EMERALD WATERWAYS
10 Days | Irrawaddy River Cruise
Southbound

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MANDALAY TO RANGOON (YANGON)

Day 1 | Arrive Mandalay. Embark. Mingalaba and welcome to Burma or Myanmar! On arrival you will be personally met by your Emerald Waterways Representative and transferred, via a central meeting point, to your luxury Irrawaddy River cruise. (Please arrive by 12.00 noon). Following lunch on board, travel to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital and visit U-Bein Bridge, the world's longest teak bridge. Return to the ship for your dinner. Nine night special stay on the Irrawaddy Explorer (L,D)

Day 2 | Mingun. Ava. Cruise to Mingun and discover the stories behind the massive unfinished brick pagoda built at the end of the 18th century. Nearby, admire the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell and the all-white Hsinbyume Pagoda built to represent the mythical Mount Meru. Continue sailing to the ancient capital of Ava. Explore Ava, for more than four hundred years the capital of the Ava Kingdom, by horse-cart. Discover a beautiful 200 year old teak monastery and the Innwa Tower, the 27m-high watchtower, all that remains of the palace. Return to the ship for dinner and enjoy a traditional cultural performance on board. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Monywa. Sail into Myinmu and journey to Monywa and explore the sandstone grottoes decorated with spectacular mural paintings and hundreds of Buddha statues inside niches. Visit the extraordinary Thanboddhay monastery, one of the most intricately decorated temples in the country housing over 500,000 Buddha images and the stupa with the longest reclining Buddha. Return to the ship and cruises slowly downstream soaking in the passing scenery. (B,L,D)

Day 4 | Yandabo. Arrive at the pottery village of Yandabo where, on 24 February 1826, the peace treaty ending the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed. Stroll through the village and witness the craftsmen hone their skills and observe the unusual way of firing the pottery. Return to the ship and continue sailing.

EMERALD PLUS — Take a leisurely stroll through a small village along the Irrawaddy River. Visit a school, listen to the children sing and learn how the people make their livelihood. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Bagan. Admire the scenery whilst cruising towards Bagan, one of South East Asia’s most significant and richest archaeological sites. Appreciate your full day visit to the most significant of these sites including Gubyaukgyi Pagoda, built in the early 12th century and noted for its mural paintings; Mahabodhi Pagoda built in the 13th century and covered in niches which enclose seated Buddha figures and Ananda Pagoda, one of the most important temples in Bagan, whose base and terraces are decorated with 554 glazed tiles showing scenes and life stories of the Buddha. Bagan is also famous as the centre of Myanmar’s thriving lacquer ware industry and you will discover more about this traditional handicraft during a visit to a workshop.

EMERALD PLUS — Set out via local horse cart to view the sunset atop the most significant temple in the area, Shwesandaw Pagoda and take in the grandeur of Bagan below. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Bagan. Tan Kyi Paya. Enjoy the morning at leisure or explore the local markets or hire an electric bicycle and discover more magical temples. After lunch continue sailing to the village of Tan Kyi. Travel to the mountaintop to one of four stupas that originally marked the edges of Bagan city and enjoy views over the plains dotted with spires as far as the eye can see.

Hot Air Balloons over Bagan. Disover more (additional cost). Experience a spectacular and awe inspiring flight over the ancient temples of Bagan and see the unrivalled majesty of the temple landscape drifting below you in style, comfort and safety. Hot Air Balloon flights depart at dawn and last approximately 45 minutes. Must be booked on tour. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Salay. Magwe. Cruise to Salay, a small village founded in the 13th century. Visit Youqson Kyaung, the beautiful teak monasteries designed as a copy of the Crown Prince House of Mandalay and with exterior sides carved with details of court life and stories of the Buddha’s past life. Later see Man Pagoda with the largest lacquer Buddha image in Myanmar and explore Paya Thonzu, a small trio of brick shrines. Head past an area of colonial buildings before returning to the ship for lunch and continue cruising to Magwe. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Magwe. Start with an early morning visit to a pagoda built in 1929 and set on a hilltop with views of the river. Return to the ship for an afternoon of scenic cruising. (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Prome. Visit the town of Thayetmyo, which once guarded the border between Royal Burma and British Burma. Visit the oldest golf course in Myanmar, stroll through the greens or even practice some putting! Continue towards Prome and your last day of cruising. In the afternoon visit the impressive Shwesandaw Pagoda located on a hillock and one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. The pagoda contains a series of five terraces, topped with a cylindrical stupa which has a bejewelled umbrella and enshrined within are four strands of sacred hair as well as eight other relies of Buddha. Enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains before exploring Sri Ksetra, one of the ancient Pyu Kingdoms that flourished for over 1,000 years between 200 B.C and 900 A.D. and inscribed onto the World Heritage list in June 2014, Myanmar’s first. Return to the ship for your farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Prome. Rangoon (Yangon). Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarkation and transfer to Yangon airport for your onward or homebound flight (flight not Included). (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents. *Please Note: The Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers are subject to extreme variations in water levels throughout the year. Every effort is made to provide the routing and inclusions stated however depending on water levels prevalent at the time of sailing, this itinerary may be amended or modified. This may include having to tour via coach with hotel stays if the water level dictates.

SOUTHBOUND ITINERARY 10 DAYS | MANDALAY TO RANGOON (YANGON)