Luxury River Cruise Through Myanmar

2015-06-09T18:58:00.000Z

Since gaining its independence from the British Empire in 1948, Burma — now known as Myanmar — has been largely sealed off from the outside world, first by a repressive government, then by international economic sanctions.

The sanctions have been lifted and Myanmar is now open for business, but it has not experienced the modernization seen across Southeast Asia — yet. And that’s why I wanted to go now.

I found a way around the scarcity of good hotels and poor infrastructure: For three days, I traveled down the Irrawaddy River on board the Sanctuary Ananda, a luxurious cruise ship that felt like a 5-star floating hotel.

When I wasn't relaxing on the ship, I was exploring Myanmar's greatest attractions, like the golden pagodas of Bagan, the monasteries of Mandalay, and the temples of Yangon.

Prices begin at $1,221 for a 3-night cruise from Bagan to Mandalay, which includes accommodations, all meals, soft drinks and local beer, and all excursions.

Disclosure: Maxine Albert was hosted by the Sanctuary Ananda Boat for the pre-opening launch.

The Sanctuary Ananda is a new luxury riverboat that cruises the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay, the nation’s spiritual center, and Bagan, which is home to two thousand temples.

The ship has 21 suites, each of which has its own private balcony.

Each suite feels luxurious with air conditioning, lush silk décor, an indoor sitting area, and gorgeous views out from the private balcony.

My bathroom had a shower with the hot water and pressure you would expect from a 5-star hotel.

The whole ship is decorated with authentic Burmese décor, with rich teak wood, hand-woven textiles, and historic artifacts.

My guide, Golden, curated the ethnic fabrics and other adornments that give Sanctuary Ananda its authentic Burmese flavor, sourced from the Shan, Chin, Akha, Naga, Rakhine and Kachin regions.

There’s a library where you can read or play a game of chess.

Lounges where you can socialize, sip an aperitif, or have afternoon tea.

And an outstanding spa where you can get a traditional Burmese massage.

There's also a large pool on deck where you can swim or relax in a chaise lounge.

The deck is a great place to watch the sun set.

Most meals are served in the chic Talifoo Restaurant. All meals and drinks are included in the cost of a cruise.

For breakfast I always had tasty mohinga, the rice noodle and fish soup considered to be the national dish of Myanmar.

Lunch usually consisted of a buffet with different options like fresh local fruit and salads.

Dinner is a set menu every night. My favorite dishes were fish in tamarind sauce, chicken curry, and mouthwatering prawns.

All of the food served on board is fresh. I saw this firsthand, when we stopped at a village market where the chef handpicked the best produce himself.

My trip began in Yangon with a visit to the city’s star attraction, Shwedagon Pagoda. I felt like I was in Buddha Heaven strolling amidst hundreds of dazzling gold and marble shrines.

Here I encountered this colossal reclining Buddha whose feet are adorned with 108 auspicious symbols.

Mandalay is the religious hub of Myanmar, a devoutly Buddhist country. Here, I stopped at a monastery and met Buddhist monks.

I encountered many gilded Buddha sculptures throughout the trip.

And I learned that applying gold leaf to a statue of Buddha, like these men are doing at the Mahamuni Temple, bestows one great merit in this and the next life.

Throughout the trip, I felt like I had journeyed back in time. Years of isolation have preserved a veritably untouched culture. I saw farmers in ox-drawn carts head to the fields near the remote Sin Kyun Village.

I met women from the Pa-O tribe who were dressed in traditional brightly-colored clothing.

And I saw girls preparing sugar cane right on the street. This girl, like everyone else in the country, wears tanakha on her face, a yellow paste touted as both a sunscreen and beautifying elixir.

The country is dotted with untouched ancient ruins.

As well as incredible temples like the Myatheindan Temple, which was built by a king to honor his queen and is believed to contain a buried emerald.

But no temples are more spectacular than those at Bagan, an ancient city that's home to over 2,000 medieval monasteries, red temple towers, ancient shrines and majestic pagodas.

The best way to see Bagan’s boundless temple-studded plain is by horse drawn cart.

The constructions are well preserved and incredibly ornate.

The famed Ananda Temple contains four gilded standing Buddhas as well as exquisite carvings and murals showing scenes from Buddha’s life.

This standing Buddha in the Ananda temple is one of the original statues from the 11th century.

People come from all over the country — and the world — to see Bagan and worship at one of these temples. And I completely understand why.

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I took a luxury river cruise through Myanmar, and it's the only way to see the country

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

I took a luxury river cruise through Myanmar, and it's the only way to see the country

The Sanctuary Ananda is a new luxury riverboat that cruises the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay, the nation’s spiritual center, and Bagan, which is home to two thousand temples.

The ship has 21 suites, each of which has its own private balcony.

Each suite feels luxurious with air conditioning, lush silk décor, an indoor sitting area, and gorgeous views out from the private balcony.

My bathroom had a shower with the hot water and pressure you would expect from a 5-star hotel.

The whole ship is decorated with authentic Burmese décor, with rich teak wood, hand-woven textiles, and historic artifacts.

My guide, Golden, curated the ethnic fabrics and other adornments that give Sanctuary Ananda its authentic Burmese flavor, sourced from the Shan, Chin, Akha, Naga, Rakhine and Kachin regions.

There’s a library where you can read or play a game of chess.

Lounges where you can socialize, sip an aperitif, or have afternoon tea.

And an outstanding spa where you can get a traditional Burmese massage.

There's also a large pool on deck where you can swim or relax in a chaise lounge.

The deck is a great place to watch the sun set.

Most meals are served in the chic Talifoo Restaurant. All meals and drinks are included in the cost of a cruise.

For breakfast I always had tasty mohinga, the rice noodle and fish soup considered to be the national dish of Myanmar.

Lunch usually consisted of a buffet with different options like fresh local fruit and salads.

Dinner is a set menu every night. My favorite dishes were fish in tamarind sauce, chicken curry, and mouthwatering prawns.

All of the food served on board is fresh. I saw this firsthand, when we stopped at a village market where the chef handpicked the best produce himself.

My trip began in Yangon with a visit to the city’s star attraction, Shwedagon Pagoda. I felt like I was in Buddha Heaven strolling amidst hundreds of dazzling gold and marble shrines.

Here I encountered this colossal reclining Buddha whose feet are adorned with 108 auspicious symbols.

Mandalay is the religious hub of Myanmar, a devoutly Buddhist country. Here, I stopped at a monastery and met Buddhist monks.

I encountered many gilded Buddha sculptures throughout the trip.

And I learned that applying gold leaf to a statue of Buddha, like these men are doing at the Mahamuni Temple, bestows one great merit in this and the next life.

Throughout the trip, I felt like I had journeyed back in time. Years of isolation have preserved a veritably untouched culture. I saw farmers in ox-drawn carts head to the fields near the remote Sin Kyun Village.

I met women from the Pa-O tribe who were dressed in traditional brightly-colored clothing.

And I saw girls preparing sugar cane right on the street. This girl, like everyone else in the country, wears tanakha on her face, a yellow paste touted as both a sunscreen and beautifying elixir.

The country is dotted with untouched ancient ruins.

As well as incredible temples like the Myatheindan Temple, which was built by a king to honor his queen and is believed to contain a buried emerald.

But no temples are more spectacular than those at Bagan, an ancient city that's home to over 2,000 medieval monasteries, red temple towers, ancient shrines and majestic pagodas.

The best way to see Bagan’s boundless temple-studded plain is by horse drawn cart.

The constructions are well preserved and incredibly ornate.

The famed Ananda Temple contains four gilded standing Buddhas as well as exquisite carvings and murals showing scenes from Buddha’s life.

This standing Buddha in the Ananda temple is one of the original statues from the 11th century.

People come from all over the country — and the world — to see Bagan and worship at one of these temples. And I completely understand why.

Want more on Southeast Asia?

A 22-year-old took a 5-month trip through Southeast Asia without planning a thing »

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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