Grand Voyage Of The Chindwin River
CRUISE 2: 27 Sep-06 Oct 2006 (10 Days / 09 Nights) FROM
BAGAN
(Bagan-Pakkoku-Pakhan-gyi-Monywa-Mingit-Kalewa–Mawlaik–Mandalay)
27 Sep (Day 1)
Bagan – Pakkoku (26 Miles*42 Km)
Board RV Pandaw 1947 at 09.00 hrs. We cast off at 09.30 hrs
and sail upstream to the Irrawaddy and Chindwin confluence.
If time permits we stop in Thein Gone, a typical river
village where we visit the school and the monastery.
Continue cruising North to the bustling town of Pakkoku
where we visit the monastery, cheroots and weaving
workshops. We pass the Chindwin and Irrawaddy river
confluence and we stop for the night.
28 Sep (Day 2)
Pakkoku - Pakhan-Gyi - Ahmyint Village – Monywa (70
Miles*113 Km)
Visit the little town of 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.
Continue cruising to Ahmyint village and visit the local
market, see beautiful houses and the lovely the 17th century
style Min Kyaw Swa stupas with 18th century style paintings.
Arrive Monywa, the Chindwin River largest port, in the early
evening.
29 Sep (Day 3)
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.
30 Sep (Day 4)
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.
01 Oct (Day 5)
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.
02 Oct (Day 6)
Mingin - Kyidaw (1.5 Miles*2.4 Km) / Kyidaw – Kalewa (42
Miles*68 Km)
At Kyidaw (Kyi Taung Oo) we visit Shwe ZaWar Yaw monastery
one of the oldest and best preserved wood carved monastery
of Myanmar, embellished with wooden sculpted idols 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.
03 Oct (Day 7)
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.
04 Oct (Day 8)
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 begin sailing back
downstream to Monywa.
05 Oct (Day 9)
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.
06 Oct (Day 10)
Monywa - Mandalay
Arrive Monywa in the morning. Transfer by coach to Mandalay
with stop enroute to visit he 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 at a restaurant in Sagaing.
Continue to your Mandalay 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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