|
DEPARTURE
DATES IN 2009 / 2010: 08th Aug
2009
PRE
& POST CRUISE TOURS (click
here)
DETAILED
PROGRAMME
Once a year only, renewing with old times, Pandaw
Cruises offer a rare and legendary long cruise linking
the colonial Yangon to the royal capital of Mandalay.
This 14-night unique journey totalizes 613 miles Km.
Four nights are spent in the rarely explored Delta of
Irrawaddy River, a fascinating area of wetlands covering
over 1,000 square miles. There maze of creeks and
channels shelter population where children learn to
paddle a boat before they can walk.
The river cruise continues through a varying
landscape - from the lush teak plantations around Prome
to the desert country south of Pagan, where we visit a
number of remote traditional villages offering a glimpse
of a timeless Myanmar. We make a 2-day visit to Pagan to
explore some of the 3,000 listed monuments, then pursue
our journey to our last but not least destination,
Mandalay.
Day 1 - Yangon
International arrivals in Rangoon.
Transfer to ship moored in the heart of colonial
'Downtown' Yangon. Afternoon sight seeing and visit to
the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.
Day 2 - Irrawaddy Delta
Sail with the first tide up the
Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects
the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on
route at the Twante village to visit the potteries
there, famed for their enormous water pots. Arrive
Yandoon for evening walk in this delightful Delta town.
Day 3 - Danupyu
Continue our exploration of Delta
creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town
with a busy port and bustling markets. In the First
Anglo Burmese War of 1825 the Burmese general
Maha-Bandoola was defeated here following a long and
near disastrous campaign by the British. Moor overnight
off Henzada.
Day 4 - Manaugn and Tonbo
Sailing all day we stop to visit the
markets and see old colonial buildings in the sleepy
Delta town of Manaung and now enter the Irrawaddy River
itself. We continue to moor for the night at Tonbo.
Day 5 - Prome
Stop at the famous A Kauk Taung to
explore the spectacular stone carving on the cliff. We
reach Prome by early afternoon and travel by coach to
the 5th-8th century archaeological site of
Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization
with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts
and sculpture.
Day 6 - Thayetmyo Frontier Post
This pleasant colonial town once
guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British
Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanma War of 1855. Many
of the buildings including the covered market date from
this period. Thayet also boasts the oldest golf course
in Myanmar (1885). We visit the market, see the colonial
houses and ride out by horse cart to the golf course,
passing trough the former British botanical garden.
Day 7 - Minhla Forts
Minhla and Gwechaung - We visit the
two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British
at bay from Royal Myanmar. We climb the Gwechaung hill
for the view. These were captured by the British in the
3rd Anglo Myanma War. The fight for the Minhla redoubt
was the only serious action in the war and the death of
a young subaltern inspired Kipling to write a poem.
Day 8 - Magwe Gold Bricks
We ride Trishaws to reach the
magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid
gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and
hermitages within the temple precincts.
Day 9 - Sale
Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung
monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also
explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses. Moor
at the Tan-chi-taung mountain and ascend by WWII jeep
for the spectacular sunset over Pagan.
Day 10 - Pagan
We tour a selection of the 3,000
listed monuments.
Day 11 - Pagan - Theingone
Monastery
Further explorations of Pagan. We
cast off at lunchtime and proceed to the Theingone
village to make a tour of construction of both the new
school and the monastery.
Day 12 - Yandabo
This small rural village specialises
in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new
dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw
passengers.
Day 13 - Ava and Amarapura Old
Capitals
We explore these ancient capitals
visiting the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung. We
cross the famous U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a
temple and come back in sampan.
Day 14 - Sagaing Hills and
Mandalay
The true delight of Sagaing lies in
its 1.000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in
woodcarving and religious art. In the afternoon we tour
central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin
teak carved monastery. We see tapestry making and other
traditional crafts.
Day 15 - Mandalay to Rangoon
Disembark Pandaw II and fly to
Yangon. Transfer to the Dusit Inya Lake Hotel. Afternoon
trip to Scots Market.
Day 16 - Rangoon
Transfers for international
departures. | 
