RIVER JOURNEY TOURS

13-Day Highlight with Gokteik Exploration and Pandaw Cruise 2 Nights

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This interesting and varied tour of Myanmar takes you from Yangon to Mandalay. After crossing 700m long Gokteik Bridge, built in 1900 by the American Pennsylvania Steel Co, by train, a fascinating river journey down the Irrawaddy River by comfort Pandaw Cruise will take you from Mandalay to Bagan, a city scattered with thousands of stupas and pagodas. Start the land route journey to Mt. Popa and Kalaw Hill Station which is home for several hill tribes by passing the countryside and proceed for discovering the floating gardens and villages of Inle Lake.

DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years ago; stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores and the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. Overnight stay in Yangon

DAY 02          YANGON – MANDALAY

After breakfast, transferred you to airport for flight to Mandalay. Drive to Jetty for an excursion by boat on the AYEYARWADDY RIVER will take you to MINGUN, about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar, constructed by King Bodaw Paya; one of the world’s largest bells, the 90 ton MINGUN BELL and HSINBYUME PAYA. Return to Mandalay and check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing. Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 03          MANDALAY – PYIN OO LWIN

Very early morning, transfer to the railway station. Board the Mandalay – Lashio train departing at 04:45am. This train used to be infamous black-market train in the past transporting goods to and from China. You will travel past pretty hills and scenery. The train will cross the famous 700m long Gokteik Bridge, built in 1900 by the American Pennsylvania Steel Co. The impressive height from the bridge to the bottom of the valley is nearly 300m. After crossing the bridge the train will stop at a small station. You will get the chance to have a better look at the bridge. Take good note though that it is not permitted to Photograph/video bridges in Myanmar. Upon arrival at Naung Pain station around noon, get off the train and drive back (approx. 1 ½ hour) to PYIN OO LWIN (Maymyo), the former British hill station and a delightful small town of colonial-style buildings, markets, and a botanical garden. On the way stop to visit the PEIK KHYIN MYAUNG CAVES, caves almost as old as the land itself and proceed to PWE KYAUK FALLS, a favorite picnic spot for local people, before retiring to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Important Information: Trains in Myanmar are not up to international standard and reliability leaves to be desired. However, we will make every effort to provide best available seats on the train. In case of schedule irregularities or delays, which are quite normal we will adjust your itinerary accordingly.

DAY 04          PYIN OO LIWN - MANDALAY – RV PANDAW

After breakfast, visit the local market by a horse cart (if available) before returning to Mandalay. Visit to Amarapura 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was Royal capital. The BAGAYA MONASTERY will fascinate you with an intriguing collection of Buddha statues. Transfer to the jetty and at 11.30 am you will board RV Pandaw in time for lunch. Commence your overnight river journey on board of the RV PANDAW to Bagan. Relax on board while observing the diverse river life and the magnificent scenery. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board of RV Pandaw (***).

DAY 05          DAY 05 RV PANDAW

After breakfast on board, set course downstream to YANDABO village. Take a walk in this delightful, but isolated rural village with poor road access. Yandabo has a thriving community of pottery makers. The people lead simple life, making a variety of clay products which they barter trade for other commodities. Visit the village monastery that has existed on the same site for more than 400 years. Cruise past the Chindwin confluence. In the late afternoon you will dock at THEIN GONE, a typical farming village set on western riverbank 10 km South of Pakkoku. Visit the local monastery and school. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay on board of RV Pandaw (***).

Note : Itinerary and stops during the cruise are subject to changes depending on river conditions and local circumstances.

DAY 06          RV PANDAW - BAGAN

After breakfast on board, set sail for the final leg of your river journey to BAGAN where you will meet your Asian Tour guide and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Optional : Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. (For more details see Asian Tour ‘Balloons over Bagan’ info sheet)

DAY 07          BAGAN

After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.
After lunch, a colorfully decorated ox-cart (if available) will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of traveling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar. Overnight stay in Bagan. 

DAY 08          BAGAN – MT.POPA

After breakfast, visit the site of TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for exquisite murals of 13th century; KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. Farming villages around Bagan will give you insight into the lives of the local people. In the afternoon, drive to Mt. Popa and visit MT. POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Mt. Popa is a popular pilgrimage destination for Myanmar’s. The local people travel here from far away to worship various animist spirits known as “nats”. 777 steps lead up to the shrine placed on top of the steep Popa peak.
Overnight stay in Mt. Popa.

DAY 09          POPA - KALAW

After early breakfast, a 300 km drive (8 hours) will take you to Kalaw. After lunch at a simple local restaurant en route, the journey continues on a narrow, winding and bumpy road through the Shan Hills. You will reach KALAW, a fresh and delightful hill station, situated on the rim of the Shan Plateau, early evening time. Kalaw is a lively market town where many ethnic minority people of the surrounding areas buy and trade their goods.
Overnight stay in Kalaw.

DAY 10          KALAW – INLE LAKE]

After breakfast, set out for an excursion on foot (about 6 hours walk) to the TAR YAW village of the Palaung tribe. The animist Palaungs were amongst the earliest inhabitants in Myanmar and have kept to their traditions living with several families in ‘long-houses’, cultivating cash crops and tanapet for Burmese cheroot cigars. Take a walk to their plantations and visit the village before returning to Kalaw. After Lunch, transfer to NYAUNG SHWE (62 km, 2 ½ hours) and proceed by boat to your hotel on the lake.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 11          INLE LAKE

After breakfast, the visit begins with the local market in the Inle Lake region (Remark : on market days only) and proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex. After Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, you will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks and the weaving village of INPAWKHON. Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 12          INLE LAKE – HEHO - YANGON

After breakfast, transfer to HEHO airport for a domestic flight to YANGON. Complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the fascinating YANGON GLASS FACTORY to watch the production of mouth-blown glass in the old-fashioned way. Proceed to admire the 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the NATIONAL MUSEUM. Last but not the least, proceed to the famous Strand Hotel. From here we will take you for a guided walk through Yangon’s old colonial city center (approx. 1 ½ hour), see the bustling life at the NANTHIDA JETTY and the former British authority buildings between Strand Road and Shwebontha Street (Magol Lan), before relaxing and enjoying the ‘Strand High Tea’. Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 13          DEPART YANGON

Breakfast at hotel. Day is at your leisure until international departure flight.

The itinerary is subject to changes depending on flights, river conditions and availability of rooms.

All the cruises will be operated by RV Pandaw 1947 or RV Pandaw II. The name of the boat on which clients will travel will be confirmed at time of booking. We reserve the right to substitute one boat with the other without prior notice. Cabins and facilities are the same on both Pandaw boats, see detailed descriptions River Cruises/RV Pandaw. Should the guests wish to travel on a particular Pandaw boat this must be advised to us at the time of booking.
There is a new option for river cruising on the Irrawaddy River between Mandalay and Bagan by the new RV Paukan 2007. Should the guests wish to travel on RV Paukan please advice this at the time of booking.