RV Mahaythi plies the waters of the Yangon River. Pic: Lwin Maung Maung

LOCAL travel company Myanmar Tourex Travel Service Ltd last week launched evening cruises on the Yangon River and daytrips between Yangon and Twante.

“We have designed these tours to target not only locals but also tourists,” said Ma Swe Swe Mar, sales and marketing manager at the company.

The Yangon-Twante cruise aboard the RV Mahaythi departs daily from Princess Jetty, also known as Warden Jetty, at 8:00am and arrives in Twante around 9:30am. Tours of the town are also included, which take in ancient pottery kilns, Shwesandaw Pagoda and the central market.

The vessel – which can accommodate 36 passengers and includes a bar, karaoke lounge and dining room – departs Twante at 12:30pm and reaches Princess Jetty at 3:00pm.

“Lunch will be provided onboard with food provided by Padonmar Restaurant,” Ma Swe Swe Mar said. “We will run our service if we have at least two passengers.”

The cost of the tour is K10,000 for locals and US$30 for foreigners.
The company is also offering evening cruises on the Yangon River – departing from the jetty at 4:30pm and returning at 6:30pm – at a price of K5000 for locals and $10 for foreigners.

Ma Swe Swe Mar said the prices are valid until the end of the year, at which time they will likely go up.

“We will provide year-round service on these routes, and we will probably add service to the town of Ma-U-Pin in the delta region in the future,” she said.

Ko Soe Thura Tun, managing director of the company, said they are also considering providing service to Meinmahla Wildlife Sanctuary, a crocodile reserve in Bogale township, using smaller boats but he added that the plan is still under consideration.

Meanwhile, Malikha Travels and Tours Company launched service last month between Mandalay and Bagan three times a week – Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Service from Bagan to Mandalay is offered Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
“We use an express boat of the type normally used around the Myeik Archipelago so we can cover the distance in a shorter time,” said company director Ma Mu Mu. “So passengers who don’t want to spend too much time on the boat will be attracted to our service.”

The vessel, named Malikha, can accommodate 129 passengers. It leaves Mandalay’s Gawwein Jetty at 7:00am and arrives at Bagan Jetty at 1:00pm. Trips to Mandalay also depart from Bagan Jetty at 7:00am.

The fare is K15,000 for local passengers and $26 for foreigners, Ma Mu Mu said, adding that the company will offer year-round service next year due to requests from travel companies.

Malikha Travels and Tours has been offering passenger cruise service between Sittwe and Mrauk Oo in Rakhine State for six years.