The Irrawaddy River is important in shaping the history of Burma; this is the lifeblood of economy. This is because it helps attract thousands of tourists on their Myanmar luxury holidays.
Most ideal visiting time for Irrawaddy river trips
An ideal time to enjoy luxury travel Myanmar is the dry season from November to February. During the day, it is very warm but it becomes cooler at night. March is the month when the thermometer increases considerably like humidity levels. The monsoon rains begin in the final days of May and end in October. Because of Irrawaddy levels, the best season for journeys from Mandalay to Bagan is September – April. It is also the time to take longer sailings from southern Yangon to Bagan and northern Mandalay.
Features of cruises on Irrawaddy River
Bagan used to be the capital of Burma and it is the symbol of the spirit in this country. Between the 11th and 13th century, monarchs erected more than 4,000 temples over a plain of 20 square miles. Despite the fact that most of the first pagodas have fallen into oblivion, thousands still remain. In this mysterious city, stupas which are a slim and white conflict with red-brick temples which are stocky and some of them have the height up to 180 feet.
Mandalay, also an old capital city in Myanmar, remains the most attractive city to tourists on luxury holiday. King Mindon, ruling between 1853 and 1878, initially called this city Yadanapon – “City of Gems.” Then its now name is based on Mandalay Hill in the northeastern city. Tourists can admire the Kuthodaw Pagoda with 729 pillars, the Golden Palace Monastery which is famous for beautiful wood carving, as well as Mingun with the biggest ‘ringing bells’ in the world.
On your luxury Myanmar to Yangon, you should visit Shwedagon Pagoda at twilight. This is a gilded temple with statues and stupas glowing just like exotic beacons. The air is full of incense and you can hear chanting sounds when maroon-clad monks and pilgrims on bare foots are giving their offerings like flowers or fruit. This city has a lot of pagodas made of gold, and Sue pagoda is typical, built in the year 1920.
Tips for Cruises on the river of Irrawaddy
While taking Myanmar holidays, just remember to bring your own visa that you can obtain at local consulates. Sine October 2014, citizens from 67 countries (even the U.S. or U.K.) have been obtaining tourist enty e-Visas by air via Yangon by filling in an application form online. This charges you $50 and takes 5 working days to process. Tourists get their eVisa Approval Letter, which is valid for a period of 90 days, to show on their immigration.
You should not forget to bring cash before leaving for the holiday! In Myanmar, the US dollar is popular. It is very important that your notes are kept in a good condition, and small notes of denomination might be of some use to buy souvenirs from faraway villages. The rate of exchange often fluctuates around 980 Kyats to a dollar. In recent years, ATMs in other countries which dispense Kyats have been installed near tourism spots and several luxurious hotels.
On a visit to temples and religious places during Myanmar luxury holiday, your shoulders, as well as knees, should be kept covered. This country is conservative with regard to dressing, while long shorts worn by men cause no troubles. It is a good choice to bring sandals at temples, while shoes or socks should be left behind. Because of heat as well as humidity, light materials such as cotton shirts or tops are highly recommended. Blouses and shirts having long sleeves for women give more effective protection against sunlight. Men are advised to pack slacks which are lightweight and made of cotton because of dressy nights when you are staying on board.
The weather can be cooler in the evening from October to February so you should just bring a small wrap and jacket. Sunhats or sunglasses are necessary. You should ask the tour operator whether medicines preventing malaria are recommended during the cruise.
