Viking River Cruises announced a new 16-day itinerary in Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand—Memories of Mandalay—marking the company’s first-ever offering on the Irrawaddy River.
This 16-day journey begins in Bangkok, where guests will explore the city’s landmarks, including the floating markets on the Chao Phraya River and the Grand Palace.
The land portion of the itinerary continues in Yangon, the former Burmese capital also known as Rangoon. Guests will visit the city’s colonial-era architecture along Strand Road and historic Buddhist temples, some thought to be over 2,500 years old. Guests will also have a chance to visit a local marketplace and to see Shwedagon Pagoda, sometimes called the Golden Pagoda.
A tribute to the grand tradition of riverboat exploration in Southeast Asia, the newly refurbished Viking Mandalay offers guests the chance to experience the diverse destinations along the Irrawaddy River from the comfort of one of the newest and most beautifully designed vessels in the region. From the colonial frontier post of Thayetmyo and the Italian-built forts of Minhla & Gwechaung, to the Golden temple of Mya-Tha-Lun Pagoda in Magway and the monasteries of Salé and Bagan, guests will visit the region’s most magnificent sites. Passengers will also gain a sense for everyday life in Burma in the pottery villages of Yandabo and an understanding of its ancient past in the former Burmese capitals of Ava and Amarapura.
In historic Mandalay, the Mahamuni Pagoda, with its serene gold-leaf statue of the Buddha, and Shwenandaw Golden Palace monastery, with its exquisite teak carvings, are just a few of the city’s incredible offerings. Guests will also have the chance to take home traditional local craftworks including tapestries and woodcarvings.
On the final stop of the itinerary guests return to Bangkok, where they may explore the city’s canals and stupas (spires).
For more information, visit www.vrc.com