Exotic Chindwin: Mandalay – Homalin – Bagan
The Chindwin river is the largest tributary of the Irrawaddy river and much of its course lies within mountain ranges and forests. Cruise in luxury along this river from Mandalay to Homalin and ending in Bagan exploring on excursions with beautiful and historical architecture to be seen. During your cruise you will be able to enjoy a cooking class of Burmese cuisine on board by the head chef.
- Luxury cruise along the Chindwin river.
Day 1
Mandalay – Myingyan
Board our luxury cruise at ShweKyet Yet and enjoy lunch while we start cruising from Mandalay downstream toward Chindwin River confluence, passing picturesque Sagaing Hills with its hermitages and nunneries. Enjoy a presentation of Burmese history and culture following up with a demonstration of wearing Longi and making up Ta Na Khar. Enjoy the welcome dinner, which is a great opportunity to meet your new cruise companions. Moor at Myingyan.
Mandalay – Myingyan : 80 miles
Day 2
Myingyan – Monywa
Enjoy a pleasant sailing from confluence into Chindwin river. In the afternoon, take a sightseeing tour of Monywa and its famed Thanboddhay Pagoda, the walls of which are covered with thousands of Buddha images. After that come and visit the largest Buddha statue in Myanmar at the Bodithaung Pagoda – the statue is 328 feet long and 88 feet high.
Overnight in Monywa.
Myingyan – Monywa : 59 miles
Day 3
Monywa – Maukkadaw
Today we cruise to Moktaw, a simple country town where you can take a walk to explore its workshops, markets and monastery. Back on board to continue to Maukkadaw, a wealthy village on the Chindwin river with large teak wood industry.
Monywa – Maukkadaw : 86 miles
Day 4
Maukkadaw – Kalewa
In the morning, explore the town of Maukkadaw and its stunning teak buildings made even more exotic by the surrounding tropical jungle. the cruise ocnitnues after lunch through the lush Chindwin gorges, thick jungle and tiny riverside villages, which looks like a forgotten land. Continue cruising to Kalewa with an optional walking tour in the evening.
Maukkadaw – Kalewa : 61 miles
Day 5
Kalewa – Mawlaik
Cruise in the morning then anchor to visit Mawlaik, the town is only 22 miles from the Indian Border on the Chindwin River. It is a little town with its golf course surrounded by splendid colonial quarters. This was once the British provincial capital of this area in an area rich in teak forests and was mainly settled with the company houses of the Scottish owned and run Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation in the 1920’s and 1930’s. There are many splendid ‘Dak Bungalows’ set around a verdant golf course.
Kalewa – Mawlaik : 38 miles
Day 6
Mawlaik – Sittaung
Relax on board and this morning we cruise to Sittaung. Take a tour to visit Sittaung, the final resting village of a number of IFC steamers scuppered on the Chindwin River in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. It was from here that the survivors of the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the Indian border.
Mawlaik – Sittaung : 56 miles
Day 7
Sittaung – Homalin
Sail form Sittaung to Homalin, a small town closed to the Indian border. It is where Uyu, a triutary of the Chindwin, flows into the main river and where you can see it changing color as the sand in it carries gold particles and some small gold nuggets. Locals can be seen panning the river in the hope of finding gold. Visit the Buddha Lotus Garden and the market while exploring the town.
Sittaung – Homalin : 86 miles
Day 8
Homalin – Kindat
Today we cruise downstream the Chindwin river and enjoy a cooking class on board presented by our head chef. The ethnic minorities of Cambodia have each contributed to the diversity of Burmese cuisine. The Bamars are the most dominant group, but other groups, including the Chin people, also have distinct cuisines.
Homalin – Kindat : 136 miles
Day 9
Kindat – Mingin – Kani
In the morning we cruise toward Mingkin, described as the LuangPrabang of the Chindwin. Visit the MaharMinkyaung Monastery, an extraordinary melange of European and Burmese architecture, in particular the Italian glass used in the windows. Here you can see the ShweSagar Buddha which is one of ten Buddha carved from a single trunk of wood almost as thousand years ago. Carry on to Kyidaung, a typical riverside village and the best place to see local life.
Kindat – Mingin : 87 miles
Mingin – Kani : 70 miles
Day 10
Kani – Pakangyi
After breakfast, join the excursion to Po Win Taung caves and the Shwe Ba Taung complex where 492 Buddha sandstone chambers are carved into the hillside – an extroadinary feat and one of the highlights of the trip. Cruise toward Bagan, stopping along the way at Pakakgyi to visit the Kaung Taw Gyi Monastery and Sithushin Pagoda.
Kani – Pakangyi : 80 miles
Day 11
Pakangyi – Bagan
Early morning cruise to Bagan and take at our of this magnificent city, the former capital of Burma from 1044-1287. This plain east of the curving Ayeyarwady is one of the most wondrous sights in Myanmar. We visit several of the 3,000 listed monuments, including DhammayazikaPaya, with its amazing view from the terrace, and the biggest temple, Dhammayangyi – both built in the 12th century – and one of the best preserved of all Bagan temples, the 11th-century Ananda. Enjoy a farewell dinner with traditional puppet show.
Pakangyi – Bagan : 62 miles
Day 12
Bagan
Bid farewell to the crew and disembark in Bagan.
- Meet and greet on arrival at Airport.
- Accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner).
- Entrance fees where applicable.
- Tours as indicated in the itinerary.
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver guide.
- Transfers
- Travel Protection is offered on all packages at an additional cost.
