Cruise The Irrawaddy, 14 nights, 600 miles all Burma

Early Bird Discounted 10% through 16-May-2014.

Ply from the delightful city of Prome on the edge of the Delta to Katha and the great 2nd Defile on the Upper Irrawaddy. Daily stops include tours of the historic capitals of Pagan with its 3,000 monuments, and Mandalay with its royal palace and many sites around the city, particularly on the river. We will pass from the lush teak forests around Prome, through the near desert of Middle Burma and then into the mountains of Upper Burma.  Optional stays in Rangoon the capital with transfers and flights are offered as an add on to the cruise.

Rangoon (with 4 star Chatrium Hotel)

11 March 2015: ARRIVAL IN YANGON

Transfer to hotel in Rangoon. Afternoon excursion to Shwedagon Pagoda.

12 March 2015: DEPARTURE

Breakfast

Rates include:
One night at the Chatrium Hotel including breakfast, service and taxes; transfers to / from airport and a guide-led excursion to Shwedagon Pagoda; transfer by coach to ship

Rates exclude:
Lunch and dinner which are at your own arrangement in the hotel or in one of the many nearby restaurants.

Note:
- Please advice arrival flight details in order to arrange the transfer accordingly
- Check in time to hotel at 1400hrs
- Check out time from hotel at 1200hrs
- Early check in and late check out are subject to hotel room availability

CHATRIUM HOTEL YANGON
40 Natmauk Road,
Tamwe Township,
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Tel: (+95-1) 544 500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (+95-1) 544 500 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: (+95-1) 544 400
Website: http://www.chatriumhotelyangon.com

Prome to Mandalay/Katha - 15 days on a Pandaw

If you would like to know more information about the river stops in this itinerary, please click on the underlined destinations.

12 March 2015: Prome and the Ancient Pyu

Meet at the Chatrium Hotel in Yangon and transfer by coach to Prome. Visit the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization. We cross jungle and countryside to visit monumental Pyu stupas and the excavations of the former palace-city in this walled early centre of Buddhism.

13 March 2015: Thayetmyo Frontier Post

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Burmah and British Burmah following the 2nd Anglo Burmese War of 1855 and many of the buildings including the covered market date from this period. We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse and cart to see the countryside and golf links.

14 March 2015: Minhla Forts and Magwe

In Minhla and Gwechaung we visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Burmah. We climb the Gwechaung hill for the view. In the afternoon we cruise on to Magwe where we climb the river bank and wend our way through a labyrinth of passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda.

15 March 2015: Sale Monasteries

Here we visit a number of teak monasteries including the Yout-saun-kyaung with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses.

16 March 2015: Pagan

In the morning, moor at the Tan-Chi-Taung mountain and ascend by WWII jeep. Afternoon, we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at this World Heritage Site, Pagan.

17 March 2015: Pagan Monuments

Further exploration by coach of the monuments follow by a lacquerware workshop and visiting the local markets. Sail in the noon to upstream and evening walk in Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in this typical river side community.

18 March 2015: Yandabo

This very small rural village specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

19 March 2015: Mandalay and Amarapura

Passenger will take a tour of central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. Next we explore the ancient capital of Amarapura by coach and sampan and crossing the U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a temple.

20 March 2015: Mingun Pagoda and Bell

We 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 Peoples Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.

21 March 2015: Kyaung-myoung Potteries and Khan-nyat Village

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.

22 March 2015: Tagaung Ancient City and Tigyang Hill

We explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications, the shrine of Bo Bo Gyi a famous nat or spirit who protects sailors plying the river, and the archaeological area. In the evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy.

23 March 2015: Katha / Burmese Days

We reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha, setting for George Orwell’s Burmese Days, and little changed since then. Of interest is the fire station’s collection of IFC ships bells taken from sunken ships in the Second War.

24 March 2015: The Second Defile

Travel by local speedboat to view this the largest of the Irrawaddy gorges.

25 March 2015: Downstream

We stop for a walk in a jungle village.

26 March 2015: Mandalay

Disembark at 2.00 pm at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, Mandalay.

Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), port dues, main meals, locally made soft and alcoholic beverages, jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes, mineral

Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues (if levied), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, fancy soft drinks like Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos at bar.

River Conditions Warning!

The rivers you will sail on are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level, in some places as much as 30 metres. Water levels can change dramatically overnight and a sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably and even prevent us from passing under certain bridges. A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Groundings on sandbars are not infrequent and are part of the excitement of any Pandaw expedition. Published itineraries are indicational only and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop.  Passengers are thus forewarned and expected to be flexible and patient. River cruising in Asia can be a dramatic and adventurous experience - not like cruising the controlled waterways of Europe or America. Note also that we operate in areas with little or no developed infrastructure and subject to the strictures of local officialdom. Be prepared for this and it is all more the fun!

Registration Details

Registration is at 06.00 am
Chatrium Hotel
40 Natmauk Road
Tamwe Township
Yangon

* Transfer by coach to Prome to board ship takes approx 4.5 hours

Rangoon (with 4 star Chatrium Hotel)

26 March 2015: ARRIVAL IN YANGON

Transfer from the jetty to the airport. Flight to Rangoon. Welcome by our representative and transfer to the hotel followed by excursion to explore the colonial 'Downtown' area if time permits.

27 March 2015: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, excursion to Downtown if there was no time on Day One. Transfer to airport for onward flights.

Rates include:
One night at the Chatrium Hotel including breakfast, service and taxes; transfers to / from airport and a guide-led excursion to Downtown; one domestic flight from Mandalay and transfers from ship.

Rates exclude:
Lunch and dinner which are at your own arrangement in the hotel or in one of the many nearby restaurants.

Note:
- Please advice departure flight details in order to arrange the transfer accordingly
- Check in time to hotel at 1400hrs
- Check out time from hotel at 1200hrs
- Early check in and late check out are subject to hotel room availability

CHATRIUM HOTEL YANGON
40 Natmauk Road,
Tamwe Township,
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Tel: (+95-1) 544 500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (+95-1) 544 500 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: (+95-1) 544 400
Website: http://www.chatriumhotelyangon.com