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SEE IT ALL FROM RANGOON TO MANDALAY

THE IRRAWADDY

14 NIGHTS

Ply from Yangoon to the delightful city of Prome on the edge of the Delta to Mandalay and Mingun. Daily stops include tours of the historic capitals of Pagan with its 3,000 monuments, and Mandalay with its royal palace and many sites around the city, particularly on the river. We will pass from the lush teak forests around Prome, through the near desert of Middle Burma before we reach the former King’s capital Mandalay. Optional stays in Yangon the capital with transfers and flights are offered as an add on to the cruise.

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

IRRA Pre cruise Rangoon

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Undiscovered Burma's South - Strand Moulmein

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POST CRUISE EXTENSIONS

IRRA Post cruise Rangoon

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2 Nights Mystical Inle Lake Post Tour

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Mystical Inle Lake & Southern Shan State Adventure (4 nights) - Kalaw Hill Lodge

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2 Nights Southern Shan State Adventure - Kalaw Hill Lodge

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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

DAY 1 RANGOON (YANGON)

Embark and sail 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 Town and explore city center.

More about Rangoon (Yangon)

DAY 2 MAUBIN AND NYAUNG DON

In morning we walk visit to Maubin bustling market and city surrounding area. Afternoon our exploration of Delta area NyaungDon city visit to see country life style. Moor over night at Zakagyi.

More about Maubin

DAY 3 DANABYU AND ZALON

We 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 disastrous campaign by the British. Afternoon walk in Zalon city to visit beautiful Golden Buddha image and return to ship. Moor overnight at Henzada.

More about Danupyu

DAY 4 MYANAUNG

Sailing all day and we stop to visit the markets and see old colonial buildings in the sleepy Delta town of Manaung. We enter the Irrawaddy River.

More about Myanaung

DAY 5 PROME (PYAY)

Early morning we sail slowly upstream and downstream A Kaut Taung area, to view Buddha carvings on the mountainside, from the upper deck or Sundeck. We reach Prome by the afternoon and travel by coach to the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, the former centre of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculptures.

More about Prome (Pyay)

DAY 6 THAYETMYO

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar 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 through the former British botanical garden.

More about Thayetmyo

DAY 7 MINHLA AND MAGWE

Minhla - We visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. 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.We ride Trishaws to reach the magnificent Magwe Myat-thalon Pagoda, constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.

More about Magwe

DAY 8 SALE

Here we visit the Yout-saun-kyaung monastery with its spectacular wood carvings; we also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses and continue sailing upstream.

More about Sale

DAY 9 PAGAN

In the morning, moor at the Tan-Chi-Taung mountain and enjoy the view. Continue with one of the highlights of your trip with a tour of a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at this World Heritage Site, Pagan.

More about Pagan

DAY 10 PAGAN

Further exploration by coach of the monuments follow by a lacquerware workshop and visit to the local markets. Sail in the noon to upstream. Evening walk at Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in this typical river side community.

More about Pagan

DAY 11 YANDABO

This small rural village is specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

More about Yandabo

DAY 12 MANDALAY, SAGAING AND AMARAPURA

Guests will take a tour of central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. In the afternoon we visit Sagaing. The true delight of Sagaing lies in its 1000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. Next we explore the ancient capital of Amarapura by coach, take a boat ride along Taungthaman lake and watch the tranquillity and serenity of this beautiful lake and its famous U-Bein Bridge at sunset. 

More about Amarapura

DAY 13 MINGUN

We stop at Mingun to see the largest working bell in the world and the unfinished pagoda which is the largest single mass of brick building in the world. We also visit the Mingun Old Peoples Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.

More about Mingun

DAY 14 KYAUK MYOUNG

Sail upstream and visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are handmade. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week-long firing in huge kilns. Afternoon sailing to Mandalay.

More about Kyauk-Myoung

DAY 15 MANDALAY

Disembark at Mandalay.

More about Mandalay

EXPORT ITINERARY AS PDF Go

WHATS INCLUDED

Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes.

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.

TRANSFERS & JOINING

DAY 1 RANGOON (YANGON)

Embarkation between 10.30am and 11.00am at Kyan Mar Yay Jetty (on Strand Road in Yangon opposite the Myanmar Custom Department, between Pansoedan Jetty and Sule Jetty). Please note that the ship will leave the pier at 11.00am.

DAY 15 MANDALAY

Disembark from your ship between 8.00am - 9.00am at Sagaing Lay Kyun Man Aung Jetty, Mandalay.

TESTIMONIALS

The people of Myanmar are welcoming, friendly and honest and it is a very safe place for tourists to travel - posted by Pat and Fred Atkins

Through his insight I believe we saw the true side of a beautiful country and met so many wonderful people - posted by Arlene Wilbers

The crew on Pandaw II were easily the best we have encountered on any cruise - posted by Robert and Rosemary Matheson

Please allow us to congratulate your crew and vessel for a wonderful experience - posted by Roy and Margie Justice

Due to their amazing service and attitude we are only looking at doing Pandaw cruises in the future - posted by Julie Collings and Robert Bullen

I would like to say that Pandaw has raised the bar for future cruises my husband and I may take - posted by Sue and Dave Garskey

Having travelled with Pandaw it has really spoilt me for anything else - posted by Isobel Dexter

It was like a dream - great trip I had! - posted by Dimitra Gebhard

Our little family is again going to explore Southeast Asia and a Pandaw adventure is on the itinerary - posted by Solveig Lalla, Krishna Lalla and Lindsay Isaac-Lalla

This is a relaxing, easy, cruise - posted by Carol Mathias

Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations were just superb - from the cocktail party on the sandbank to the fireworks at midnight - posted by Valerie and Steve Knott

Phoo clearly understood our requests and needs and offered experiences based on our interests - posted by Christine Lockey

The cruise on the Pandaw was great. The staff are so attentive and nothing was too much bother. - posted by Neil Ludvigsen

I would recommend Pandaw cruises to anyone, and hope to do more trips in the near future - posted by Catherine Joyce & Ross Gordon

I recently completed my second cruise with Pandaw - posted by Geoff Cocks

I really did not know what to expect, only hoped for the best - posted by Angela Banford

What a rewarding experience I enjoyed - posted by Julia Caroline Ross

We had the most wonderful time - posted by Ms Elizabeth Lane & Mr John Mccallum

A wonderful Irrawady River cruise on Orient Pandaw - posted by Ms Gail Nielsen

TRAVEL BLOGS

An Irrawaddy Voyage

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   By the 1920s, travel to Burma became all the rage. To give an idea of the destination's popularity,.... read more

 

The Business: how did they run the Irrawaddy Flotilla?

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   Having struggled over the past twenty-five years to keep a few boats running on the Irrawaddy river it d.... read more

 

The Flotilla at War

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   The Irrawaddy Flotilla may be remembered for opening up a great and rich country to trade and travel, an.... read more

 

The Irrawaddy Steamer

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   By the late 1880s, the Irrawaddy Flotilla was the single most important instrument for the opening of Bu.... read more

 

The Irrawaddy Commander

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   To captain an Irrawaddy ship is no small challenge. Still without charts and few navigational .... read more

 

MEDIA MENTIONS

The perfect holiday in Myanmar

21 Nov 2019 - article by Gill Charlton for the Telegraph

 

RV Kanee Pandaw sets sail

09 Oct 2019 - article by TTR Weekly

 

Myanmar River Cruise: Why You Should See Burma By Small Ship Cruise

08 Jul 2019 - article by Judi Cohen for Travel Awaits

 

Rediscovering the road to Mandalay: Crusing the Irrawaddy River

18 Dec 2017 - article by Julie L. Kessler for the Star-Advertiser

 

Herald Sun Australia on Pandaw in Burma

01 Oct 2015 - article by Herald Sun Australia

 

On the river to Mandalay

01 May 2012 - article by David Potts

 

Echoes of empire on the Irrawaddy

01 Jan 2012 - article by Maria Visconti

 

Pandaw Cruises Pte Ltd ©2024 Pandaw Cruises Ltd. All rights reserved.

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