Myanmar Highlights with In-Depth River Journey Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

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Experience Travel Group signature tours of Yangon and Lake Inle have been weaved around an in-depth river cruise to create this fantastic three-week exploration of Myanmar (Burma).

Travelling by boat is one of the best ways to get off-the-beaten track in Myanmar without having to compromise on creature comforts so this holiday gives you the chance to explore the city highlights in a unique way and to travel beyond them with ease.

The day-to-day itinerary featured and priced here incorporates the 15 day Pandaw “Irrawaddy Cruise” or its slightly abridged 11 day version “The Golden Land” in which the first stretch of river is bypassed with a road transfer.

Highlights include:

Marvelling at the beautiful scenery and rural villages of the Irrawaddy River
Gliding past serene floating gardens on Inle Lake
Discovering the dazzling temples and pagodas of Yangon and Bagan

NB: There are a range of river cruises available exploring different stretches of Myanmar’s waterways and our country experts can help you settle on the best route and vessel to suit you. Call them on 020 7924 7133 for an informal chat and first-hand advice. As with all of our suggested itineraries, we can tailor-make your holiday to suit your budget, style and expectations. Find out about our exclusive ‘Journey Planner’ here.

DAY 1 – DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK.

DAY 2 – YANGON relaxing after your flight

On arrival your private guide will meet you for the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax, perhaps take a swim and recover from any jet-lag.

DAY 3 – YANGON Getting to know the city

Today you’ll begin discovering Myanmar with a specially devised tour of Yangon, timed to dodge the crowds and get beneath the skin of the city. You’ll explore the bustling harbour area, marvel at the elegant colonial architecture, perhaps take a rickshaw to a vibrant market, and ride the circle train to get a taste of local life.

DAY 4 – 7 PANDAW cruising relaxed atmosphere and river life

Today you’ll board the Pandaw II vessel at the jetty in Yangon and settle in to your cabin. The boat is furnished in a colonial style with 24 comfortable cabins a dining room, saloon bar and sun deck. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and soak up the stunning views as you leave Yangon and head out into the Irrawaddy Delta.

Spend four days sailing upstream at an unhurried pace; river travel is a fantastic way to enjoy the scenery and take in Myanmar's special ambience. The boat moors en route to give you the chance to explore small towns like Danupyu, with its busy local market, and the British colonial buildings of Manaung.

*If you are short on time you can skip days 4-7 and transfer by road from Yangon to Prome to catch up with the cruise on Day eight (a lower price will apply).

DAY 8 – 17 PANDAW CRUISing upstream to Bagan and Mandalay

On Day eight the cruise will reach the town of Prome and those taking the shorter cruise will arrive from Yangon and board. This will be followed by a visit to a nearby archaeological site, home to many early Buddhist artefacts and sculptures.

The next days will be spent enjoying the atmosphere aboard RV Pandaw II as you further explore the Irrawaddy. Highlights along the way include:

Visiting Thayetmo, a former colonial town where you can take a horse and cart ride through the botanical garden
Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings
Riding tri-shaws to the golden pagoda of Magwe
Ascending Tan-Chi-Taung Mountain by WWII Jeep
Exploring the incredible monuments of Bagan
Getting immersed in local life at typical riverside communities
Discovering Mandalay, the ancient capital of Amarapura and U Bein Bridge

DAY 18 – MANDALAY Disembark and explore Mandalay

Today you’ll disembark the cruise and your river journey ends. Your private guide will meet you and you’ll check in to your Mandalay hotel. The day will finish with a walk up Mandalay Hill to see spectacular views as the sun sets over the city, the Irrawaddy River and the surrounding countryside.

DAY 19 – 20 LAKE inle fisherman, floating gardens and wine

After breakfast, your guide will meet you for the transfer to the airport and you’ll fly to Heho, the hub for Lake Inle. En route to the lake you will drive past paddy fields and winding streams and stop to explore caves. When you reach Inle Lake, you will board a private boat for the last section of your journey.

You’ll spend a full day exploring Inle Lake with an Experience Travel Group signature tour. Take a private boat to explore the floating gardens and farms that constantly move around on the surface of the lake, see the local fisherman rowing in their unique one-leg style and perhaps taste some local wine. As a final treat you may wish to take a Hot Air Balloon Ride over the lake.

DAY 21 – YANGON Sunset at the Shwedagon Pagoda

This morning you will take the short flight back to Yangon for your final night in Myanmar. Exploring one of the country’s most famous sites has been saved for last and tonight, as the sun sets, you’ll visit the Shwedagon Pagoda whose recognisable golden stupa dominates the city's skyline.

DAY 22 – FLY HOME

Transfer to Yangon airport for your flight back to the UK.

As every holiday is unique to you, prices vary. To give you an indication, two-week holidays range from roughly £2,500 to £8,000 per adult, with an average price of £3,300. We also offer substantial child and seasonal discounts.

Fill in our Quote Request form to get your quick, no-obligations proposal.

As every holiday is unique - Call our experts on 1-888-577-8452 for an inclusive, personalised quotation for your preferred dates or use the quote request form below...

Inclusions

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
Accommodation as described
Privately guided tours and transfers
Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
Meals as described
24 hour in-country backup whilst away
Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the hotels and villas within this holiday as standard...

Inle Princess Resort, Lake Inle, Lake Inle

An elegant and peaceful resort on the shores of Lake Inle

Mandalay Hill Resort , Mandalay

Grand five star resort hotel at the foot of Mandalay Hill with commanding views and excellent facilities.

The Savoy, Yangon

Intimate boutique hotel with stylish rooms, historic flair and a relaxed ambience on the outskirts of Yangon.

River Cruises Included

Pandaw (Epic) River Cruises, Various Rivers

Pandaw have several boats that can navigate low water and as such they are one of the only companies to offer regular "epic" journeys.

You can book this holiday tour on its own, with flights or it can be tailored for you.

Here are the experiences & activities within this holiday as standard...

Bagan, Bagan

The world famous Bagan temples are one of the 'must see' sites of Myanmar (Burma).

Mandalay, Mandalay

Myanmar's second city and bustling cultural and religious hub.

The Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, Yangon

Myanmar's most important Buddhist pagoda, located in central Yangon.

The Yangon Circle Train, Yangon

Departing from Yangon central, this commuter train is a great way to see another side of Myanmar.

Customer Feedback

[Our cruise] was excellent in every way and we had a memorable holiday. Terry our guide made the trip for us. I couldn't recommend [it] more highly, perfect in every way. Loved the informality of it all and the evening cocktails were delicious. Trips ashore clambering up the banks of the Irrawaddy into little villages were quite delightful and locals fascinated by us. Excellent mixed itinerary organised by our guide which took in all aspects of life.

- Sue King

Customer Protection

The air holiday packages shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 9324. Please see our booking conditions for more information.

Myanmar Holiday Ideas