DAY 1: YANGON - KALAYMYO (L/D)

Fly from Rangoon or Mandalay to Kalay Airport for your onward transfer to the Kalay Pandaw at Kalewa, where we overnight.

PLEASE NOTE:

* The itinerary for this expedition is indicative only. As we travel to remote areas and the water levels fall, changes to the itinerary will inevitably occur. A flexible approach is required if you book this cruise.

* The  flight times for your flight from Mandalay or Rangoon to Kalay are currently as follows:

 

K7 226 YGN-KMV 1345-1615
K7 226 MDL-KMV 1510-1615

Flight timings are subject to be changed without prior notice.

 

More about Kalewa

 

DAY 2: KALEWA - MAWLAIK

Morning visit to Masein Village and then sail to Mawlaik, 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 Myanmarh 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!

 

More about Mawlaik

 

DAY 3 MAWLAIK - ELEPHANT CAMP 

Morning excursion by Tuk Tuk or coach to Bus to view the Teak wood Forest outside Mawlaik. Continue to the Pyar Swe Elephant Camp, a working camp where the elephants are protected in natural surroundings. We then sail to Kalewa where we overnight.

 

More about Mawlaik

 

DAY 4: MAWLAIK - MINGKIN

We visit Mingkin in the morning. 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. Afternoon cruising on the Chindwin, including a stop at a local village where we are the main attraction!

 

More about Mingkin

 

DAY 5: MINGKIN - KANEE

Delightful morning cruising the Chindwin downstream towards Kanee village, where we explore on a late morning walking tour. Afternoon enjoy a culinary demonstration on board as we cruise to Monywa where we overnight.

 

DAY 6: KALEE - PHOWIN TAUNG & KYAUK KA VILLAGE

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, we visit the Kyauk Ka Village famous for the making of black Lacquer.

 

More about Phowin Taung

 

DAY 7 PHOWIN TAUNG - MONYWA

Morning excursion by coach exploring Monywa, where we visit Moe Hnyin Than Boaddai Temple with over five hundred thousand Buddha statues and probably the longest (over 330 ft / 100 m) reclining and the tallest (412 ft / 125 m) standing Buddha in Myanmar. After lunch, enjoy a walking tour of Monywa.

 

More about Monywa

 

DAY 8: MONYWA - MANDALAY

Disembark at Monywa IWT jetty and transfer to Mandalay (3 hour drive by road).