Stéphanie Bishop of Avalon Waterways’ Canadian office has announced that Avalon’s Golden Myanmar and The Alluring Irrawaddy cruise has been named one of the 21 best cruises in the world, according to National Geographic.

Joining vessels on the list serving such exotic destinations as the Galapagos, the Amazon, the Nile and the Seychelles, the Avalon itinerary was chosen as it is the only ship that sails to the northern border of Myanmar (formerly Burma) all year.

The chance to take part in a sing-along with Burmese schoolkids, visit the home of a fisherman and give alms to monks were all singled out as memorable experiences of the Avalon cruise.

The 14 day itinerary also includes Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Mandalay and visits to temples and pagodas.

Passengers sail in elegant comfort on the custom-built Avalon Myanmar – launched in 2015 – which accommodates just 36 passengers and 28 crew members. Passengers’ 245 square feet staterooms feature window-walls which open to create an “open air balcony”, large bathrooms and closets and individual climate control.

“Our southeast Asian cruises have been so popular we will be adding three new itineraries next year along both the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers,” said Bishop.

You will visit the following 2 places:

Seychelles

Seychelles is an archipelago and country in the Indian Ocean. The 115-island country, whose capital is Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres (932 mi) east of mainland East Africa. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros, Mayotte, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius to the south. The island is known for its beaches, coral reefs, diving, nature reserves and rare wildlife such as giant Aldabra tortoises.

Galapagos Province

Galápagos is a province of Ecuador in the country's Insular region, located approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) off the western coast of the mainland. The capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The province administers the Galápagos Islands, a group of tiny volcanic islands that sit on the equator. The Galápagos Islands have for centuries captured the interest of people from all over the globe because of its unique biodiversity that was made famous by Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution.