An Expedition up the Chindwin

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Overview
Highlights
- Cruise aboard a wonderful five-cabin colonial-style river cruiser
- Reach remote, peaceful parts of Chin State
- Step back in time as you experience a Myanmar unaffected by change and discover vestiges of the colonial era pre-WW2
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Trip includes
- All your meals
- Excursions and activities as per the itinerary
- Soft drinks
- Local beer and spirits
- tips for crew are included.
Itinerary

Accommodation: Hotel by the Red Canal
Arrive in Mandalay, the former royal capital and centre of Burmese culture on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.
Accommodation: Hotel by the Red Canal
Spend a day exploring several of the ancient Burmese capitals that surround the modern city, such as Ava and Sagaing. See too the fascinating workshops and artisans that flourish in the city and the wonderfully photogenic U-Bein bridge, the world's longest wooden bridge.
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Drive out of Mandalay to board the RV Kalay Pandaw, your characterful and comfortable home-cum-transportation for the expedition up the Chindwin River. With just 5 large cabins, the Kalay Pandaw is extremely exclusive and intimate...
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Travel to admire the stunning mural paintings at the Phowin Taung Caves. Then cast off for the journey upriver. Beyond Monywa the river narrows and you sail past several villages on the banks.
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Arrive into Mingkin, which is an architectural tour-de-force, virtually unknown outside of Myanmar. There are plenty of traditional wooden houses surrounding amazing, teak monasteries in the Konbaung court style.
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Kalewa is considered the gateway to the Chin State, and had excellent markets selling all manner of exotic local produce. Further upstream is Mawlaik, to which colonial employees of the Bombay Myanmar Trading Corporation would rep...
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
The expedition continues past the Kubu Valley and the Yu River, down which a relief force was sent to rescue the Manipur garrison during a local rebellion. Beyond this is Sittahaung where the British scuttled several of their comm...
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Continue upriver, deep into the Chin State, where the Indo-Burma Petroleum Company established a large oil refinery and where a community of Shan tribes people maintained an enclave, far from their homeland near the Thai border.
Accommodation: RV Kalay Pandaw
Sail to the highest navigable point of the Chindwin River at Homalin, close to the Indian border, and surrounded by large, forest-covered mountains.
Accommodation: The Strand Hotel
Disembark and fly to Yangon, where you are met and transferred to The Strand Hotel, in the heart of the colonial downtown.
Accommodation: The Strand Hotel
Explore the city of Yangon with your local guide, seeing the crumbling colonial downtown, Scott Market and the fascinating Botataung and Shwedagon Pagodas.
Transfer to Yangon airport to catch your flight out of Myanmar.
NB: The river journey operates upstream and downstream on alternating weeks during the season (late September - March). The above journey illustrates the upstream itinerary. The downstream itinerary works in reverse.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Red Savannah.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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