ROAD TO MANDALAY

Highlights

New Year Celebration Cruise, Road To Mandalay (8 Days / 7 Nights)

Treat yourself to a celebration like no other aboard Road To Mandalay.

Day 1

On arrival, transfer to Road To Mandalay berthed on the Ayeyarwady River at Shwe Kyet Yet. A delicious lunch is served on the top deck. In the afternoon, take a guided tour of King Bodawpaya's monumental unfinished pagoda at Amarapura. This evening enjoy a welcome cocktail party on the top deck and your first dinner on board. Be dazzled by a Burmese Royal Acrobat performance before retiring to your cabin for the night.

Day 2

Sunrise yoga or meditation is followed by an early morning breakfast and almsgiving. Later take a tour of the key sights of Mandalay including the famous U Bein Bridge. Return to Road To Mandalay and enjoy a revitalising back massage or manicure and pedicure as the river life floats by. The ship moors mid-river for a delightful dinner on board.

Day 3

After breakfast, visit the small village of Yanderbo, noted for its clay pot production. Return to Road To Mandalay and set sail, arriving in Bagan mid-afternoon. Enjoy a guided tour of some of the many ancient pagodas before admiring the sunset over Dhamayazaka Temple. This evening you'll be treated to a barbecue on the sandbank and a performance from a traditional local dance troupe.

Day 4

After breakfast return to Bagan by boat to continue your fascinating tour, including a visit to a lacquer-ware factory. Lunch is served as Road To Mandalay continues her journey downriver. In the evening, dinner is followed by a local puppet show in Observation Lounge.

Day 5

Enjoy a morning tour of Salay after breakfast, admiring the rich history and colonial-era buildings. Return to the ship for lunch as you resume sailing through the palm-fringed hills around Chauk. A delicious dinner is followed by an unmissable surprise on the river.

Day 6

After breakfast join a tour to the many small shops and factories of Pakokku. Return to Road To Mandalay and continue sailing north. As the sun sets, enjoy a fabulous New Year's Eve cocktail party on the deck followed by the chef's special feast in the restaurant. A live band and champagne countdown offer a magical introduction to the New Year.

Day 7

Early risers can join the sunrise meditation or yoga session. After breakfast, relax as the ship continues towards Mandalay. A leisurely New Year's brunch is served mid-morning on the top deck, after which you can enjoy a tour to the royal capital of Ava. Enjoy afternoon refreshments at the fort, followed by a special horse and cart tour. Return to the ship for your final night on board, and enjoy an exquisite farewell dinner. A Burmese comedy dance act provide tonight's entertainment.

Day 8

After an early breakfast on board, disembark and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.