Compare An Expedition up the Chindwin by Red Savannah vs Myanmar Discovery Tour by Himalayan Glacier Adventure

Day 1: Arrive in Mandalay

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.

Day 2: Explore Mandalay

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.

Day 3: Monywa

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 - the ideal expedition ship with the feel of a comfortable private yacht.

In the afternoon, explore Monywa and see the Thanbodi Temple, which boasts a million images of the Buddha.

Day 4: Phowin Taung Caves

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.

Day 5: Mingkin

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.

Day 6: Kalaywa and Mawlaik

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 repair after months extracting teak from the surrounding forests. Here they could have a hot bath and a drink, and this atmosphere is maintained to this day by the eerie lack of cars and the many Edwardian "Dak Bungalows" set around a golf course.

Day 7: Yuwa and Sittahaung

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 commercial river steamers to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Japanese, in 1942. This was the starting point for what became the nightmarish trek over the mountains to India for all those fleeing the conflict.

Day 8: Paungbyin to Toungdoot

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.

Day 9: Toungdoot to Homalin

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.

Day 10: Fly to Yangon

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.

Day 11: Yangon

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.

Day 12: Depart Yangon

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.

Day 1: Arrival Yangon

Welcome to the Garden City Yangon.  International flights arrive into Yangon International Airport. Our representative will give welcome gifts including postcard and Map of Myanmar.Then transfer to hotel for check in. After that visit Botataung Pagoda, a famous landmark on Yangon’s waterfrontwhere one can see Buddha’s hair relic and Nanthida Jetty to see people coming and going for work from either side of Yangon River. And then continue to Sule Pagoda, MahaBandoolaPark with IndependenceMonument, located at the heart of the city, Chaukhtatgyi reclining Buddha image.Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon Kyaikhtiyo

After breakfast at hotel, you will start trip to Kyaikhtiyo the “Golden Rock”, a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. From Kin Pun, we have to drive 11 km to the intermediate point by Local Truck and proceed to summit by palanquin (at own account), check in at Kyaikhto hotel. Visit Kyaiktiyo; Golden Rock, watch the beauty of sunset or dawn at this important pilgrimage site.Overnight at Kyaikhtiyo.

Day 3: Kyaikhtiyo Bago - Yangon by Car

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast return to Yangon. Before proceed on to Yangon and sightseeing at Bago, the ancient Mon Capital. Sightseeing tour highlights include Kyaik Pun Pagoda,Shwemawdaw Pagoda, over a thousand years old; its spire is even taller than Shwedagon Pagoda. The 55 meter long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image is among the country’s most revered and Kyaik Pun Pagoda. The HanthawadiPalace: Kanbawza Thadi, the famous palace of King Bayinnaung (1551 – 1581 A.D.) is being extensively excavated and some buildings are being rebuilt. Return to Yangon through rural landscape of paddy fields and small villages. Evening visit to the 2,500 years old magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda sheathed in 11 tons of pure gold and 4,350 diamonds weighing 1800 carats!  At sunset, the Shwedagon offers visitor a spectacular show of lights and shadows. Overnight at Hotel in Yangon.

Day 4: Yangon Bagan by AM flight (flying hour 1 20)-Cycling

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Bagan. On arrival to Bagan airport we pick up our bike and ride along the river side across the Natdaungkyaung, Taungbila village, university of lacquer ware then continue to explore the Nyaung Oo Market which is very active in the morning not only for the local people but also for the tourists, then continue to the Shwezigon Pagoda a prototype of later Myanmar stupa. You will visit the Wetkyi-in Gubyaukkyi Temple with fine mural paintings of Jataka scenes Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece resembling a Greek cross. After lunch at the local restaurant we will check- in to the Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour continues with bike to visits some of the beautiful monument and sun set at Pyathagyi temple. Overnight at Hotel in Bagan.

Day 5: Bagan-Popa-Bagan (50 Km Cycling)

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at hotel, visit to Mount Popa,an extinct volcano,which is the abode of Nats(Spirits).On top of the mountain,there are monasteries,pagodas and shrines in different style.Then come back to Bagan by cycling. We first head to New Bagan to explore some of the monument and villages to study ways of life of people until Lunch time. Then visit to the lacquer ware industry where you can study traditional Myanmarlacquer ware making. In the afternoon, we continues riding to the Myinkabar village which we can study about the lacquer ware, Manuha Temple with gigantic Buddha images, a captive king’s impression of life in prison; Nanpaya, an Early-style temple with the finest stone carvings and Sunset at Shwesandaw pagoda . Overnight in Hotel in Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan-Mandalay-Amarapura by flight

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transfer to airport for flight to Mandalay. On arrival to Tada-Oo International Airport, you will be proceeding to visit an ancient of Amarapura, silk weaving industry and enjoy the great serenity of 1.2 km long U Bein wooden Bridge constructed in 1849 is about three quarter of a mile with 1086 posts and Taung- ta-man lake that will give you an enchanting experience.Visit Mahagandaryone monastery the largest teaching monastery in Myanmar. Daily at around 10:30 a.m. about 700 monks queue up for their last meal on this day.Then visit famous Mahamuni Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddha Image in Mandalay. Then visit to Gold foil making cottage industry. Check-in at hotel and followed by afternoon sightseeing that begins with visits to Mandalay Palace,Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the World’s Biggest Book for its stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures. Tour continues to Mandalay Hill, optional cycling around base of the hill, a vantage point for a panoramic view of the city and a spectacular sunset view. Optional stroll up the hill enjoying panoramic views from different location can also go by car. Return can also be made by car as there is also a car track by the base of elevator just before the platform. Overnight at Hotel in Mandalay.

Day 7: Mandalay-Heho-Pindaya-(60 Km Cycling)-Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight to Heho. On arrival to Heho airport we pick up our bikes cycling on beautiful undulating roads passing through vegetable farm and rice paddies. Enjoy the lunch enroute. We finish our ride at Pindaya and the rest of the day is at your leisure to rest or explore the small town. Optional points of interest – Pindaya Cave, Paper Making, Umbrella Making. Then continue to Kalaw by car and overnight at hotel in Kalaw.

Day 8: Kalaw-Taryaw (Trekking)-NyaungShwe

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After Breakfast morning (8:00 am),depart from Hotel by car. Drive about (10 min