusters of pagodas dating back to the 16th century. The tranquillity and ambience will transport you back to those times. Visit the Indein Pagoda and local workshops to see local craftsmen at work producing cheroots, cotton, silver and gold jewellery. Lunch at an outside local restaurant before the short coach transfer to Heho to catch the flight to Bagan (15:50 – 17:00 via Mandalay).. Arrive Bagan and transfer to your boutique ship, RV Paukan 2012. Dinner and overnight on board RV Paukan 2012..

A very short trip by coach for this morning’s excursion to Sagain Hill where we go “behind closed doors” to meet the nuns and witness monastery life first-hand. Returning to the ship for lunch, we then set-off for this afternoon’s excursion: a short drive to the historic town of Ava where we use horse-drawn carts to show us the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27 metres high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung Monastery. Later in the afternoon, our ½ hour journey by sampan and coach takes us to Amarapura, the former Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit U-Bein Bridge at sunset. Moor overnight at Sagain. Dance and theatre show on the Sundeck. Dinner and overnight on board RV Paukan 2012.

After breakfast visit central Mandalay: Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay Hill where spiralling staircases lead to sweeping views of the city and its temples and the nearby Cathode Paya, which contains the world’s biggest book, the gold-leaf, tapestry, woodcarving, marble and bronze workshops. Overnight near Kyauk Myaung. Dinner and overnight on board RV Paukan 2012.

In the morning we visit one of the most authentic villages along the river and enjoy the opportunity to observe the daily life of the locals. Return to the ship for lunch, This afternoon’s excursion is to see the unfinished pagoda of Mingun, the largest working bell in the world and the “home for the aged”. Rejoin the ship. Cruise upstream to Mandalay. Dinner and overnight on board RV Paukan 2012.