Sanctuary Retreats cuts fares for four cruises on Myanmar's Chindwin River

Sanctuary Retreats is offering 20 per cent off the four cruises on the Chindwin River in 2015 which are part of their longer ‘Exploration Cruises’ programme.  These 10 night cruises on the Chindwin exclusively provide access to some of Southeast Asia’s least-visited sites such as Mawleik, Kalewa and the caves of Po Win Taung in Monywa and will begin in July 2015.  The offer must be booked before 31st January 2015.

With this offer, a 10-night Exploration Cruise on the Chindwin River is now available from £2,356 per person based on two people sharing, including suite accommodation, meals, soft drinks and local beer throughout the day, wine with dinner, and the full programme of excursions and experiences.

The ship offers a choice of 6 fascinating itineraries including 3, 4 and 7 night cruises on the Ayeyarwady River with a full choice of excursions and unique cultural experiences. Longer 10 and 11 night itineraries on the Chindwin River to Homalin, the Upper Ayeyarwaddy to Bhamo and sailings between Yangon and Mandalay will begin in 2015.

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Sanctuary Ananda handed over ahead of schedule for November launch on the Irrawaddy

Sanctuary Retreats has taken delivery of Sanctuary Ananda, its new boutique river cruise vessel in Myanmar (Burma), ahead of schedule, following an 18-month build by local shipbuilders.

Sanctuary Retreats has also announced that the 2016 programme for the Ananda will go on sale earlier than originally planned, and will now be available from 15 October.

The ship’s fascinating 3, 4 and 7 night cruises on the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River include a full choice of excursions and unique cultural experiences. Further details of Ananda’s longer 10 and 11 night itineraries on the Chindwin River to Homalin, the Upper Ayeyarwaddy to Bhamo, and sailings between Yangon and Mandalay are on offer.

Sanctuary Ananda is a luxury river cruise ship for 42 passengers; all cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows and full balconies.  The executive chef, who has a wealth of experience in South East Asian top hotels, will prepare fine Asian and international cuisine, served to guests in a variety of settings.

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Sanctuary Ananda’s Myanmar Specialities

We are always excited to bring you something new here at Time Spent At Sea and here is a great new river-cruise opportunity from Sanctuary Retreats, with eight enticing itineraries available on the luxurious all-suite Sanctuary Ananda in Myanmar.  

These itineraries include three, four and seven-night ‘Discovery Cruises’ between Bagan and Mandalay as well as a selection of longer and more unusual ‘Exploration Cruises’ allowing guests time to explore the Upper and Lower Ayeyarwady and the shallower Chindwin River. 

Sanctuary Ananda will sail every day on each itinerary and, where possible, guests will experience local transport to reach off the beaten track villages and must-see sights to ensure a true local and unique experience.

Discovery Itineraries include:

Three Nights – Bagan to Mandalay

Setting off from Bagan, this three-night experience includes a visit to some of the most important temples and pagodas in Bagan; a horse-drawn cart visit to Ava, the old imperial capital and archaeological site; Sagaing with its convents, pagodas and silversmiths; and Amarapura to visit textile workshops and drinks at sunset at the mile-long U Bein bridge.

Four Nights – Mandalay to Bagan

This itinerary begins in Mandalay, the cultural capital of Myanmar, and makes its way down to Bagan, the spiritual heart of the country and home to over 2,000 gilded pagodas.  Highlights on the journey include the textile workshops of Amarapura; Sagaing, the centre of Myanmar Buddhist faith; Pakokku with its local markets and traditional shoe factories; and the Sale monasteries

Seven Nights – Bagan-Mandalay-Bagan

This longer cruise is a combination of the three and four-night itineraries but also offers a train ride across the Gokteik Viaduct to Naung Pein and a visit to Pyin Oo Lwin and its Botanical Gardens. There will also be visits to jaggery, lacquerware and brick workshops; the Thone Zu Pagoda with its Nat shrine; and a hike up Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, to see the stunning summit monastery, pagodas and shrines. 

For more info, visit www.sanctuaryretreats.com and, for more luxury adventure-cruise ideas, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's river cruising specialists.

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Discover The Irrawaddy With Zegrahm

Zegrahm Expeditions is pleased to present an intimate look at Myanmar, a country once shrouded in mystery and now an up-and-coming adventure travel destination. While some have described Myanmar as a time-warped country, travellers will see the contrast of the bustling cities of Yangon and Mandalay with the peaceful serenity and timeless landscapes of villages along the Irrawaddy River.

Zegrahm began offering travel to Myanmar more than 10 years ago with the belief that the company could do more to help the people of Myanmar by travelling to the country than by not going at all. Each visit makes a point to take visitors to the less glittering parts of the region to see how the people, particularly the children, go about daily living. Additionally, the 15-day itinerary features an archaeological exploration of Mrauk U, the medieval capital of Myanmar; meeting the women of the Chin tribe, who have traditional face tattoos unique to this ethnic minority group; and a 7-day cruise of the Irrawaddy River. 

The expedition is being led by Gary Wintz, a renowned Asia expert who has lectured at esteemed institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, Columbia and the National Geographic Society. Wintz has been visiting Myanmar since 1977 and has made more than 60 visits to the country since that time.

Myanmar Revealed: Life Along the Irrawaddy River takes place January 2-16, 2014, and is priced from $13,980 per person. 

For bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line, the UK's Adventure Cruising specialists.

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