Ayravata Cruises

Itinerary

Rangoon/Yangon – Prome/Pyay – Thayetmyo (40 Miles *65 Km – 8 Hrs)

Drive to Prome by coach and board Pandaw1947. Once controlled by the Mon during the Bagan Era and then conquered by the Burmese King Alaungpaya in the 1754, this quiet town boomed along with the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1890’s and it is now an important trading post. In the afternoon we drive to Thayekhittaya (also known as Sri Ksetra, the “Fabulous city” in Pali language), an ancient Pyu city that ruled in this area between the 5th and the 9th century AD. In central Prome if time permits we visit the impressive Shwesandaw Pagoda complex, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site of Myanmar, and the Wunchataung Paya (Apology Mountain Pagoda) a vantage point of the Shwesandaw Pagoda and the surrounding mountains.

Thayetmyo – Minhla (56 Miles *90 Km – 11Hrs)

Early Morning exploration of Thayetmyo: the oldest golf course of Myanmar, the market and the old colonial houses. Proceed cruising upstream. Moor overnight off Minhla.

Minhla – Magwe (19 Miles * 30 Km)

In the morning we reach Minhla and Gwechaung by local boat. Visit the two forts built by two Italian Military Engineers for the Burmese King in order to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar at the time of the 2nd Anglo-Burmese War. Arrive Magwe in the afternoon. Visit Myat Than Lun Paya, a 1929 built pagoda of gold solid bricks set on a hilltop with a beautiful view of the river. If time permits we drive to Minbu a small village across the river where we explore the Nga Ka Pwe Taung (Dragon Lake), a burping pond of Butane Gas set in a moon-like plot of land with bubbling pools.

Day4

Magwe - Salay (61 Miles *98 Km – 11Hrs)

Visit the Magwe picturesque market by trishaw. Sail all day upstream.

Day5

Salay – Tan Kyi (22 Miles *35 Km – 5 Hrs)

Visit Salay, a village founded in the 13th century with Bagan-era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings. Continue Upstream to the village of Tan Kyi. Reach the mountaintop by WW2 jeep where stands one of the four stupas that marked the original edges of the city and enjoy a marvelous sunset over Bagan plain.

Day6

Bagan

We visit a selection of the 2,000 listed pagodas and temples and lacquerware shops in Bagan.

Day7

Bagan – Yandabo (Miles 60*Km 111 – 12 Hrs)

Cast off time at 10.30 hrs. We cruise upstream all day. Stop at Shwe Pyi Thar village for a walk.
In the early evening we arrive at Yandabo, a picturesque village that specializes in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance in the village or sundeck.

Day8

Yandabo – Ava/Inwa (Miles 58*Km 107 – 12 Hrs)

We explore Ava by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. We travel by sampan and coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit U-Bein Bridge followed by central Mandalay visiting Mahamuni Pagoda, a Gold leaf making workshop and if time permits Mandalay Hill. Back to the ship for lunch and proceed upstream (ETD 13:30/14:00). Moor overnight nearby a river village North of Mandalay.

Day9

Ava - Mandalay Amarapura - Kyauk Myaung (Miles 45*Km 83 – 9 Hrs)

Early Morning we go ashore for a walk through the village stopping to some pot-making workshops to learn their unique production technique, the school and the monastery. Back to the ship for breakfast and cast off (ETD 09.00 hrs). We continue upstream to the ancient city of Ava, capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841.

Day10

Kyauk Myaung - Mingun – Sagaing (Miles 54*Km 100 – 5 Hrs)

Visit the spectacular potteries-making village of Kyauk Myaung, and see the manufacture stages of the famous 50 Gallons (200 Litres) pots (1.5 hours visit). Cruise downstream to Mingun where we visited the unfinished pagoda, the largest working bell in the world and the “home for the aged”.
Moor overnight at Sagaing. Dance and Theatre performance on the Sundeck.

Day11

Sagaing (Disembark) – Yangon

Disembark at Sagaing.

Retail Rates

Per person in US$ valid FROM 06 NOVEMBER 2010 TO 31 MAR 2012

CRUISE 10 NIGHTS

IMPORTANT NOTE: For All departures should the occupancy be less than 10 PASSENGERS the Company reserves the right to cancel the cruise up to 60 days prior the departure date. A written confirmation notice will be released to all booked clients and/or their agents within and not later than 60 days prior the departure date. In case of cancellation an alternative cruise will be offered and if not acceptable all down payments will be refunded.

• All meals &, Coffee/Tea/Water
• Sightseeing as described in the Itinerary
• Ayravata Cruises English Speaking Guide (additional non-English speaking guide is provided if more than 8 cabins are booked by parties speaking the same language)
• All Entrance Fees
• Transfer by coach to/from Prome

• Drinks, laundry, all items of a personal nature
• health-accident-baggage or travel protection plan outside the ship’s boundaries
• fuel surcharges if applicable(*)

(*) Within the above rates the fuel cost is calculated on the Myanmar Market average price of the months of January 2010 (i.e. USD 3 per imperial gallon). Should the fuel price rise by more than 10%, AYRAVATA CRUISES will be entitled to impose a fuel surcharge equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this rise is given to the Passenger and/or his-her Agent within 30 days prior the cruise departure date.

Sailing Dates 2010-2011

(#) NEW YEAR’S EVE CRUISE DEPARTURE (31 DECEMBER 2010): RATES & DETAILED PROGRAMME TBA

Sailing Dates 2011-2012

(#) NEW YEAR’S EVE CRUISE DEPARTURE (30 DECEMBER 2011): RATES & DETAILED PROGRAMME TBA

Pre/Post Cruise Land Tours

YANGON STOPOVER PACKAGE

A stopover before and after the cruise in the ex capital of Myanmar including the visit of Shwedagon Pagoda, Colonial Downtown and the famous Scott’s Market.
DURATION: 1+2 Days/1+1 night (The Strand or Chatrium Hotel)

INLE LAKE EXTENSION PACKAGE

A tour of Myanmar is not complete without visiting Inle Lake in the Shan State. Tour includes a full day boat excursion and half day to the 16th century pagoda complex of Indein.
DURATION: 2 Days/1 night (Inle Lake View Hotel)