The Irrawaddy River Cruise by RV Pandaw

DAY 1: RANGOON (YANGON)

Embarkation between 10.30am and 11.00am at Kyan Mar Yay Jetty (on Strand Road in Yangon opposite the Myanmar Custom Department, between Pansoedan Jetty and Sule Jetty). Please note that the ship will leave the pier at 11.00am.

We stop on route at the Twante Town and explore city center.

• Meals: Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

DAY 2: MAUBIN AND NYAUNG DON

In morning we walk visit to Maubin bustling market and city surrounding area. Afternoon our exploration of Delta area NyaungDon city visit to see country life style. Moor over night at Zakagyi.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

DAY 3: DANABYU AND ZALON

We 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 disastrous campaign by the British. Afternoon walk in Zalon city to visit beautiful Golden Buddha image and return to ship. Moor overnight at Henzada.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

DAY 4: MYANAUNG

Sailing all day and we stop to visit the markets and see old colonial buildings in the sleepy Delta town of Manaung. We enter the Irrawaddy River.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 5: PROME (PYAY)

Early morning we sail slowly upstream and downstream A Kaut Taung area, to view Buddha carvings on the mountainside, from the upper deck or Sundeck. We reach Prome by the afternoon and travel by coach to the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, the former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculptures.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 6: THAYETMYO

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar 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 through the former British botanical garden.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 7: MINHLA AND MAGWE

Minhla - We visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. 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.We ride Trishaws to reach the magnificent Magwe Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 8: SALE

Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses and continue sailing upstream.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 9: PAGAN

In the morning, moor at the Tan-Chi-Taung mountain and ascend by WWII jeep. Afternoon, we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at this World Heritage Site, Pagan.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 10: PAGAN

Further exploration by coach of the monuments follow by a lacquerware workshop and visit to the local markets. Sail in the noon to upstream. Evening walk at Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in this typical river side community. 

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 11: YANDABO

This small rural village is specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers..

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 12: MANDALAY, SAGAING AND AMARAPURA

Guests will take a tour of central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. In the afternoon we visit Sagaing. The true delight of Sagaing lies in its 1000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. Next we explore the ancient capital of Amarapura by coach, take a boat ride along Taungthaman lake and watch the tranquillity and serenity of this beautiful lake and its famous U-Bein Bridge at sunset.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 13: MINGUN

We stop at Mingun to see the largest working bell in the world and the unfinished pagoda which 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.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 14: KYAUK MYOUNG

Sail upstream and visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are handmade. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week-long firing in huge kilns. Afternoon sailing to Mandalay.

• Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Accommodation: Pandaw Cruise

Day 15: MANDALAY

Disembark from your ship between 8.00am - 9.00am at Sagaing Lay Kyun Man Aung Jetty, Mandalay. 

• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: N/A