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The sleek Irrawaddy Explorer Cruise is the newest and most luxurious of the three cruise ships of Ayravata Cruise Company to ply the great Irrawaddy River of Burma and even before it leaves the dock it takes you into another world: the elegant, stylish era of the colonial period.
As soon as you are in the reception area, you have stepped into the past, created with its décor of a beautiful art nouveau stairway, old-style furniture, the gleaming hardwood floors, potted plants and classic light fixtures. The theme is carried into the whole interior of the ship including the 28 luxurious suites, the Writers” Lounge, the ‘Custom House’ dining room and even the Spa room and Fitness Center.
The twenty-eight luxury suites are named Mandalay, Kipling, Orwell and Maugham, all with floor-to-ceiling glass doors to enjoy the magnificent views of the Irrawaddy River. Each suite comes with its own unique artwork where for the duration of the cruise you are living in another time and place but with modern conveniences.
Departure: Thursday
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 10:00 am.
The embarkation time is 10.00 hrs at Sagaing jetty and cast off after half an hour.
Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch.
Cruise all day long. In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo, a village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We visit the Pot workshops and the monastery.
Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it take around 30 minuts drive for transfer from ship (Thar Yar Waddy Jetty) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
Departure: Sunday
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 12:00 noon.
The embarkation time is 12.00 noon at Gawein jetty and cast off after half an hour time.
Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch. After cruising upstream for two hours we arrive at the Mingun Pagoda Complex. Our English speaking manager (or your private guide) will accompany the guests during the visit.Moor Overnight at a sandbank mid-stream. After dinner guests can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck (if available).
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes around 30 minuts drive for transfer from ship (Thar Yar Waddy Jetty) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
Departure: Tuesday & Friday
TRANSFER : Transfer from airport or hotel to Jetty can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls note that it takes approximately 30 minuts drive from Airport and Hotel to ship (Thar Yar Waddy Jetty).
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 11:30 am.
Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch.
In the late afternoon stop in a typical river village
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Mandalay Int’l Airport or hotel in Mandalay can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes around 1 hr drive for transfer from ship (Sagaing) to Mandalay Int’l Airport or hotel in Mandalay.
It takes approximately 1 hr drive for transfer from ship (Gawein) to Mandalay Int’l Airport and 30 minuts to hotel in Mandalay.
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 10:30AM.
EMBARKATION
Board the ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty in Bagan at 10:30 AM and cast off 11:00 AM. Welcome cocktail and Lunch.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: River Village
We cruise upstream all day. Stop at River village for a walk.
Dinner followed by a Puppet Show on the sundeck.
We cruise upstream the rest of the day, moor overnight near Myin Mu.
DISEMBARKATION: Sagaing
Guest will disembark 12:30 PM at Sagaging Jetty.
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Mandalay Int’l Airport or hotel in Mandalay can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 1 hr drive for transfer from ship (Sagaing) to Mandalay Int’l Airport or hotel in Mandalay.
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 10:30 AM.
EMBARKATION: Sagaing
Board the Ship at Sagaing Jetty at 10:30 AM and cast off 11:00 AM. Welcome cocktail and lunch.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Ava
Next we visit the ancient city of Ava,capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841 by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery .
Dinner on board. Overnight near a river village.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: River Village
Visit River village for a walk. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance sundeck. Moor overnight mid-river.
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 2 hrs drive for transfer from ship (Salay) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 11:00 AM.
EMBARKATION
Board the Ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty 11:00 am and cast off 11:30 am, welcome cocktail in the saloon.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION : Salay
After Lunch, we walk ashore at Salay, a small town founded in the 13th century with Bagan-era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings. We explore the Salay House, a restored 1906 colonial trading company warehouse on the bank of the Irrawaddy. Our walk takes us along the town’s main Strand Street towards the local market before turning away from the river to visit the beautiful Yoke Soun Kyaung Taw Gyi wooden monastery. This ornately carved teak monastery was designed as a copy of the Crown Prince House of Mandalay, and is now a museum boasting remarkable wood carvings and artifacts. We pass some interesting Bagan-era monuments on our way to visit Mann Paya, a pagoda with a beautiful lacquerware Buddha, before returning to our ship with a stroll past some of Salay’s many beautiful colonial. Dinner and moor overnight mid stream.
AFTRNOON EXCURSION : Bagan
After lunch, we visit Gubyaukgyi Temple (Great Painted Cave Temple), where the richly-colored paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12th century and we will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Myazedi Stupa, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance: an inscription consecrating Gubyaukgyi in four languages (Pyu, Mon, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. Then a visit to Bagan would not be complete without exploring one of the most famous temples of Bagan, Ananda. Built in 1105 CE during King Kyanzittha’s reign, it is one of only four surviving temples from this period. We will explore the cruciform of the temple, with four standing Buddhas facing north, south, east, and west. After that we stop by Dhammayan Gyi Pagoda for photo shoot. For our final stop of the day we proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill where we will view the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: River Village
We cruise upstream all day. Stop at River village for a walk.
Dinner followed by a Puppet Show on the sundeck.
We cruise upstream the rest of the day, moor overnight near Myin Mu.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Sagaing – Amarapura
In the afternoon, we visit to Sagaing Hill, a hill studded with many Pagodas and Monasteries rich in wood carving and religious art. Then we travel by coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit a traditional silk weaving workshop followed by U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest wooden bridge (1.2 km) and enjoy the sunset there.
Dinner and overnight on board near Sagaing Hill.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Central Mandalay
Visit central Mandalay: Mahamuni Pagoda, then visit to the workshops of gold leave making and marble carving. And visit to Kuthodaw Paya, which contains the world’s biggest book, near by Mandalay Hill where spiraling staircases lead to sweeping views of the city and its temples and Sunset time at Mandalay Hill. Dinner on board. Overnight at Mandalay.
Please note: We are not able to accept early arrival before 11:30 AM.
EMBARKATION
Board the Ship at Gawein Jetty (11.30 AM -12.00 NOON), welcome cocktail and lunch.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Mingun
Sail upstream to Mingun. We will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the small town of Mingun. Our first stop is King Bodawpaya’s monumental, uncompleted stupa. During construction, an astrologer to the king argued that the king would die upon completion of the temple, and work was immediately halted. Had it been completed, it would have been the largest in the world. The cracks we see are the result of the 23 March 1839 earthquake that shook the area. We continue our walk to the Mingun Bell, which was the heaviest working bell in the world until 2000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. After having the opportunity to stand inside the bell as it is rung, we have time to shop in the local market, famous for its makeshift galleries that display inexpensive art from both local and internationally known artists. Overnight at Mandalay.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Amarapura
In the afternoon we visit to Mahamuni Pagoda and marble carving – near by Pagoda. then Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit a traditional silk weaving workshop followed by U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest wooden bridge (1.2 km) and enjoy the sunset there.Dinner on board. Overnight on board at Sagaing.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Ava
In the afternoon, we visit the ancient city of Ava,capital of the Burmese Kingdom from 1364 to 1841 by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery .
Dinner on board. Overnight near a river village.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Visit River village for a walk. Dinner followed by a Puppet Show performance sundeck. Moor overnight mid-river.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Bagan
After lunch, we visit Gubyaukgyi Temple (Great Painted Cave Temple), where the richly-colored paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12th century and we will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Myazedi Stupa, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance: an inscription consecrating Gubyaukgyi in four languages (Pyu, Mon, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. Then visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquer ware making.
Dinner and moor overnight at Bagan.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Bagan
After lunch, visit the massive Htilominlo, built by King Htilominlo on the site where he was chosen from the five sons of King Nadaungmya to be the crown prince of Pagan. While the murals that once decorated much of the inside of this temple have only survived on the ceilings, Htilominlo boasts the finest plaster carvings which still remain undamaged on the arch pediments. Then a visit to Bagan would not be complete without exploring one of the most famous temples of Bagan, Ananda. Built in 1105 CE during King Kyanzittha’s reign, it is one of only four surviving temples from this period. We will explore the cruciform of the temple, with four standing Buddhas facing north, south, east, and west. After that we stop by Dhammayan Gyi Pagoda for photo shoot. For our final stop of the day we proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill where we will view the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship.
TRANSFER : Transfer to the Airport or hotel in Bagan can be arranged at supplement upon request. Pls take note that it takes approximately 30 minuts drive for transfer from ship (Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty) to airport or hotel in Bagan.
Important note*
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Accommodation; daily (group) shore-excursions & entrance fees; sightseeing and transfers during the cruise; transfers from/to Heritage Line’s meeting point to/from the ship (please read details in the embarkation guide); English speaking tour guiding on-and offshore; entertainment/activities during the cruise as mentioned in the program; meals as mentioned in the program; welcome drink, brewed coffee, tea and mineral water; passenger liability insurance; internet on the ship (subject to cellular network signal); complimentary usage of ship facilities (exclusive of spa treatments); port or anchorage fees; river pilots; fuel.
Crew and guide gratuities; visa fees; private transfers; personal expenses; beverages other than those stated under inclusions; medical services; spa treatments; port and anchorage fees; all other services or items not listed under inclusions.
Cancellation by Customer
For cancellations of bookings, the following charges will apply:
The rivers you will sail on are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level, in some places as much as 30 metres. Water levels can change dramatically overnight and a sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably and even prevent us from passing under certain bridges. A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Groundings on sandbars are not infrequent and are part of the
excitement of any expedition. Published itineraries are indicational only and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop.
Passengers are thus forewarned and expected to be flexible and patient. River cruising in Asia can be a dramatic and adventurous experience – not like cruising the controlled waterways of Europe or America. Note also that we operate in areas with little or no developed infrastructure and subject to the strictures of local officialdom. Be prepared for this and it is all more the fun!
For itineraries that include flights in the price of the ticket it should be noted that regional airlines can change departure times or cancel flights at very short notice. In such an event we endeavour to arrange alternative flights but note that this can result in delays often resulting in embarking or disembarking on a different day to that indicated in the itinerary. In such an event the company will cover the cost of hotel accommodation and main meals only, but will not be liable for any claims for compensation for missed days on board a ship, drinks or curtailment of the said itinerary.
We recommend wearing loose and comfortable clothing made of cotton or modern material that can readily cool off sweat and body hear. The type of shoes will depend on the excursion types so best to have both light, open toed shoes as well as good walking/hiking shoes with you. A sun hat is always a good idea to bring along.
Southern Vietnam and Cambodia are warm all year-round, but our other cruise destinations can get chilly during the winter months (Laos, Myanmar or northern Vietnam). Therefore, it is always recommended to bring a pullover or a warm jacket with you during this period.
Many of our cruises include visits to local temples or pagodas. When visiting these holy sites, make sure to wear appropriate clothing which covers your shoulders and knees.
Generally speaking, the rivers we are cruising on in Southeast Asia are very calm and there is hardly any motion on any of our ships. A bit of motion can occur during monsoon rains with stormy winds, but the amount of motion is much less than one would feel during bad weather on the open ocean.
Sea cruises as we offer in Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay can sometimes encounter heavier waters and ship motion, although this happens very rarely and port authorities will most likely not allow sailing under any such circumstances anyway.
If you are new to cruising or prone to motion sickness, it does not hurt to bring along some motion sickness medication. Drinking a nice hot fresh ginger tea is a natural remedy and tasty alternative our staff is always happy to make for you.
All food and beverage on board is completely safe to eat and enjoy, including the ice cubes you enjoy in your chilled drinks. We do not recommend drinking water straight from the tap anywhere, including onboard. We provide you with complimentary clean drinking water throughout your cruise.
You may want to be bit careful with local dishes as they can be spicier than you are used to from home. Approach new dishes slowly and carefully. If you have a sensitive stomach, then you may like to double check with our chef or onboard managers about specific dishes or meals.
On excursions, it may be a good idea to avoid local foods and snacks unless offered by our tour guides. Besides the above, in general we recommend the following motto for your pre- and post-cruise travelling in the Southeast Asian tropics: boil it, peel it, cook it, wash it or forget it!
The most effective protection from personal contamination is ensuring strict attention to personal hygiene and in particular, frequent and thorough hand washing with soap and water and refraining from hand-to-mouth contact. Colds and other viruses can spread quickly in an enclosed area such as a ship. Continue to practice common-sense hygiene and respiratory courtesy. Wash your hands often and cover your coughs and sneeze. It is recommended that passengers carry anti-bacterial hand sanitizer, which does not require rinsing with water. Use sanitizer frequently and throughout the day, particularly after shore excursions and prior to meals. If you have any questions regarding your health or safety, please do not hesitate to ask your cruise director.
Motion sickness can be a problem for some people when cruising, flying or travelling on coaches and trains and it is a good idea to take precautionary measures. Over-the-counter drugs for treating motion sickness can be purchased at pharmacies in most countries, though a side effect can by drowsiness. Alternatives such as ginger tablets and acupressure wristbands are also available and work well for some people.
Cambodia visas are easily obtained for most travelers on arrival. Note that passports must have a validity of at least 6 months after your last date of travel in Cambodia.
Because travel restrictions across Southeast Asia are constantly changing, we recommend checking with the Cambodia embassy/consulate in your home country for the latest information.
With the exception of visa exemptions, all travelers must arrange their visa prior to arrival in Vietnam. Passports must also have a validity of at least 6 months after your last date of travel in Vietnam.
Because travel restrictions across Southeast Asia are constantly changing, we recommend checking with the Vietnam embassy/consulate in your home country for the latest information.
We recommend at least purchasing travel health insurance which covers both in- & outpatient visits and medical repatriation. Buying additional trip cancellation and interruption coverage may also be beneficial in case you have to cancel your travel plans due to unforeseen circumstances.
We always recommend bringing a travel adapter as a standard item in your travel kit. You can borrow an adapter on board, but these may be limited.
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