Road to Mandalay: 15 nights from Rangoon to Mandalay
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This expedition operates only once every two years when Pandaw II returns to Rangoon for an out of water survey, and is offered at a special price to cover our repositioning cost.
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company operated steamers between Rangoon and Mandalay from the 1880s onwards and this classic route became known as the 'Road to Mandalay'. In fact even with the construction of a railway line between the two cities, most people prefered to travel by IFC steamer, enjoying the great panoramas that unfold and the vibrant river life along the way.
This two week journey covers just over 600 miles or approximately 1000 km. Four nights are spent in the little known Irrawaddy Delta, a fascinating area of wetlands covering over 10,000 square miles. In this labyrinthine water world, with its maze of creeks and channels, children learn to paddle a boat before they can walk.
The expedition continues through a varying landscape - from the lush teak plantations around Prome to the desert country south of Pagan, where we visit a number of remote traditional villages offering a glimpse of a timeless Myanmar. We make a two day visit to Pagan to explore a selection of the 3,000 Buddhist monuments and spend time in and around Mandalay with its many cultural treasures and rich Buddhist culture.
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Day 1 - Yangon
International arrivals in Rangoon. Transfer to ship moored in the heart of colonial 'Downtown' Yangon. Afternoon sight seeing and visit to the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.
Day 2 - Irrawaddy Delta
Sail with the first tide up the Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on route at the Twante village to visit the potteries there, famed for their enormous water pots. Arrive Yandoon for evening walk in this delightful Delta town.
Day 3 - Danupyu
Continue our exploration of Delta creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town with a busy port and bustling markets. In the First Anglo Burmese War of 1825 the Burmese general Maha-Bandoola was defeated here following a long and near disastrous campaign by the British. Moor overnight off Henzada.
Day 4 - Manaugn and Tonbo
Sailing all day we stop to visit the markets and see old colonial buildings in the sleepy Delta town of Manaung and now enter the Irrawaddy River itself. We continue to moor for the night at Tonbo.
Day 5 - Prome
Stop at the famous A Kauk Taung to explore the spectacular stone carving on the cliff. We reach Prome by early afternoon and travel by coach to 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.
Day 6 - 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). We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse cart to the golf course, passing trough the former British botanical garden.
Day 7 - 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.
Day 8 - Magwe Gold Bricks
We ride Trishaws to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.
Day 9 - Sale
Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses. Moor at the Tan-chi-taung mountain and ascend by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunset over Pagan.
Day 10 - Pagan
We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments.
Day 11 - Pagan - Theingone Monastery
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 12 - Yandabo
This small rural village specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.
Day 13 - Ava and Amarapura Old Capitals
We explore these ancient capitals visiting the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung. We cross the famous U Bein Bridge to see the paintings in a temple and come back in sampan.
Day 14 - Sagaing Hills and Mandalay
The true delight of Sagaing lies in its 1.000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. In the afternoon we tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery. We see tapestry making and other traditional crafts.
Day 15 - Mandalay to Rangoon
Disembark Pandaw II at Mandalay.