We begin our day in Mandalay with a welcome breakfast in a private area overlooking the illustrious U-Bein Bridge, a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura. It is also believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. After breakfast and a tour of the bridge, we travel onwards to discover the Mahamuni Pagoda and the Shwe In Bin monastery, a beautifully carved teak monastery known as the perfect spot for meditation in the heart of Mandalay. The crew will be waiting to greet you on board and welcome you with a generous buffet lunch of international and Asian cuisine. After lunch we will stop in Mingun, one of the country’s former capitals, at the foot of the unfinished pagoda, one of the largest pagodas ever constructed in the history of Myanmar. We will visit the pagoda by a popular local means of transportation, the Tuk Tuk. The pagoda is home to the magnificent Mingun Bell, claimed to be the largest uncracked hanging bell in the world. We will also visit Paya Hsinbyume, an impressive pagoda that rises in seven curved whitewashed terraces representing the seven mountain ranges around Mt Meru, the mountain at the center of the Buddhist universe. As the sun sets, admire the magnificent sights over the Ayeyarwady river from the ship’s sundeck, sipping one of the Strand Hotel’s signature cocktails, before joining your fellow travellers at the long tables of our fine dining restaurant for a dinner of sharing tapas, followed by a menu of gourmet cuisine and fine wines. Additional optional activities today include a guided visit by private car transportation.

Meals: Lunch/Dinner

Accommodation: The Strand Cruise

Our day begins with a visit to Sagaing, the most important religious center in Myanmar, famous for its many hundreds of white, silver and gold pagodas and monasteries. A traditional local truck will collect passengers from the ship and bring them to the top terraced of the Soon U Ponya Shin pagoda to enjoy a stunning vista of Mandalay surrounded by its ancient royal capitals linked by the golden thread of the Ayeyarwady River. Once back on board, relax as the ship cruises from Sagaing to Ava, the ancient imperial capital of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to 19th centuries. Horse carts await to transport guests for a delightful ride through the naturally preserved Ava landscape and key landmarks. A once prominent city, throughout history Ava has been ravaged by war and natural disasters and rebuilt numerous times. Today, all that is left are the ruins and remains of an abandoned kingdom forever imprinted in history. Once back on board the Strand Cruise, a buffet lunch of international and Asian cuisine is served either in the air- conditioned restaurant or al fresco at the more informal sundeck lounge while enjoying the beautiful landscape passing by as the ship cruises to the ancient city of Bagan. Throughout the afternoon, relax, meditate, or just lie by the pool, enjoy activities and workshops arranged by the crew as well as a number of performances by talented local artists and entertainers before enjoying a traditional Strand afternoon tea. As night falls, our ship will moor on a remote and wild section of the river. Surrounded only by the soft whispering of nature, our Captain invites you to a cocktail and dinner, followed by a traditional cultural performance on board. Night owls can linger in the bar over a glass of fine wine or single malt whiskey and recreate the golden age of the Strand as a meeting place for explorers and raconteurs.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accommodation: The Strand Cruise

This morning sees our arrival in Bagan and the start of the much-anticipated Bagan Heritage Trail. Bagan is remarkable for the magnificent architecture of its buildings and the contribution they have made to Burmese temple designs. Marvel at Bagan’s wonders including the Ananda Temple, one of the most exquisite temples of the country, the Shwezigon Pagoda, and Gubyaukgyi temple. After a delicious lunch back on board, we visit the beautiful Sulamani temple, followed by a journey back into Myanmar’s artistic past at the oldest lacquer warehouse in Bagan. Lacquer ware is a traditional art that began when the Pagodas of Bagan were first being built in the 11th century and is still practiced today. Here you can see the artisan’s authentic process of production resulting in fascinating products such as the Bagan house umbrella, lampshades, coaster and bowls, all on show and available for purchase. As twilight sets in, admire the sunset from the sundeck before a festive evening and farewell dinner on a sand bank (weather permitting) accompanied by extraordinary performances from local entertainers. Additional optional activities today include a guided visit by private car transportation.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Accommodation: The Strand Cruise

This morning the monks of Bagan will join us for a very special farewell. After a last breakfast, guests disembark in Old Bagan and will be accompanied onwards to the airport or their hotel. Another exhilarating option at sunrise is a hot air balloon ride, where you can gently float above the 2,000 pagodas of Bagan,

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: N/A