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BAY OF BENGAL CHENNAI TO YANGON January 20 – February 5, 2019 | 17 Days | Aboard the Silver Discoverer MAP NOT TO SCALE Expedition Highlights BANGLADESH • Join a brand-new expedition that offers the perfect mix of the region’s cultural SUNDARBANS MYANMAR INDIA RESERVE FOREST and natural treasures. Maheskali Island Paradeep • Spend two full days exploring the MANGALAJODI NATURE RESERVE UNESCO World Biosphere-designated Sundarbans Reserve Forest, home to Thandwe spotted deer, Ganges river dolphins, and white-bellied sea eagles. Visakhapatnam Yangon BAY OF Mawlamyine • Make a pilgrimage to the gilded BENGAL Shwedagon Pagoda, where sacred relics of the Buddha lie enshrined beneath its golden spires. Chennai • Enjoy a rare look into rural Bangladeshi life on Maheskhali Island. CHENNAI • Visit Mangalajodi Nature Reserve, a vast wetland haven for over 150 species of migratory bird species. • Itinerary .................................... page 2 > • Flight Information ...................... page 3 > • Ship, Deck Plan & Rates ............ page 4 > • Featured Leaders ....................... page 5 > • Know Before You Go ................. page 5 > SPOTTED DEER • Optional Post-voyage Extension . page 7 > PAINTED STORK Friday, January 25 Itinerary GOPALPUR / MANGALAJODI NATURE RESERVE Gopalpur is the gateway to Mangalajodi Nature Reserve, a rich wetland tucked along the northeastern fringe of Chilika Based on the expeditionary nature of our trips, there may be ongoing enhancements to this itinerary. Lake, the largest brackish water lake in Asia. From October to March, this region is home to around 150 species of migratory birds, as well as 40 resident species. Join naturalist Sunday, January 20, 2019 to search for a variety of gotwits, ducks, storks, egrets, herons, DEPART USA sandpipers, plovers, and raptors. Or, choose to visit a nearby Board your independent flight to India. beach where olive ridely sea turtles congregate to breed. Monday, January 21 Saturday, January 26 CHENNAI, INDIA PARADEEP Arrive late evening and transfer to our hotel for overnight. Disembark in Paradeep and head overland for the ancient sites of Ratnagiri and Lalitgiri, part of The Buddhist Triangle of Odisha. These large religious complexes were in use from Tuesday, January 22 the 3rd to 13th centuries AD, and today you may wander the CHENNAI / EMBARK SILVER DISCOVERER extensive ruins of monasteries and shrines, interspersed with Enjoy a morning at leisure before a welcome brunch at the hotel. stupas, statures, and stone tablets. Afterward, explore this vibrant city that has been dubbed the “cultural capital of India.” Visit the 17th-century Fort St. George and the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. This afternoon, embark the newly refurbished Silver Discoverer. Wednesday, January 23 AT SEA Attend informative lectures on the natural history and culture of the region, or relax by the pool while cruising the world’s largest bay. Thursday, January 24 VISAKHAPATNAM With a history stretching back to the 6th century AD, Visakhapatnam (or Vizag) boasts the only natural harbor on the east coast of India, along with splendid beaches. Visit the fascinating Visakha Heritage Museum where artifacts from the region are on display, then get a glimpse into life aboard a Soviet built I-641 class submarine that is now an impressive museum. Your final stop of the day is the splendid Kali Temple, set on a RATNAGIRI beautiful stretch of Ramakrishna Beach. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | BAY OF BENGAL: CHENNAI TO YANGON < 2 > WHITE-BELLIED Saturday, February 2 SEA EAGLE AT SEA Enjoy a day at sea to attend lectures, relax, and prepare for the final days of your adventure. Sunday, February 3 MAWLAMYINE Myanmar’s fourth largest city was once known as Moulmein, the administrative capital of British Lower Burma. Visit the lovely Kyaik Than Lan pagoda, built in 875 AD, its hillside setting offers spectacular views over the city. Monday, February 4 Sunday, January 27 YANGON AT SEA Formerly known as Rangoon, Myanmar’s largest city is a Our lecture series continues as the ship sails for Bangladesh. mélange of wide boulevards and twisting alleyways, colonial architecture, and modern high-rises. Gold-leafed Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s most important Buddhist site, enshrines Monday - Wednesday, January 28 - 30 eight hairs from the Buddha’s head beneath its 325-foot-high, SUNDARBANS RESERVE FOREST, BANGLADESH diamond-encrusted spire. Not to be outshined, the smaller Sundarbans is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the Sule Pagoda is equally gilded while Chauk-htat-gyi Temple world. Not only notable for magnificent scenic beauty, this area showcases a 213-foot-long reclining Buddha. is also renowned for its high biodiversity of flora and fauna. Board Zodiacs to explore the reserve’s mosaic of islands and labyrinthine water channels. Excursions may reveal Ganges and Tuesday, February 5 Irrawaddy dolphins, monkeys, estuarine crocodiles, and water YANGON / DISEMBARK / USA monitors. A wide variety of birds can be found here, including Disembark and transfer to the airport for your independent brahminy kites, white-bellied sea eagles, lesser adjutant storks, flight home, arriving in the USA the same day. Indian pond herons, and collared, black-capped, and stork- billed kingfishers. Get a different perspective from one of the park’s watch towers, take a walk along the extensive boardwalk, visit a crocodile hatchery, and observe fisherfolk using trained Flight Information otters to chase fish into their nets. You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/Chennai and Yangon/home city. Please contact our in-house Air Department for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related questions. Thursday, January 31 MAHESKHALI ISLAND Enjoy a rare look into rural Bangladeshi life on Maheskhali Island. Rickshaws and motorized tuk tuks putter through tiny YANGON Thakur Tala village; Adinath Temple, set atop its highest hill, houses saffron-robed monks and holy ponds, while a small Rakhain community produces traditional textiles at the weaving center. Friday, February 1 THANDWE, MYANMAR An ancient seaport in westernmost Myanmar, Thandwe boasts a series of 8th-century stupas that hold sacred relics of the Buddha. Every type of ware is on display at the town’s market, held in the former colonial prison. The main attraction, though, is the soft white sand of four-mile-long Nagapali Beach, Myanmar’s main resort destination and the perfect perch for swimming, snorkeling, and beachcombing. ZEGRAHM EXPEDITIONS | BAY OF BENGAL: CHENNAI TO YANGON < 3 > The Silver Discoverer Deck Plan The Silver Discoverer is an elegant 120-guest DECK 7 DECK 7 vessel, ideally suited for expedition cruising. Her fleet DECK 7 of Zodiacs allows us to explore anywhere nature or Gym E ElevatorE Gym E Sun Deck Gym E Salon & Elevator curiosity dictates. All staterooms have an ocean view, Elevator Sun Deck Massge Elevator Sun Deck Salon & MassgeSalon & spacious wardrobes, individually controlled heat/ Massge air conditioner, personal safe, flat-screen television, DECK 6 DECK 6 sitting area, and en suite bathroom. Facilities on DECK 6 650 652 608606604602 610 Elevator board include a single-seating dining room, two 650 652 608606604602 610 Bridge 650 652 608606604602 610 Elevator 653651 Elevator Bridge lounges, small library, and outdoor pool. Elevator 603601 605 607 Bridge 653651 653651 603601 605 607 653651 603601 605 607 Visit www.zegrahm.com/silver-discoverer for DECK 5 more information about this ship. DECK 5 DECK 5 Promenade PromenadeDiscoverer Lounge 506504502 508 510 512 514 516 Promenade 506504502 508 510 512 514 516 Discoverer Lounge Elevator 506504502 508 510 512 514 516 Pool Discoverer Lounge 506504502 508 510 512 514 516 Elevator E Pool Elevator Elevator E Pool The Grill 505503501 507 509 511 513 515E E Promenade 505503501 507 509 511 513 515 The Grill 505503501 507 509 511 513 515 The Grill 505503501 507 509 511 513 515 Promenade Promenade DECK 4 DECK 4 DECK 4 402 404 406 408 410 412 414 416 418 420 422 424 426 Zodiacs Elevator 402 404 406 408 410 412 414 416 418 420 422 424 426 Explorer Lounge Zodiacs 402 404 406 408 410 412 414 416 418 420 422 424 426 Zodiacs Zodiacs Elevator Zodiacs Explorer Lounge Elevator Explorer Lounge ElevatorReception Explorer Lounge 409407405403401 411 413 415 421 423 425 Reception Reception 409407405403401 411 413 415 421 423 425 Reception 409407405403401 411 413 415 421 423 425 DECK 3 DECK 3 DECK 3 302 304 306 308 Restaurant E 302 304 306 308 Restaurant ElevatorE 302 304 306 308 E 302 304 306 308 Restaurant E Elevator Elevator 301 303 305 307 311 Doctor 301 303 305 307 311 301 303 305 307 311 Doctor Doctor CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 4 CATEGORY 1 CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 4 CATEGORY 15 CATEGORYCATEGORY 26 CATEGORY 73 CATEGORY 4 CATEGORY 5 CATEGORY 6 CATEGORY 7 Rates CATEGORY 5 CATEGORY 6 CATEGORY 7 CATEGORY 1 $14,980 CATEGORY 4 $21,280 SUITE $37,180 CATEGORY 2 $16,580 CATEGORY 5 $25,680 CAT 1 / SOLO $14,980 CATEGORY 3 $18,380 CATEGORY 6 $30,980 CAT 3 / SOLO $18,380 Solo Travelers: No solo supplement in select categories (limited availability)! INCLUDED: NOT INCLUDED: • Daily activity options including nature walks, Zodiac cruises, • Airfare from your home city/Chennai and Yangon/home city snorkeling, and cultural tours • Excess baggage charges • All accommodations • Airport arrival and departure taxes • World-class lecture and expedition team • Transfers for independent arrivals and departures • All onboard meals and group meals ashore, including soft drinks, beer, and wine with lunch and dinner • Passport and/or visa fees • Travel insurance • All entrance fees, taxes, and landing and port charges • Arrival and departure transfers on group dates • Items of a personal nature such as laundry, alcoholic beverages (other than listed at left), and other incidentals • Gift certificates for recommended expedition gear and reading materials • Email/Internet/fax/telephone charges • Medical expense coverage and emergency evacuation insurance A 25% per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition.