14 Day Yangon to Mandalay with Ananda Cruise

In Mandalay's former dynasty, thousands of sacred, magnificent temples, stunning royal palaces, gorgeous stilt houses and plain transportation of horse, cow carts. What a beautiful time it was! Through time, grow on earth the sleek, modern skyscrapers, urban areas with convenient technology.

Despite that fact, in Mandalay, you can still feel time like stops its flow. When touring in the city, the standing still hundreds of ancient stupas, temples, palaces from hundred years ago are impressive at first glimpse.

When you land in Mandalay airport, keep continuing transferring for about 1 hour to your hotel in the city hub. After checking in the hotel, you can relax whether in your room or strolling around (the room is available at 14:00, early check-in depends on the room availability).

It’s your first morning in the historic city of Mandalay, wake up early to enjoy the fresh air and sunrise. Have your breakfast at the hotel, then follow our guide to explore the most famous highlights of the city. 

At Mahamuni Pagoda, we will stop there for a short time to sightsee the religious features, constructions and then proceed to tour the Shwenandaw Monastery. The special thing about this age-old Monastery is the typical teak-wood building way. Existed through hundreds of years, the monastery carries the art of ancient times that inspired many artists and architecture. Next, we will leave for the Kuthodaw Stupa which is also well-known for the title of the World’s largest book when it owns 792 white marble Buddha-word slabs.

Tour around and take a short break. Around 12:30 PM, at Gaw Wein Jetty, we will start our new journey on the Sanctuary Ananda Cruise.

Now, we will head to the alluring Sagaing hill. As you are cruising, the crew will serve lunch on deck. In the afternoon, we stop at the special monastic school and then meet the lovable children at the nearby orphanage. Right there, you will also have an opportunity to meet, communicate with the friendly locals as well as study Buddha's teachings.

After that, we will arrive at a place that is tranquil and peaceful. Ascending to the peak of the hill, the Pagoda of Soon U Ponya delivers relaxing atmosphere and peace of mind. This site also provides the best view of the Irrawaddy River, along with the interesting view of the entire city, which are pleased to contemplate.

Then, we will arrive in one of the most famous places in Myanmar: the former capital of Burma: Amarapura, which is best known as "The Immortal City." When it was in the golden era, the city was home to about 200,000 residents, including the monks and the nobles. Strolling around the city, the stunning time-honored temples leaves us great impression about the glorious past. An exciting, active day journey ends with a beautiful sunset moment at the world's longest teak-wood U-Bein bridge.

Then, return to the cruise to enjoy your hearty dinner as well as the eye-catching traditional show.

As we arrive in the gorgeous village of Sin Kyun in Northern Mandalay this morning. We will stroll in the village and stop at the Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy, where your donation is used for helping the local community. In our optional guided tour, visitors can opt to explore a part of the local life here in the tranquil village.

We continue to travel south to Mingun passing through the lush forests and quaint villages on the riverside as well as  the huge unfinished stupas of Pahtodawgyi.

In the afternoon, enjoy your delicious lunch onboard. Follow the meal are some interesting activities, such as the longyi wearing or the Thanaka applying demonstration. Enjoy your time and have a delectable dinner. Overnight on the Sanctuary Ananda Cruise.

The morning activities start with the cooking class. Our professional chefs will instruct carefully and exactly how the tasty local dishes are made.

Before that, we will shop at the Pakokku local market to collect clean and fresh ingredients for our recipe. This is also a great chance to learn bargaining as well as observing the bustling Burmese trading.

Later, lunch will be served onboard. Then, we will head to the age-old, alluring pagoda complex to take pictures of different stupa styles, and contemplate the great art from the previous time.  After that, the distinguished Shwezigon Pagoda is our next stop, which is said to preserves the Gautama Buddha relics: 2 bones and a copy of the tooth of Gautama Buddha. Besides the thrilling history of this sacred place, the architecture, artifacts of this stupa are also stunning to admire

Spend your time to take the best of the beautiful sunset over the ancient land of Bagan – one of the most stunning places to watch the dawn in Asia.
 

Bagan is a beautiful land with thousands of mesmerizing temples and ruins dated back from 11th to 13th century. After your breakfast, we will explore this majestic land for an interesting sightseeing tour. Among the jungle of temples on the archeological site, the most beautiful one that leaves a deep impression from the distinctive architecture to the size is Ananda temple, which is our first temple to visit.

The Popa mountain resort is the ideal place to overlook the magnificent Popa Mountain, where it is also the place we will have our delicious lunch.

Next, proceed to the top of the mountain on 777 steps, where there is a sparkling monastery under the daylight. As this is the sacred and famous temple in the area, many people come here every day to worship  the Buddha and wish for a happy life. Moreover, on your way hiking up, content yourself with the natural lush green plants and the scene of pilgrims’ offerings.

Late in the afternoon, head back to the cruise so as not to miss the glorious sunset over the ancient land of Bagan. Then, we leave the boat to have a romantic dinner on Bagan sandbank.
 

Today, we will visit many interesting places in Bagan. After breakfast, about 9:00 AM, the ship shall arrive at Tuang Phi port for the disembarkation. Then, keep transferring on a vehicle to drive around the historical, majestic old temples in Bagan.

The first destination on the itinerary is the local market where people sell their goods and specialties. Up next, we will visit the spectacular Shwezigon Pagoda and Gubyaukgyi Temple.

Lunch on your own. Take a short break before the trip continues to the lacquerware workshop.

Then, an exploration of some famous, stunning Bagan temples is waiting ahead. As always be magnificent, beautiful, and sacred, Dhammayangyi Temple is always satisfied the tourists of what they expected about a typical Myanmar temple. After that, let’s admire the delicate Sulamani Stupa's adornments, a gorgeous temple that you should not skip when touring Bagan.

Enjoy your time at the Shwesandaw pagoda and wait in pleasant for the glorious orange-tinted sunset over the archaeological site of Bagan.

After that, we head to the hotel to check-in. Spent the night in Bagan.

OPTIONAL: There is a balloon riding service in Bagan, which is the best way to capture all the beauty of this majestic land of the temple plain under the sunset and the graceful Irrawaddy river. It is your choice to experience the ride with an additional cost.

In the morning, the driver will collect the group at the hotel for a departure flight to Heho. As we arrive in Heho, where is idyllic with the countryside and the famous Inle Lake, we will begin the tour to many popular places.

We take a drive to the spectacular Pindaya cave next, where is home for thousands of Buddha images, from various shapes and sizes. Later, prepare for the trip to Inle Lake - the second biggest body of water and the most beautiful lake in Myanmar.

Then,check - in hotel and overnight in Inle Lake.

Enjoy your breakfast served at the hotel and then, let’s begin one exciting boat tour of the day in the wonderful Inle Lake.

When cruising, the site of floating gardens, netting fish fisherman and floating villages are peaceful to enjoy.

Subsequently, we follow the itinerary to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which possesses many worthy religious artifacts including the 5 golden Buddha statues as well as colossus temple of art.

Following next is the Nga Hpe Kyaung monastery – a 19th century construction with amazing wood carvings, which is worth time paying. In the previous time, the monastery is best - known with the name of “Cat monastery” since the monks here taught the cats to jump through hoops.

Here comes the last destination of the day: Nan Pan village. Besides a plain home for the ethnics, the village is also a qualified source of cheroots (Burmese cigar), cotton and silk.

In the late afternoon, we will transfer back to the hotel. Enjoy the time left and spend a night in Inle Lake.

A beautiful morning is awesome to launch a tour. At 8:30 AM, we will make a visit to one well-known market in the "5-Day Market" of Inle Lake. From all the regions around, sellers and buyers gather at this point to exchange the goods. Also, the ethnics join the market will bring with them their specialties, which is part of their culture. Therefore, with the locals in their traditional costume and sort of interesting items, the market is always busy, lively and especially interesting to tourists from far away.

Follow the lunch is the tour to Indein, where is mysterious with hundreds of temples ruins. They embraced tightly with lush green plants. The features you might like most about this place is the fresh clear atmosphere and site that makes you feel like you are not in this century.

In the late afternoon, head back to the hotel and we will spend the night in Inle Lake.
 

Finish your breakfast, pack your luggage and be picked up to Heho airport and fly to Thandwe. Upon your arrival, the driver is ready to transfer you to the Ngapali beach resort for checking in. Enjoy your time at the gorgeous beach and overnight at the hotel.

Immerse in the fresh air and chill out at the smooth sand yard, clear water of the beach in the Bay of Bengal. Lunch and Dinner are on your own.

Spend the night at the resort in Ngapalli Beach.

Immerse in the fresh air and chill out at the smooth sand yard, clear water of the beach in the Bay of Bengal. Lunch and Dinner are on your own.

Spend the night at the resort in Ngapalli Beach.

Arrive on time at the Thandwe airport to catch the flight to Yangon. As soon as you arrive, meet our driver and he/she will take you to your hotel for checking-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Spend a night in Yangon.

Have your breakfast served at the hotel. At 8:30 AM, prepare for the sightseeing tour around the modern-mixed-ancient city of Yangon. After the experience at the must-go-to destination in Yangon – Shwedagon Pagoda, you will transfer on a private car to the airport for your departure flight.

It was a nice time we have with each other. We hope to see you in no time in another adventure. Service ends here.