Tour PagesTour InfoTour Length: 18 days
Leave Mon. Oct. 17
$9,690 - Total Package $85 - Port Tax $372 - Globus Journeys Club Discount $100 - DWJ sign up discount available
* This program will NOT be offered in 2017.
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alex@doldworldjourneys.com / (808) 732-9430 2016 Irrawaddy River Cruise, Myanmar 18 daysIncluding fascinating Inle LakeOverviewFeatures
Alex's NotesIn 2010, the Myanmar's borders were reopened to Western visitors for the first time in more than 50 years. While Yangon, formerly Rangoon, is growing rapidly, much of the rest of the country is virtually unchanged and traditions remain the way of life. Young women wear fragrant thanaka to protect their faces from the sun, horse and oxcarts transport goods to market, and the monastery is still the center of the village. The culture is as diverse as it is colorful, with more than 130 ethnic groups calling Myanmar home. At the center of it all is the majestic Irrawaddy River. Flowing for more than 1,300 miles through the country from its glacial origins in the Himalayas, it meanders peacefully through jungle-shrouded highlands and sun-seared plains to its mangrove-dotted delta at the Andaman Sea. On our journey experience untouched villages, ancient cities, remarkable culture, and captivating panoramas. This adventure will cruise north of Mandalay on the most scenic part of the river not visited by most cruise companies. Along the way interact with the children at a local school, encounter villagers making candy from the sap of the toddy palm tree, wander through a fascinating pottery-making village, explore a remote island village where fishing is still a way of life, and visit a monastery, where we will present alms to the monks. More than 90% of the Burmese population follows the Buddhist religion, so it’s unsurprising that the graceful form of the pagoda is a natural part of the landscape. We’ll visit some of the most important pagodas in the country, including stunning Shwedagon in Yangon, the national symbol of Myanmar and considered by many to be the oldest pagoda in the world. Explore some of the 2,300 majestic pagodas and temples that dot the plains of Bagan, one of the world’s great archaeological wonders. Surrounded by mountains, Inle Lake offers a look at life away from the river. Stilted houses dot the shorelines and the local Intha use the famous one-legged rowing technique to fish and tend their floating gardens of tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergine, and more. At the Lake we visit a unique silk workshop, where they use the fibers of the lotus plant to weave garments and attend a music and dance performance by the Padaung long-necked women who live in this part of the country. Launched in 2015, the all-suite Avalon Myanmar was meticulously designed to offer the best cruise experience on the Irrawaddy River. Carrying only 36 guests the ship offers an unrivaled small-ship cruise experience. Yet the ship was purposely built as long and wide as other ships that carry twice as many guests so that spaces aren’t cramped and crowded. The innovative Open-Air Balcony is a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall panoramic window measuring a massive 14 feet across. The doors slide open a full 9 feet, creating the feeling of sitting outside. In addition, there’s a gym and two spa rooms offering relaxing massages. And with a crew to guest ratio of nearly 1:1 we’ll experience personalized service throughout the journey. All this and more awaits during this incomparable opportunity to experience the "Golden Land” of Myanmar before Western influence alters the culture, land, and people. Keep in mind this is a deluxe Avalon (part of the Globus family) program which adds a tremendous value to the journey. Nothing like exploring "Uncharted Places of the World" in style. To encourage you to explore the world, we are offering a $100 discount to the first 15 and a $75 discount to the next. Keep in mind, our sign-up discount deadline for this journey is January 8, 2016. Dates & Prices
Leave Mon. Oct. 17 - Return Thu. Nov. 03, 2016 - $9,690*
$372 - Globus Journeys Club Discount (submit your Globus Journeys Club number to qualify).
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