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The Irrawaddy - 15D/14N
The 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.
This year Pandaw II will once a month ply from the delightful city of Prome on the edge of the Delta to Katha and the great 2nd Defile on the Upper Irrawaddy. Daily stops include tours of the historic capitals of Pagan with its 3,000 monuments, and Mandalay with its royal palace and many sites around the city, particularly on the river.
We will pass from the lush teak forests around Prome, through the near desert of Middle Burma and then into the mountains of Upper Burma. This will be the first year we offer the length of the Irrawaddy in its near navigable entirity. Optional stays in Rangoon the capital with transfers and flights are offered as an add on to the cruise.
Departures: The 1st of each month October - December and February - March.
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. Amenities: On board laundry, bakery, fully equipped galley and refrigeration units; air conditioning for all inside areas.
Itinerary
- Day 1 Prome and the Ancient Pyu - Ancient Pyu
Registration is at 06.00 at the Chatrium Hotel in Yangon. Transfer by coach to Prome (4.5 hours) and board your Pandaw; after lunch visit 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. Hmawza is a picturesque site and we cross jungle and countryside to visit monumental Pyu stupas and the excavations of the former palace-city in this walled early centre of Buddhism. Cast off at sundown with cocktails on deck. - Day 2 Thayetmyo Frontier Post - This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Burmah and British Burmah following the 2nd Anglo Burmese War of 1855, many of the buildings including the covered market date from this period. Thayet also boasts the oldest golf course in Burma (1885) said by the locals to be reciprocally clubbed with the Royal & Ancient St Andrews (however when we mentioned this in an early brochure we received a curt note from the R&A Secretary denying any such association). Outside the town is an extensive war cemetery where Turkish prisoners of war were laid to rest. Captured in Iraq, the Turks were transported to labour camps in Burma where they died in their hundreds of malaria. In the town itself we visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse cart to see the countryside and golf links.
- Day 3 Minhla Forts and Magwe - Minhla and Gwechaung - we visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Burmah. We climb the Gwechaung hill for the view. These were captured by the British in the 3rd Anglo Burmese 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. Gwechaung, the more impressive of the forts was captured from the rear before the Burnese could turn the guns around.
In the afternoon we cruise on to Magwe where we climb the river bank and wend our way through a labyrinth of passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda. This pagoda is constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts. Cast off at noon and sail through afternoon. - Day 4 Sale Monasteries - Here we visit a number of teak monasteries including the Yout-saun-kyaung with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses; moor at the Tan-chi-taung mountain and ascend on foot or by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunset over Pagan.
- Day 5 Pagan - We tour by coach a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at this World Heritage Site. Puppet show on deck at night.
- Day 6 Pagan Monuments - Further exploration by coach of the monuments and visit to a lacquerware school and markets. Cast off in afternoon.
- Day 7 Yandabo Potteries and Pandaw School - This very small rural village specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.
- Day 8 Mandalay and Amarapura - Morning explore the ancient capital of Amarapura by coach and sampan and crossing the U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a temple.
Afternoon coach tour of central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. We stop to see tapestry making and other traditional crafts. - Day 9 Mingun Pagoda and Bell - We cast off early in the morning and stop at Mingun to see the largest working bell in the world and the unfinished pagoda, that is the largest single mass of brick building in the world. We also visit the Mingun Old Peoples Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.
- Day 10 Kyaung-myoung Potteries and Khan-nyat Village - Visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are hand made. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week long firing in huge kilns. We enter the Third Defile and sail upstream all day stopping at Khan-nyat village with its many Buddhist monasteries and an orphanage we support. If free, the village orchestra and dancers will perform for us on the sun deck after dinner.
- Day 11 Tagaung Ancient City and Tigyang Hill - We explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications, the shrine of Bo Bo Gyi a famous nat or spirit who protects sailors plying the river, and the archaeological area. In the evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy.
- Day 12 Katha - Burmese Days - We reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha, setting for George Orwell’s Burmese Days, and little changed since then. Of interest is the fire station’s collection of IFC ships bells taken from sunken ships in the Second War. Katha was the final resting place of the old flotilla and here over a hundred ships were scuppered in 1942 in an Act of Denial before the advancing Japanese. If permitted, we visit an elephant logging camp in the hardwood forests of the hills that surround the town and if time allows a visit to the lake at Indaw-lay offers a glimpse of highland Myanmar with its rich bird life.
- Day 13 Shwegu and the Second Defile - Travel by local speedboat to view the largest of the three Irrawaddy gorges. In the afternoon return downstream.
- Day 14 Downstream - We stop for a walk in a jungle village.
- Day 15 Mandalay - Disembark in afternoon.
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Vantage World Strongly Recommends Insurance for all your Travel Programs
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.
