New Golden Land
This is a very different travel experience. Sailing through the heart of 'Middle Myanmar' we pass through a varying landscape - from the lush teak plantations around Prome to the desert country south of Pagan. We visit a number of small villages and towns and see local agriculture and manufacturing at first hand. These places are remote from the modern world and offer a glimpse of a timeless, lost Myanmar far from the usual tourist track. We also visit a number of old monasteries and temples of art historical interest in this the cultural heartland of old Myanmar.
Pandaw II
Sample Itinerary:
Rangoon (with 5 star STRAND Hotel)
Price to be advised will include three nights at the Strand Hotel.
Further this will include breakfast, service and taxes;
transfers to / from airport and a guide-led excursion to Shwedagon Pagoda;
one domestic flight to Mandalay and transfer to ship.
Price excludes lunch and dinner which are at your own arrangement in the hotel or
in one of the many nearby restaurants. 19 February 2010: Welcome by our representative
and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon excursion to Shwedagon Pagoda area.
20 February 2010: Mandalay
After an early breakfast, transfer to airport for the flight to Mandalay.
Upon arrival, welcome by our representative and transfer to the ship.
Mandalay to Prome - 9 days on a Pandaw
Mandalay, Ava and Amarapura Embark on the Pandaw at your convenience at Mandalay Gawein Jetty.
1000 we depart by coach to tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak
carved monastery and Mandalay Hill for sunset. We stop to see tapestry making and other traditional crafts.
Ship moves to Amarapura where we rejoin the ship for lunch.
In afternoon we explore the ancient capitals of Ava and Amarapura by coach or sampan visiting
the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-Kyaung and crossing the U Bein Bridge.
21 February 2010: Yandabo Potteries and Oh Ne Kyaung Village
Yandabo is a very small rural village that specializes in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School
and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers. In the evening
we cross the river to visit Oh Ne Kyaung, a very different village where we hope to build another
school attached to the local monastery.
22 February 2010: Pagan Monuments
We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments in this important World Heritage Site.
Afternoon further explorations of Pagan and vist lacquer workshops.
23 February 2010: Tan Kyi Taung Mountaun and Salé
Ascend Tan-Chi-Taung mountain by foot or by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunrise over Pagan.
Sail downstream to Sale. In afternoon we here 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.
24 February 2010: Taung Ba Lu School and Magwe Gold Bricks
If river conditions permit, morning visit to Taung Ba Lu School project sponsored by Noble Caledonia
and Pandaw Cruises. Afternoon we climb the river bank and wend our way through a labyrinth of
passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-Thalon Pagoda. This pagoda is constructed
with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many Nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.
25 February 2010: 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. Gwechaung, the more impressive
of the forts was captured from the rear before the Myanma could turn the guns around.
26 February 2010: 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) said by the
locals to be reciprocally clubbed with the Royal & Ancient St Andrews (however when we mentioned
this in an early brochure we received a curt note from the R&A Secretary denying any such association).
Outside the town is an extensive war cemetery where Turkish prisoners of war were laid to rest.
Captured in Iraq, the Turks were transported to labor camps in Myanmar where they died in their
hundreds of malaria. In the town itself we visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by
horse cart to see the countryside and golf links.
27 February 2010: Prome and the Ancient Pyu
Visit 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.
28 February 2010: Prome to Rangoon
Disembark and transfer to Rangoon (included in cost of cruise) for drop at your designated hotel.
Transfer to The Strand Hotel in Rangoon for dinner and overnight.
1 March 2010: Rangoon to Bangkok
Breakfast. Free at leisure. Transfer to airport for onward flight to Bangkok.
Upon arrival our driver will meet you and transfer you to the Hotel.
2 March 2010: Bangkok
After breakfast our driver will meet you and take you to the airport fro omward flight.
see also extensions in our other programs
for Availability schedules and prices
call 1 800 853 6736
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