20 nights on board Pandaw II or IV and 2 nights in a
Rangoon hotel
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 unique
formula again in 2006 with similar success.
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 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.
Departure/Arrival dates:
September
2008
Itinerary
20 nights on board Pandaw II or
IV and 2 nights in a Rangoon hotel
3 September - Rangoon
Arrive Yangon International
Airport and stay overnight at the Dusit Inya Lake Hotel
(or equivalent 4 star); sunset visit to the Shwedagon
Pagoda.
4 September - Rangoon to Kalemyo
The gateway town for the Chin
State. We explore Kalewa with its markets and quaint
wooden architecture.
5 September - Kalewa to Kindat
Stop for morning walk at Balet, a
charming and typical river community.
6 September - 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.
7 September - 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.
8 September - 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.
9 September - 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.
10 September - 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.
11 September - 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.
12 September - 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.
13 September - Monywa to Pagan
Cruise all day through the great
Lower Chindwin plain.
14 September - 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.
15 September - 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.
16 September - 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.
17 September - 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.
18 September - Kyaung-Myaung
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.
19 September - 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.
20 September - 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.
21 September - Shwegu
We continue upstream to Shwegu,
another centre of pot making, and Kyun-daw a midstream
island of monasteries and countless small pagodas.
22 September - 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.
23 September - 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.
24 September - Bhamo to Rangoon
Disembark at Bhamo, transfer to
airport by local bus, and fly to Rangoon and check in to
Dusit Inya Lake Hotel. Coach trip to visit the famous
Scots Market and if of interest the gem emporia.
25 September - Rangoon
Optional early morning visit the
World War II cemetery at Htaukchan. International
departures.
12 nights - Pagan to Bhamo
- Pandaw IV
This expedition combines scenic
interest with a study of local life and culture. We
visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as
many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such
small towns and villages are part of a rich river
economy and thriving with local industry and activity.
Irrawaddy valley civilisation has changed little in
hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are
warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is
vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay
and then d
ark and narrow through the 3rd
Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a
stunning back drop of mountains.
September to
November
2008
Itinerary
Bagan to Bhamo on Pandaw IV
Day 1: Rangoon
Transfer from the airport check in
to our 4 star hotel. Lunch and rest. We visit the
Shwedagon for the sunset followed by a welcome dinner at
the hotel.
Day 2: Pagan
Fly up and board Pandaw II. 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. Puppet show on deck at
night.
Day 3: Yandabo Village and School
Upstream to the Chindwin
confluence and stop in the evening at Yandabo, a
picturesque village with small family run potteries.
Here we visit the Pandaw School built with donations
from past Pandaw passengers.
Day 4: Ava and Amarapura Old
Capitals
In the morning we travel to Ava
and explore the ruins, visiting the superb Bagaya Kyaung,
a 200 year old royal monastery made of teak with
elaborate wood carvings. In the afternoon we travel to
Mandalay for an orientation tour of the Mandalay city
area visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and sunset at
Amarapura U-Bein Bridge. The Mandalay classical ballet
troupe will perform, on deck scenes from court dramas.
Day 5: Mingun Pagoda and Bell
We cast off early in the morning
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 6: Kyaunk-Myaung Potteries
Visit the spectacular potteries
near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots
are hand made. We see all stages of manufacture from the
throwing of the pots to the week long firing in huge
kilns. 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. If free, the
village orchestra and dancers will perform for us on the
sun deck after dinner.
Day 7: Tagaung Ancient City
We explore by foot the ancient
city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications, a famous nat
or spirit shrine and the archaeological area. In the
evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its
stunning views of the Irrawaddy.
Day 8: Katha - Myanma Days
We reach the enchanting colonial
town of Katha, setting for George Orwell's Myanma Days,
and little changed since then. Of interested are the
fire station's collection of IFC ship's bells taken from
sunken ships in the Second War. Katha was the final
resting place of the old flotilla and here over a
hundred ships were scuppered in 1942 in an Act of Denial
before the advancing Japanese. If permitted we visit an
elephant logging camp in the hardwood forests of the
hills that surround the town and if time allows a visit
to the lake at Indaw-lay offers a glimpse of highland
Myanmar with its rich bird life.
Day 9: Shwegu
We continue upstream to Shwe-gu,
another centre of pot making, and Kyun-daw a midstream
island of monasteries and countless small pagodas. Stop
overnight at a tribal village.
Day 10: 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
for an evening walking tour of this important trading
town set close to the Chinese border.
Day 11: Singu
Chartering a smaller 'country
boat' we will proceed upstream from Bhamo and attempt to
reach the village of Singu below the dramatic 1st
Defile. In the evening we will have more time to explore
Bhamo's bustling markets and Chinese temples.
Day 12: Bhamo to Rangoon
Disembark at Bhamo, transfer to
airport by local bus, and fly to Rangoon and check in to
our hotel. Coach trip to visit the famous Scots Market
and if of interest the gem emporia.
Day 13: Rangoon
Optional early morning visit the
World War II cemetery at Htaukchan. International
departures.
