This is a very different travel experience. We visit a number of small villages and towns and see local agriculture and manufacturing at first hand. These places are remote from the modern world and offer a glimpse of a timeless, lost Burma far from the usual tourist track. We also visit a number of old monasteries and temples of art historical interest in this the cultural heartland of old Burma.
Your Itinerary:
Day1 - Rangoon
Internationals arrivals in Rangoon & transfer to our 4 star hotel; afternoon orientation tour by coach followed by visit to the Shwedagon pagoda.
Day2 - Prome and the Ancient Pyu
Drive by coach to Prome (4.5 hours) and board Pandaw II; 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. Cast off at sundown with cocktails on deck.
Day 3 - Thayetmyo Frontier Post
This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Burma and British Burma 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 4 - Minhla Forts
Minhla and Gwechaung - we visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Burma. 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 Burmese could turn the guns around.
Day 5 - Magwe Gold Bricks
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.
Day 6: 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 7 - Pagan Monuments
Pagan - we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments.
Day 8 - Theingone Monsatery
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 9 - Yandabo Potteries and Pandaw School
This very small rural village that specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.
Day 10 - Ava and Amarapura Old Capitals
We explore these ancient capitals by coach or sampan visiting the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung and crossing the U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a temple.
Day 11 - Sagaing Hills
Morning visit by boat and walk in the beautiful hills with over 1000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in wood carving and religious art. Return to ship for lunch and sail up to the Mandalay Gawein jetty. In the afternoon we tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery and Mandalay Hill for sunset. We stop to see tapestry making and other traditional crafts.
Day 12 - Mandalay to Rangoon
Disembark (Gawein Jetty) and fly to Rangoon ; transfer to the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel and afternoon coach trip to Scots Market.
Day 13 - Rangoon
Early morning visit to war graves at Htaukchan; transfers for international departures.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes:
All entrance fees during the cruise
Guide services (English language)
Main meals, coffee & tea, mineral water
Port dues
Price excludes:
Hotels
Transfers to & from ship at start & and of voyage
Drinks at bar, laundry, visa costs, fuel surcharge
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Myanmar
Boating and Sailing
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