The Golden Land (B-GL44)

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:

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Prices (per cabin)

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

Prome - Pagan - Mandalay on Pandaw II or Pandaw IV

24 November 2009: Rangoon

International arrivals in Rangoon and transfer to our 4 star hotel; afternoon orientation tour by coach followed by visit to the Shwedagon pagoda.

25 November 2009: 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.

26 November 2009: Thayetmyo Frontier Post

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanma 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) 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 Myanmar 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.

27 November 2009: Minhla Forts

Minhla and Gwechaung - we visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. We climb the Gwechaung hill for the view. These were captured by the British in the 3rd Anglo Myanma 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 Myanma could turn the guns around.

28 November 2009: 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. Tour town by trishaw and visit market.

29 November 2009: 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.

30 November 2009: Pagan Monuments

Pagan - we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments.

1 December 2009: Theingone Monastery

Further explorations of Pagan; we cast off at lunchtime and proceed upstream.

2 December 2009: 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. Also stop to visit Oh Ne Kyaung village which is smaller and even more rural.

3 December 2009: 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.

4 December 2009: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. We stop to see tapestry making and other traditional crafts.

5 December 2009: Mandalay to Rangoon

Disembark (Gawein Jetty) and fly to Rangoon; transfer to the Inya Lake Hotel and afternoon coach trip to Scots Market.

6 December 2009: Rangoon

Early morning visit to war graves at Htaukchan; transfers for international departures.