The luxurious 82-passenger Road to Mandalay was the first luxury riverboat to operate in Myanmar. Originally built for Germany’s KD Lines in 1964, it underwent a transformation under the guidance of Orient-Express (now known as Belmond) in 1995 before being transported to Myanmar. The vessel, which remains the largest in the region, offers guests a mix of the continental and the oriental, with the emphasis firmly on the latter.
Life on Board
See It for Yourself
our experts review
Road to Mandalay
What We Love
Creature Comforts: The Observation Lounge is an oasis of rattan chairs, teak tables and Burmese art, while the adjacent Piano Bar is a nightly social hub with a colonial ambiance reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling’s song: “On the road to Mandalay”.
Elegant Dinners: Each night the brigade of 15 chefs present a tour-de-force of Burmese; Thai; Indonesian; Indian and European specialties in the Restaurant. There’s also the alfresco grill offering local cuisine in an inspiring setting.
Best Known For
Visits to Bagan: Between the 11th and 13th centuries, devout Burmese monarchs built over 4,000 temples across a 20 square-mile swathe of parched-earth. Many of the original pagodas have crumbled into oblivion, but there are still thousands to be explored.
Wellbeing: Yoga and tai chi sessions take place on deck and at specially chosen venues on shore.
Who It's Good For
Intrepid travelers: Along the river, golden stupas reinforce the Burmese devotion to Buddhism. Passengers visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, where 729 pillars are inscribed with Buddhist Tripitaka scriptures — often referred to as the "world’s largest book." There’s also a visit to a monastery where alms are offered to the burgundy-robed monks.
Don't Say We Didn't Warn You
Tourism to Myanmar is still in its infancy. Not all tour buses have efficient air-conditioning (temperatures can often be higher than 90 degrees) and when the river levels are low it can be quite a climb at Bagan to reach the buses.
There Are Limited Options: The riverboat sails only between Mandalay and the ancient city of Bagan, offering 2-, 3-, 4-, and 7-night cruises.