Myanmar Luxury River Cruise, Sanctuary Ananda
Sanctuary Ananda
Myanmar Luxury River Cruise
Welcome aboard the Sanctuary Ananda. Custom-built using traditional Myanmar materials and arranged over four decks, our floating palace combines all the comforts of 5-star contemporary luxury with the refined elegance of authentic Burmese design.
A country of smiles… a land of grace…a people of welcome…a place of charm and culture….Myanmar is slowly unfolding its charms and hidden treasures to a world hungry for new adventures, new experiences. A land that time had almost forgotten has at last opened her doors to those looking for wonderment and places to treasure.
About Myanmar
THE IRRAWADDY RIVER
The Irrawaddy River is the longest river in Myanmar which flows from north to south originating in the Kachin River at the N’mai and Mali River’s confluence.
Although more so in the past the Irrawaddy river is still used as the main commercial transport route and you can regularly see local barges carrying piles of teak logs. Before motorised barges were used, locals would tie the teak logs together to form a large raft and would float down the river. The Irrawaddy Rivers connects the famous cities of Mandalay and Bagan with Yangon, the largest and main domestic and international transport hub. Mandalay and Bagan are two popular tourist areas due to their abundance of history. Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar and was the previous royal capital. Bagan was home to over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries with around 2,200 remaining.
THE CHINDWIN RIVER
The Chindwin River is the largest tributary of the Irrawaddy River and originates in the Kachin State of Myanmar and runs south before meeting the Irrawaddy River.
Due to low water levels, the Chindwin River is only accessible to larger river vessels during the monsoon season around late July and August and therefore is a much less explored area. Due to the lower number of boats and visitors, the areas around the Chindwin river are peaceful and unspoilt. Most of the river runs through beautiful scenic landscapes flowing through mountain ranges and dense forests.
WHY CHOOSE A MYANMAR CRUISE?
- An intensely Buddhist country, Myanmar is home to some of the most fascinating and beautiful Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries in the world.
- One of the greatest attractions of Myanmar (formerly Burma) is its people; their charm, gentleness and hospitality is unparalleled.
- Transport yourself back in time as you cruise the scenic Irrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers, unchanged for centuries.
- Myanmar is full of unique local culture and customs.
About this Myanmar Luxury River Cruise
Chose from a range of Sanctuary Ananda itineraries
4 – 11 day options
Our luxurious, all-suite ship takes you in style on voyages of breathtaking beauty and discovery on the great rivers of Myanmar (formerly Burma); the majestic Irrawaddy between Bagan and Mandalay and its great tributary, the Chindwin.
Each day on Sanctuary Ananda brings you new experiences, new sights, and new delights on twelve cruise itineraries.
3 NIGHTS BAGAN – MANDALAY
Upstream river cruise on the beautiful Irrawaddy River from Bagan to Mandalay, inclusive of daily shore excursions to the historic Bagan and Mandalay and visiting local villages and markets.
4 NIGHTS MANDALAY – BAGAN
Downstream river cruise on the beautiful Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to Bagan with daily sailing and excursions to village, markets and historic sites.
7 NIGHTS BAGAN – MANDALAY – BAGAN
Upstream and downstream river cruise on the beautiful Irrawaddy River from Bagan to Mandalay and then back to Bagan.
7 NIGHTS MANDALAY – BAGAN – MANDALAY
Downstream and upstream river cruise on the beautiful Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to Bagan and then back to Mandalay.
10 NIGHTS CHINDWIN MANDALAY – PAUNG PYIN – BAGAN
Sail the less explored beautiful Chindwin River. Within the itinerary the ship will visit many tribal villages where you can learn about the local people and customs.
11 NIGHTS MANDALAY – BHAMO – BAGAN
Sail along the Upper Irrawaddy and through the three gorges. This stretch of the Irrawaddy River is surrounded by breaktaking forests. With daily sailing and excursions you will enjoy visiting the less explored areas of Myanmar.
11 NIGHTS MANDALAY – BHAMO – BAGAN
Sail along the Upper Irrawaddy and through the three gorges. This stretch of the Irrawaddy River is surrounded by breaktaking forests. With daily sailing and excursions you will enjoy visiting the less explored areas of Myanmar.
11 NIGHTS MANDALAY – YANGON
Sail upstream from Myanmar’s biggest city Yangon to Mandalay via Pyay and Bagan. From the river you will be provided with fantastic views of the passing scenery and the shore excursions will allow you to meet the local people in their villages.
Sanctuary Ananda
Sanctuary Ananda is a perfect combination of local culture and luxury, because we understand that even when you are immersing yourself in a new experience, there are some things you should never be without, such as a large comfortable bed, the pleasure of a good drink, excellent food, immaculate service, and the company of like-minded people.
Custom-built with just 21 suites, Sanctuary Ananda showcases original Burmese design and contemporary chic in an atmosphere of five-star comfort. In every suite, lush silks, polished teak and beautiful lacquerware celebrate Myanmar’s rich heritage of arts, crafts and textiles and Malaika Egyptian-cotton sheets ensure that we make you as relaxed as can be. Expect L’Occitane-stocked ensuite bathrooms, individually controlled air-conditioning and, naturally, consummate craftsmanship throughout. Choose from having a double or twin bed, and look forward to your own relaxing space to lounge in – every suite has its own private balcony.
OWNER’S SUITE (75M² / 807FT²)
The largest suite on the river boasts a luxurious king-size bed, separate dressing and living areas, plus a big veranda with sun loungers as well as table and chairs. The spacious bathroom will spoil you with a freestanding tub as well as a monsoon shower and his-and-hers sinks. Other benefits will include a private guide, butler service, early morning tea and coffee, complimentary laundry and exclusive dining experiences.
LUXURY SUITES (31-33M² / 334-356FT²)
These four suites have an indoor seating area with a sofa bed available to accommodate a child. There is a private balcony with table and chairs, and the ensuite bathroom has a monsoon shower. Other perks include early morning tea and coffee, and complimentary laundry.
DELUXE SUITES (27-28M² / 291-301FT²)
Our 14 deluxe suites are the largest entry level cabins on the river with living space as well as either a double or twin beds, depending on preference. Each has a private balcony with outdoor chairs & table, and a separate en suite bathroom with monsoon shower. Two sets of interconnecting suites are available.
SUITES (27M² / 291²)
Our two suites with 27 sqm of living space have either double or twin beds, depending on your preference. Both suites have a separate en suite bathroom with monsoon shower, basin and separate toilet. The suites have individually controlled air conditioning and have open balconies.
Fine Dining
The culture and cuisine of Myanmar are reflected in the dining options available to guests each day, alongside a choice of Western favourites and international dishes.
The fragrant flavours of Myanmar, including lemongrass, kaffir lime and sweet chilli, are evoked as our chefs handpick the freshest local ingredients during our village-market visits. Specially crafted menus and inspired dining experiences encompass dishes such as soft-shell crab, red curries, and mango and pomelo salad, while extensive Italian-cuisine experience means freshly made pasta, couldn’t-be-fresher salads and excellent steaks and burgers.
TALIFOO RESTAURANT
Enjoy dinners a la carte in our Talifoo restaurant, with soft drinks, local beers and selected wines available on the house.
KANSI PANORAMA LOUNGE
Picture windows with uninterrupted river views in widescreen make this the perfect place to pause for a decadent afternoon tea or a dragonfruit smoothie. Sign up for lectures or demonstrations and you’ll be enlightened in pure, air-conditioned comfort. Sliding doors lead from this lounge to the sundeck where you can take a dip in the plunge pool. Finish your day with a citrus-enhanced Sanctuary Sour in the sociable cocktail bar.
MINDOON AL FRESCO DINING
Fresh air and fine food await – from just-squeezed juices and house-baked pastries at the continental breakfast buffet to a menu of local and international favourites. Lunchtime brings an irresistible salad buffet and a spread of desserts as well as a la carte options.
All Sanctuary Ananda cruises start and end in either Bagan or Mandalay. Both are easily accessible from Yangon International Airport.
All Sanctuary Ananda cruises start and end in either Bagan or Mandalay. Both are easily accessible from Yangon International Airport.
Bagan (Naung Oo) is a small domestic airport that can be reached from all major tourist destinations within Myanmar. The jetty is located in Naung Oo only 15 minutes from the airport. Mandalay International airport has flights from all destinations within Myanmar and both Singapore and Bangkok internationally. The airport is located 40km south of Mandalay. Below are the addresses for the Mandalay and Bagan Jetties.
BAGAN (TAUNG PHI)
Sanctuary Retreats Co., Ltd
Taung Phi Lae Yar Village
MANDALAY (GAW WEIN JETTY)
Sanctuary Retreats Co., Ltd
Building No. A (1) and (2)
Between 35 street x 37 street
Strand Road, Mandalay
MYANMAR
A country of smiles… a land of grace…a people of welcome…a place of charm and culture….Myanmar is slowly unfolding its charms and hidden treasures to a world hungry for new adventures, new experiences.
10 & 11 NIGHT CRUISES
April 28, 2018 11 Night Yangon: Mandalay – Yangon
Suite $2,499
Deluxe Suite (Bagan Deck) $3,459
Deluxe Suite (Mandalay Deck) $4,199
Luxury Suite $5,439
Owner’s Suite $7,199
July 24, 2018 11 Night Yangon: Yangon – Mandalay
Suite $2,499
Deluxe Suite (Bagan Deck) $3,459
Deluxe Suite (Mandalay Deck) $4,199
Luxury Suite $5,439
Owner’s Suite $7,199
August 11, 2018 10 Night Chindwin: Mandalay – Bagan
Suite $2,629
Deluxe Suite (Bagan Deck) $3,629
Deluxe Suite (Mandalay Deck) $4,399
Luxury Suite $5,699
Owner’s Suite $7,549
August 23, 2018 11 Night Bhamo: Mandalay – Bagan
Suite $2,499
Deluxe Suite (Bagan Deck) $3,459
Deluxe Suite (Mandalay Deck) $4,199
Luxury Suite $5,439
Owner’s Suite $7,199
RATES INCLUDE
- Prices are in US$ per person for the duration of the cruise, based on two people sharing.
- Rates include all meals, soft drinks and local beer during the day, local wine with lunch and dinner, guided excursions, and all port charges.
- Prices exclude international and internal flights, transfers, wine (outside of meals), spirits and gratuities.
- Rates are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without prior notice anytime at the sole discretion of Sanctuary Retreats.
CHILD POLICY
- Children aged 6 and over are welcome on board Sanctuary Ananda.
- One child aged up to and including 12 years sharing a Luxury Suite with two adults pays 75% of the adult rate.
- One or two children aged up to and including 12 years sharing the Owner’s Suite with two paying adults pay 50% of the adult rate.
- On all other occasions children pay the adult rate.
- Luxury Suites can accommodate an extra child by converting the sofa into a smaller bed. Maximum occupancy of a Luxury Suite is 2 adults and 1 child or 1 adult and 2 children.
- The living area of the Owner’s Suite can be converted to accommodate one extra adult or one or two children.
RATES EXCLUDE
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry (if not staying in the Luxury Suites or the Owner’s Suite), telephone calls and purchases from the gift shop
- Extra optional excursions other than those mentioned
- International and domestic flights or transfers other than those mentioned
- Wine (outside of meals) and spirits
- Gratuity to staff
- Medical services, travel insurance or visas
- Other meals than those mentioned
MONEY
The unit of currency in Myanmar is Kyat (“chat”), divided into 100 Pyas.
Please be aware that Myanmar is a cash based economy. Traveller’s cheques are not accepted in Myanmar. Visa and MasterCard’s are accepted in few hotels/restaurants only. There are few ATMS in the main cities of the country.
The import and export notes of Myanmar Kyats is strictly prohibited.
You can change currencies in few hotels, but the best rate will be in currency exchange offices in the main cities of the country.
TIPPING
Tips are not as widely expected in Myanmar as elsewhere in Asia –largely due to the relative youth of its hospitality industry. However, small sums as tokens of appreciation are generally received with gratitude, especially in parts of the country more accustomed to foreign visitors. Tipping on board the Sanctuary Ananda is discretionary; however we are pleased to give you the following guide to tipping in Myanmar. All figures are in kyats.
Tipping on board
Guides
• 10,000 kyats per person, per day Drivers
• 2,000 kyats per person, per day Crew
• 100,000 kyats per cabin, per cruise
Drivers
• 5,000 kyats for two travellers in a vehicle
• 4,000 for four or more (For half-day tours, reduce the amount by 50% per person).
Room service/restaurant waiting staff
• 2,000 kyats per person per meal
Hotel porters/hotel housekeeping staff
• 1,000 kyats per bag
LANGUAGE
The official language is called Burmese or Myanmar. It is written in a script consisting of circular and semi-circular letters, which were adapted from the Mon script, which in turn was developed from a southern Indian script in the 8th century.
Pali is the sacred language of Buddhism and it is used for worshiping. Most people do not understand the meaning of the prayers and the monks translate it to be understandable.
As Myanmar is ethnically diversified, there are several ethnic minority languages and dialects, approximately one hundred languages are spoken all over the country.
English is the secondary language taught in the schools since kindergarten. However, students are just good at reading and writing skills and not fluent in listening and speaking.
TIME ZONES
While most of the world is familiar with time zones that differ in increments of an hour, there are many places in the world that use offset time zones. These time zones are offset by a half-hour or even fifteen minutes off of the standard twenty four time zones of the world.
Myanmar is one of the countries that use the offset time zone. Myanmar Standard Time is GMT+6:30. For example, it is 12:30 in the afternoon in Myanmar when it is 6:00 am in the UK in the winter and 7:00 am in the summer due to daylight saving time or British Summer Time.
RELIGION
Myanmar is a multi-religious country as different religions can be practiced without any obstruction. Although there is no official state religion, the government shows preference for Theravada Buddhism, the majority religion. Among 60 million people, there are over 53 million Buddhists, over 3 million Christians, over 2 million Muslims, over 0.3 million Hindus and 1 million of those who believe in other religions.
Please remember the sacred and taboo parts of your body are head and feet. For the Asian, the head is the most sacred part of the body, while the feet are the lowest and the filthiest. Touching a person’s head is totally out of line, especially with elders. At the same time, you must never show the soles of your feet to anyone, or use your feet to point at something as it would be the direct insult to someone.
VISA APPLICATION
Every national visiting Myanmar needs a visa – an online visa service is now available. Cost approx. US$70
For more information on Myanmar travel please visit http://myanmar.travel/
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