Itinerary Chindwin EXPEDITION

on board RV Thurgau Exotic

15 days on the Chindwin and Irrawaddy rivers with 1 night in Rangoon

MANDALAY – PHAUNGBYIN– BAGAN:

Day 1 Rangoon

Arrive in Yangon international airport and transfer to our 4-star Hotel.This afternoon we offer a city tour which includes a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, the landmark of the former Burmese capital, and to the Scott Market with its huge variety of stalls. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 2   Rangoon – Mandalay

We fly in the morning to Mandalay, the last legendary capital of the former Kingdom of Burma. Our city tour takes us to a series of craft workshops and a centre for gold leaf production.
At midday we embark the RV Thurgau Exotic. During the afternoon we visit the teak monastery of Shwenandaw Kyaung as well as a stone-carving, wood-carving and embroidery work shop. This evening there is the Welcome Cocktail on board.

Day 3 Mandalay - Amarapura

Today we have the second part of our city tour, with a visit to the famous Mahamuni Pagoda with one of the most admired Buddha images of the country. We also stop at the Central Market. The afternoon sees a coach tour to Amarapura, where we admire the world’s longest teak bridge – the U Bein Bridge. Visit to a cotton and silk weaver’s workshop in Amarapura. This evening there is a demonstration on board of traditional Burmese dance.

Day 4 Sagaing

Cast off in the early morning before taking a coach tour to the lovely Sagaing-Hills, a centre of Buddhist learning and meditation. We visit the 14th Century Sun-U-Ponnya-Shin Pagoda, plus a monastery and a silversmith. During the afternoon we cruise downstream on the Irrawaddy.

Day 5 Chindwin - Monywa

Enjoy our passage through the grandiose lower reaches of the Chindwin. On board there is a presentation of Burmese customs and traditions. In the late afternoon we arrive in Monywa, an important trade centre on the Chindwin. Here we offer an excurison by coach through the surrounding countryside to the spectacularThanbodi Temple.

Day 6 Monywa

Today we visit the Phowin Taung Caves with their impressive wall-paintings and their statues of Buddha dating from the 16th – 18th Century. We also tour the lively port city of Monywa before continuing our cruise during the afternoon.

Day 7 Kani

This morning we take a stroll through the picturesque village of Kani. We climb the pagoda hill, which offers an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. During the afternoon we cruise through the narrow upper reaches of the Chindwin. Lecture on board.

Day 8 Mingkin

We visit the two villages of Kan and Kyi Taung Oo in the district of Mingkin. With its teak monasteries Mingkin is a very interesting places in terms of art history. The monasteries are richly decorated with fine carvings and gilded wall-paintings.

Day 9 Kalewa – Masein

This morning we offer a guided walk in Kalewa, an important location for trade with India. The walk allows time at the lively local market. We then cruise upstream past Masein, with its many small pagodas set on a hill, and through some attractive countryside, characterised by hills and evergreen forests.

Day 10 Mawleik

We take a rickshaw ride through the town to the colonial-style Town Hall. Many of the buildings dating from the colonial era still remain here, as Malweik was once the administrative centre for the Upper Chindwin region.

Day 11 PHAUNGBYIN – Kindat (start of our cruise downstream)

We cruise upstream throughout most of the day to arrive in the small town Phaungbyin, where we again offer a guided walk. There is also a walking tour of the attractive village of Kindat.

Day 12 Gazet

We spend the morning cruising downstream through spectacular countryside and perhaps listening to an on-board lecture. During the afternoon there is a walking tour through a typical riverside village to enjoiy its excellent local hospitality.

Day 13 Amyint

This morning we tie up in the village of Amyint to walk to the impressive 17th Century Min Kyaw Swa Stupa. We then cruise through the lower reaches of the Chindwin to its confluence with the Irrawaddy.

Day 14 Bagan

We arrive in Bagan during the afternoon. This historic former imperial capital, with its 3000-plus brick-built Buddhist shrines, is one of the major archaeological sites in South East Asia. A coach tour takes us to some of the most important temples and pagodas. This evening sees a traditional puppet show on board.

Day 15 Bagan

We visit some further interesting sights in Bagan as well as a traditional lacquer workshop. The evening includes a Farewell Cocktail on board.

Day 16 Bagan – Rangoon – Bangkok

We disembark in the early morning for the transfer to Bagan airport. We take Lunch in a local restaurant in Rangoon, before transferring to the International airport in Rangoon.

We reserve the right to alter this itinerary