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Bagan to Mandalay by Sanctuary Ananda Cruise (3 Nights/ 4 Days)
Day 1: Set Sail in Bagan
Welcome onboard the Sanctuary Ananda. Check-in at 1 pm 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 9 am 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 center 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.
Next, 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-story 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 River, filling the sky with a reddish glow, a truly magic moment.
Overnight on board at Sanctuary Ananda Cruise.
Day 2: Bagan
Begin your day by watching the sunrise from amidst the plain on a temple terrace in the company of a meditation expert. Alternatively, 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 daily market 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. Afterward, discover the local craft of lacquerware in a workshop in Myinkaba where the traditional methods are still used.
We will then return to the ship and start sailing upstream towards Sagaing. There is no better way to enjoy this riverine picture than from the Kansi panorama lounge.
After lunch, a variety of onboard activities will be offered including a longyi (sarong) and thanaka (cosmetic) demonstration, a cooking class with the chef, cheroot and betel nut tasting and a talk on Myanmar – covering the country’s incredibly rich history, more recent & controversial events and prospects for the future. A delicious dinner will then follow.
Overnight on board at Sanctuary Ananda Cruise.
Day 3 Mandalay
A meditation and yoga training session will be available before breakfast. 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 center, home to some 554 monasteries and 6,000 monks and nuns. Below and all around, pagodas of different shapes and sizes dot the landscape.
Before returning to the ship we will visit a silversmith workshop in the village of Ywataung where the craftsmen are renowned for their engraving skills. Visit Amarapura, once known as ‘The City of Immortals’ where can found many silk weavers. We will visit one of the textile workshops, followed by the U Bein Bridge, to enjoy the sunset. This long teak bridge snakes across the Taungthaman Lake. After sunset, catch a boat up the Ayeyarwady River and return to the Sanctuary Ananda.
Alternatively, guests may sail north on board the Sanctuary Ananda and visit the Sanctuary adopted village of Sin Kyun to witness the way of life in this unspoiled location. Sin Kyun specializes in farming and hat making. Guests will truly be able to step back in time to a way of life much simpler than other areas of the world. Tonight, farewell dinner will be served on a sandbank overlooking Mingun, home to the ruins of King Bodawpaya’s folly: a pagoda which if finished, would have stood some 500 feet (152.4 meters) high.
Dinner will be followed by a local performance on the banks of the river.
Overnight on board at Sanctuary Ananda Cruise.
Day 4 Mandalay
An early morning visit to the village of Sin Kyun village, north of Mandalay sponsored by Sanctuary Retreats Philanthropy. It has a population of just under 1,000 inhabitants and specializes in farming and hat making. Witness first-hand the way of life in this unspoiled location seldom viewed by outsiders.
At 8:30 am the Sanctuary Ananda will sail for Mandalay and will arrive at 9:45 am for check out. For those guests leaving on a later flight, we can arrange a tour of Mandalay. This will include a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s most religious monuments housing the revered Mahamuni Image. Continue on to visit Shwenandaw Monastery, the only palace building to survive the bombings of World War II.
Lastly, visit Kuthodaw is often called the biggest book in the world, for surrounding, it is 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Tripitaka texts (Buddhist canon).
