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Tour Sanctuary Ananda Cruise 11 Nights - Lower Ayeyarwady Itinerary
Itinerary Overview Includes & Excludes Detail Itinerary
I. Itinerary Overview
Date Activities Accommodations Meals Departure from Yangon Day 1 Yangon L, D Day 2 Danuphyu B, L, D Day 3 Sailing B, L, D Day 4 Pyay B, L, D Day 5 Pyay B, L, D Day 6 Thayet B, L, D Day 7 Minhla Fort B, L, D Day 8 Sale B, L, D Day 9 Bagan B, D Day 10 Bagan B, L, D Day 11 Mandalay B, L, D Day 12 Mandalay B, L, D Departure from Mandalay Day 1 Mandalay to Sagaing to Amarapura L, D Day 2 Sin Kyun to Mingun B, L, D Day 3 Pakokku to Bagan B, L, D Day 4 Bagan to Sale B, L, D Day 5 Minbu to Magwe to Minhla B, L Day 6 Minhla Fort to Thawutti to Thayet B, L, D Day 7 Thayet to Pyay B, L, D Day 8 Pyay to Htonbo B, L, D Day 9 Akauk Taung to Kenaung to Zalun B, L, D Day 10 Zalun to Danuphyu B, L, D Day 11 Danuphyu to Yangon B, L, D Day 12 Yangon B
II. Includes & Excludes
Includes
Accommodation All three meals during full sailing days with lunch and dinner on day of embarkation and breakfast on day of disembarkation Soft drinks and local beer All sightseeing as stated in set itineraries
Excludes
Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls and purchases from the gift shop Wine and spirits Extra optional excursions International & domestic flights Gratuity to staff Medical services, travel insurance or visas
III. Detail Itinerary
Departure from Yangon
Day 1 Yangon
Welcome on board the Sanctuary Ananda. Check in by 12pm and settle into your suite before we leave the bustle
of downtown Yangon to join the Twante Canal which connects the Yangon River to the Ayeyarwady River. The
scenery will be both urban and rural, rows of vegetables grow in tidy allotments by the side of the canal or maybe a
man dangling a long bamboo fishing line into the canal. Twante town itself is famous for ceramics. Dock at Nyaung
Tong, a riverside beach for overnight. Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Danuphyu
This morning we will visit the charming small town of Danuphyu, it was here that General Maha Bandula led the Burmese against the British in 1825 during the First Anglo-Burmese war. Explore the town by trishaw, visiting the
Pagoda of Tyuakalon Pun and the Maha Bandula monastery. Dinner and overnight on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Sailing
Today will be spent sailing and provides a scenic introduction to Myanmar, a feast for the eye, the villages, noble
tamarind trees, the dazzling green paddy fields, distant hills dotted with pagodas: the chief beauty however lies
with her people, a people in harmony with their environment. In the afternoon, sail past the Akauk Taung Caves.
Here you'll be able to capture the best possible photos of these truly staggering caves. Meaning 'Tax Mountain',
this quirky site takes its name from all the 19th century toll-takers who would kill time in between charging passing
boats by carving hundreds of Buddhas right here into the steep cliff side. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Pyay
Today will be spent exploring the town of Pyay, a charismatic dock with a startlingly beautiful pagoda. Visit the city
center and local market, followed by lunch on board. In the afternoon, visit the ancient city of Sri Ksera, once the
capital of Pyay dating from around the 1st century. The ancient city gained World Heritage status in 2014. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Pyay
This morning visit the small town of Shwe Taung. Here you will visit the Shwe Hmyet Hman Pagoda, where the
Buddha image wears gold sunglasses. Lunch on board will be followed by an afternoon of sailing. After lunch a
variety of on board activities will be offered including a longyi (sarong) and thanaka (cosmetic) demonstration.
Tonight we will dock in Thayet. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Thayet
Take in mystical white pagodas and charming colonial houses as we explore postcard-perfect rural Thayet on foot.
Built by the British in 1887, Myanmar's first golf course is also here. In the afternoon, sail from Thayet to Minhla. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Minhla Fort
Begin your day with a walking tour of the two brick Minhla Forts. An unusual construction, the fort was originally dated from 13th century and enlarged and strengthened by Italian engineers, to resist a British invasion during the
Third and final Anglo-Burmese war. Return to the ship and sail to Magwe and on the way visit the hilltop Myat Than
Lun Paya, a pagoda built in 1929 of solid gold bricks - this is an extraordinary building with stunning views of the
Ayeryarwady. Dinner and overnight on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Sale
Sail in the early morning enjoying the scenery and life on the riverbank. You will sail past Pakan Lay village where
temple ruins lie decorously along the banks and then arrive Sale. Sale is a perfect small community to wander
around on foot or by trishaw. We will visit Yoke Sone Kyaung monastery, a fine teak building with some beautifully
crafted reliefs. Our final stop before returning to the boat for dinner is Tha-ta-na Kyaung - this small temple has an
interesting Buddha image made from bamboo. Dinner and overnight on board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Bagan
This morning will be spent sailing to Bagan. After lunch, we will visit village of Myinkaba, a centre of the ancient
craft of lacquerware which has been produced in Bagan since the time of King Anawrahta around 1050 AD. Here in
the workshop the traditional methods are still used. The last stop is at a jaggery workshop which produces
unrefined sugar. Next, visit the Ananda Temple. Completed in 1091 AD, it is commonly referred to as one of the
four great temples in Bagan. The Ananda is regarded by folklore as one of the most beautiful temples in Myanmar.
A traditional horse cart will then take us to Htilominlo Temple; a two-storey red-brick temple built around 1211 AD.
It is a magnificent structure, though now heavily restored. The day's finale is a quiet moment on the terraces of the
Pyathatgyi Temple. Admire the light change on the pagodas as they exude antiquity and mystery. Finally the sun
sets behind the hills on the far side of the Irrawaddy River, filling the sky with a reddish glow, a truly magic
moment. The day ends with a spectacular and unique candlelit sandbank dinner. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 Bagan
After breakfast we will visit the bustling Nyaung U local market. Next, on to the great golden Shwezigon Pagoda
which is said to contain important relics of the Gautama Buddha, two bones and a copy of a tooth. We will then
return to the ship and start sailing upstream towards Sagaing. Relax as we past villages set against a backdrop of
soft browns, rich tamarind trees with white and golden pagodas gracing the distant hills. There is no better way to
enjoy this riverine picture than from the Kansi panorama lounge. After lunch a variety of on board activities will be offered including a longyi (sarong) and thanaka (cosmetic) demonstration, a cooking class with the chef, cheroot
and betel nut tasting and a talk on Myanmar - covering the country's incredibly rich history, more recent &
controversial events and prospects for the future. A delicious dinner will then follow. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Mandalay
The morning will be spent sailing and enjoying the passing countryside. In the afternoon we will arrive beside the
pagoda sprinkled Sagaing hills, an important religious and monastic center, home to some 554 monasteries and
6,000 monks and nuns. We will take a short stop at several of the monasteries and pagodas but it is the views from
the top of the hill on the terraces of the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda which are truly breathtaking. Below and all
around, pagodas of different shapes and sizes dot the landscape. Enjoy a local performance, followed by dinner on
board. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Mandalay
For those who wish, an early morning visit to the village of Sin Kyun is offered, a village just north of Mandalay
sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy. It has a population of just under 1,000 inhabitants and specializes
in farming and hat making. Witness first-hand the way of life in this unspoilt location seldom viewed by outsiders.
Following the village Chief's request for a library and a house for an English teacher, Sanctuary Retreats
Philanthropy donated the money necessary to begin this new partnership. We hope that with the support of
Sanctuary Ananda guests, we will be able to provide further funds to improve the quality of life of the villagers.
Arrive in Mandalay at 9:45am, check out. As your cruise comes to an end, we thank you for sailing with us on
board the Sanctuary Ananda and immersing yourself in the magic of Myanmar. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Departure from Mandalay
Day 1 Mandalay to Sagaing to Amarapura
Welcome on board the Sanctuary Ananda. Check-in at 12.30pm. Once on board, enjoy lunch as we cruise towards
the pagoda-dotted hills of Sagaing. Formerly the capital of the Shan kingdom, it’s home to hundreds of monasteries
and thousands of monks and nuns. This afternoon, we’ll visit several pagodas, and a highlight will be pausing on
the terrace of Soon U Pon Nya Shin on Sagaing Hill. You’ll also get to see skilled craftsmen in a silversmith
workshop in Ywataung village. We’ll set off for Amarapura about 4.15pm. We’ll pop into textile workshops, and then pause by the U Bein Bridge - a long teak bridge across Taungthaman Lake - where many locals come to watch
sunset. After the sun has gone down, we’ll head back to the boat moored at Gawein jetty and dock for the evening
in Sin Kyun. Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 Sin Kyun to Mingun
For those who don’t mind an early start, we can take you for a tour of Sin Kyun at 7am – here you’ll get a true
taste of traditional farming and artisanal life in our adopted village. It’s back to the boat in time to sail at 8am, so
that we can arrive at Mingun half an hour later. Here in this sleepy village, an ox cart will transport you to the
unfinished Mingun Pagoda. Lastly, you’ll see a most unusual white pagoda known as Myatheindan. Return at
10.30am to the ship so that we can start sailing south, passing unspoiled scenery that rarely gets exposed to
tourists. This region backdropped by rich tamarind trees and hillside white and golden pagodas is unique for its
unintended beauty – look out for scenes of ladies perched on rocks chatting as they do their daily wash, or ox carts
waiting on the banks for a boat to arrive and unload its goods. A perfect place from which to observe these
authentic filmic tableaux from is the air-conditioned Kansi Panorama Lounge. Early evening, Sanctuary Ananda will
drop anchor at the confluence; this is the ideal time to ask the barmen to create your favourite sundowner as an
aperitif in a setting you’ll never forget. Without wanting to spoil the surprise, while you enjoy your dinner, keep
your eyes out for beautiful traditional lanterns floating past down the river... Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Pakokku to Bagan
At 6am we’ll also start sailing towards Pakokku, just south of the confluence of the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin
Rivers. The site of a well-known battle at the end of World War II, Pakokku is famous for tobacco and sugar palm
(jaggery). Around 9am, tricycle rickshaws will take you to the local market. Then it’s on to the cheroot factory.
Return to the cruise at 11.30am. Enjoy lunch while sailing towards Bagan. Arrive just after lunch. Go ashore to
explore around the ancient city. We will visit the remarkable Ananda Temple - one of the four great temples in
Bagan, Htilominlo Temple, Pyathatgyi Temple. Back on board, guests will experience a traditional Shan dinner as
well as watch a local performance. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Bagan to Sale
Sign up for an optional balloon tour at 5.30am and you’ll get to see the most spectacular bird’s-eye view of the
Bagan plain in the clear dawn light. (Additional charges apply. October – March only. Subject to weather conditions on the day of the flight). After breakfast, there’s a 9am visit to Bagan by bus to experience the bustling Nyaung-U
market. Next is a visit to the golden Shwezigon Pagoda; said to contain important relics of the Gautama Buddha:
two bones and a copy of a tooth. In Myinkaba, you’ll learn about the ancient art of creating fine lacquerware from
watching artisans in their workshops. Return to the ship at 12.30pm and we’ll sail downstream towards Sale,
passing Chauk, one of the original oilfields where the ‘nodding donkeys’ (oil-well pumps) work away at the river’s
edge. We’ll get to Sale (Salay) around 4.30pm; this small community is perfect to wander around on foot or by
trishaw. We will visit Yoke Sone Kyaung monastery, a fine teak building with some beautifully crafted reliefs. Our
final stop before returning to the boat for dinner is Tha-ta-na Kyaung – this small temple has an interesting Buddha
image made from bamboo. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Minbu to Magwe to Minhla
We’ll spend the morning sailing to Magwe, and this leg of our adventure includes passing Minbu village around
lunchtime. Nga Ka Pwe Taung, meaning ‘Dragon Lake’, is a unique gas-and-mud-bubbling pool set here in what
seems like a lunar landscape. (Not many tourists have the opportunity to stray to this part of Myanmar.) Around
2pm we’ll dock in Magwe and take you to Myat Than Lun Paya, a stunning 1929-built pagoda of solid-gold bricks
set on a river-view hilltop. Later this afternoon we will carry on along the river towards Minhla where we’ll dock
overnight. Minhla Fort, the dramatic military construction here, which harks back to the Konbaung era. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Minhla Fort to Thawutti to Thayet
At 9am we will take a walking tour of the Minhla Fort. An unusual construction built for the Burmese King by Italian
engineers, it was intended to resist a British invasion in the second Anglo-Burmese War. Around 10.30am we’ll be
on our way to the charming village of Thawutti. Back aboard the ship, we’ll cruise on to Thayet where we’ll dock
overnight. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Thayet to Pyay
The next chapter in our adventure includes the mystical white pagodas and charming colonial houses as we
explore postcard-perfect rural Thayet on foot. Built by the British in 1887, Myanmar’s first golf course is also here.
Pyay (pronounced by some as ‘pyay’ and ‘pyi’ by others) is a charismatic dock with a startlingly beautiful pagoda.
After lunch we will have a look around this destination formerly referred to as Prome by the British, this is a
highlight of this cruise. Shwe Daung village is next on our day’s agenda. Look out for the only Buddha wearing gold sunglasses at Shwe Myet Hman pagoda, before we head back to Sanctuary Ananda about 6.30pm. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 Pyay to Htonbo
This morning, before returning to see more of Pyay, we will visit Thayekhittata, an old Pyu Dynasty city; on display
is a wealth of different-sized stupas, built between the 4th and the 13th centuries. Worthy of a pilgrimage in itself,
Shwesandaw Paya is not only impressive in scale, but this temple is celebrated for housing supposed strands of
Buddha’s hair and also an actual tooth which takes the form of a golden bell which is revealed only during
November’s full-moon festival. From this hilltop pagoda, it is impossible not to be awestruck by the vision of the 10-
metre-high Buddha statue. Returning to the boat at in time for lunch, you’ll be able to enjoy an afternoon on board
as we travel 29 miles to Htonbo. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 Akauk Taung to Kenaung to Zalun
Breakfast as we sail, before we drop anchor at Akauk Taung; here you’ll be able to capture the best possible photos
of these truly staggering caves. Meaning ‘Tax Mountain’, this quirky site takes its name from all the 19th century
toll-takers who would kill time in between charging passing boats by carving hundreds of Buddhas right here into
the steep cliffside. At about 10am we will pause at Kenaung village; if you’re lucky you’ll get a chance to see locals
having a game of chinlone – a traditional team sport, which involves balletic moves from the players. After lunch,
as we sail 68 miles south towards Zalon, this is another chance to savour your time on this extraordinary riverboat.
As the ship continues south, enjoy a restful on your private balcony or take full advantage of Santuary Ananda’s
extensive services and facilities. Whether you choose to relax and unwind or seek stimulation or conversation,
boredom is never an option aboard Ananda. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 Zalun to Danuphyu
This morning we will visit the small port town of Zalun where we’ll whisk you on the local tricycle rickshaws to see
the Buddhas in the remarkable Pyi Taw Pyan; these bronze figures were controversially stolen by the British Army
but then returned by order of Queen Victoria. After sailing south to Danuphyu, we will dock and visit a monastery
and the Maha Bandula memorial at Pali University. It was from here that General Maha Bandula led a Burmese
defensive against British troops during the Anglo-Burmese War. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 11 Danuphyu to Yangon
Your last day will be the perfect chance to relax and reflect on all that you’ve seen and done. We’ll spend today
sailing downstream, which means you have ample time to make the most of the many luxuries on board Ananda.
Maybe have a spa treatment or relax by the pool with a book from our library? Or just enjoy gliding through the
soul-stirring riverscapes that so few foreigners get to see... Tonight’s farewell dinner features a special
performance. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Yangon
The ship will arrive in late morning for you to check out in Yangon, formerly the capital of Burma also known as
Rangoon. As your cruise comes to an end, we thank you for sailing with us on board the Sanctuary Ananda and
immersing yourself in the magic of Myanmar. Meals: Breakfast