|
DEPARTURE
DATES IN 2009 / 2010: 04th Sep
2009
PRE
& POST CRUISE TOURS (click
here)
DETAILED
PROGRAMME
In 2005 we were pleased to reintroduce, under demand
from many old passengers, our Chindwin Expedition, not
attempted since 2000. The expedition, commencing at
Kalewa with a special air charter, was the first time
foreign travellers have been able to cruise the Upper
Chindwin since the 1930s. We repeated this cruises
formula again in 2006 with similar success, unique in
Southeast Asia.
The scenery was spectacular and we were welcomed with
astonishment by the many remote communities through
which we passed. Achieving our goal of Homalin over 600
miles from the Chindwin’s confluence with the
Irrawaddy we returned downstream all the way to the
ancient city of Pagan just below the confluence. Then we
continued a further 700 miles up the Irrawaddy past
Mandalay to Bhamo, the most northerly navigable point on
the Irrawaddy and gateway to China. From Bhamo a second
air charter took us back to Rangoon.
Twenty nights on a river cruise may seem a long time
but the majority of our passengers were old clients and
happy to spend so long in the convivial atmosphere of a
Pandaw. No two days were the same with varied scenery
and diverse cultural sites. In view of the success of
this expedition we will repeat it again as a special
offer to old passengers with a considerably reduced
price.
Note this expedition takes place during the Southeast
Asia monsoon season which is the only time we have
sufficient water levels to attempt these remote rivers.
It may rain but not continuously. River banks may be
muddy and slippery. This is a real expedition and the
itinerary subject to sudden changes due to water levels
or other local conditions.
Cruise price includes 22 nights accommodation in
Burma, all main meals, tea, coffee and water, free flow
bar for local spirits, beers and soft drinks, transfers,
domestic flights, guides, entrance fees, port dues.
Cruise price excludes imported wines and spirits,
laundry, gratuity to crew.
Day
1: Rangoon
Arrive Yangon International Airport and stay
overnight at the Chatrium (or equivalent 4 star); sunset
visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda.
Day
2: Rangoon to Kalemyo
Flight to Kalemyo the gateway town for the Chin
State. We explore Kalewa with its markets and quaint
wooden architecture.
Day
3: Kalewa to Kindat
Stop for morning walk at Balet, a charming and
typical river community.
Day
4: Kindat to Paungbyin
Kindat was as far as the old IFC steamers ventured
outside of the Monsoon season. This part of the Chindwin
valley is very sparsely populated and villages are few
and far between.
Day
5: Paungbyin to Sitthaung
We pass the mouth of the Yu River which drains the
Kubu valley. Sitthaung was the final resting place of a
number of IFC steamers scuppered there in 1942.
Day
6: Sithaung to Toungdoot
Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan
enclave which in British times still had a ruling prince
or sawbwa complete with palace and court.
Day
7: Toungdoot to Homalin
We pass the Uyu River worked by gold washers on the
way to Homalin, the furthest navigable point on the
Chindwin for vessels of our size.
Day
8: Homalin to Mawlaik
Mawlaik replaced Kindat as the administrative
capital. Like other towns of the Upper Chindwin, they
can only be reached by boat so cars are few.
Day
9: Mawlaik to Mingkin
Mingkin with its Konbaung court style teak
monasteries are sumptuously decorated. Mingkin may be
described as the Luang Prabang of the Chindwin.
Day
10: Mingkin to Monywa
Entering the Lower Chindwin where the river widens
and the forested hills fall away to farmland we pass a
number of attractive villages. We will explore Monywa
and time permitting make a quick trip to the Thanbodi
Temple with its million Buddha images.
Day
11: Monywa to Pagan
Cruise all day through the great Lower Chindwin
plain.
Day
12: Pagan
Tour a selection of the most significant of the
3,000 Buddhist monuments found at this World Heritage
Site. We will visit lacquerware manufacturers. Sail in
the afternoon and moor overnight at Thein Gone village
to visit the new school and the monastery.
Day
13: Yandabo Village
We head upstream to the Chindwin confluence and stop
in the evening at Yandabo. Here we visit the Pandaw
School built with donations from past Pandaw passengers.
Day
14: Ava and Amarapura
In the morning we travel to Ava and explore the
ruins, visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a 200 year old royal
monastery made of teak with elaborate wood carvings. In
the afternoon travel to Mandalay for an orientation tour
of the city area visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and sunset
at Amarapura U-Bein Bridge.
Day
15: Mingun Pagoda and Bell
We cast off early and stop at Mingun to see the
largest working bell in the world and the unfinished
pagoda that is the largest single mass of brick building
in the world. We also visit the Mingun Old People’s
Home originally established with the assistance of the
Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.
Day
16: Kyaung-myoung Potteries
Visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung We
enter the Third Defile and sail upstream all day
stopping at Khan-nyat village with its many Buddhist
monasteries and an orphanage we support.
Day
17: Tagaung Ancient City
Explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing
the fortifications. In the evening we climb the Pagoda
Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the
Irrawaddy.
Day
18: Burmese Days
We reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha,
setting for George Orwell’s Myanma Days. Katha was the
final resting place of the old flotilla and here over a
hundred ships were scuppered in 1942.
Day
19: Shwegu
We continue upstream to Shwegu, another centre of
pot making, and Kyun-daw a midstream island of
monasteries and countless small pagodas.
Day
20: Bhamo
Cruise through the 2nd Defile, the most dramatic of
the three gorges with cliffs towering over the narrow
channel. Reach Bhamo in the afternoon, an important
trading town close to the Chinese border.
Day
21: 1st Defile
Chartering a smaller ‘country boat’ we will
proceed upstream from Bhamo and attempt to reach the
dramatic 1st Defile. In the evening explore Bhamo’s
bustling markets.
Day
22: Bhamo to Rangoon
Disembark at Bhamo, transfer to airport by local
bus, and fly to Rangoon and check in to Chatrium Hotel.
Coach trip to visit the famous Scots Market and if of
interest the gem emporia.
Day
23: Rangoon
Optional early morning visit the World War II
cemetery at Htaukchan. International departures. | 
