THE CHINDWIN (UPSTREAM) The loveliest of rivers. In the past we only offered this during the monsoon due to water levels, but now our ultra low draught Pandaws can sail through to February. The river carves it way through mountains and forests and we stop at delightful unspoilt little towns. Our objective, Homalin is the capital of Nagaland and close to the India border. We will ply the Upper Chindwin weekly between Monywa and Homalin. Monywa is under three hours from Mandalay and the car transfer is included with the cruise. Homalin is now connected by scheduled flight with Rangoon and Mandalay. High Water & Low Water Itineraries: The Monywa to Homalin (and vv) itinerary sails from July to August and October to November (it is the itinerary you can see on our website). We have a revised itinerary from Monywa to Kalewa (and vv) operating December to February. Please contact us for more details. Please note river banks can be steep and walks through villages are on the daily program. Medium fitness is requiered. Late bookings: please note that Chindwin expeditions need Your voyage rates include one way domestic flight JUL-NOV: special permits, which can take up to 3 weeks Yangon/Mandalay-Homalin resp Homalin-Yangon/Mandalay and for DEC-FEB: Yangon/Mandalay-Kalewa resp Kalewa-Yangon/Mandalay. ITINERARY DAY 1 MONYWA 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Afternoon excursion to see Thandboodi Temple, Bawdhi Morning explore Mawlaik replaced Kindat as the administrative Tahaung statue and the night market in the evening. capital but ironically the Myanma refused to move there from IMPORTANT: Please note that water levels drop dramatically as upstream Kindat. It was mainly settled with the company of December and we might not be able to reach Homalin. You houses of the by the Scottish owned and run Bombay will be well rewarded with alternative excursions. We will be Myanmarh Trading Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s. There cruising up to Mawlaik and return to Kalewa where you will be are many splendid ‘Dak Bungalows’ set around a verdant golf flown out to Yangon or Mandalay. PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary course. Mawlaik and the other towns of the Upper Chindwin can for this expedition is indicative only. As we travel to remote only be reached by boat so cars are few. There is a dreamy areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible otherworldly quality to such places and truly one feels that one approach is required if you book this cruise. has travelled there in the Pandaw time machine!. Afternoon we pass the mouth of the Yu River which drains the Kubu valley DAY 2 PHOWIN TAUNG that provided the route for a Lieutenant Grant to march to the In the morning, coach to the Phowin Taung Caves, where we will relief of the Manipur garrison when the chief commissioner of admire beautiful mural paintings and Buddha statues in riches. Assam was massacred in a local rebellion. Beyond Monywa we enter the Upper Chindwin. DAY 6 SITTHAUNG DAY 3 CRUISING Sitthaung was the final resting place of a number of IFC The river narrows and the forested hills fall away to farmland we steamers scuppered there in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the pass a number of attractive villages like Kanee where we can advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. We stretch our legs. hope to find remains of these ships as we have in the past at Katha on the Irrawaddy. It was from here that the survivors of DAY 4 MINGKIN the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the India Mingkin was rediscovered by Paul Strachan in 1987 and border. Pantha was an important oil refinery belonging to the described in some detail in his book Mandalay: Travels from the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). Golden City. It remains for Paul the most art historically interesting site in Myanmar (more so than the now spoilt Pagan) DAY 7 TOUNGDOOT with its Konbaung court style teak monasteries sumptuously Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan enclave decorated. Mingkin may be described as the Luang Prabang of which in British times still had a ruling sawbwa complete with the Chindwin. The gateway town for the Chin State, we explore palace and court. It will be interesting to see what has become Kalewa with its markets and quaint wooden architecture. of the royal family and their home and to see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. On the way to DAY 5 MAWLAIK Homalin, the furthest navigable point on the Chindwin for vessels of our size. Alister McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com ‘I loved the atmosphere of quiet and peaceful living there. At night I could hear greylag geese as they came in to the flooded land around us from far away north’. Bird in 1897 says little other than that Homalin is the headquarters of a township, but has very little trade’. Until we get there and explore the place there is not much we can say! DAY 8 HOMALIN Disembarkation and transfer to Homalin airport. Please Note: Please note that water levels drop dramatically as of December and we might not be able to reach Homalin. You will be well rewarded with alternative excursions. We will be cruising up to Mawlaik and return to Kalewa where you will be flown out to Yangon or Mandalay_ 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com YOUR SHIP: ZAWGYI PANDAW YOUR SHIP: Zawgyi Pandaw VESSEL TYPE: Luxury River Cruising LENGTH: 132.9 ft / 40.58m PASSENGER CAPACITY: 20 passengers BUILT/REFURBISHED: 2014 Complimentary coffee, water, tea, soft drinks, local beer, local In 2015 we added an upper deck with further cabins and a spirits, juices - Extensive wine list with premium wines - flexible bistro area in addition to the observation saloon on the Welcome drink on arrival - Welcome cocktail - Farewell main deck. The Zawgyi wins the prize for the shallowest draft in reception - Theme- and gala dinners the fleet at 2.5ft and therefore we have her deployed on the ON EXCURSIONS treacherous Chindwin River niftily negotiating treacherous Admission fees - Shoe cleaning after excursions - Bottled shoals. drinking water - We give away aluminium water bottles - Cold The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent towel service after excursions - Refreshing drink following exploration. excursions - Private guide and transportation for all excursions - ACCOMMODATION Quality mountain bikes available for independent exploration 6 main deck and 4 upper deck staterooms - 150 square feet SAFETY & SECURITY (14sqm), finished in teak and brass - Premium mattresses - All onboard crew is trained and certified as per international Convertible bed configuration - 24h laundry service marine standards - Fire alarm system in all cabins, public areas WINING & DINING and back areas - Firefighting system in all ship areas - Expert Local master chef heading an experienced international culinary marine superintendant - 24 hrs watch on duty team - Personalized meal service - Daily lean & light menu options - 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP Main Deck Twin Sharing. From Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com PRICING 13-Nov-2021 to 20-Nov-2021 Main Deck Twin Sharing. From £3395 GBP pp Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From £4315 GBP pp 27-Nov-2021 to 04-Dec-2021 Main Deck Twin Sharing. From £3395 GBP pp Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From £4315 GBP pp 25-Dec-2021 to 01-Jan-2022 Main Deck Twin Sharing. From £3395 GBP pp Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From £4315 GBP pp 08-Jan-2022 to 15-Jan-2022 Main Deck Twin Sharing. From £3395 GBP pp Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From £4315 GBP pp 22-Jan-2022 to 29-Jan-2022 Main Deck Twin Sharing. From £3395 GBP pp Upper Deck Twin Sharing. From £4315 GBP pp ADDITIONAL CHARGES: Port Taxes 65 USD pp 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com.