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aboard Pandaw's vessels.

Find out more about the Pandaw vessels and how we lovingly restored them.

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Chindwin & Upper Irrawaddy (B-CHUI3)

Departure Dates Deck Plan Prices

In 2005 we were pleased to reintroduce, under demand from many old passengers, our Chindwin Expedition, not attempted since 2000. The expedition, commencing at Kalewa with a special air charter, was the first time foreign travellers have been able to cruise the Upper Chindwin since the 1930s. We repeated this cruises formula again in 2006 with similar success, unique in Southeast Asia.

The scenery was spectacular and we were welcomed with astonishment by the many remote communities through which we passed. Achieving our goal of Homalin over 600 miles from the Chindwin’s confluence with the Irrawaddy we returned downstream all the way to the ancient city of Pagan just below the confluence. Then we continued a further 700 miles up the Irrawaddy past Mandalay to Bhamo, the most northerly navigable point on the Irrawaddy and gateway to China. From Bhamo a second air charter took us back to Rangoon.

Twenty nights on a river cruise may seem a long time but the majority of our passengers were old clients and happy to spend so long in the convivial atmosphere of a Pandaw. No two days were the same with varied scenery and diverse cultural sites. In view of the success of this expedition we will repeat it again as a special offer to old passengers with a considerably reduced price.

Note this expedition takes place during the Southeast Asia monsoon season which is the only time we have sufficient water levels to attempt these remote rivers. It may rain but not continuously. River banks may be muddy and slippery. This is a real expedition and the itinerary subject to sudden changes due to water levels or other local conditions.

Cruise price includes 22 nights accommodation in Burma, all main meals, tea, coffee and water, free flow bar for local spirits, beers and soft drinks, transfers, domestic flights, guides, entrance fees, port dues. Cruise price excludes imported wines and spirits, laundry, gratuity to crew.

Departure Dates

Select a departure from the list below to display availability:

Deck Plan - Pandaw IV

Select a stateroom using the deck plan below. Click once to select a stateroom for two people, again for single occupancy and once more to clear your selection. Your choice will be reflected in the pricing table below the deck plan:

Prices (per cabin)

Cruise prices per cabin are displayed below, along with the selection you have made from the deck plan above.

Cabin Type	Price	Cabins	Subtotal
Upper Deck Twin Sharing	$12,000.00	0	$0.00
Upper Deck Twin Single Use	$7,000.00	0	$0.00
Main Deck Twin Sharing	$10,000.00	0	$0.00
Main Deck Twin Single Use	$6,000.00	0	$0.00
Subtotal			$0.00

Additional Charges	Price	Travellers	Subtotal
Fuel Surcharge	$0.00	0	$0.00
Port Taxes	$0.00	0	$0.00
Subtotal			$0.00

Total			$0.00

20 nights on board Pandaw II or IV and 2 nights in a Rangoon hotel

2 September - Rangoon

Arrive Yangon International Airport and stay overnight at the Dusit Inya Lake Hotel (or equivalent 4 star); sunset visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda.

3 September - Rangoon to Kalemyo

The gateway town for the Chin State. We explore Kalewa with its markets and quaint wooden architecture.

4 September - Kalewa to Kindat

Stop for morning walk at Balet, a charming and typical river community.

5 September - Kindat to Paungbyin

Kindat was as far as the old IFC steamers ventured outside of the Monsoon season. This part of the Chindwin valley is very sparsely populated and villages are few and far between.

6 September - Paungbyin to Sitthaung

We pass the mouth of the Yu River which drains the Kubu valley. Sitthaung was the final resting place of a number of IFC steamers scuppered there in 1942.

7 September - Sithaung to Toungdoot

Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan enclave which in British times still had a ruling prince or sawbwa complete with palace and court.

8 September - Toungdoot to Homalin

We pass the Uyu River worked by gold washers on the way to Homalin, the furthest navigable point on the Chindwin for vessels of our size.

9 September - Homalin to Mawlaik

Mawlaik replaced Kindat as the administrative capital. Like other towns of the Upper Chindwin, they can only be reached by boat so cars are few.

10 September - Mawlaik to Mingkin

Mingkin with its Konbaung court style teak monasteries are sumptuously decorated. Mingkin may be described as the Luang Prabang of the Chindwin.

11 September - Mingkin to Monywa

Entering the Lower Chindwin where the river widens and the forested hills fall away to farmland we pass a number of attractive villages. We will explore Monywa and time permitting make a quick trip to the Thanbodi Temple with its million Buddha images.

12 September - Monywa to Pagan

Cruise all day through the great Lower Chindwin plain.

13 September - Pagan

Tour a selection of the most significant of the 3,000 Buddhist monuments found at this World Heritage Site. We will visit lacquerware manufacturers. Sail in the afternoon and moor overnight at Thein Gone village to visit the new school and the monastery.

14 September - Yandabo Village

We head upstream to the Chindwin confluence and stop in the evening at Yandabo. Here we visit the Pandaw School built with donations from past Pandaw passengers.

15 September - Ava and Amarapura

In the morning we travel to Ava and explore the ruins, visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a 200 year old royal monastery made of teak with elaborate wood carvings. In the afternoon travel to Mandalay for an orientation tour of the city area visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and sunset at Amarapura U-Bein Bridge.

16 September - Mingun Pagoda and Bell

We cast off early 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.

17 September - Kyaung-myoung Potteries

Visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung 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.

18 September - Tagaung Ancient City

Explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications. In the evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy.

19 September - Burmese Days

We reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha, setting for George Orwell’s Myanma Days. Katha was the final resting place of the old flotilla and here over a hundred ships were scuppered in 1942.

20 September - Shwegu

We continue upstream to Shwegu, another centre of pot making, and Kyun-daw a midstream island of monasteries and countless small pagodas.

21 September - 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, an important trading town close to the Chinese border.

22 September - 1st Defile

Chartering a smaller ‘country boat’ we will proceed upstream from Bhamo and attempt to reach the dramatic 1st Defile. In the evening explore Bhamo’s bustling markets.

23 September - Bhamo to Rangoon

Disembark at Bhamo, transfer to airport by local bus, and fly to Rangoon and check in to Dusit Inya Lake Hotel. Coach trip to visit the famous Scots Market and if of interest the gem emporia.

24 September - Rangoon

Optional early morning visit the World War II cemetery at Htaukchan. International departures.

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