8-Day Pandaw Cruise the Chindwin (Downstream): Join In

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8-Day Pandaw Cruise_The Chindwin (Downstream): Join In

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Tour code: PKHDPTCA Tour type

( Shared )

Tour Level: Relaxed / Easy Tour Comfort: Superior Tour Period: 8 Days

English Homalin, Monywa highlights tour details

7 Nights river cruise along the Chindwin River from This cruise brings you to an area not frequently visited. The Chindwin Homalin/Kalewa to Monywa River has its origin up in the Himalaya and makes its way through the Sightseeing in Monywa with visit to Thandbuddhe and Pho Win Chin State into the Ayeyarwaddy River. Along the river journey, you Taung will visit the main highlights in the area while sailing downstream on Exploring rural remote villages along the Chindwin River and the Chindwin river and explore the villages where life has not change observing the local ways of life over the past decades. This is a unique opportunity to see remote Relax watching the scenery along the way and share the areas before modernization takes over. experience with the travellers on board Join In tour with departure on Saturday: Homalin to Monywa from March to November and Kalewa to Monywa from December to February.

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tour description

Day 1 : HOMALIN (OR) KALEWA (-/L/D)

HOMALIN: March to November Domestic flight from Mandalay to Homalin. Arrive and transfer from Homalin airport to jetty at Homalin, the furthest navigable point on the Chindwin for vessels of our size. Alister McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 '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. Overnight on board

KALEWA: December to February Domestic flight from Mandalay/Yangon to Kalay airport. Arrive and transfer to jetty at Kalewa. Kalewa is one of the largest ports on the Chindwin River and an important trans-shipment point for goods going to and coming from nearby India. Overnight on board

Day 2 : HOMALIN - TOUNGDOOT PHOWIN TAUNG (OR) MAWLAIK (B/L/D)

HOMALIN - TOUNGDOOT PHOWIN TAUNG: March to November Taungdoot is an ancient Shan enclave which in British times still had a ruling Sawbwa complete with palace and court. It will be interesting to see what has become of the royal family and their home and to see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. On the way to Paungbyin. Patha was an important oil refinery belonging to the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). Overnight on board

MAWLAIK: December to February Morning visit to Masein Village and then sail to Mawlaik, the town that replaced Kindat as the administrative capital. It was mainly settled with the company houses of the by the Scottish owned and run Bombay Burmar Trading Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s. There are many splendid 'Dak Bungalows' set around a verdant golf course. Mawlaik and the other towns of the Upper Chindwin can only be reached by boat. Overnight on board.

Day 3 : TOUNGDOOT - SITTHAUNG (OR) MAWLAIK ELEPHANT CAMP (B/L/D)

TOUNGDOOT - SITTHAUNG: March to November Sail downstream to Sitthaung, while passing the mouth of the Yu River which drains the Kubu valley. Overnight on board

MAWLAIK ELEPHANT CAMP: December to February Morning excursion by Tuk Tuk or coach to view the teak wood forest outside Mawlaik. Continue to the Pyar Swe Elephant Camp, a working camp where the elephants are protected in natural surroundings. Return to the ship and continue sailing to Kalewa where we overnight. Overnight on board

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Day 4 : SITTHAUNG - MAWLAIK (OR) MINGKIN (B/L/D)

SITTHAUNG - MAWLAIK: March to November Explore Mawlaik replaced Kindat as the administrative capital but ironically the Myanmar refused to move there from upstream Kindat. It was mainly settled with the company houses of the by the Scottish owned and run Bombay Myanmar Trading Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s. Explore Kalewa with its markets and quaint wooden architecture. Overnight on board

MINGKIN: December to February Visit Mingkin in the morning. Rediscovered by Paul Strachan in 1987 and described the most artistically interesting historic site in Myanmar with its Konbaung court style teak monasteries sumptuously decorated. Afternoon cruising on the Chindwin, including a stop at a local village and study the lifestyle of the local people. Overnight on board.

Day 5 : MAWLAIK - MINGKIN (OR) KANEE - MONYWA (B/L/D)

MAWLAIK - MINGKIN: March to November Mingkin was rediscovered by Paul Strachan in 1987 and described in some detail in his book Mandalay: Travels from the Golden City. It remains for Paul the most art historically interesting site in Myanmar with its Konbaung court style teak monasteries sumptuously decorated. Mingkin may be described as the Luang Prabang of the Chindwin. Pass a number of attractive villages like Kanee where you can stretch your legs. Overnight on board

KANEE - MONYWA: December to February Delightful morning cruising the Chindwin downstream towards Kanee village, where you explore on a late morning walking tour. Afternoon enjoy a culinary demonstration on board as cruising towards Monywa where we overnight. Overnight on board.

Day 6 : MINGKIN - MONYWA (OR) MONYWA - PHO WIN TAUNG (B/L/D)

MINGKIN - MONYWA: March to November Entering the lower Chindwin where the river widens and the forested hills fall away from farmland, we pass a number of attractive villages. We will explore Monywa and make a trip to the Thanbuddhe Temple with its million Buddha images. Overnight on board

MONYWA - PHO WIN TAUNG: December to February Morning Excursion by coach to Phowin Taung where you visit the Phowin Taung Caves with beautiful mural paintings and Buddha statues dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries. In the afternoon, visit Kyauk Ka Village famous for the making of black Lacquer. Overnight on board.

Day 7 : MONYWA - PHO WIN TAUNG (OR) MONYWA (B/L/D)

MONYWA - PHO WIN TAUNG: March to November In the morning, coach to the Pho Win Taung Caves, where you will admire beautiful mural paintings and Buddha statues in riches. Overnight on board

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MONYWA: December to February Morning excursion by coach exploring Monywa, where you will visit Moe Hnyin Than Boaddai Temple with over five hundred thousand Buddha statues and probably the longest (over 330 ft / 100 m) reclining and the tallest (412 ft / 125 m) standing Buddha in Myanmar. After lunch, enjoy a soft walking tour of Monywa. Overnight on board

Day 8 : MONYWA (B/-/-)

Disembark at Monywa and transfer to Mandalay with 3 hours driving. includes excludes

One way domestic flight Yangon/Mandalay-Homalin/Kalay or International flights Homalin/Kalay-Yangon/Mandalay No flights included out of Mandalay for cruise ending in Accommodation in twin/sharing cabin (or single cabin) Monywa/Mandalay Meals as specified in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and Myanmar visa fee D=Dinner) Port dues (if levied) All entrance fees for the places as mentioned in the program Surcharges for throughout guides (English and other languages) Tours with English-speaking on board guide (all tours are join- Personal expenditure, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry, in) camera fees, communications, postage, gratuities etc. Service charges, room tax Meals and services other than mentioned in the programme Drinks at bar Travel insurance (cover against all cancellation costs, medical expenses, including repatriation, in the event of accident or illness) notes

Two fabulous itineraries:

The Monywa to Homalin (and vv) itinerary sails from July to August and October to November. We have a revised itinerary from Monywa to Kalewa (and vv) operating December to February.

Important Notes: Please note that water levels drop dramatically as of December and you 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.

Contact [email protected] www.diethelmtravel.com