CHINDWIN & THE UPPER IRRAWADDY

Chindwin, the loveliest of rivers. Our objective, Homalin is the capital of Nagaland and close to the India border. The river carves it way through mountains and forests and we stop at delightful unspoiled little towns.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 MONYWA Lunch on board. Afternoon excursion to see Thandboodi Temple, Bawdhi Tahaung statue and the night market in the evening.

DAY 2 PHOWIN TAUNG & KYAUK KA VILLAGE Morning Excursion by coach to Phowin Taung Hill where we visit the Phowin Taung Caves with beautiful mural paintings and Buddha statues dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries. In

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com the afternoon, we visit the Kyauk Ka Village famous for the boat so cars are few. There is a dreamy otherworldly quality to making of black Lacquer. such places and truly one feels that one has travelled there in the Pandaw time machine!. DAY 3 KANEE The river narrows and the forested hills fall away to farmland. DAY 7 MAWLAIK ELEPHANT CAMP Enjoy a morning culinary demonstration by our head chef on Morning excursion by Tuk Tuk or coach to Bus to view the Teak how to prepare a traditional Burmese Ginger Salad. Arrive in wood Forest outside Mawlaik. Continue to the Pyar Swe Kanee and take an afternoon walking tour of the village. Elephant Camp, a working camp where the elephants are protected in natural surroundings. We then sail to Kalewa where DAY 4 MINGKIN we overnight. Morning cruise up river. After lunch, we explore Mingkin, rediscovered by Paul Strachan in 1987 and described in some DAY 8 KALEWA – MANDALAY detail in his book Mandalay: Travels from the Golden City. It Disembark at Kalewa IWT Jetty and explore Kalewa with its remains for Paul the most art historically interesting site in markets and quaint wooden architecture. Continue to Kalay Myanmar (more so than the now spoilt Pagan) with its Airport for your onward flight Mandalay and transfer to your Konbaung court style teak monasteries sumptuously decorated. second Pandaw vessel. Mingkin may be described as the Luang Prabang of the Chindwin. DAY 9 KYAUK-MYOUNG Morning cruising. Afternoon visit the spectacular potteries near DAY 5 KALEWA Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are Morning walking tour of Minkin followed by cruise to Kalewa handmade. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing located at the confluence of the Chindwin and the Myittha of the pots to the weeklong firing in huge kilns. We then third Rivers, where we enjoy a walking tour. defile of the Irrawaddy.

DAY 6 MAWLAIK DAY 10 KHANYAT Morning visit to Masein Village and then sail to Mawlaik, the Stop at Khan-nyat village with its many Buddhist monasteries town that replaced Kindat as the administrative capital but and visit the former head teacher's house, which also includes ironically the Myanma refused to move there from upstream his small museum collections. Later we go ashore and climb the Kindat. It was mainly settled with the company houses of the by Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy. the Scottish owned and run Bombay Myanmarh Trading Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s. There are many splendid DAY 11 KATHA ‘Dak Bungalows’ set around a verdant golf course. Mawlaik and Arrive at the enchanting colonial town of Katha, setting for the other towns of the Upper Chindwin can only be reached by George Orwell’s Burmese Days. Little has changed since then.

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Of interested are the fire station’s collections of Irrawaddy Morning visit to Ava and explore the ruins, visiting Bagaya Flotilla Company ship’s bells taken from sunken ships in the Kyaung, a 200-year-old royal monastery made of teak with Second War. Katha was the final resting place of the old flotilla elaborate woodcarvings. In the afternoon arrive at Yandabo and here over a hundred ships were scuppered in 1942 in an village, famous for its production of terracotta pottery from the Act of Denial before the advancing Japanese. We continue to an riverbank clay. elephant logging camp at Katha in the hardwood forests of the hills that surround the town and further upstream. DAY 17 PAGAN Full day’s exploration of the 3000 plus Pagan monuments by DAY 12 SAIL UPSTREAM KYUNT DAW ISLAND coach. Transfer by local boat to visit Kyun Daw village where we visit countless small Pagodas. DAY 18 PAGAN Disembark after breakfast. DAY 13 2ND DEFILE OF IRRAWADDY Cruise through the 2nd Defile, the most dramatic of the three PLEASE NOTE: gorges with cliffs towering over the narrow channel. Sail The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only. As we travel to downstream. remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise. DAY 14 TAGAUNG We explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications, a famous nat or spirit shrine and the archaeological area.

DAY 15 MINGUN We cast off early in the morning and 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 People’s Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s. Drive through the beautiful Sagaing Hill to the hilltop to enjoy an amazing view over the region and Irrawaddy.

DAY 16 AVA

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 PRICING

ADDITIONAL CHARGES: Port Taxes 155 USD pp

01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com