Impressive Gorges of Ayeyarwady River

Today's sailing is through the rolling hills of the Third Defile, but we will start our day in the morning by offering tranquil yoga and meditation on the sun deck. As you sail, we pass by bamboo villages and small fishing settlements, and you will understand how peaceful these lives can be. In the morning, join and enjoy our chef for a cookery demonstration and in the afternoon, attend an informal Burmese language lesson.

Late afternoon, we will reach Takaung for another excellent tour. This tour will show life on the riverbank and familiarize you with this small town. There are ancient fortifications, archeological areas, and also famous nat or spirit shrines in this town.

Nwe Nyein to Takaung: 76 miles/121.6 km.

Have a relaxing morning. You can choose to enjoy the facilities of our Spa, including the only Swedish-style sauna on the Ayeyarwaddy. Or our 8-meter whirlpool swimming pool, conveniently raised so while lying in the water you can still enjoy the passing scenery as we sail to Katha. Early afternoon, we reach the fascinating colonial town of Katha, a setting of George Orwell’s Burmese days; there have been little changes since then. You will visit the fire station’s collections of the Irrawaddy Flotilla company’s ship’s bells taken from sunken ships in the second war. This place is undoubtedly interesting. Katha was the final resting place for much of the old flotilla as over a hundred ships were scuppered here in 1942 - an act of Denial before the advancing Japanese. Our tour will take you around all the places that appear in the book and allow you to imagine how life was in this far-flung corner of the British Empire. 

Taguang to Katha: 65 miles/104 km.

A pleasant oriental train ride from Katha to Naba begins in the morning. This scenic train passes through the thick Kachin jungle and teak forest and the villages in the woods.

Upon arrival in Naba, we transfer back to Katha for a colorful local Katha Market visit and enjoy some shopping here. This market is the perfect place to practice your Burmese language skills during a market rally. There will be a language lesson, assistant and some cash for shopping. In the afternoon, you may unwind on the sun deck while we continue sailing upstream to Shwe Gu, and there will be a lecture on Myanmar history and current affairs after your afternoon tea and, a special event will take place at the Kipling’s Bar in the evening. So you may want to dress up to the best in style if you're going to. We raise a toast to the past during a British Club gathering where you may enjoy according to your choices. Share some tales of the old British-Burmese days. This is the perfect time to lose time, and you may want to join us for a movie after dinner, on the sun deck. 

Katha – Shwe Gu: 45 miles/72 km.

We will stay prepared on the sun deck as we make our first passing through the impressive Second Defile. It will take approximately two hours, depending on the force of the current. You will be served breakfast on the sun deck while passing through the dramatic Second Defile. Once we reach on the other side, we will turn to the Sinkan Bridge and start our journey back by plunging again into the fast-flowing waters of the Defile. It will take us as less as twenty-five minutes to reach the other end. As we sail on, we will pass by Kyun Daw Island. Here we visit countless small pagodas, local villages, and river nomads living on the river banks of the Ayeyarwaddy. We come back to the ship for lunch and cover our journey to the South of the Ayeyarwaddy River. After a nice dinner, our talented crew will thoroughly entertain you with their Myanmar’s traditional dance.

 Shwe Gu to Sinkan: 18 miles/28.8 km. Sinkan to Thagara: 87 miles/139.2 km.

On the sun deck, there will be yoga and meditation offered in the morning. You can also join a lecture on 'Religion in Myanmar’ for spiritual knowledge and, before lunch, you can attend another Burmese language lesson. There will be a demonstration of Traditional Burmese Cigar and Chewing Betel Nut after lunch.

Early afternoon, we reach the scenic fishing village of Hsithe, which is home to fishers who conduct co-operative fishing with the critically endangered Ayeyarwady River Dolphin. Take a tour to the village and witness the traditional agriculture products and learn how to cast a traditional fishing net. You will be served with tea in the afternoon at the visitor center of the village, along with a presentation involving the river, the wildlife, and the people. We return to the boat for dinner, and later, you can join the outdoor cinema in the village along with the warm villagers of Hsithe.

Thagara to Hsithe: 125 mile /200 km.

Since today is the last day, this is also your last opportunity to unwind. As we sail to Mandalay, enjoy the lavish facilities on board and the beautiful passing scenery. Be prepared on the sun deck as we make our way passing through Mingun, a showcase of the monumental and unfinished stupa of King Bodawpaya. It is incomplete because an astrologer claimed that the king would die once they complete the temple! In the late afternoon, as we reach Mandalay, we will disembark in time. We will visit Amarapua known for its traditional silk weaving, silver and bronze casting, and to see the sunset at the famous “U Bein's Bridge” - the longest teak bridge in Myanmar. We will have our farewell dinner and then enjoy the evening entertainment Ramayana show, a legendary story, and performance accompanied by traditional music instruments. 

Hsithe to Mandalay: 43 miles/68.8 km.

After your breakfast, bid farewell to the crew as you check-out.