
AVOYAGETONAGALAND
Kalewa - Kindat - Sittaung - Khamti - Homalin
Overview
Only the small Kalay and Zawgyi Pandaws, with their ultra-low drafts, can journey north beyond Homalin in the high water season from mid-August to Mid-October on an adventure to Nagaland, famous for the fierce and distinctive Naga warriors and various ethnic communities. Along the way, the Chindwin River passes through dramatic scenery of dense jungles, high cliffs and deep gorges and visits remote villages each with a unique way of life.To further enhance your experience, we now have a number of quality mountain bikes for your use on the cruise.PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.Please note that Chindwin expeditions need special permits which can take up to 3 weeks. We kindly ask you to contact us via EMAIL or PHONE for short notice bookings.
Expedition Route

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represented by Sayang Holidays
7 NIGHTS
CHECK AVAILABILITY & BOOK ONLINEYour Journey
KALEWA
Transfer to the your Pandaw. Explore ashore visiting the local market and enjoying panoramic views over the Chindwin from top of a hill.PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.
KALEWA
Flight and transfer to the your Pandaw. Explore ashore visiting the local market and enjoying panoramic views over the Chindwin from top of a hill.PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.
KALEWA
Flight and transfer to the your Pandaw. Explore ashore visiting the local market and enjoying panoramic views over the Chindwin from top of a hill.PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only and subject to reconnaissance. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.
MAWLAIK - YUWA
Morning visit to Masein Village and then sail to Mawlaik , the former seat of the Bombay Burma Corporation's timber extraction operations for the Chindwin Area. The old Headquarters building still stands here.Also visit the tiny village of Yuwa,where previous Pandaw travellers report a delightful atmosphere from friendly locals.
MAWLAIK - YUWA
Morning visit to Masein Village and then sail to Mawlaik , the former seat of the Bombay Burma Corporation's timber extraction operations for the Chindwin Area. The old Headquarters building still stands here.Also visit the tiny village of Yuwa,where previous Pandaw travellers report a delightful atmosphere from friendly locals.
MAWLAIK
Set sail to charming Ma Sein Village and continue to Mawlaik, the former seat of the Bombay Burma Corporation's timber extraction operations for the Chindwin Area. The old Headquarters building still stands here.
KINDAT
Sail to Kindat (translated in Burmese meaning a military outpost), with its old colonial post office (now a school). Also visit the tiny village of Yuwa, where previous Pandaw travellers report a delightful atmosphere from friendly locals.
SITTHAUNG - PAUNGPYIN
Continuing upstream we sail to Sitthaung, the final resting place of a number of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamers scuppered there in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. Remains of these ships can be found here. It was from here that the survivors of the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the India border. Pantha was an important oil refinery belonging to the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). We also explore Paungpyin village and take a walking tour including a visit to the market and the attractive wooden houses.
SITTHAUNG - PAUNGPYIN
Continuing upstream we sail to Sitthaung, the final resting place of a number of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamers scuppered there in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. Remains of these ships can be found here. It was from here that the survivors of the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the India border. Pantha was an important oil refinery belonging to the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). We also explore Paungpyin village and take a walking tour including a visit to the market and the attractive wooden houses.
TOUNGDOOT
Morning visit to Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan enclave who in British times still had a ruling Sawbwa complete with palace and court. It will be interesting to see what has become of the royal family and their home and to see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. Alistair McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 'I loved the atmosphere of quiet and peaceful living there. At night I could hear greylag geese as they came in to the flooded land around us from far away north'.
TOUNGDOOT
Morning visit to Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan enclave who in British times still had a ruling Sawbwa complete with palace and court. It will be interesting to see what has become of the royal family and their home and to see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. Alistair McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 'I loved the atmosphere of quiet and peaceful living there. At night I could hear greylag geese as they came in to the flooded land around us from far away north'.
SITTHAUNG
Continuing upstream we sail to Sitthaung, the final resting place of a number of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company steamers scuppered there in 1942 in an ‘act of denial’ from the advancing Japanese who were a matter of hours behind. Remains of these ships can be found here. It was from here that the survivors of the Japanese invasion marched out to Tamu on the India border. Pantha was an important oil refinery belonging to the Indo-Burma Petroleum Co (Steel Brothers). We also explore Paungpyin village and take a walking tour including a visit to the market and the attractive wooden houses.
TOUNGDOOT
Morning visit to Toungdoot or Hsawng-hsup in Tai, is an ancient Shan enclave who in British times still had a ruling Sawbwa complete with palace and court. It will be interesting to see what has become of the royal family and their home and to see these Shan people so far from their Tai-Shan homelands. Alistair McCrae wrote of his visit there 1935 ‘I loved the atmosphere of quiet and peaceful living there. At night I could hear greylag geese as they came in to the flooded land around us from far away north’.
NAGALAND
Scenic explorations upstream into the remote Nagaland.
NAGALAND
Scenic explorations upstream into the remote Nagaland.
KHAMTI
Afternoon arrive at Khamti, known as 'the land full of gold' due to the prevalence of gold panning in the nearby tributary of the Chindwin. We visit the town, the monastery meet local Tai speaking peoples.
KHAMTI
Afternoon arrive at Khamti, known as 'the land full of gold' due to the prevalence of gold panning in the nearby tributary of the Chindwin. We visit the town, the monastery meet local Tai speaking peoples.
KHAMTI
Scenic explorations upstream into the remote Nagaland. Afternoon arrive at Khamti, known as ‘the land full of gold’ due to the prevalence of gold panning in the nearby tributary of the Chindwin. We visit the town, the monastery meet local Tai speaking peoples.
NAGALAND
Morning visit to Khampti market and sail the Chindwin today towards Homalin stopping at villages not used to western travellers.
CRUISING - HOMALIN
Evening visit Homalin, an interesting town close to the Indian border with attractive forested mountains on either side – some rising to over 9,000 feet. Irrawaddy Flotilla Company used to visit here and during World War II, Homalin was occupied by the Japanese.
CRUISING - HOMALIN
Evening visit Homalin, an interesting town close to the Indian border with attractive forested mountains on either side – some rising to over 9,000 feet. Irrawaddy Flotilla Company used to visit here and during World War II, Homalin was occupied by the Japanese.
HOMALIN
Disembark and transfer to the air field for onward flights.
HOMALIN
Disembark and transfer to the air field for onward flights.
HOMALIN
Morning visit Homalin, an interesting town close to the Indian border with attractive forested mountains on either side – some rising to over 9,000 feet. Irrawaddy Flotilla Company used to visit here and during World War II, Homalin was occupied by the Japanese. Disembark and transfer to the airport for your flight.
Available
Extensions
Package Add-ons
What's Included
Included in Your Journey
Cruise Price Includes: Domestic flights Yangon/Mandalay to Kalewa and Homalin to Mandalay, entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes. Quality mountain bikes available for independent exploration on the Kalay and Zawgyi Pandaws.
Not Included
Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues (if levied), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes and tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.
Joining & Transfers
Embarkation & Disembarkation
Day 1 — Embarkation
Fly from Yangon or Mandalay to Kalay and transfer to your your ship in Kalewa.
For flight from Yangon: Registration at 10:30am at Sule Shangri-La Hotel.
For flight from Mandalay: We will pick you up from your hotel in Mandalay between 12:30 and 13:00.
Please note that flight times might change.
Yangon - Kalay K7-226 1300-1530 (Via MDL)
Mandalay - Kalay K7-226 1440-1530 (Direct)
Day 8 — Disembarkation
Disembark and transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay. Please note that flight times might change.
Homalin - Mandalay UB-586 1610-1720 (Direct) May – Sep
More Information
Visa Information
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Share Your Experience
"To say we were looked after royally would be an understatement"
We have just returned from back to back voyages to Nagaland on board Zawgyi Pandaw departing 27 July and 3 August 2019.
First of all we must thank Pandaw for operating the voyage downstream on 3 August 2019 with only two passengers – us! To say we were looked after royally would be an understatement. Captain Zaw Zaw Oo, Purser Fabian and all the crew could not be faulted – not to mention our guide Ko San Lwin who by the end of the two cruises was as much a friend as a guide. It may be unfair to mention individual crew members, but Ko Thura Tun and Ko Jackson, the deck stewards, were very attentive and the head chef, Ko Soe Myint Swe, let us choose the menu and provided seven lunches and dinners of Myanmar cuisine. On both voyages, Ko Soe’s meals were of International standard with imaginative presentation.
On the second voyage we still had two stops each day and most of them were different from the first voyage. They included a visit to Tonhe/Ton Hae where the Chindits crossed the river in 1943 and we met an old man of 92 who clearly remembered the evacuation in 1942 and the Chindits in 1943.
As we had visited the Naga museum in Khamti on the first voyage we asked Ko San Lwin to find somewhere different for our second call and we dropped in at the local nunnery. The nuns were very welcoming and offered us light refreshments in their dining area. This area would accommodate 15/20 visitors and we would suggest this be considered as an additional visit on future Pandaw calls to Khamti should time allow. (We visited a nunnery last year on the inaugural Delta voyage and this seemed to be popular with passengers).
Although not directly under the control of Pandaw(!), considering it was the monsoon season, we had relatively little rain during the whole 14 days and certainly nothing to interrupt our activities. In fact the river level was dropping. The friendly Nats must have been smiling down on us!
Once again many thanks and we hope to travel with Pandaw again in the not too distant future.
Kind regards
David and Judy Saunders
Check Availability & Book Online
or call TOLL FREE 1-877-872-6329
represented by Sayang Holidays
7 NIGHTS
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