PANDAW RIVER CRUISES
15 Days | The Irrawaddy River
Northbound Only

RANGOON TO MANDALAY
14 Nights Aboard Ship

Fly 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.

Day 1 | Rangoon (Yangon). Embarkation between 10.30am and 11.00am at Rangoon (Yangon) "BOTAHTAUNG" Jetty. Please note that the ship will leave the pier at 11.00am to Sail up the Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on route at the Twante Town and explore city center.

Day 2 | Maubin. Nyaung Don. In morning we walk visit to Maubin bustling market and city surrounding area. Afternoon our exploration of Delta area NyaungDon city visit to see country life style. Moor over night at Zakagyi.

Day 3 | Danabyu. Zalon. We continue our exploration of Delta creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town with a busy port and bustling markets. In the First Anglo Burmese War of 1825 the Burmese General Maha-Bandoola was defeated here following a long and disastrous campaign by the British. Afternoon walk in Zalon city to visit beautiful Golden Buddha image and return to ship. Moor overnight at Henzada.

Day 4 | Myanaung. Sailing all day and we stop to visit the markets and see old colonial buildings in the sleepy Delta town of Manaung. We enter the Irrawaddy River.

Day 5 | Prome (Payay). Early morning we sail slowly upstream and downstream A Kaut Taung area, to view Buddha carvings on the mountainside, from the upper deck or Sundeck. We reach Prome by the afternoon and travel by coach to the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, the former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculptures.

Day 6 | Thayetmyo. This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar 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). We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse cart to the golf course, passing through the former British botanical garden.

Day 7 | Minhla. Magwe. Minhla - We visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. 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.We ride Trishaws to reach the magnificent Magwe Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.

Day 8 | Sale. Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses and continue sailing upstream.

Day 9 | 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.

Day 10 | Pagan. Further exploration by coach of the monuments follow by a lacquerware workshop and visit to the local markets. Sail in the noon to upstream. Evening walk at Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in this typical river side community.

Day 11 | Yandabo. This small rural village is specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

Day 12 | Mandalay. 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 paintings in a temple.

Day 13 | Saigaing. Mingun. Visit Sagaing, the true delight of Sagaing lies in its 1.000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. In the afternoon we stop at Mingun to see the largest working bell in the world and the unfinished pagoda which 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.

Day 14 | Kyauk-Myoung. Sail upstream and visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are handmade. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week-long firing in huge kilns. Afternoon sailing to Mandalay.

Day 15 | Mandalay. Disembark at Mandalay Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty in mid morning. (Disembark the ship between 8.00 am - 9.00 am at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, Mandalay.)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

NORTHBOUND (UPSTREAM) ITINERARY 15 DAYS | RANGOON TO MANDALAY Click ship name to view deck plan.