Celebrating 100% Safety First
Since commencing operations in 2016, Irrawaddy Voyages boasts a 100% safety record. Our standard operating procedures include mandatory safety drills during each cruise. The Ship’s officers & crews are trained in all international marine safety drills and receive annual First-Aid updates with the Myanmar Red Cross.
Embracing Travelife Sustainable Tourism
Early in 2018 we joined the international sustainable tourism organization Travelife www.travelife.org As travel, tourism and hospitality continues to grow in Myanmar, so does the social awareness towards environmental issues. We have initiated a comprehensive recycling program both onboard our vessels and within our regional offices and the remote villages we visit during shore excursions.
We have also actioned a ‘From The Roots Up Campaign’ whereby guests, crews and village students plant a sapling tree each cruise. These are seeded at our Mandalay base at Gawein Jetty. We are aiming to receive full accreditation from Travelife in early 2019 once our range of activities have been demonstrated.
Irrawaddy Voyages - Invited to attend PURE Special Event..!
For the first time, we have been invited to attend the highly prestigious international travel trade show PURE. www.pureevents.net Held in Morocco each year, the most discerning travel buyers and recognized luxury market sellers, meet to network and forge business partnerships.
PURE’s selection criteria reflects the growing travel trend towards Experiential Travel. It is no longer a pre-requisite to simply deliver a genuine 4 or 5 star service, ‘high-end’ operations must deliver unique, innovative and creative Guest Experiences. Irrawaddy Voyages has created a range of unique cruise experiences that unfold both onboard and onshore each day.
International 5 Star Hotels Open in Yangon (Rangoon)
These new hotel properties are set to increase the number of 5 star hotel rooms in Yangon city by 560 during 2018-19.
| EXCELSIOR | http://yangon-excelsior.com/en/ | |
| THE PULLMAN | http://www.pullmanhotels.com | |
| ROSEWOOD | https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/yangon |
The Burma Bistro opens in style..!
A touch of European style and sophistication arrives in downtown Yangon as The Burma Bistro opens its doors. https://www.facebook.com/theburmabistro/ Certainly one of the most beautifully designed and well-appointed venues in Yangon, The Burma Bistro is housed within a magnificent old colonial building, only a few minutes’ walk from the Sule Pagoda.
In the tradition of classic bistro or brasserie dining, menus cater for the morning ‘coffee & pastry’ guests to elaborate three course al la carte dining lunch & dinner. The Burma Bistro is fast becoming a favorite hangout for expat residents and the more upwardly mobile Burmese business set.
Myanmar Hotel Prices Now Affordable
Over the past three years, recognized international hotel brands have opened in Myanmar. These include Hilton, Accor & Rosewood & Kempinski.
Previously, during peak inbound seasons, (September to April) there was an over demand for accommodation and insufficient hotel rooms. Consequently prices during peak season were extremely high. For the first time this year, hotel rates have fallen and now in line with competing neighbours in Thailand and Indochina. Irrawaddy Voyages is a licensed inbound tour operator and therefore certi ed to coordinate your hotel accommodations. info@irrawaddyvoyages.com
E-Visas Made Easy
There are a number of E-Visa sites including online agencies. The official site is https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/ Visa-free travel (for 14 days, or longer in some cases) is permitted for Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos passport holders.
E-visas are currently only valid for entry at Myanmar’s three main international airports: Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw and overland travel to Myanmar via the Thai-Myanmar border points of Mae Sai/Tachileik, Mae Sot/Myawaddy and Ranong/Kawthaung.
Tourist visas are valid for 28 days. These can be extended by a further 14 days at a cost of US$3 per day (plus a one-off $3 administration fee).
Do not apply for your visa too late. If you are applying for a stamped visa, embassies and consulates can take anything from one day to more than two weeks to process your application. If you are from a country that does not have a Myanmar embassy or consulate and you are unable to apply for e-visa, it will take longer to process.
You must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after your departure from Myanmar. A single entry tourist visa will typically cost around US$50 (@ August 2018). Depending on which country you are applying from, the application procedures may vary, but it is usually a simple process.
