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

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

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