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Day 1: SET SAIL IN BANGAN
Welcome on board the Sanctuary Ananda. Check in at 1pm and settle into your suite.
If you arrive on an early flight we will arrange for you to take a tour in Bagan. Leaving at 9am we will visit Minanthu village in the heart of the Bagan plain, to see the way of life of the local people, before progressing to a brick factory. Onto the village of Myinkaba, a centre of the ancient craft of lacquerware which has been produced in Bagan since the time of King Anawrahta around 1050 AD. Here in the workshop the traditional methods are still used. The last stop is at a jaggery workshop which produces unrefined sugar.
Lunch will be served on board shortly after check in or upon return from the morning excursion.
At 3pm we will visit Bagan to see the Ananda Temple. Completed in 1091 AD, it is commonly referred to as one of the four great temples in Bagan. The Ananda is regarded by folklore as one of the most beautiful temples in Myanmar.
A traditional horse cart will then take us to Htilominlo Temple; a two-storey red-brick temple built around 1211 AD. It is a magnificent structure, though now heavily restored.
The day’s finale is a quiet moment on the terraces of the Pyathatgyi Temple. Admire the light change on the pagodas as they exude antiquity and mystery. Finally the sun sets behind the hills on the far side of the Ayeyarwady, filling the sky with a reddish glow, a truly magic moment.
Day 2: SAGAING
Begin the day by watching the sun rise from amidst the plain on a temple terrace in the company of a meditation expert. Alternatively, at 5.30am you can take an optional balloon tour (an additional charge applies) to capture a birds-eye view of the Bagan plain.
After breakfast, we will visit the bustling Nyaung U local market. The market, which takes place every day, is where the farmers meet to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from fruit and vegetables to china and lacquerware.
Next, on to the great golden Shwezigon Pagoda. This holds a special place among Burmese pagodas for two reasons: it was the first major monument built in the Burmese style (as distinct from Mon style) following the country’s conversion to Theravada Buddhism, and was the first pagoda to have nat (spirit) images allowed within the precinct. The Shwezigon is said to contain important relics of the Gautama Buddha, two bones and a copy of a tooth.
Afterwards discover the local traditional craft of lacquerware in a workshop in Myinkaba.
We will return to the ship at 11am and start sailing upstream towards Sagaing. Relax as we sail past villages, set against a backdrop of soft browns, rich tamarind trees with white and golden pagodas gracing the distant hills. There is no better way to enjoy this riverine picture than from the Kansi panorama lounge. A delicious dinner will be served to bring this exciting day to a close.
Day 3: AVA
Today, the morning will be spent sailing and enjoying the passing countryside.
In the afternoon we will arrive beside the pagoda sprinkled Sagaing hills, an important religious and monastic centre, home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns.
In the afternoon we will visit the once mighty capital Ava (Inwa) which is now a rural and quiet village that is best visited by horse cart. Ava has many unique sites on offer including the imposing Bagaya Kyaung pagoda famous for its 277 teak pillars.
We will then drive over the Ayeyarwady River to Amarapura, once known as ‘The City of Immortals’, which in its heyday held some 200,000 inhabitants.
Today, the leisurely ‘clack-clack’ from the looms of the cotton and silk weavers has replaced the noisy bustle of this former capital. We will visit one of the textile workshops, followed by the U Bein Bridge, a spectacular place to enjoy the sunset. This long teak bridge snakes across the Taungthaman Lake.
After sunset, we will catch a boat up the Ayeyarwady River and return to the Sanctuary Ananda. Dinner will be served on a sandbank overlooking Mingun and the remains of King Bodawpaya’s folly: a pagoda which if finished, would have stood some 500 feet (152.4 metres) high. A performance on the banks of the river will bring the evening to a close.
Day 4: MINGUN
In the morning we will go to the Mahamuni Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s most religious monuments housing the revered Mahamuni Image. It is said to have been sculpted in the presence of the Gautama Buddha during a visit to the Kingdom of Arakan.
Continue on to visit Shwenandaw Monastery, the only palace building to survive the bombings of World War II. Next visit Kuthodaw Pagoda (Maha Lawka Marazein) built by King Mindon in 1857, in effect, a copy of the Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan. Kuthodaw is often called the biggest book in the world, for surrounding it are 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Tripitaka texts (Buddhist cannon).
Lunch will be served on board and we will then arrive beside the pagoda sprinkled Sagaing hills, an important religious and monastic centre, home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns.
We will take a short stop at several of the monasteries and pagodas but it is the views from the top of the hill on the terraces of the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda which are truly breathtaking. Before returning to the ship we will visit a silversmith’s workshop in the village of Ywataung where the craftsmen are renowned for their engraving skills, also stopping by a convent to interact with the local nuns and see their beautiful way of life.
The Sanctuary Ananda will depart Sagaing at 4pm, sailing north to our overnight mooring point at Sin Kyun. A sandbank dinner overlooking the temples of Mingun will be served at 7.30pm followed by a local performance on the banks of the river.
Day 5: SINKYUN
For those who wish, an early morning visit to the village of Sin Kyun is offered, a village just north of Mandalay sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy. It has a population of just under 1,000 inhabitants and specialises in farming and hat making. Witness first-hand the way of life in this unspoilt location seldom viewed by outsiders.
Following the village Chief’s request for a library and a house for an English teacher, Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy donated the money necessary to begin this new partnership. We hope that with the support of Sanctuary Ananda guests, we will be able to provide further funds to improve the quality of life of the villagers.
On arrival in Mingun, an ox-cart will be our mode of transport through this sleepy and attractive village. The first stop will be at the unfinished Mingun pagoda. Construction began in 1790 and today a huge pile of bricks is all that remains of King Bodawpaya’s grandiose scheme. Nearby stands the massive Mingun Bell that measures more than 12 feet high (3.66 metres) and 16 feet wide (4.88 metres). Lastly we come to a most unusual white pagoda known as Myatheindan (Hsinbyume). It was built by King Bodawpaya’s grandson Bagyida in memory of his senior wife, the Queen Hsinbyumei. Around the base are seven concentric circular terraces, the structure itself is symbolic of Mount Meru. We will return to the ship and start sailing south. Enjoy the facilities on board whilst admiring the stunning scenery.
After lunch a variety of on board activities will be offered including a longyi (sarong) and thanaka (cosmetic) demonstration, a cooking school with the chef, cheroot and betel nut tasting and a talk on Myanmar – covering the country’s incredibly rich history, the recent controversial decades to the outlook for the future. A delicious dinner will bring this evening to a close.
Day 6: PAKOKKU
For those who wish, a meditation and yoga training session will be available before breakfast.
Trishaws will take us to the local market in Pakokku where mouth-watering fruit and vegetables are laid out with consummate style. Then to the cheroot factory, where we can watch the girls roll and make the cheroots with great speed and dexterity.
We will return to the ship for lunch while we sail on to Bagan. The afternoon will begin with a drive to the southern area of Bagan, Myinkaba village and the Manuha Temple. Built by deposed Mon King,
Manuha in 1059 this two-storey temple conveys a melancholy message. The three Buddha images therein are uncomfortably large for their enclosures, thus illustrating his captivity and mental stress.
Beside the Manuha Temple is the charming Nanpaya Temple, King Manuha’s residence, which boasts some beautiful stone carvings. Close by is another Mon-style temple, Gubyaukgyi built by Prince Rajakumar in 1113, the inner sanctum is decorated with frescoes, which have been restored.
We will return to the Sanctuary Ananda at 6.30pm for dinner and a local performance on board.
Day 7: SALE TO BANGAN
Begin the day by watching the sun rise from amidst the plain on a temple terrace in the company of a meditation expert. Alternatively, at 5.30am you can take an optional balloon tour (an additional charge applies) to capture a birds-eye view of the Bagan plain.
Sanctuary Ananda will set sail passing Chauk, one of the original oilfields where the nodding ‘donkeys’ (oil well pumps) stand by the river bank still working away. On arrival in Sale we will visit Yoke Sone Kyaung monastery, a fine teak building with some beautifully crafted reliefs. A host of small white stupas interspersed with some Italianate monasteries, stand near Yoke Sone Kyaung. Then on to a small temple Tha-ta-na Kyaung to look at a Buddha image made of bamboo.
The afternoon will be spent sailing back to Bagan, where guests can relax and reminisce of their wonderful experiences in Myanmar. In the evening, guests will experience a traditional Shan dinner with our Captain, while enjoying a local performance.
Day 8: BANGAN
Enjoy an early breakfast on your final morning before check out at 9am.
If you are departing on a later flight we can arrange an interesting tour for you. We will visit Minanthu village in the heart of the Bagan plain, to see the way of life of the local people, before progressing to a brick factory. Onto the village of Myinkaba, a centre of the ancient craft of lacquerware which has been produced in Bagan since the time of
King Anawrahta around 1050 AD. Here in the workshop the traditional methods are still used. The last stop is at a jaggery workshop which produces unrefined sugar.
