Bhamo to Pagan on Pandaw IV
Day 1: Rangoon
Transfer from the airport check in to the 4 star Dusit Inya Lake
Hotel. Lunch and rest. We visit the Shwedagon for the sunset
followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Fly to Bhamo
Transfer to ship by local bus, Bhamo. Cruise through the 2nd
Defile, the most dramatic of the three gorges with cliffs towering
over the narrow channel. Reach Bhamo in the afternoon for an
evening walking tour of this important trading town set close to
the Chinese border.
Day 3: Singu
Chartering a smaller ‘country boat’ we will proceed upstream from
Bhamo and attempt to reach the village of Singu below the dramatic
1st Defile. In the evening we will have more time to explore
Bhamo’s bustling markets and Chinese temples.
Day 4: Shwegu
We
continue upstream to Shwe-gu, another centre of pot making, and
Kyun-daw a midstream island of monasteries and countless small
pagodas. Stop overnight at a tribal village.
Day 5: Katha - Myanma Days
We
reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha, setting for George
Orwell’s Myanma Days, and little changed since then. Of interested
are the fire station’s collection of IFC ship’s 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 6: Tagaung Ancient City
We
explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the
fortifications, a famous nat or spirit shrine and the
archaeological area. In the evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at
Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy.
Day 7: Kyaung-myoung Potteries
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 8: Mingun Pagoda and Mandalay
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 People’s Home originally established with the
assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s. In the
afternoon we travel to Mandalay for an orientation tour of the
Mandalay city area visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda. The Mandalay
classical ballet troupe will perform, on deck scenes from court
dramas.
Day 9: Ava and Amarapura Old Capitals
In
the morning we travel to Ava and explore the ruins, visiting the
superb Bagaya Kyaung, a 200 year old royal monastery made of teak
with elaborate wood carvings. and sunset at Amarapura U-Bein
Bridge.
Day 10: Yandabo Village and School
Upstream to the Chindwin confluence and stop in the evening at
Yandabo, a picturesque village with small family run potteries.
Here we visit the Pandaw School built with donations from past
Pandaw passengers. Sail in the afternoon and moor overnight at
Thein Gone village to visit the new school and the monastery.
Day 11: Pagan
Tour a selection of the most significant of the 3,000 Buddhist
monuments found at this World Heritage Site. We visit lacquerware
manufacturers. Puppet show on deck at night.
Day 12: Pagan to Rangoon
Fly
to the capital and check in at Dusit Inya Lake Hotel. Coach trip
to visit the famous Scots Market and if of interest the gem
emporia.
Day 13: Rangoon
Optional early morning visit to the World War II cemetery at
Htaukchan. International departures. |
