The Irrawaddy And The Great Irrawaddy Delta (19 Days – Downstream)

Embark the ship and after lunch on board, we tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery and Amarapura with the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung and crossing the U Bein Bridge.

Embark on your ship between 10:30 am – 11:45 am at Sagaing Lay Kyun Man Aung Jetty Mandalay.

We move on to explore the ancient capitals of Ava and cast off cruising downstream through lunch and in the late afternoon we explore Yandabo, a small rural village specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments in this important World Heritage Site and visit lacquer workshops.

Ascend Tan-Chi-Taung mountain by minivan for the spectacular sunrise over Pagan. In Salay we visit a number of teak monasteries including the Yout-Saun-Kyaung with its spectacular wood carvings and we explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses.

We climb the river bank and wind our way through a labyrinth of passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda. This pagoda is constructed with solid gold bricks.

We visit Minhla Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. 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. We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horsecart to see the countryside and golf club.

Visit the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former center of the Pyu civilization with a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculpture.

Stop at the famous A KaukTaung to explore the spectacular stone carving on the cliff.

Continue our exploration of Delta creeks and stop at Donabyu, another little known town with a busy port and bustling markets.

Sail through the Rangoon River and enter the Twante Canal, which connects the Yangon River with the Irrawaddy Delta. We stop on route at the Twante in the afternoon. Enter to the Yangon river port.

Morning excursion to visit the Rangoon War Cemetery. After lunch explore Rangoon’s colonial ‘Downtown’ area.

Early morning departure from Rangoon via the Twante Canal stopping at Twante to view the potteries and on to Pyapon (64miles) a delightful delta town and seaport with lively docks and markets.

Bogale is at the heart of the delta and once a Mon capital and the trading port connected to international trading routes between the 15th and 18th centuries. It features the only mangrove ecosystem reserve in the Delta. A visit to the monastery of the town will be organized.

This will be the most fascinating day’s sailing as we weave through creeks and channels cross-country across the heart of the delta. We will stop for a walkabout in a suitable village.

Morning cruise across the final section of the delta to join the great Bassein River that takes us up to Bassein, the capital of the delta and an important seaport too. Of interest here are the traditional umbrella manufacturies, where the typical monk’s waxed cloth umbrellas are made. On foot, we will explore the town, its shrines, and vibrant markets.

A day at leisure in this charming port town and optional day trip by car to Ngwesaung Beach with lunch there.

Morning departure with lunch to follow, taking the more usual upper delta route of the old IFC ‘launch service’ between Rangoon and Bassein. Evening exploration of this attractive river port.

On these busier channels, there will be a variety of shipping whilst the riverbanks team with life and activity. Maubin is a very pleasant place to enjoy a sunset walk along its colorful strand.

Morning run crossing the Twante Canal and home to the Rangoon River and our berth in colonial downtown and disembarkation between 12 and 12.30 pm (lunch excluded).

Disembark in Rangoon at Kyan Mar Yay Jetty between 12.00 and 12.30.