MYANMAR FOR CONNOISSEURS

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport you will be welcomed by Discovery DMC guide who will assist you through necessary immigration procedures. Transfer to your hotel for check-in and after some rest and freshen up we drive to the old center of the city where we start today’s explorations with a walking tour. Our history specialist guide will lead you through symmetrically laid out colonial administrative quarter and share intriguing stories behind some of the most remarkable heritage buildings, many of them dating back to the late 19th – early 20th century. Along our route you will see old book merchants, traditional food stalls and various kinds of shops and entrepreneurs that all combined make Yangon’s downtown a very vibrant and dynamic place. Stop for an afternoon tea break at the stylish Rangoon Tea House – a contemporary take on classic Rangoon tea venues – a great place to sample traditional Burmese dishes in a lively and cozy atmosphere.

There are a few art galleries in the area where we can meet local artists and curators to learn about Yangon’s emerging arts scene. After lunch enjoy foot massage at the best Spa in the city to relax from the morning walk and prepare yourself for the most fascinating experience of the day as we complete today’s discoveries with a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda. The iconic symbol of the whole country, this giant gold gleaming stupa rises high into the sky and is center to the most revered Buddhist complex in Myanmar. Views of the golden dome are most enchanting by the sundown when hundreds of worshippers fill the platform to pay respect and meditate quietly after the busy day, with tickling of thousands of tiny golden bells and scent of incense sticks and candles filling the air.

Tonight a welcome dinner will be served for you at the hotel – luxuriate in a relaxing atmosphere of a colonial teakwood mansion savouring selected local delicacies and cooling cocktails

After breakfast at the hotel transfer to domestic airport for the flight to Bagan. Upon arrival you will be welcomed by the team members of the Strand Cruise.
Your journey through the golden land today begins with a freshly made welcome meal in the tranquil shaded gardens of the oldest lacquerware house in Bagan. Lacquerware is a traditional art that began when the Pagodas of Bagan were first being built in the 11th century and is still practiced today. We will then move onto the nearby Shwezigon Pagoda, famous for it’s gold leaf décor, and the Ananda temple, famous as being one of the four great temples of Bagan and one of most exquisite temples in Myanmar. A short scenic transfer takes us to The Strand Cruise for check-in and to meet fellow passengers over lunch. Once settled into your cabin, meet your fellow passengers for lunch prepared by the Chef of the cruise.
During the afternoon, we will continue our exploration of the Bagan Heritage Trail, including the beautiful Sulamani and Gubyaukgyi temples. As the sun sets, admire Bagan’s magnificent sights over the Ayeyarwaddy river from the ship’s sundeck, sipping one of the Strand Hotel’s signature cocktails, before joining your fellow travellers at the long tables of our fine dining restaurant for a dinner of sharing tapas, followed by a menu of gourmet cuisine and fine wines. Additional optional activities today include a guided visit by private car around Bagan or tickets to an evening performance of the nearby contemporary cultural show.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning as we cruise downriver to the glass monastery of Tant Kyi Taung. Once ashore at the Tant Kyi river bank, a short transfer will take you to the monastery to witness the amazing view of Bagan from the hilltop, before descending the hill where a surprise awaits. By mid-morning, we begin cruising upstream toward Mandalay. The passing landscapes and typical Ayeyarwaddy villages have inspired many authors and artists throughout history, including Rudyard Kipling.
As we cruise, lunch is o ered either bu et style in the air-conditioned restaurant or al fresco at the more informal sundeck lounge while enjoying the beautiful landscape passing by.
We will spend the afternoon drifting on the gentle waters of the Ayeyarwaddy, relax on the sun deck and enjoy the many activities and workshops arranged by our experienced crew, before enjoying a traditional Strand afternoon tea. As night falls, our ship will moor on a remote and wild section of the river. Surrounded only by the soft whispering of nature, our Captain invites you to a cocktail and dinner, followed by a traditional cultural performance on board. Night owls can linger in the bar over a glass of fine wine or single malt whiskey and recreate the golden age of the Strand as a meeting place for explorers and raconteurs.
Should you wish, we can offer an additional activity options today:

Enjoy a late breakfast this morning as the ship will cruise until mid-afternoon when we arrive in Mingun. Throughout the morning, relax by the pool with a book or participate in the many activities and workshops prepared by the crew as we pass through the wonderful countryside. After a generous buffet lunch of international and Asian cuisine taken on the sun deck or in the restaurant, as you prefer, we will stop in Mingun, at the foot of the unfinished pagoda, one of the largest pagodas ever constructed in the history of Myanmar. We will visit the pagoda by
a popular local means of transportation, the Tuk Tuk. The pagoda is home to the magnificent Mingun Bell, claimed to be the largest uncracked hanging bell in the world. We will also visit Hsinbyume Pagoda, an impressive stupa that rises in seven curved whitewashed terraces representing the seven mountain ranges around Mt Meru, the mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. Once back onboard, relax and prepare yourself for a fabulous feast on the sand banks opposite Mingun (weather permitting) accompanied by local entertainment

We begin our day with a freshly prepared breakfast while surveying the next and most awaited stop, Mandalay, the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Myanmar. Our first stop ashore is the U Bein Bridge, a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura, another royal capital city of the past. The bridge is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.
We continue the Mandalay Heritage trail by visiting the Mahamui Buddha temple. Legend has it that the great Buddha himself visited the city of Arakan in 554 and that King Sanda Thuriya ordered a likeness of Buddha’s face to be created and placed in the temple. From here we visit the Shwe In Bin monastery before rejoining the Strand Cruise.
After lunch on board as we cruise, we will explore Sagaing, the most important religious center in Myanmar, famous for its many hundreds of white, silver and gold pagodas and monasteries. A traditional local truck will collect passengers from the ship and bring them to the top terrace of the Soon U Ponya Shin pagoda to enjoy a stunning vista of Mandalay surrounded by its ancient royal capitals linked by the golden thread of the Ayeyarwaddy River. During the afternoon we will set sail again towards Ava, the ancient imperial capital of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to 19th centuries. Horse carts awaits to transport you for a delightful ride through the naturally preserved Ava landscape and key landmarks. We will have an exclusive mooring overnight at Ava next to a remarkable temple, allowing Strand Cruise passengers access to the site after the crowds have departed in the late afternoon until the following morning.
As we reach the end of the day, a special Champagne Sunset Cocktail will be held overlooking the Ava bridge and Sagaing Hill as they are bathed in the evening glow, before a fabulous Shan style farewell dinner on board complete with traditional local performances.
Should you wish to continue exploring the city on your own, additional optional activities today include a guided visit by private car.

This morning the monks of Ava will join us for a very special farewell before breakfast and our final cruise towards the Gaw Wein jetty in Mandalay. There you will be picked up by Discovery DMC station guide who will see you to the airport for your flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. We take a 1-hour drive to Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. After checking into the hotel, we embark on afternoon explorations of Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and bamboo poles. Delight in the picturesque sights of Intha fishermen who balance and row with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake. Visit the Ywama village known for its silver smith traditions and Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, home of some of the country’s most sacred Buddha statues covered in gold leaf by devout followers.
Tonight dinner will be served on a private deck over a little island in front of your hotel. Enjoy the most delicious fusion cuisine with a glass of wine or your favorite cocktail.
Should you desire, additional options today include private cooking class by a master chef and/or a visit to a local vineyard.

DAY 7: INLE LAKE