Day 1: Depart the UK

Fly from London Heathrow overnight to Burma

Day 2: Arrive Yangon

Today you’ll arrive in Yangon, a former capital of Burma that’s known as the Garden City of the East due to its lush tropical setting. After being met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure.

Stay: Two Nights: Yangon, Traders Hotel by Shangri-La (or similar)

Day 3: Yangon

Having arrived in Yangon, a full-day tour today begins with a visit to the city centre. Visit Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown Yangon, then stop in at the picturesque Kandawgyi Lake, which was created to provide clean water to the city during the British colonial era. Afterwards, wander through Bogyoke Aung San Market, a major city bazaar famous for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Dominated by antique, handicraft and jewellery shops as well as art galleries and clothing stores, this thriving market is a great place for souvenir shopping. Later, visit Chaukhtatgyi Temple to see the massive reclining Buddha. Then head to Shwedagon Pagoda, a 99 metre-high gilded pagoda and stupa that dominates the city skyline from atop Singuttara Hill.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4: Yangon, Pyay (Prome), Embark Cruise

After breakfast, transfer by coach to Pyay, where you will head to the banks of the Irrawaddy River and board your luxury river ship, the AmaPura, for the start of your incredible 10-night Irrawaddy River cruise. After settling in, disembark for a guided walking tour. Established by the British Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the late 19th century, Pyay originally served as a transshipment point for cargo being moved between Upper and Lower Burma. See a selection of the many gilded pagodas that are in and around the town, including the imposing Shwesandaw Pagoda, one of the country’s most revered religious sites. Back on board, enjoy a Welcome Dinner.

Stay: 10 Nights: the AmaPura

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 5: Thayetmyo

Cruise to Thayetmyo, a pleasant port town that once sat on the border between Upper Burma and Lower Burma, which the British annexed during the Second Anglo-Burmese War. Here, step out to wander the streets, take in the quaint colonial-era houses and visit the local market.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 6: Minhla, Magwe

Your sightseeing begins today in the town of Minhla, the site of a significant battle during the Third Anglo-Burmese War. Take a small boat to visit Gwechaung and Minhla forts, built by Italian engineers in 1860 to keep British forces out of Burma. Learn how the British captured these forts, and indeed the town, during a war that saw an independent Burma lose its sovereignty. Then cruise to Magwe. Here, disembark your ship and head up to the Mya Tha Lun Pagoda, located atop a hill overlooking the Irrawaddy River. Take in the fabulous views and explore the pagoda, constructed with thousands of solid gold bricks and home to numerous shrines devoted to a variety of nat spirits.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 7: Salay

Cruise to the village of Salay, a colourful religious centre. Here, visit Yoke Sone Kyaung, the region’s oldest surviving wooden monastery. Then continue to Shinbin Maha Laba Man Paya, home to the country’s largest lacquer Buddha image, which dates back to the 13th century.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 8: Tantkyi Hill, Bagan

Embark on an excursion up Tantkyi Hill to visit Tantkyitaung Pagoda, encircled by 32 elephant statues facing in all directions. Back on board, capture your first glimpse of Bagan, thus starting your discovery of one of the world’s truly awe-inspiring archaeological sites. On disembarking, travel to the Ananda Temple, built in 1105. After time to explore, head for the township of Nyaung-U and visit Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the most beautiful monuments on the plains of Bagan.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 9: Bagan

After a visit to the Nyaung-U Market, travel to Mount Popa, a pilgrimage site that’s home to many nat temples and relics. Learn about nat spirits then head for the Bagan Archaeological Zone, home to thousands of stupas, temples and monasteries. Here, tour a range of distinctive structures such as Gubyaukgyi Temple, a 13th-century ‘cave temple’. Later, visit a lacquer-ware workshop and a nearby village then return to your ship.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 10: Bagan, Yandabo

Enjoy a final sunrise over Bagan then disembark today in the village of Yandabo to enjoy a look at local village life and take in a fascinating pottery-making demonstration.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 11: Inwa

Cruise to Inwa and enjoy a tour by horse-drawn cart, including a visit to the ’Leaning Tower of Inwa’.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 12: Sagaing, Mingun

Arrive in Sagaing, home to hundreds of Buddhist monasteries. Visit a local silversmith’s workshop then explore Soon U Ponya Shin and Kaunghmudaw pagodas. Later, cruise to the town of Mingun and visit the 18th-century Mingun Pahtodawgyi. You will also see the Mingun Bell, and the Myatheindan Pagoda.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 13: Mandalay

During a full-day tour of Mandalay, visit Mahamuni Buddha Temple, where you might be able to add your own sheet of gold leaf to a statue of the Mahamuni Buddha. Then explore a range of workshops; visit Kuthodaw Pagoda at the foot of Mandalay Hill to see what is thought to be the world’s largest book; ascend Mandalay Hill for views out over the city; and tour Shwenandaw Monastery. Later, stroll along the famed U Bein Bridge near Amarapura. Thought to be the world’s oldest and longest teak-wood bridge, U Bein spans 1.2 kilometres across Taungthaman Lake. On return to your ship this evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Day 14: Disembark Cruise, Yangon

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Yangon, where you’ll enjoy the day at leisure.

Stay: Yangon, Traders Hotel by Shangri-La (or similar)

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 15: Yangon, Depart

Today you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.

• Daily Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 16: Land into the UK