Metta Cruise 6 days Mandalay – Bhamo

In the morning board on board Metta cruise and set sail over the mighty river. After an hour our first stop will be made at the Mingun Village. Walk in the famous village where you will see a pagoda dotted range MINGUN, one of the highlights of the region. Visit will include MINGUN BELL, the world’s largest un-cracked bell weighing 90 tons. Continue to the HSINBYUME pagoda and the unfinished MINGUN pagoda built as one of the world’s largest chedis by King Bodaw Paya. Continue the cruise up the river. Lunch on board. Visit a local village call Myaezun where, if luck be in your side, Ayerwaddy dolphins roam around in different seasons. Overnight sleep in a village before we approach Nwe Nyein. Dinner on Board

After breakfast on board, explore famous pottery village, Nwe Nyein. Wonder around the village and gain an insightful knowledge of pottery and glazing methods. Take leisure walk to explore the tranquil village and observe the daily life of the local people. It's a a great opportunity to interact with the artisans and learn how they create beautiful pots. Come back to the cruise and have lunch and set sail. Dinner on board.

After breakfast on board, sit back in a deckchair as the cruise heads through the THIRD DEFILE of the Ayeyarwaddy Gorges. Shortly after lunch, THABEIKKYIN, a small town on the eastern shore of the river which seems to be built on a small cliff overlooking the Ayeyarwaddy River comes into view. The scenery is beautiful, the river though wider and the hills not as dramatic. Call in TAGAUNG, one of the oldest capitals of Myanmar. The origins of Burma can be found here according to some legends. The remnants of the former palace walls of the ancient Pyu kingdom are still visible today. The kingdom was later relocated to Sri Ksetra near current PYAY city. Take a walk through the rather poor town with its unusual Nat shrine and a small market. Breakfast, Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board. Dock near TAGAUNG.

In the morning, continue sailing up to where we make a visit, a small town largely rely on the river transport. Cruise on to KATHA, a beautiful town with an interesting market and friendly people. Katha is well known from the book ?Burmese Days? written by George Orwell. Sit back in a deckchair and observe the diverse river life. Teakwood and bamboo rafts, gold prospectors, cargo boats dating from the colonial times, the government ferry and faster private passenger boats. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board. Dock on a sand bank.

After breakfast, We continue sailing upstream and after passing the little town of Shwegu we enter the dramatic See the SECOND DEFILE, of the 3 AYEYARWADDY GORGES, dramatic and lush scenery with steep rock faces with its magnificent cliffs reaching down the narrow channel. In the late afternoon, we arrive at Sin kan Village, a large village with a lot of teak houses and ruins and old temples. Walk around the village and explore the village life. Breakfast, Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board. Dock on a sand bank.

Set sail in the morning. We arrive at Bhamo in the afternoon. Afternoon walking tour of the town, and important trading post located just 50 miles from the Chinese border. Visit the colorful local market where Lisu, Kachin and Shan people meet to trade. Roam around the beautiful town sitting back in a trishaw ( bicycle taxi) and pass lovely wooden colonial buildings until you arrive at a large bamboo bridge and Shwe Kina Pagoda. Transfer to your hotel or Airport. Breakfast on Board.