Grand Voyage Of The Chindwin River
CRUISE 1: 17-26 SEP 2006 (10 Days/9 Nights) From Mandalay
(Mandalay –Monywa – Mingin - Kalewa –Mawlaik – Pakhan-gyi -
Pakkoku –Bagan)
17 Sep 2006 (Day 1)
Mandalay – Monywa
Transfer by coach from your hotel in Mandalay (dep. 08.00
hrs) or airport (dep. 09.00 hrs) to Monywa, the Chindwin
River largest port with stop enroute for visiting the
splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda where more than 500,000
Buddha statues are placed and the Aung Sakyar Stupa with the
longest reclining Buddha of Myanmar (333 ft/100 m). Lunch.
Embark RV Pandaw 1947 in the early afternoon.
Afternoon we drive to Kyaukka village to visit a “plain”
lacquerware type workshop. Called in Myanmar “Kyauk Kar”
this kind of lacquerware has only two colors, black and red
made by natural pigments.
18 Sep 2006 (Day 2)
Monywa (Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung
Caves)
Visit Hpowindaung and Shwebadaung caves where hundreds of
Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with
wonderful mural paintings. If the weather and time permits
we will also visit Twin Daung Lake better known as lake of “Spirulina”,
the famous green-blue algae rich in protein, vitamins and
minerals. The origin of the lake is unknown, some geologist
claim to be an extinct volcano crater, others a crater
formed by a meteorite.
Alternatively we drive to Kyaukka village to visit a “plain”
lacquerware type workshop.
Called in Myanmar “Kyauk Kar” this kind of lacquerware has
only two colors, black and red made by natural pigments.
Late lunch and cast off.
19 Sep (Day 3)
Monywa – kani (34 miles* 55 km) / kani
- kin (30 miles*48 km)
Late morning explore the village of Kanee and climb the
pagoda hillock for its view. Continue sailing upstream until
late at night to reach the village of Kani.
20 Sep (Day 4)
Kin – Mingin (Miles 40*64 Km)
Early morning we explore Kin village with its beautiful
wooden houses and the woodcarvings monastery. Continue
sailing upstream to the small enchanting town of Mingin.
Explore its temples and 1900’s wooden houses and the Min
Kyaung Monastery with old Buddha Images.
21 Sep (Day 5)
Mingin - Kyidaw (1.5 Miles*2.4 Km) / Kyidaw – Kalewa (42
Miles*68 Km)
At Kyidaw (Kyi Taung Oo) we visit Shwe Za WarYaw monastery
one of the oldest and bestpreservedwood carved monastery of
Myanmar, embellished with wooden sculptedidols with
fascinating gold leaf wall decorations. We walk through a
beautiful scenario of paddy fields to the village of Kan
where we visit another splendid example of Myanmar old
monastery.
Back to the ship by local boat. Proceed upstream up to Kyaw
Zin, a village very close to Kalewa, where we stop for the
night.
22 Sep (Day 6)
Kalewa – Mawlaik (38 Miles*61 km)
In the morning we explore Kalewa, the main river port for
the trading with India, the lively market and climb up to
Shwe Moat Htaw stupa for the beautiful view.
Back to the ship before lunch and keep on cruising upstream
to Mawlaik.
23 Sep (Day 7)
Mawlaik – Sailing Back Downstream
Mawlaik (situated 35 km from the Indian Border) was the
administrative capital of this area rich of Teak forests. It
is a pleasant colonial town with its golf course surrounded
by splendid colonial houses built by the Bombay Burmah
Trading Corporation in the 1920’s and 1930’s (there is still
a small community of Indians that used to work for the
Scottish company and their descendents). The governor’s
house, the administrative building, the school, the
hospital, the “Dak Bungalows”, the headquarter of the
company are well preserved, still in use nowadays and nicely
maintained.
Being this our turnaround point, we start sailing downstream
back to Monywa.
24 Sep (Day 8)
Sailing Downstream For 100 Miles (160 Km)
Continue sailing all day downstream. Stop at Kyauk Hlay Gar
village, famous for its petrified wood, where we visit the
school and the typical houses.
25 Sep (Day 9)
Monywa – Pakhan-Gyi – Pakkoku - Bagan (96 Miles*155 Km)
We pass Monywa in the early morning and we enter the lower
Chindwin plain. Stop at Pakhan-gyi, this post-Pagan period
provincial capital was walled with a moat and originally had
a governor¹s palace. We see the old walls, visit the museum
and a spectacular 19th century wood carved monastery.
Proceed downstream to the bustling town of Pakkoku where we
visit the monastery, cheroots and weaving workshops. After
the confluence between the Chindwin and the Irrawaddy Rivers
if time permits we stop at Thein Gone village.
The arrival to Bagan is scheduled in the late afternoon.
Mini tour “by night” of some famous temples before reaching
the restaurant located inside the Archeological zone for the
“farewell dinner”.
26 Sep (Day 10)
Bagan
Disembarkation and transfer to the Hotel or Airport.
RETAIL RATES
|
MAIN DECK |
Twin Cabin US$2,650 |
Twin Cabin Single use US$3,150 |
|
UPPER DECK |
Twin Cabin US$3,100 |
Twin Cabin single use: US$3,600 |
INCLUDES
Transfer from/to Mandalay or Bagan Hotel-Airport, fullboard,
all sightseeing and excursions as per programme. English
speaking guide/escort, entrance fees
EXCLUDES
Drinks, laundry, gratuity, international and domestic
flights.
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