A Pandaw river expedition is not like an ocean going cruise. There is no dressing up for dinner and no 'captain's table'. The atmosphere on board is very friendly and informal, more like a party on a private yacht than a cruise ship. Nearly everything is included in the price and there are no hidden extras for excursions. Even your drinks are included in the price of your ticket. There is an incredibly high level of personal service and care aboard, with a crew passenger ratio of 1:2.  For these reasons passengers keep coming back to explore more of a lost South-East Asia.

 

Brief Itinerary – Upstream           Downstream

 

Day 1: Arrive Bagan                         Day 1: Arrive Mandalay

Day 2: Bagan                                     Day 2: Mingun

Day 3: Bagan – Pakokku                   Day 3: Lon Yein

Day 4: Irrawaddy                              Day 4: Sagaing Hills – Ava – Amarapura

Day 5: Mandalay – Ava –                  Day 5: Pakokku

Amarapura – Sagaing Hills

Day 6: Mingun                                   Day 6: Bagan

Day 7: Mandalay                               Day 7: Bagan

Day 8: Depart Mandalay                  Day 8: Depart Bagan

 

 

Upstream itinerary (Bagan – Mandalay)

 

Day 1: Arrive Bagan                                                                                    [-/L/D]

 

Transfer from airport to the ship for lunch followed by an exploration of a selection of the 3000 plus Pagan monuments by bicycle or coach.

 

Day 2: Bagan                                                                                     [B/L/D]

 

Today we explore Bagan further and learn how Bagan’s famous lacquer ware crafts are produced in Myingaba village

 

Day 3: Bagan – Pakokku                                                                 [B/L/D]

 

You have the morning free at Bagan to relax or explore and the ship sails at midday for an evening excursion to Pakokku, a lively riverside town with many monasteries.

 

Day 4: Irrawaddy                                                                             [B/L/D]

 

Today we take a morning walk through an Irrawaddy village and then we sail up the river for the rest of the day.        

 

Day 5: Mandalay – Ava – Amarapura – Sagaing Hills               [B/L/D]

 

We arrive at Mandalay early for a morning excursion to Ava and Amarapura and an evening walk in the picturesque Sagaing Hills with its many hermitages and nunneries.

 

Day 6: Mingun                                                                                  [B/L/D]

 

We take a morning walk around Mingun and in the afternoon cruise up river to the first defile and Kyauk Myoung with its amazing pottery villages.

 

Day 7: Mandalay                                                                               [B/L/D]

 

We do some sightseeing in central Mandalay today, with visits to the palace and hill areas, crafts workshops and shopping.

 

Day 8: Depart Mandalay                                                                 [B/-/-]

 

By 09:00 Hrs we disembark in Mandalay and transfer to the airport.

 

 

 

Downstream itinerary (Mandalay – Bagan)     

 

Day 1: Arrive Mandalay                                                                  [-/L/D]

 

You transfer from the airport to the ship for lunch and an afternoon excursion to central Mandalay visiting the palace and hill areas, crafts workshops and shopping.

 

Day 2: Mingun                                                                                  [B/L/D]

 

Today we cross to Mingun for a morning walk and then sail up the river to the first defile.

           

Day 3: Lon Yein                                                                                [B/L/D]

 

We explore on foot the village of Lon Yein with its amazing potteries (we take a tender to shore if the water level is low).

 

 Day 4: Sagaing Hills – Ava – Amarapura                                                [B/L/D]

 

We start the day with a morning walk in the picturesque Sagaing Hills with its many hermitages and nunneries; in the evening we visit the lost capitals of Ava and Amarapura

 

Day 5: Pakokku                                                                                [B/L/D]

 

Today we sail all day with a stop in the morning at a lovely village, continuing on with an evening tour of Pakokku, a lively riverside town with many monasteries.

 

Day 6: Bagan                                                                                     [B/L/D]

 

We arrive at Bagan early in the morning for a day exploring a selection of the 3,000 plus monuments by bicycle or coach.

 

Day 7: Bagan                                                                                     [B/L/D]

 

Today we further explore Bagan, learning how Bagan’s famous lacquer ware crafts are produced in Myingaba village. 

 

Day 8: Depart Bagan                                                                                    [B/-/-]

 

By 09:00 Hrs we disembark and transfer to the airport.

 

RIVER CONDITIONS WARNING!

 

The rivers you will sail on are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level, in some places as much as 30 metres. Water levels can change dramatically overnight and a sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably and even prevent us from passing under certain bridges. A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Groundings on sandbars are not infrequent and are part of the excitement of any Pandaw expedition. Published itineraries are tentative and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop.  Passengers are thus forewarned and expected to be flexible and patient. River cruising in Asia can be a dramatic and adventurous experience - not like cruising the controlled waterways of Europe or America. Note also that we operate in areas with little or no developed infrastructure and subject to the strictures of local officialdom. Be prepared for this and it is all more the fun!

  This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The ‘Price From’ quoted is for a party of 6 to 8 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

 TBA