A VOYAGE TO NAGALAND (DOWNSTREAM)
Only the small Kalay and Zawgyi Pandaws, with their ultra-low drafts, can journey north beyond Homalin in the high water season from mid-August to Mid-October on an adventure to Nagaland, famous for the fierce and distinctive Naga warriors and various ethnic communities. Along the way, the Chindwin River passes through dramatic scenery of dense jungles, high cliffs and deep gorges and visits remote villages each with a unique way of life.
To further enhance your experience, we now have a number of quality mountain bikes for your use on the cruise.
Please note that Chindwin expeditions need special permits which can take up to 3 weeks.
Your voyage rates include domestic flights Yangon/Manday to Kalewa and Homalin to Yangon/Mandalay or v.v.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 HOMALIN Fly to Homalin and embark your Pandaw for your 7-night cruise.
DAY 2 NAGALAND Sail northbound into Nagaland, a remote and fascinating tribal area. As we will be the first luxury vessel to venture this far north, we will stop at villages not used to receiving international guests. Our arrival will no doubt be something of an occasion.
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com DAY 3 KHAMTI downstream and moor up overnight at the village of Yuwa. Visit Khamti, known as ‘the land full of gold’ due to the prevalence of gold panning in the nearby tributary of the DAY 6 KINDAT Chindwin. We visit the town, the monastery meet local Tai Morning walking tour of the tiny village of Yuwa and sail to speaking peoples. Later sail downstream to Homalin. Kindat (translated in Burmese meaning a military outpost), with its old colonial post office (now a school) and friendly DAY 4 TOUNGDOOT welcoming villagers. Today we explore Homalin, an interesting town close to the Indian border with attractive forested mountains on either side – DAY 7 MAWLAIK some rising to over 9,000 feet. Irrawaddy Flotilla Company used Morning visit to Mawlaik, the former seat of the Bombay Burma to visit here and during World War II, Homalin was occupied by Corporation's timber extraction operations for the Chindwin the Japanese. We continue to Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, Area. The old Headquarters building still stands here. We then is an ancient Shan enclave who in British times still had a ruling cruise to Kalewa, and explore the area of the gateway to the Sawbwa complete with palace and court. It will be interesting to Chin State. Kalewa has beautiful wooden architecture. We will see what has become of the royal family and their home and to visit the local market and enjoy panoramic views over the see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. Chindwin from top of a hill. Alistair McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 ‘I loved the atmosphere of quiet and peaceful living there. At night I could DAY 8 KALEWA hear greylag geese as they came in to the flooded land around Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport in Kalay for us from far away north’. your domestic flight.
DAY 5 SITTHAUNG PLEASE NOTE: An enjoyable day exploring the lesser visited villages along this The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to beautiful stretch of the Chindwin River. We sail to Paungpyin reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the village and take a walking tour including a visit to the market itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if and the attractive wooden houses. Continue to Sitthaung, the you book this cruise. final resting place of a number of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamers scuppered there in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. Remains of these ships can be found here. It was from here that the survivors of the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the India border. Pantha was an important oil refinery belonging to the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). We continue
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 65 USD pp
01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com