Myanmar luxury holiday and tour with deluxe cruise on Irrawaddy river

Arrival in Yangon, dealing with bureaucratic formalities, meeting with your local guide and transfer to the hotel (rooms available from 2 pm). Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Chaukhtakyi pagoda, with the huge statue of the reclining Buddha, in the city center with a walk along Pansodan Street in the colonial district.

Continue on to Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda), symbol of the city, over 100 meters high and topped by a "hti" decorated with hundreds of diamonds and precious stones. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

All meals except breakfast are included.

Breakfast. In the morning transfer to the airport and flight to Mandalay, the cultural capital of the country. Upon arrival transfer to Sagaing , the "holy city" of Burma , with around 600 pagodas and nearly 100 meditation centers, for a spectacular panoramic view from Mandalay Hill overlooking the plain. Continue on to the pier and board the ship Road to Mandalay. Handling of boarding procedures and lunch on board.

In the afternoon city tour with Kuthodaw Pagoda, also known as the greatest book in the world, then Shwenandaw wooden monastery, the only surviving building from the original royal palace complex, Mahamuni Pagoda, a popular pilgrimage destination due to the presence of the statue of Buddha now completely covered with thin gold leaves that people leave in homage. Return on board and dinner with entertainment on board. Overnight.

Early morning landing for a walk in the village of Shwe Kyet Yet. Return on the boat for breakfast. You will start sailing towards the ancient capital of Ava (Inwa): founded in 1364 and for nearly 400 years the capital of the kingdom, now a pastoral village with houses with thatched roofs that is visited on board a cart pulled by horses. Among the buildings, witnesses of a glorious past, you will see the guard tower, also known as Ava leaning tower for its strong inclination, Maha Aungmye Bonzan brick and stucco monastery, and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung. Return on board for lunch.

Out at sea for Bagan: the afternoon is dedicated to relaxation and observation of landscapes and scenes of life along the banks of the river, which have remained unchanged over the centuries. Late in the afternoon there will be an informal cocktail before dinner on board. Overnight stay on board.

Motorboat Belmond Road to Mandalay (superior cabin): Luxurious cruise ship belonging to the prestigious Belmond chain, this small-sized boat offers several navigation possibilities on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar and offers a service of the highest standard in a refined and elegant setting. It has 43 cabins (for up to 82 passengers), spread over four decks. As for on-board catering breakfast is buffet style and is served in the restaurant (in the early morning tea and coffee are served in the cabin on request), a buffet lunch is prepared on the observation deck or the restaurant. Dinner offers a wide choice of dishes ranging from local specialties to Thai, Indonesian, Indian and Western cuisine. During lunches and dinners soft drinks, mineral water, local beer and wine are included. On board there is a good selection of wines.

Arrive in Bagan. In the morning you reach Bagan, capital of the Burmese kingdom from the tenth to the thirteenth century. Hundreds of over 8000 temples, pagodas and monasteries of the past are still scattered in the arid plain . A guided tour introduces the main temples. After lunch you'll have the opportunity to visit the area by bicycle or horse-drawn carriage at your leisure, before heading on top of a pagoda to watch the sunset through the temples. Return on the boat. Dinner with entertainment on board and overnight.

Breakfast. Early morning transfer to the airport and flight to Heho. Continue driving through beautiful hilly landscapes up to Pindaya (about 1½ hours). Visit the caves where thoousands of statues of the Buddha with different making and sizes, placed over the centuries by the faithful, form a maze within large karst caves. Lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon departure to Inle Lake, located about 900 above sea level and boat transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Optional suggestions: sunrise balloon flight among the temples

Classic Service: sunrise balloon flight among the temples to watch sunrise from a unique point of view among the ancient ruins of Bagan (each balloon has a 28-passenger capacity). Upon landing champagne will be served. Possibility of premium service that is performed using one of two new 12-seat hot air balloons that are used for only 8 people, 4 couples, each with their own compartment. The premium service also includes an interactive guided tour with the pilot during the pre-start phase.

Breakfast. If the day of the week coincides, you'll visit one of the typical markets that take place along the banks of the lake. Continue your boat tour of the lake villages: Indein, with its beautiful pagodas of the sixteenth century, a true "forest" of stupas in ruins, the village of Laeshae, to see how Buddha images are made with dried flowers, Innpawkhone, to visit a workshop for weaving silk and lotuses, Nanpan to see how the traditional boats used by the inhabitants of the lake are built and visit a factory of cheroot, the Burmese cigars.

Lunch in a local restaurant during the excursion. In the afternoon visit Phaungdaw Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State, where there are five statues covered in gold leaf, the monastery "of jumping cats", built on wooden stilts, and a silk weaving factory. Along the way you can watch the boats with "fishermen rowing with one leg" and the "floating gardens". At the end of the visits back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Breakfast. In the morning, visit one of the markets that take place 5 times a week in the villages on the lake (the location varies depending on the day). At the end return to Nyaung Shwe and lunch at the restaurant. After visiting Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery transfer to Heho airport and flight to Yangon. Check in to the hotel upon arrival. In the evening transfer to the French restaurant Le Planteur for dinner. Return to the hotel and overnight.

Breakfast. Continuation of Yangon visits with Botataung Pagoda and Scott Market (closed on Mondays) where you will find crafts from all over the country. Lunch in a local restaurant. In due time transfer to the airport.