Pandaw River Cruises
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PANDAW COMBO RIVER CRUISE

CHINDWIN & NAGALAND 14 NIGHTS

14 NIGHTS

For the first time, sail the entire Chindwin river from Monywa to Nagaland on this limited 14-night combo expedition aboard the 10-cabin Zawgyi Pandaw. Take your time to explore one of the most remote and beautiful regions of Asia as we sail slowly along the Irrawaddy’s main tributary, only accessible with ultra-low-draft vessels such as ours. We will visit remote villages, pass through dramatic gorges and breath-taking scenery as well as explore the ancient Nagaland region, famous for its fierce and distinctive Naga Warriors.

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.

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.

REGISTER YOUR INTEREST FOR THIS EXPEDITION

The situation in Burma has deteriorated rapidly to the point where we are now looking at long-term impacts on the country and the local people. After much deliberation and discussion with our team on the ground, we have come to the difficult decision to cancel all of our scheduled departures in Burma for the foreseeable future, returning only once the situation is settled.

To register your interest for this expedition once we return to Burma please click the button below and complete your details, we will contact you to discuss your arrangements when travel to Burma is possible again.

Click Here to Register Your Interest

IMAGES

EXPEDITION MAP

YOUR SHIP

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS

PRE CRUISE EXTENSIONS

Pre Royal Mandalay 3 nights

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OPTIONAL PACKAGE ADDONS

Private Dining

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Pre-Bookable House Wine Package

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Free Flow Drinks

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Free Flow Drinks & Wine Package

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ITINERARY

Upstream      Downstream

DAY 1 MONYWA

Lunch on board. Afternoon excursion to see Thandboodi Temple, Bawdhi Tahaung statue and the night market in the evening.

PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only. As we travel to remote areas, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.

More about Monywa

DAY 2 PHOWIN TAUNG

Morning Excursion by coach to Phowin Taung Hill where we visit the Phowin Taung Caves with beautiful mural paintings and Buddha statues dating back to the 14th and 18th centuries. In the afternoon, cruise upstream.

More about Phowin Taung

DAY 3 KANEE

The river narrows and the forested hills fall away to farmland. Enjoy a morning culinary demonstration by our head chef on how to prepare a traditional Burmese Ginger Salad. Arrive in Kanee and take an afternoon walking tour of the village.

DAY 4 MINGKIN - KHONE GYI VILLAGE

Morning cruise up river. After lunch, we explore Mingkin, rediscovered by Paul Strachan in 1987 and described in some detail in his book Mandalay: Travels from the Golden City. It remains for Paul the most art historically interesting site in Myanmar (more so than the now spoilt Pagan) with its Konbaung court style teak monasteries sumptuously decorated. Mingkin may be described as the Luang Prabang of the Chindwin. In the evening, we visit to Khone Gyi village near Mingkin.

More about Mingkin

DAY 5 MA SEIN

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.

DAY 6 MAWLAIK- ELEPHANT CAMP

The town that replaced Kindat as the administrative capital but ironically the Myanma refused to move there from upstream Kindat. It was mainly settled with the company houses of the by the Scottish owned and run Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation in the 1920s and 1930s. There are many splendid ‘Dak Bungalows’ set around a verdant golf course. Mawlaik and the other towns of the Upper Chindwin can only be reached by boat so cars are few. There is a dreamy otherworldly quality to such places and truly one feels that one has travelled there in the Pandaw time machine!. In the afternoon, Continue to the Pyar Swe Elephant Camp, a working camp where the elephants are protected in natural surroundings.

More about Mawlaik

DAY 7 MAWLAIK - SHWE TAUNG

Morning excursion by Tuk Tuk or coach to view the teak forests outside Mawlaik. In the evening, visit to Shwe Taung village. We then sail to Kalewa where we overnight.

More about Mawlaik

DAY 8 KALEWA

Explore ashore visiting the local market and enjoying panoramic views over the Chindwin from top of a hill.

More about Kalewa

DAY 9 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.

More about Mawlaik

DAY 10 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.

More about Sitthaung

DAY 11 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'.

More about Toungdoot

DAY 12 NAGALAND

Scenic explorations upstream into the remote Nagaland.

More about Nagaland

DAY 13 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.

More about Khamti

DAY 14 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.

More about Homalin

DAY 15 HOMALIN

Disembark and transfer to the air field for onward flights.

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WHATS INCLUDED

Cruise Price Includes: Domestic flights to/from 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.

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, tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.

TRANSFERS & JOINING

DAY 1 MONYWA

You will be picked up between 08.00am-08.30am on embarkation day. Your transfer Mandalay to the pier in Monywa is included in the cruise package.

Please input the following information into the notes box of your booking or email us at information@pandaw.com:

For Mandalay Airport to Monywa (transfer 2.5 hours):
your arrival time and flight number
For hotel in Mandalay to Monywa (transfer 3 hours): 
your hotel name and hotel address.

DAY 15 HOMALIN

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

TESTIMONIALS

Have you been on this expedition? Send us a testimonial of your experience by Clicking Here.