Fully Tailored Journey
Tailor-made
Irrawaddy Luxury Explorer
17 Nights: from US$6630 per person (twin share) Trip Code: ILE0001
Climb aboard one of Myanmar's (Burma's) most luxurious river cruise vessels to discover the nation's most iconic sights and spectacular scenery. Finish with a few days of glorious relaxation at Ngapali, one of Asia's finest beaches. Read more >
This deluxe 17-night trip begins in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and its capital until 2006. Staying at one of the city's finest colonial properties, the former Governor's Residence, you will receive a guided introduction to the city's most interesting sites - including the famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
Flying north to Mandalay, a city whose name evokes the days of empire, you will board a luxurious river cruise and begin your journey northwards along the mighty Irrawaddy River. With your own five-star suite and balcony, an onboard swimming pool, several decks and the finest included cuisine, the next 11 days will be a paradise of luxury and relaxation as you watch the dramatic scenery of northern Myanmar drift slowly past.
Sail through sheer-sided gorges, take a slow train into jungle and teak forest, and disembark to visit towns and villages where time appears to have stood still for the past hundred years, then return by the same route to conclude in Bagan - heartland of the once-great Pagan Empire. After stopping here to explore some of the 2,000 temples that dot the plains and perhaps even taking a hot air balloon ride at dawn, you will leave your vessel behind and fly on to Ngapali, Myanmar's premier beach resort.
You will conclude your holiday in luxurious style as you relax on Ngapali Beach with the facilities of the superb Sandoway Resort at your disposal.
What's included
- Six nights' hotel accommodation
- 11 nights' cruise accommodation
- Breakfast every day, 10 lunches, 11 evening meals
- All airport transfers
- Guided transfers and excursions as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary
- All domestic flights as described in the day-by-day itinerary
- Your personalised InsideAsia Tours Info-Pack
What's NOT included:
- International airfares
- Any necessary visas
- Any meals not detailed in the day-by-day itinerary
- Any excursions or transfers not detailed, or referred to as optional in the day-by-day itinerary
Trip Highlights
- Stay on board one of Myanmar's most luxurious cruise liners
- Take a train ride into the teak forests of the north
- Explore the ancient temples of Bagan
- Discover Yangon's colonial heritage
- Dine on some of the best cuisine to be found in Myanmar
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: 303 952 0379
What, where, when and how...
Irrawaddy Luxury Explorer - 18 Days

Destinations
Irrawaddy Luxury Explorer - 18 Days - Day by Day
Irrawaddy Luxury Explorer - 18 Days - Accommodation
Irrawaddy Luxury Explorer - 18 Days - Experiences
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Day 1-2
Begin your Burmese luxury adventure in Yangon, where you will relax at one of the city's finest colonial properties.
On arrival at the airport you will receive a special VIP welcome from your tour guide, who will be waiting to assist you through immigration procedures. From here you will be driven by private car to your hotel, the Belmond Governor's Residence, a Victorian-era teakwood mansion that was once the private quarters of the governor of the British Crown Colony of Burma.
After a chance to settle in to your hotel and recover from your flight, this afternoon your guide will take you on a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, whose golden spire can be seen shining over Yangon for miles around. The stupa, which is said to be 99 metres tall with a crown encrusted with diamonds and rubies, is the most sacred temple in Myanmar, boasting marvellous views of the surrounding area from its elevated position above the city.
After a night at your luxurious hotel, where you can enjoy an al fresco dinner by lantern-light and take advantage of the top-class spa facilities, your guide will take you on a walking tour of the city on day two.
The streets of Yangon are filled with historical buildings, many of which have a faded colonial charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. You'll start at the post office – a lovely historic building- and walk to Sule Paya in the middle of downtown, passing by Strand Hotel (where if you wish you could stop for afternoon tea), Mahabandoola Garden and Independence Monument along the way. Then visit Little India and Chinatown, a colourful cacophony of restaurants, temples and markets, before finishing at Bogyoke Market – the best place in Yangon to pick up handicrafts and souvenirs.
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before your tour continues to Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to an impressive 70-metre-long reclining Buddha. Stopping for high tea at the Strand Hotel, a grand colonial building in the heart of Yangon, you will finish in Kandawgyi Park, one of the city's greenest areas.
Dinner this evening will be included at Le Planteur, one of the city's finest restaurants.Overnight: The Strand
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Day 3-13
Embark on a luxury cruise along the Irrawaddy River, sailing from Mandalay northwards toward Bhamo and back to conclude in Bagan.
On day three you will be collected from your hotel and driven to Yangon International Airport for your flight north to Mandalay, the starting point for your luxury cruise. Your vessel will be the Sanctuary Ananda, a custom-built riverboat constructed using traditional materials and finished in sleek contemporary style. This floating five-star resort will ensure that you relax in the height of comfort as you drift through the magnificent scenery of northern Myanmar.
During this 11-night cruise, you will follow the Irrawaddy north to Bhamo before returning via the same route, passing by Mandalay to conclude in beautiful Bagan. Along the way you will make numerous stops to enjoy the traditional villages, sheer-sided gorges, teak forests and ancient townships to be found along your route.
In Mingun, you will disembark to visit the unfinished stupa of King Bodawpaya and the 81.6-tonne (90-ton) Mingun Bell, which was the largest ringing bell in the world until 2,000 – when its top spot was usurped by the Bell of Good Luck in China. In Naba you will take a train journey into the dense jungle and teak forests, where the Kachin people are renowned for their survival skills and craftsmanship.
As you head deeper into the north, you will visit villages virtually unchanged over the past century before eventually arriving in Bhamo on day seven, the northernmost point on your journey. From here, after stopping overnight and paying a visit to the local market, you will resume your journey south to Katha, a market town that features in George Orwell's Burmese Days.
In Mogok, an area famed for its precious stones, you will visit a forestry reserve and meet the local elephants; in Ava you will take a horse and cart ride through the ancient imperial capital; in Amarapura you'll visit silversmith workshops and cross the longest teakwood bridge in the world.
Finally, your cruise concludes in Bagan – the jewel in Myanmar's crown. This ancient and illustrious region was once the centre of a great kingdom to rival the Khmer Empire, and the 2,000 red-brick temples that lie scattered across the plains are testament to the grandeur of this lost civilisation.
On the morning of day 13, to see the temples from the best possible vantage point, you will have the opportunity to take an early-morning hot air balloon ride over the plains. The view as the dawn rays hit the morning mist surrounding the temples is nothing short of spectacular, and something you will not easily forget. This balloon ride is not included in the price of your trip, so please discuss with your travel consultant if you would like to include it in your itinerary.
Later on day 13 you will travel out of Bagan for a visit to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano where the local people worship indigenous nat spirits. Pilgrims climb the 777 steps to give offerings and pray to the carved figures that stand at the summit, rewarded by spectacular views of the plains below.Overnight: Sanctuary Ananda Cruise
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Day 14-18
Round of your trip with several days relaxing in Ngapali, Myanmar's premier beach destination.
On the morning of day 14, you will say goodbye to your luxurious cruise liner and join your private transfer to Nyaung U Airport for a flight to Thandwe. On arrival, your local guide will be there to meet you and accompany you for the 20-minute drive to your resort hotel on Ngapali Beach.
At the beautifully designed Sandoway Resort you will be located right on the edge of the beach itself, a gorgeous stretch of sand to rival any of the most popular beaches in neighbouring Thailand – but with a fraction of the visitors. After check-in, you will enjoy three full days at leisure in Ngapali. Swim, snorkel, cycle and relax to your heart's content – or, if you like, you can opt for a day trip to Maung Shwe Lay, where you will have a private beach for the day and explore a remote fishing village rarely visited by tourists.
Finally, on day 18, your trip comes to an end. After breakfast you will have time to spend a few more hours savouring your surroundings before being picked up for your transfer to Thandwe Airport and your onward flight to Yangon and beyond.Overnight: Ngapali Bay Villas & Spa
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