This magnificent two day and one night cruise makes use of the stately M.S. Hintha, which departs Mandalay at 8am before sailing upstream for approximately 50 miles to the villages of Sithe or Myitkangyi. We pass visual delights such as Mingun Pagoda and appear to travel back in time when observing farmers tending ox carts and families tending to their laundry at the water’s edge. The variety of ships on the river is incredible: there are ‘high tech’ (at least for Myanmar standards) ferries and tankers as well as traditional teak boats, river taxis and ships that transport giant logs downriver.
Enjoy the life around you from your comfortable mahogany deckchair or the rattan sofas, sipping a drink while the crew prepares your lunch on the upper deck. As we journey upstream all eyes are on the water as we look out for the elusive river dolphin. The best time to spot them is during the early hours of the morning so we wake early to try and catch them breaking the water’s surface.
