10-Day RV Paukan Cruise_Treasure of Golden Myanmar (Upstream): Join In

Transfer meeting point is at Sule Shangri-La Hotel (07:00 hours). Guests will enjoy a scenic drive from Yangon to Prome (Pyay). Arrive in Prome by the afternoon and travel by coach to the 5th and 9th century archaeological site of Sri Ksetra, the former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artefacts and sculptures, including Hindu deities, Buddha images from as far back as the 6th century, Pyu beads, and silver coins.
Overnight on board

This morning, you will be put on Tuk Tuk to visit the charming town of Thayet, stopping at the oldest golf course of Myanmar with a fascinating history (guests may hit from the first tee). Then, visit the local market, passing colonial homes constructed during the British colonization of Burma before returning to the ship for an afternoon of scenic cruising.
Overnight on board

This morning, venture out into the district capital city of Magwe aboard Trishaws (three wheeled bicycle where one person sits alongside the driver). A short walk takes you to the local market. After some time to explore and shop at the market, board your trishaws for a ride through the city to visit Mya Tha Lun pagoda. Mya Tha Lun is a beautifully gilded stupa on Naguttama Hill which offers a wonderful view of the river and surrounding area.
Overnight on board

After breakfast, walk ashore in Salay, a small town founded in the 13th century with Bagan era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings. Explore Salay House, a restored 1906 colonial trading company warehouse on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy river. This walk will take you along the town's main Strand Street towards the local market before turning away from the river to visit the beautiful Yoke Sone wooden monastery. Pass some interesting Bagan era monuments on your way to visit Mann Paya, a pagoda with a beautiful lacquerware Buddha, before returning to Paukan with a stroll past some of the beautiful colonial buildings.
Afternoon tour starts with the massive Htilominlo in Bagan, the murals that once decorated much of the inside of this temple have only survived on the ceilings. A visit to Bagan would not be complete without exploring one of the most famous temples of Bagan, Ananda. Explore the cruciform of the temple, with four standing Buddhas facing north, south, east, and west.
Overnight on board

Visit Bagan viewing tower to see the scenic view of Bagan. After that, climb aboard traditional, ceremonial oxcart for a short ride through the temples of Bagan. After lunch, visit a local lacquerware workshop and witness the demonstration of the labour-intensive process required in making each piece, you have time to shop before continuing on your tour. A short coach ride takes you to Gubyaukgyi Temple where the richly-coloured paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12th century and you will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Mya Zedi, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance. For your final stop of the day, proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill and enjoy the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship.
Overnight on board

Transfer by coach to Bagan's largest open local market. You have the opportunity to watch the negotiations and transactions taking place. Walk through the market and proceed to the gilded Shwezigon Pagoda. This important religious site dates to the reign of King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Empire. The golden stupa at its centre is said to contain a bone and tooth relic of the Buddha, a gold image of Anawrahta and a Chinese emerald Buddha.
This afternoon, sail to the village of Hnaw Gone, a typical river village, with friendly residents and adorable children. During your exploration of the village, stop to see the local handicraft of bamboo cane basket weaving. Watch the villagers as they expertly split bamboo and skilfully weave the strands into baskets or larger panels for building homes. Return back to board and dinner to be served afterwards.
Overnight on board

Sail towards Yandabo, a picturesque village famous for its pottery. On 24 February 1826, the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese War was signed at Yandabo. You will have the opportunity to stop at the various family homes and workshops, each with its own unique style and markings, to witness the making and firing of the Yandabo pottery, famous throughout Myanmar.
Overnight on board

Explore the town of Ava by horse cart, visiting the beautiful 200-year-old teak Bagaya Monastery, Nan Myint watchtower (27 metres high) and the Yadanar Hsimee pagoda complex. After visiting Ava, continue to visit Sagaing by coach, an important religious site with countless pagodas dotting the surrounding hillsides. Stop on your way to see Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at the top of Sagaing Hill for stunning views of the Ayeyarwaddy and across to Mandalay. Proceed to a Nunnery to witness life in a local nunnery. After Lunch, travel by coach to the penultimate Burmese royal capital of Amarapura to visit a silk workshop before driving to U Bein Bridge, believed to be the world's longest and oldest teakwood bridge. Local sampans wait to take us on a leisurely cruise of the lake while admiring the sunset over the bridge.
Overnight on board

After breakfast, you will enjoy a leisurely walking tour in the small town of Mingun. The first stop is King Bodawpaya's monumental, uncompleted giant Mingun stupa. The cracks you will see are the result of the 23 March 1839 earthquake that shook the area. Continue your walk to the Mingun Bell, which was the heaviest working bell in the world until 2000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. After having the opportunity to stand inside the bell as it is rung, we have time to shop in the local market, famous for its makeshift galleries that display inexpensive art from both local and internationally known artists.
After that, proceed to Mandalay where you will visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contains the world's biggest book, as well as the Shwe Nan Daw Monastery, the only original monastery left from the royal era. Then, visit a workshop that produces the gold leaf commonly used to adorn Buddha images at temples throughout Myanmar and Mahamuni Pagoda, to see how the gold leaf is used.
Overnight on board

After your breakfast, disembark at Gawein Jetty in Mandalay by 08:00 hours.