Road to Mandalay River Cruise
The luxury river cruise ship has been created by Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express from the former MS Nederland. Since 1995 this totally refurbished ship sails between Mandalay and Bagan. The ship has a swimming pool, a large sun deck, a spacious observation lounge with large windows in addition to the excellent cabin facilities, a restaurant able to accommodate all passengers in one sitting and satellite communications. Consultant designers were appointed to devise new internal and external decorative schemes in sympathy with the vessels new role and the "Orient-Express" brand.
The Road to Mandalay can accommodate a maximum of 110 passengers in 3 different cabin types. All cabins are fully air-conditioned and have en suite shower and WC facilities. Each cabin has a personal safe, telephone and satellite TV with in-house video. Sockets are suitable for 2-pin round plugs (220 volts). Hair dryers are available in. Buffet lunches are served on the observation deck or in the restaurant and at dinner attentive waiters serve you delicious courses created by our experienced chefs. The air-conditioned Observation Lounge on the main deck is a comfortable retreat during the heat of the day and the focus for the local on-board entertainment in the evenings. There is a boutique on board with a full range of gifts designed exclusively for the Road to Mandalay. The atmosphere everywhere on board is informal and friendly.
Pandaw River Cruise (Irrawaddyflotilla)
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in its heyday in the 1920s was the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the world. Lost in the war, the flotilla wa s revived in the mid 90s and is now the largest river cruise company in Myanmar. The company restored in teak and brass an original colonial river steamer called the RV Pandaw. This was so successful that they went on to build new two further colonial-style river ships. With great craftsmanship and wonderful local materials the Pandaw ships offer alternative standards of comfort and design finish to any other large ships afloat.
The Pandaw Concept, as it became known, offered a new travel experience quite unlike other forms of travel: combining an expedition atmosphere with an elegant base afloat. But what made the Pandaw style unique was the ability of these shallow draft ships to penetrate and explore remote areas of the country and enable real cultural exchange between the traveler and the inhabitants of the great river valleys of Myanmar.
Pandaw has offered this popular cruise to passengers seeking a shorter cruise as part of a land tour rather than for those seeking a longer river expedition. It ply four times a week between the ancient capital of Pagan with its 3000 Buddhist monuments and Mandalay the last royal capital at Mandalay. It stops for shore excursions by foot at the villages of Theingone and Yandabo where the Pandaw passengers have built schools. You will experience real village life, pot making, and agriculture and visit Buddhist monasteries. Many land travelers find our short cruises a welcome and tranquil holiday within a holiday.
Ayravata River Cruise
RV Pandaw was built in Scotland on the Clyde by the famous ships builder Yarrow & Co on 1947 with the same design of the pre-war Quarter Wheeler steamers of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. In the 1998, the vessel was converted into a tourist pleasure luxurious river cruise vessel in the Myanma Shipyard (Sinmalike) by the revived Irrawaddy Flotilla Company Ltd. and during their management docking was performed annually at the Dalla Dockyard. In the second half of the 2003, Ayravata Cruises signed the charter agreement with Inland Water Transport and the Pandaw underwent to major renovations.
Now the two ships are running under Ayravata Cruises: RV Pandaw 1947 (An original Colonial Steamer) and RV Paukan 2007 (New Charming Cruising Boutique Hotel). It offers river cruises to explore the Royal capitals around Mandalay and experience the life of the great Irrawaddy River beyond Royal Mandalay and Ancient Bagan.
Amara River Cruise
The Amara River Cruise is a traditional Myanmar riverboat traveling along the AyarwaddyandChindwinRiver. It is made of teak wood and was completely refurbished by local craftsmen in 2003. It is 30 meters / 100 feet long and with a shallow draft of 1 meter / 3 feet and two Japan made 180hp Hino engines it can go as far north as Bhamo. The Amara River Cruise has a total of seven cabins, each with their own bathroom with hot and cold shower. Communal areas, bar and canopied sun deck. Electricity is provided by a generator and battery 24 hours a day. Safety is provided by smoke detectors in all cabins, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, life jackets and a dinghy. Amenities include on-board laundry, fully equipped kitchen and refrigerators. All bed linen and towels as well as dining service and bar equipment are provided. You will be taken care of by our friendly and hospitable staff and be able torelax and enjoy the personal atmosphere on board.