Abercrombie and Kent: Mysterious Myanmar and the Charms of the Irrawaddy

Cruise the legendary Irrawaddy River in luxury during a four-night cruise on board the all-balcony Sanctuary Ananda. Spend two nights at Inle Lake, amid floating homes and gardens. Explore Shwedagon Pagoda, a fantasy of golden stupas, serene Buddhas, and mythical beasts. Ride Like a local by horse-drawn cart in Bagan.

DAY 1 ARRIVE YANGON, MYANMAR
Arrive in Yangon, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Belmond Governor’s Residence

DAY 2 YANGON  | QUEEN OF THE EAST
Begin your explorations with a tour of Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist site in Myanmar. Standing nearly 330 feet tall, the venerated stupa is covered in gold leaf and topped by a finial encrusted with thousands of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and other precious gems.
Continue to the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, a 213-foot-long statue with an expressive enamel face. View the story of the Buddha’s life embossed on the soles of the statue’s staggered feet. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by a stroll through Bogyoke Aung San Market (formerly known as Scott Market) amid shops filled with antiques, old coins, Burmese jade, and handicrafts. Return to your hotel, with time to relax.
Belmond Governor’s Residence | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 3 INLE LAKE  | TRANQUIL & TRADITIONAL
Fly to Heho, your gateway to Inle Lake, and drive to the village of Nyaung Shwe, where you stop at a local Shan paper workshop. Explore the 19th-century Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, built entirely out of teak wood. After lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, board a boat and see the floating gardens of Inle Lake. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, a local shrine that houses five small gilded images of the Buddha, as well as Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery.
Aureum Palace Resort & Spa, Inle Lake | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 4 INLE LAKE  | FIFTH-­DAY MARKET
After breakfast, pay a visit to the Fifth-Day Market to see regional hill tribe people in traditional dress bartering for goods and produce. Try your hand at making a cheroot (Burmese cigar). And stop at a blacksmith’s workshop and a weaving factory, followed by lunch at the inthar Heritage House, serving authentic inthar dishes from recipes handed down through generations. Return to your hotel.
Aureum Palace Resort & Spa, Inle Lake | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5 MANDALAY  | ICONS & EVENING PRAYERS
Fly to Mandalay and drive to nearby Inwa. Explore the ruins by horse-drawn cart, including Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, Bagaya Monastery and the Watch Tower. Return to Mandalay, where you check in to your hotel. This evening, witness evening prayers at Shwe Kyin Monastery.
Rupar Mandalar Resort | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 6 MANDALAY  | U BEIN BRIDGE
View the more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist religious texts, referred to by some as the biggest book in the world, at Kuthodaw Pagoda. Stop at a gold leaf workshop and visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Then, board the luxurious all-balcony ‘Sanctuary Ananda,’ your home for a four-night cruise upon the Irrawaddy River. After lunch, disembark to visit Sagaing, renowned for its monasteries and pagodas. Take in views from atop the Sagaing Hills. Visit the U Bein Bridge to see the spectacular sunset. Then, return to the ship for dinner.
Sanctuary Ananda | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 CRUISING THE IRRAWADDY  | A TIMELESS JOURNEY
Relax on deck this morning observing local village life, or receive a spa treatment. Later, attend a longyi (traditional Burmese cloth) demonstration, followed by a talk on Myanmar’s past, present, and future.
Sanctuary Ananda | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 CRUISING THE IRRAWADDY  | TEMPLES & PAGODAS
After breakfast at leisure, disembark to discover Pakokku Village. Visit its local market to see daily life and locals bargaining for goods. Learn the secrets of Burmese cuisine during a cooking class as you cruise downstream toward Bagan. Then, proceed to a pagoda complex in Bagan, seeing Shwezigon Pagoda and watching the sun set over the Bagan plains.
Sanctuary Ananda | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 BAGAN  | BALLOONING OVER BAGAN
Rise early for a hot-air balloon ride (seasonal and weather permitting) over Bagan, as dawn illuminates the gold- and sand-colored stupas. Next, explore Ananda Temple and visit Sulamani Pagoda. En route to Mount Popa, visit a jaggery (cane sugar) workshop. Tonight, enjoy a special candlelit dinner on Bagan’s sandbank.
Sanctuary Ananda | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10 YANGON  | BURMESE ASTROLOGY READING
Disembark and fly to Yangon. Meet a traditional Burmese astrologer, who specializes in advising individuals on important life decisions — such as when to marry or buy property — in order to correctly choose days for these events that will bring good fortune. Your afternoon is at leisure, perhaps for some last-minute shopping.
Belmond Governor’s Residence | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11 DEPART YANGON
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and depart.
Meals: Breakfast