Start your day with a visit to the local market in Katha, where you will see the locals buying and selling fish, meat, produce, and more. Next, stop at the former British Club, featured in George Orwell’s novel Burmese Days. Here learn a bit more about how life was here during British rule. Lastly, journey a short distance to a local Jingpo village. A subset of the Kachin, the Jingpo are one of over 100 ethnic minority groups in Myanmar. Here you will learn about their culture, traditional dress, and their unique method of making rice wine. After lunch at a local restaurant drive by local truck to Natpaunk elephant camp (approx. one hour). You will learn how elephants work within one of the actual elephant camps. It is impressive to see their strength and skill as they pull the thick teak logs through the forest. Return to Katha, dinner and overnight stay on board.

This morning, visit the village of Tagaung with its many Buddhist monasteries. Here you will interact with the monks at a local monastery. Each morning they don their distinctive saffron-colored robes and walk through the streets to collect alms, offerings of food, like cooked rice and curry. This is a truly memorable experience as you present alms to the monks and witness their lunch ritual. Sail the rest of the day and overnight near Kyauk Maung.