GRAND VOYAGE OF THE CHINDWIN RIVER

Itinerary

DAY 1
Bagan – Pakkoku

Board RV Pandaw 1947 at 09.00 hrs. We cast off at 09.30 hrs and sail upstream to the Irrawaddy and Chindwin confluence. If time permits we stop in Thein Gone, a typical river village where we visit the school and the monastery. Continue cruising north to the bustling town of Pakkoku where we visit the monastery, cheroots and weaving workshops. We pass the Chindwin and Irrawaddy river confluence and we stop for the night.

DAY 2
Pakkoku - Pakhan-Gyi - Ahmyint Village – Monywa

Visit the little town of Pakhan-gyi. This post-Pagan period provincial capital was walled with a moat and originally had a governor¹s palace. We see the old walls; visit the museum and a spectacular 19th century wood carved monastery. Continue cruising to Ahmyint village and visit the local market, see beautiful houses and the lovely the 17th century style Min Kyaw Swa stupas with 18th century style paintings. Arrive Monywa, the Chindwin River largest port, in the early evening.

DAY 3
Monywa (Hpowindaung And Shwebadaung Caves)

Visit Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung caves where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings. If the weather and time permits we will also visit Twin Daung Lake better known as lake of “Spirulina”, the famous green-blue algae rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. The origin of the lake is unknown, some geologist claim to be an extinct volcano crater, others a crater formed by a meteorite.
Alternatively we drive to Kyaukka village to visit a “plain” lacquer ware type workshop. Known as “Kyauk Kar” this kind of lacquerware has only two colors, black and red made by natural pigments. Late lunch and cast off.

DAY 4
Monywa – Kani - Kin

Late morning explore the village of Kanee and climb the pagoda hillock for its view. Continue sailing upstream until late at night to reach the village of Kani.

DAY 5
Kin – Mingin

Early morning we explore Kin village with its beautiful wooden houses and the woodcarvings monastery. Continue sailing upstream to the small enchanting town of Mingin. Explore its temples and 1900’s wooden houses and the Min Kyaung Monastery with old Buddha Images.

DAY 6
Mingin - Kyidaw  – Kalewa

At Kyidaw (Kyi Taung Oo) we visit Shwe Za War Yaw monastery one of the oldest and best preserved wood carved monastery of Myanmar, embellished with wooden sculpted idols with fascinating gold leaf wall decorations. We walk through a beautiful scenario of paddy fields to the village of Kan where we visit another splendid example of Myanmar old monastery.
Afterwards we return to the ship by local boat.
Proceed upstream up to Kyaw Zin, a village very close to Kalewa, where we stop for the night.

DAY 7
Kalewa – Mawlaik

In the morning we explore Kalewa, the main river port for the trading with India, the lively market and climb up to Shwe Moat Htaw stupa for the beautiful view.
Back to the ship before lunch and keep on cruising upstream to Mawlaik.

DAY 8
Mawlaik – Sailing Back Downstream

Mawlaik (situated 35 km from the Indian Border) was the administrative capital of this area rich of Teak forests. It is a pleasant colonial town with its golf course surrounded by splendid colonial houses built by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation in the 1920’s and 1930’s (there is still a small community of Indians that used to work for the Scottish company and their descendents).
The governor’s house, the administrative building, the school, the hospital, the “Dak Bungalows”, company headquarter are well preserved, still in use nowadays and nicely maintained.
Being this our turnaround point, we begin sailing back downstream to Monywa.

DAY 9
Sailing Downstream

Continue sailing all day downstream. Stop at Kyauk Hlay Gar village, famous for its Petrified Wood, where we visit the school and the typical houses.

DAY 10
Monywa - Mandalay

Arrive at Monywa in the morning. Transfer by coach to Mandalay with stop enroute to visit he splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda where more than 500,000 Buddha statues are placed and the Aung Sakyar Stupa with the longest reclining Buddha of Myanmar (333 ft/100 m). Lunch at a restaurant in Sagaing. Continue to your Mandalay Hotel or Airport.

PRE & POST CRUISE LAND ARRANGEMENTS
STOPOVER IN MANDALAY AND YANGON, DOMESTIC FLIGHTS, PRE & POST CRUISE TOURS AND ANY SORT OF TOUR SERVICES CAN BE BOOKED DIRECTLY TO YOUR USUAL GROUND HANDLING AGENT IN MYANMAR OR CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SUGGESTED PROGRAMMES.

Retail Rates

Per person in US$

Price Includes:  Full Board, All sightseeing /excursions as per programme, English speaking guide/escort, Entrance Fees

Price excludes: drinks, laundry, gratuity, international and domestic flights, all items of a personal nature; health-accident-baggage or travel protection plan, fuel surcharges if applicable.

IMPORTANT NOTE: For All departures should the occupancy be less than 12 PASSENGERS the Company reserves the right to cancel the cruise up to 60 days prior the departure date. A written confirmation notice will be released to all booked clients and/or their agents within and not later than 60 days prior the departure date. In case of cancellation an alternative cruise will be offered and if not acceptable all down payments will be refunded.

Sailing Dates

Sailing Dates (2011)

PRE/POST CRUISE LAND TOURS