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Bay of Bengal: Chennai to Yangon

Bay of Bengal: Chennai to Yangon

From USD $14,980

Description

Join a brand-new expedition that offers the perfect mix of India’s, Bangladesh’s, and Myanmar’s cultural and natural treasures. Highlights include spending two full days exploring the UNESCO World Biosphere-designated Sundarbans Reserve Forest, and visiting the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda.

Trip Name
Bay of Bengal: Chennai to Yangon
Days
16
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition Length: 338 Feet/102.9 Metres Passenger Capacity: 120 passengers Refurbished: 2016 Her small size and shallow draft allow close-up access to rugged coasts well beyond the reach of ordinary vessels. And she has been newly refurbished to help guests maximize their experience and build a genuine connection with the regions they visit.  Spacious decks and panoramic public rooms mean the drama of the unexpected is never far from view. A fleet of Zodiacs allows exploration from the water or remote landings anywhere nature or curiosity dictate. Since many of our expeditions sail to some of the world's most pristine coral reef systems, there's a glass-bottom boat for underwater viewing along with a full complement of snorkelling equipment and a dive programme for advanced divers.  We've also taken great care to assemble a truly outstanding Expedition Team, composed of experts in the culture, history and wild life of the destinations, to present informal talks, guide Zodiac outings and lead small-group explorations ashore. While back on board, every creature comfort awaits: an ocean-view suite, in-suite bar and the head-to-toe pampering of a butler; elegant lounges and open bar where fellow travellers gather to swap tales about their day's adventures; and cuisine that meets Silversea's standards of culinary excellence — which are lofty, indeed. Imaginative menus in The Restaurant feature both regional offerings and dishes inspired by Relais & Châteaux. Additional amenities include a sun-catching pool deck, an internet cafe, a fitness centre, and a beauty and massage centre — particularly alluring after an adventurous day ashore.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Chennai, India
Arrive to Chennai and transfer to our hotel for overnight.
Day 2 - Day 2 Chennai / Embark Silver Discoverer
Enjoy a morning at leisure before a welcome brunch at the hotel. Afterward, explore this vibrant city that has been dubbed the “cultural capital of India.” Visit the 17th-century Fort St. George and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. This afternoon, embark the newly refurbished Silver Discoverer.
Day 3 - Day 3 At Sea
Attend informative lectures on the natural history and culture of the region, or relax by the pool while cruising the world’s largest bay.
Day 4 - Day 4 Puri / Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary
One of India’s holiest Hindu cities, Puri is home to the colossal Jagannath Temple, an important pilgrimage site. Nearby in Konark, the exquisitely carved 13th-century Sun Temple replicates a giant chariot. There will also be on opportunity to visit Balukhand Wildlife Sanctuary, a tract of coastal forest that offers refuge to spotted deer, endangered blackbucks, monkeys, monitor lizards, jackals, and mongoose, as well as many butterfly and bird species.
Day 5 - Day 5 Bhitarkanika National Park / Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
This morning, explore along the network of rivers that weave through the mangroves of Bhitarkanika National Park. The park is home to the largest population of saltwater crocodiles in India, as well as deer, wild boars, jackals, and over 300 species of birds. The nearby Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary protects massive turtle colonies, including the world’s most important nesting area for olive ridley sea turtles which can be found in the waters offshore and on the golden-sand beaches from October to May.
Day 6 - Day 6 Kolkata
India’s second-largest city and capital of the state of West Bengal, Kolkata is a cacophony for the senses, a heady mix of colonial heritage and push toward modernity. That dichotomy is clearly evidenced during a tour of B.B.D. Bagh, once Dalhousie Square and center of British Raj power, where the Writers Building and other stately structures lie in view of sky-high tower blocks.
Day 7 - Day 7 At Sea
Our lecture series continues as the ship sails for Bangladesh.
Day 8 - Days 8 - 10 Sundarbans Reserve Forest, Bangladesh
Sundarbans is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. Not only notable for magnificent scenic beauty, this area is also renowned for its high biodiversity of flora and fauna. Board Zodiacs to explore the reserve’s mosaic of islands and labyrinthine water channels. Excursions may reveal Ganges and Irrawaddy dolphins, monkeys, estuarine crocodiles, and water monitors. A wide variety of birds can be found here, including brahminy kites, white-bellied sea eagles, lesser adjutant storks, Indian pond herons, and collared, black-capped, and stork-billed kingfishers. Get a different perspective from one of the park’s watch towers, take a walk along the extensive boardwalk, visit a crocodile hatchery, and observe fisherfolk using trained otters to chase fish into their nets.
Day 9 - Day 11 Maheskhali Island / Cox's Bazar
Enjoy a rare look into rural Bangladeshi life on Maheskhali Island. Rickshaws and motorized tuk tuks putter through tiny Thakur Tala village; Adinath Temple, set atop its highest hill, houses saffron-robed monks and holy ponds, while a small Rakhain community produces traditional textiles at the weaving center. Contrast this with the frantic pace of Cox’s Bazar, the area’s fishing port set upon one of the longest unbroken beaches on the planet.
Day 10 - Day 12 Cox's Bazar / St. Marin's Island
Close to Cox’s Bazar, Himchari National Park is home to a variety of birds and wildlife. With luck, you may even spy a few of the park’s resident wild elephants. Time permitting, visit coconut palm-fringed St. Martin’s Island for afternoon beach walks and a refreshing swim.
Day 11 - Day 13 Thandwe, Myanmar
An ancient seaport in westernmost Myanmar, Thandwe boasts a series of 8th-century stupas that hold sacred relics of the Buddha. Every type of ware is on display at the town’s market, held in the former colonial prison. The main attraction, though, is the soft white sand of four-mile-long Nagapali Beach, Myanmar’s main resort destination and the perfect perch for swimming, snorkeling, and beachcombing.
Day 12 - Day 14 At Sea
Enjoy a day at sea to attend lectures, relax, and prepare for the final days of your adventure.
Day 13 - Day 15 Yangon
Formerly known as Rangoon, Myanmar’s largest city is a mélange of wide boulevards and twisting alleyways, colonial architecture, and modern high-rises. Gold-leafed Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s most important Buddhist site, enshrines eight hairs from the Buddha’s head beneath its 325-foot-high, diamond-encrusted spire. Not to be outshined, the smaller Sule Pagoda is equally gilded while Chauk-htat-gyi Temple showcases a 213-foot-long reclining Buddha.
Day 14 - Day 16 Yangon / Disembark
Disembark and transfer to the airport for your independent flight back home.
Day 15 - Please Note:
Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing enhancements to this itinerary.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 1 Special Single Rate (Limited)
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 1
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 2
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 3 Special Single Rate (Limited)
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 3
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 4
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 5
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Category 6
21-01-201905-02-2019USD $0Suite

Inclusions

    • Join a brand-new expedition that offers the perfect mix of the region’s cultural and natural treasures.
    • Spend two full days exploring the UNESCO World Biosphere-designated Sundarbans Reserve Forest, home to spotted deer, Ganges river dolphins, and white-bellied sea eagles.
    • Make a pilgrimage to the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, where sacred relics of the Buddha lie enshrined beneath its golden spires.
    • Explore Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, the nesting site for thousands of olive ridley sea turtles.
    • Search for over 285 species of birds in Himchari National Park, and keep an eye out for resident wild elephants.

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