Strand Cruise, The Irrawaddy River

The Strand Cruise is a very special river voyage between Bagan and Mandalay. Luxurious facilities, fine dining and superb excursions, are par for the course on this cruise which lasts 4 or 5 days depending on which direction you travel.

The 27 guest rooms are way more than cabins,  they feel like luxury boutique hotel rooms and feature rather spectacular floor to ceiling windows as well as stylish ensuite bathrooms. Finished with teak, beautifully designed with decorations in gold leaf, The Strand Cruise has a majestic and exclusive atmosphere. 

The outdoor pool and sundeck are a great place to relax, a real standout feature of this boat. There is a small gym available for those who like to relax by exercising and various spa rooms for those preferring a more sedate form of rejuvenation. The food is top notch,  wagyu beef and New Zealand lamb, Burmese or international cuisine. Dining revolves around the ship to keep things interesting, you might have brunch on the sundeck, tapas in the bar and a fine dinner in the French restaurant. Wine is paired to your food and included in the price (as are most drinks including cocktails).

The five day cruise travels upstream between Bagan and Mandalay, the four day itinerary runs in reverse. The route takes in some unique points of interest and has been extensively researched to avoid the times and days of the week that other cruise boats visit the well-known highlights. On the upstream cruise there is often a guest speaker who is an expert on Bagan, Buddhism and Burmese history.  Land excursions use local transportation from tuk tuk to horse and cart to take you on guided explorations of these main sites. You’ll visit the ancient city of Ava, Amarapura and Mingun as well as the rickety U Bein Bridge but the sightseeing is fantastic on board too where you can watch the beautiful rural landscape pass by from the comfort of the ships sundeck.  

All in all, this is a fabulous luxury river expedition, its extremely well managed which means that every last detail has been thought of. It will suit those wanting a special way in which to experience the essence of the country and we can combine it with a variety of other destinations to create the ultimate Myanmar holiday.