Lüftner cruises the Irrawaddy

FROM September, the
world described by Kipling
in his poem, Mandalay,
will be accessible for the SA
market through Lüftner Cruises
(represented by Austria
Connection, see Travelinfo).
The nine-night cruise takes
guests down the Irrawaddy
River, through Myanmar, on
Lüftner's five-star deluxe
boutique vessel, Irrawaddy
Explorer. Passengers fly into
Yangon, and then transfer
to Prome where the cruise
to Mandalay begins. The
26 state rooms, measuring
25-29 sqm, all have balconies
for maximum enjoyment of
the passing landscape, and
combine French colonial style
with state-of-the-art luxury and
every modern convenience.
The best months climatically
are October-April. Excursions
include the historic town
of Bagan with its 2 000
brick temples, centuries-old
monasteries and the multitude
of markets along the river.
This is a brand-new ship and
a brand-new cruise for Lüftner,
with the first departure from
Prome on September 21.
Rates start from €3 005pps
(R43 820) including drinks
(beer and wine at dinner);
all meals, including themed
dinners; WiFi in public areas;
excursions specified in
itinerary; and port taxes.