The tourism department in Myanmar (formerly Burma) is attracting customers to the nation with new river cruises.
The nation, which had until recently been under military rule, is slowly making efforts to enhance tourism and tourist flow. It is now offering various river cruises to attract tourists from far and wide. As the nation was under sanctions from the west until recently, its reputation as the most authentic Asian culture in the world means that tourists will have more reasons to visit and experience the river cruises that will introduce them to the culture and architecture of this once avoided country.
A trip to Burma is unique in that the nation is believed to be the most ancient and ardent follower of Buddhist culture in Southeast Asia. It has thousands of Buddhist temples and examples of architecture and offers many other historical and religious experiences. The river cruises attempt to capture that unique aspect of the nation for the traveller.
One such trip is being offered by Viking River Cruises with its brand new 16-day ‘Memories of Mandalay’ Irrawaddy River cruise. The itinerary will see travellers sailing from Pyay to Mandalay and the starting price is $5,500 without airfare. A similar offer is being made by Orient Express company, which is operating an 11-night river cruise to the more northerly Gorges of Bhamo. The cost for a single cabin is $4,030 for 11 nights, without airfare.
Solo travellers could opt for the Grand Circle Cruise Line’s new 15-day land tour and Irrawaddy River cruise, from Bagan to Mandalay. Almost all of the river cruises will visit Buddhist monasteries, explore villages with British Colonial architecture and introduce travellers to Rangoon and Mandalay.
Most tour packages include a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Bagan archaeological zone that has hundreds of temples that are at least a thousand years old, all within a 26 square-mile region.
