Ply the Waters of Myanmar's Irrawaddy River and Inle Lake

Transfer and overnight stay a short distance away from the royal palace, in a hotel that honours traditional architectural design. It features a marble and teak interior, lush gardens, a spa, a swimming pool and a gourmet restaurant.
Mandalay is home to some of the country's most famous monasteries, and the monastic community – 40,000 monks among 500,000 inhabitants – is particularly large. Here, age-old culture is passed on in the shade of pagodas.
Incuded in the itinerary - Stroll through the countryside's rice fields and villages to the top of Yankin Hill to watch the sun go down. On the way back, stop at a monastery inhabited by 350 monks to witness their daily psalm recital. After the ceremony, meet them to talk about their beliefs and way of life. Walking tour and meeting experience are with a private guide.

Board the boat, meet the crew and tour the facilities. The boat is 200ft long and 40ft wide, making it highly manoeuvrable. It carries 42 passengers in 21 cabins and 34 crew members, including English-speaking guides. The staff are friendly and smiling. As always on cruises, the itinerary may vary depending on sailing conditions. Sailing down the river, come across all the major sites. Amarapura, with its Mahagandayon Monastery, a centre of monastic and religious study, and the legendary teak U Bein Bridge that dates back to the 19th century, across Taungthaman Lake. Sagaing is the spiritual centre of the country: it boasts nearly 600 Buddhist pagodas and monasteries and is home to 3,000 monks; golden roofs peak out everywhere above the treetops. The ancient imperial capital of Ava and its stupas out in the open field. Bagaya, a stunning teak monastery built in the 18th century. Pakokku, a large settlement with a thriving craft trade. And the 50 monasteries of Sale, south of Bagan. On the banks of the river, forests of teak follow on from rice fields, banana fields and orchards.

Time to disembark. Transfer to Bagan and two-night stay in a hotel with a Burmese architectural style that perfectly fits in with the surroundings. The villas are comfortable with suitable simplicity and excellent facilities. They feature a swimming pool, restaurant, spa and service to meet the expectations of 21st-century guests. The staff are genuinely warm and friendly.
Included in the itinerary - Cycling through the Bagan countryside, with a private guide, on the dirt trails and along the Irrawaddy River. This is the perfect opportunity to meet the inhabitants of the city's neighbouring villages, from village hairdressers to cabinetmaking workshops.

Already included in the itinerary - Tour of the hinterland with a private guide. Roam the countryside from rustic temples to country villages, such as Kyat Khayon Cave Monastery (12th century). In Myinkaba, traditional houses with palm latticework each have their own altar for offerings, while children play with spinning tops. Also pay a visit to a lacquerware workshop. The Gubyaukgyi Temple, which dates back to the 12th century, has preserved a beautiful collection of Buddhist murals, while Nanpaya Temple is renowned for its remarkable statues of Buddha.

Private transfer to the airport and flight to Heho. Another private transfer to Inle Lake, sailing by canoe to the hotel on the shores of Inle Lake, for a three-night stay. The wooden architecture of the hotel's chalets is inspired by the style of the Shan people. The spa treatments draw on the heritage of the mountain people and are delivered in exquisite surroundings. The restaurant reflects the crossroads of cultures in these regions: Burmese, Shan, Chinese, European cuisine... A perfect balance for tuning into the lakeside lifestyle.
Included in the itinerary - With a private guide, board a traditional canoe to explore the floating gardens, meet the market gardeners and fishermen in and around Inle Lake. And on the eastern shore of the lake, take a stroll through villages to learn about traditional Intha market gardening techniques.

Already included in the itinerary - On Inle Lake. The day, with a private guide, begins on the lake, in a motorised canoe: villages made of wood and plant mesh, markets and floating gardens, net fishermen, helmsmen rowing with one leg... pagodas, like Hpaung Daw U, whose five Buddhas are mummified under the gold leaf. Lunch by the water's edge. Then, reach the village of Indein, where, at the end of a long, covered gallery, lies the Alaungsithu Monastery and its forest of ten thousand stupas, built by the inhabitants of the region since the 12th century.

Already included in the itinerary - The Sagar region, off the beaten track, at the very far southern end of Inle Lake, is one of the most beautiful in Shan State, with its mountains, small villages and rice fields. Located on the southern tip of Inle Lake, it feeds rich birdlife. Pass through it with a knowledgeable guide, looking for the 108 sunken stupas, built in the 16th and 17th centuries. The beauty of these constructions, adorned with greenery, in an untouched countryside, is a truly unique experience. The region is also a producer of renowned rice wine. Undoubtedly less spiritual than Buddha's doctrine, but just as Burmese.

Transfer to Heho and flight to Yangon. Two-night stay in a hotel whose colonial charm has been tailored to the requirements of contemporary guests. It features teak, terraces, beautiful craftsmanship and curtains, as well as a swimming pool and spa. The rooms are elegant and spacious. In the evening, at the restaurant window, the Shwedagon Pagoda's stupa shines in the royal blue sky.
Included in the itinerary - Private tour of the pagodas of Yangon. Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, and its famous 230ft-long reclining Buddha; Shwedagon Pagoda, centre of Burmese religious devotion, which has preserved eight strands of hair from Buddha under forty tonnes of gold leaf, and is a place to wander around silently listening to the mantras of the monks that you will visit nearby.