Road to Mandalay - 15D/14N

Manuha Temple Pagan photo courtesy of Pandaw River CruisesThe unique Pandaw river expedition concept evolved in Burma from the vestiges of the colonial Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. The ships were built in Burma we learned to master river navigation at its worst. These lessons were applied to the other rivers of Asia. Burma, after 1987 renamed by the regime Myanmar, is the largest mainland South-East Asian country and with the greatest variety of scenery from Himalayan peaks to tropical beaches. We have yet to meet a visitor to Burma who does not feel that this is the most beautiful, friendly and culturally interesting Asian country ever visited. Most of the population lives in three great river valleys encircled by impenetrable horseshoes of mountains. River life dominates the country and still to this day forms the main system of transportation, irrigation and from its rich fishing grounds the principal protein source for the majority of the population. In the great Chindwin, Irrawaddy and Salween valleys two millennia of Buddhist art, architecture and archaeology survive, including of course the 3000 standing monuments at Pagan. There is no other Asian country with so vast and varied a range of cultural sites. Almost everywhere there are temples and monasteries, festivals and ceremonies. The Burmese are a deeply pious people and Buddhist activities dominate every aspect of life. The Burmese are a very warm and friendly people who since Independence in 1947 have suffered terrible impoverishment and deprivation. We do our best to support the local domestic economy and make sure our suppliers and contractors are small local businesses. We are very careful to make sure our clients’ money falls into the right hands. Sanctions and the politically correct refusal of most NGOs and international charities to work in the country has served to exacerbate deprivation and entrench the regime further. Passengers that visit Burma develop an emotional connection to the area. They have funded the building of many area schools and made outstanding contributions after Cyclone Nargis struck in 2008. Most of the Burmese our passengers encounter tend to agree with this assumption. These cruises are the most acclaimed luxury vacations on the Irrawaddy river.

The Road to Mandalay is a once a year cruise to renew the old times of Pandaw Cruises and offers a rare and legendary long cruise linking the colonial Yangon to the royal capital of Mandalay. This 14-night unique journey totalises 613 miles Km. Four nights are spent in the rarely explored Delta of Irrawaddy River, a fascinating area of wetlands covering over 1,000 square miles. There maze of creeks and channels shelter population where children learn to paddle a boat before they can walk. The river cruise continues through a varying landscape - from the lush teak plantations around Prome to the desert country south of Pagan, where we visit a number of remote traditional villages offering a glimpse of a timeless Myanmar. We make a 2-day visit to Pagan to explore some of the 3,000 listed monuments, then pursue our journey to our last but not least destination, Mandalay.

Departs: Set Date, usually in August

Lisu Lady Singu photo courtesy of Pandaw River Cruises

The Pandaw II

Built: 2001. Safety: Smoke detectors in all cabins and public places, emergency lighting and generator, fire pump, hydrants and hoses, fire extinguishers, life jackets for all on board and life rafts. Communications: cell phones, satellite phones, VHF ans SSB radio, internal phone system, PA system, and tannoy system for navigation purposes. Amenities: On board laundry, bakery, fully equipped galley and refrigeration units; air conditioning for all inside areas.

Itinerary

  • Day 1 Yangon - International arrivals in Rangoon. Transfer to ship moored in the heart of colonial ‘Downtown’ Yangon. Afternoon sight seeing and visit to the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.
  • Day 2 Irrawaddy Delta - Sail with the first tide up the Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on route at the Twante village to visit the potteries there, famed for their enormous water pots. Arrive Yandoon for evening walk in this delightful Delta town.
  • Day 3 Danupyu - Continue our exploration of Delta creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town with a busy port and bustling markets. In the First Anglo Burmese War of 1825 the Burmese general Maha-Bandoola was defeated here following a long and near disastrous campaign by the British. Moor overnight off Henzada.
  • Day 4 Manaugn and Tonbo - Sailing all day we stop to visit the markets and see old colonial buildings in the
    sleepy Delta town of Manaung and now enter the Irrawaddy River itself. We continue to moor for the night at Tonbo.
  • Day 5 Prome - Stop at the famous A Kauk Taung to explore the spectacular stone carving on the cliff. We reach Prome by early afternoon and travel by coach to the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculpture.

    • Itinerary Map

  • Day 6 Thayetmyo Frontier Post - This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanma War of 1855. Many of the buildings including the covered market date from this period. Thayet also boasts the oldest golf course in Myanmar (1885). We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse cart to the golf course, passing trough the former British botanical garden.
  • Day 7 Minhla Forts - Minhla and Gwechaung - We visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. We climb the Gwechaung hill for the view. These were captured by the British in the 3rd Anglo Myanma War. The fight for the Minhla redoubt was the only serious action in the war and the death of a young subaltern inspired Kipling to write a poem.
  • Day 8 Magwe Gold Bricks - We ride Trishaws to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.
  • Day 9 Sale - Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses. Moor at the Tan-chi-taung mountain and ascend by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunset over Pagan.
  • Day 10 Pagan - We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments.
  • Day 11 Pagan - Theingone Monastery - Further explorations of Pagan. We cast off at lunchtime and proceed to the Theingone village to make a tour of construction of both the new school and the monastery.
  • Day 12 Yandabo - This small rural village specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.
  • Day 13 Ava and Amarapura Old Capitals - We explore these ancient capitals visiting the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung. We cross the famous U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a temple and come back in sampan.
  • Day 14 Sagaing Hills and Mandalay - The true delight of Sagaing lies in its 1.000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. In the afternoon we tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery. We see tapestry making and other traditional crafts.
  • Day 15 Mandalay to Rangoon - Disembark Pandaw II and fly to Yangon. Transfer to the Dusit Inya Lake Hotel. Afternoon trip to Scots Market.
  • Day 16 Rangoon - Transfers for international departures.

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    Also tagged with: Cruise Expeditions, Asia, Burma - Myanmar, Educational, Cultural, Art / Architecture, River Cruises, Religion, Deluxe Cruises, World Cruises, Photography, Pandaw


    Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs

    Insure My Trip We provide, through TravelSafe Insurance, one of the nation's largest and most respected providers of travel insurance, a TravelSafe Custom Plan, where you decide the benefits YOU want and the levels of protection YOU desire including access to their 24-hour emergency assistance service from anywhere in the world. Click the link below the Plan Benefits table for plan details.