PAUKAN CRUISES
Tour Of Myanmar
OVERVIEW
The Paukan Cruises has many variety of boats from boutique size 18 cabins to the larger 28 cabin boats. Whichever your desire, the Paukan Cruises are sure to meet your needs. We will focus below on the Paukan 2012 as it’s unique wooden exterior standout from the rest of the fleet. The Paukan 2012 is a gem of a vessel, a compact but elegant vessel made of teak with a hull of marine steel. The walls and floors are of timber with each plank carefully chosen to show off the beautiful grain. The décor is modern chic, with a touch of Myanmar culture through a few traditional motifs, wooden figures, fabrics and paintings.There are 18 cabins, twin and double, with attached bathrooms for a total of 34 passengers.
Mandalay / Myanmar
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Between Mandalay and Bagan
These cruises have been designed to be a relaxing interlude during a tour of Myanmar. You will experience the river life and visit villages off of the usual tourist trails adding to your trip an unforgettable experience.
Boat Accommodation
Passengers
34 Cabins
18 with Private Bathroom
Upper Deck
· 6 Double Deluxe with Balcony * 25 sq.mt/ 270 sq. ft.
· 2 Premier with Balcony (at Bow) : 25 sq.mt / 270 sq. ft.
· 2 Single : 10 sq.mt / 107 sq. ft.
Main Deck
· 8 Twin Deluxe with French Balcony * 23 sq.mt./250 sq. ft.
Lower Deck
· 2 Single for Guides/TL: 8 sq mt / 86 sq. ft.
Lounge & Bar
On The Upper Deck (Capacity : 16 seats Indoor and 15 Outdoor)
Dining Room
On The Main Deck (Capacity: 34 Seats)
Solarium
On Sun / Roof Deck (Capacity: 16 sun chairs)
Water
Desedimentation And Full Water Treatment – Reverse Osmosis System For The Kitchen
DECK PLANS
Click on image to enlarge
CRUISE PRICE INCLUDES
All Cruises: Full Board, Sightseeing in a river village, Coffee / Tea / Water
Sunday Dep. 2Nights Cruise Shore Excursions: Vehicle in Sagaing + Entrance fees for Mingun / Sagaing + Dance and Drama show on the sundeck.
CRUISE PRICE EXCLUDES
Transfer to the ship from Mandalay / Bagan Airport or Hotel, drinks, laundry, all items of a personal nature; Insurance outside the ship boundaries, fuel surcharges if applicable.
(*) Within the above rates the fuel cost is calculated on the Myanmar Market average price of the months of April 2017 (i.e. USD 0.7 per litre). Should the fuel price rise by more than 10%, AYRAVATA CRUISES will be entitled to impose a fuel surcharge equivalent to the amount by which the fuel price exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this rise is given to the Passenger and/or his-her Agent within 30 days prior the cruise departure date.
RIVER CONDITIONS WARNING
The Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level.
In the case of water levels being too high or low an alternative itinerary will be offered to Passenger.
Published itineraries are indication only 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.
Though every effort will be made to ensure that the published itinerary is followed as closely as possible, given uncertain river and other local conditions, all schedules and itineraries may be subject to alterations and delays at short notice.
The ship’s manager and captain are jointly responsible for passengers’ comfort and safety.
Passengers must accept their decisions and instructions.
ITINERARY
OPTION 1
Between Royal Mandalay and Ancient Bagan - 1 Night
(Downstream: Mandalay to Bagan)
DAY 1 : SAGAING-YANDABO
The embarkation time is 10.00 hrs at Sagaing jetty and cast off after half an hour.
Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch.
Cruise all day long. In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo, a village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We visit the Pot workshops and the monastery.
Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint
DAY 2 : BAGAN
Early in the morning we continue downstream to Bagan.
Enjoy the sunrise near Bagan. After breakfast, passengers will disembark at Bagan Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty by 9:30 hrs.
OPTION 2
From Royal Mandalay To Ancient Bagan - 2 Nights
(Upstream: Bagan to Mandalay)
DAY 1 : MANDALAY-MINGUN
The embarkation time is 12.00 noon at Gawein jetty and cast off after half an hour time. Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch. After cruising upstream for two hours we arrive at the Mingun Pagoda Complex. Our English speaking manager (or your private guide) will accompany the guests during the visit.Moor Overnight at a sandbank mid-stream. After dinner guests can enjoy a Dance and Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck (if available).
DAY 2 : SAGAING-YANDABO
Early in the morning cruise downstream. During the two hours journey the passengers can admire the natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or just sitting outside their own cabin. Enjoy the sunrise over Sagaing Hill.
After breakfast passengers wishing to visit Sagaing can go ashore with the assistance of our Ship Manager or their own guide.
We resume our downriver voyage at 10.30 hrs and we will sail all day long.In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo, a village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We visit the Pot workshops and the monastery. Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint.
DAY 3 : BAGAN
Cast off early in the morning for the last leg of our journey. Enjoy the sunrise near Bagan. Passengers will disembark at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty around 9:30 hrs
OPTION 3
Between Ancient Bagan and Royal Mandalay - 2 Nights
(Downstream: Mandalay - Mingun - Sagaing - River Village - Bagan)
DAY 1 : BAGAN
The embarkation time is 11.30 hrs at Bagan – Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty and cast off after half an hour.
Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch.
In the late afternoon stop in a typical river village
DAY 2 : YANDABO
Cruise all day with stop enroute in the morning to visit Yandabo, a typical river village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We visit the Pot workshops and the monastery.
Moor overnight nearby a village (Ywar Thit Gyi or Pauk Myaing Pauk Taw) few miles away from Ava Bridge
DAY 3 : MANDALAY
Enjoy the sunrise. After an early breakfast, the passengers will disembark at Sagaing Jetty (Thursday only) or Gawein jetty (Sunday Only) at around 09.30hrs
OPTION 4
Upper Irrawaddy - 6 Nights
(Upstream: Mandalay - Upper Irrawaddy (Katha, Second Defile) - Mingun - Mandalay)
DAY 1 : MANDALAY
Embark the ship at Mandalay jetty in the morning before noon around 11:00 am. Cast off and cruise upstream for the rest of the day.
DAY 2 : KYAUK MYAUNG
After breakfast, arrive the spectacular potteries-making village of Kyauk Myaung and see the manufacture stages of the famous 50 Gallons (200 liters) pots. Sail all day. Moor overnight at mid-stream.
DAY 3 : TAGAUNG
Stop at Tagaung to explore the ancient city archaeological area and the fortifications around 9:00 am. Continue cruising upstream for the rest of the day. Moor overnight midstream.
DAY 4 : 2ND DEFILE (GEORGE)
Sail all day and we enter the dramatic 2nd defile with its magnificent cliffs reaching down the narrow channel around early evening. After entering a few hours, enjoy the typical view surrounded by the mountains along the river. Sail up to Sint Khan Village and return journey to Downstream. Sail all evening up to 10:00 pm. Moor overnight at midstream.
DAY 5 : KATHA
After breakfast we arrive in the colonial town of Katha, the setting for George Orwell’s book “Burmese Days” and also the place where in the 1942 hundreds of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ships were scuttled before the Japanese could seize them. We explore the old streets and the market by trishaw and an Elephant Logging Camp located on the surrounding hardwood forest. If time permits we will also visit the lake Indaw to experience a typical Kachin highland scenery rich in bird life
DAY 6 : MINGUN
Full day cruising downstream with stop for a walk to a river village.
In the afternoon, we arrive in Mingun and visit the unfinished pagoda, the largest working bell in the world and the “home for the ages”. Drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck.
DAY 7 : MANDALAY (GAWEIN JETTY)
After breakfast, disembark.
OPTION 5
Myanmar Heritage - 7 Nights
(Upstream: Bagan-Salay-River Village-Yandabo-Monywa-Ava-Sagaing-Amarapura-Mingun-Central Mandalay)
or
(Downstream: Mandalay-Mingun-Amarapura-Sagaing-Ava-Monywa-Yandabo-River Village-Salay-Bagan)
DAY 1 : BAGAN – SALAY
EMBARKATION
Board the Ship at Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty 11:00 am and cast off 11:30 am, welcome cocktail in the saloon.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION : Salay
After Lunch, we walk ashore at Salay, a small town founded in the 13th century with Bagan-era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings. We explore the Salay House, a restored 1906 colonial trading company warehouse on the bank of the Irrawaddy. Our walk takes us along the town’s main Strand Street towards the local market before turning away from the river to visit the beautiful Yoke Soun Kyaung Taw Gyi wooden monastery. This ornately carved teak monastery was designed as a copy of the Crown Prince House of Mandalay, and is now a museum boasting remarkable wood carvings and artifacts. We pass some interesting Bagan-era monuments on our way to visit Mann Paya, a pagoda with a beautiful lacquerware Buddha, before returning to our ship with a stroll past some of Salay’s many beautiful colonial. Dinner and moor overnight mid stream.
DAY 2 : BAGAN
MORNING EXCURSION : Bagan
This morning our excursion takes us to one of the most incredible areas of Myanmar: Bagan. Once the center of the Pagan Empire, Bagan today is a tourist, artist, and archeological mecca. We will start the tour with ShweZigon Pagoda construction during the reign of King Anawrahta and a Buddhist religious place, is believed to enshrine a bone and tooth of Gautama Buddha, the massive Htilominlo, built by King Htilominlo on the site where he was chosen from the five sons of King Nadaungmya to be the crown prince of Pagan. While the murals that once decorated much of the inside of this temple have only survived on the ceilings, Htilominlo boasts the finest plaster carvings which still remain undamaged on the arch pediments. Then stop by Thatbyinnyu Pagoda for photo shoot on the way back to ship for Lunch.
AFTRNOON EXCURSION : Bagan
After lunch, we visit Gubyaukgyi Temple (Great Painted Cave Temple), where the richly-colored paintings are thought to date to the original construction period in the early 12thcentury and we will also see a sand painting demonstration by a local artist. Next to this temple is the gilded Myazedi Stupa, which offers both a linguistic and a historical significance: an inscription consecrating Gubyaukgyi in four languages (Pyu, Mon, Old Burmese, and Pali), which established Pyu as an important cultural influence in the early Pagan period. Then a visit to Bagan would not be complete without exploring one of the most famous temples of Bagan, Ananda. Built in 1105 CE during King Kyanzittha’s reign, it is one of only four surviving temples from this period. We will explore the cruciform of the temple, with four standing Buddhas facing north, south, east, and west. After that we stop by Dhammayan Gyi Pagoda for photo shoot. For our final stop of the day we proceed to the Bagan Viewing Hill where we will view the sunset over the pagodas and stupas of Bagan before returning to the ship.
DAY 3 : BAGAN – RIVER VILLAGE
MORNING EXCURSION: Bagan
Explore some of Bagan’s local markets selling wood carvings, fabric, longyis and rattan product. Visit a workshop to see the ancient technique of lacquer ware making. Alternatively, guests can hire a horse cart or a bicycle and explore the site on their own (or) have a splendid Balloon Flight over Bagan (surcharge applied – optional). Back to the ship around Noon and cast off.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: River Village
We cruise upstream all day. Stop at River village for a walk.
Dinner followed by a Puppet Show on the sundeck.
DAY 4 : YANDABO
MORNING EXCURSION : Yandabo
In the morning we arrive at Yandabo, a picturesque river village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We go ashore for a walking at some pot-making workshops and visit the monastery. We cruise upstream the rest of the day, moor overnight near Myin Mu.
DAY 5 : MONYWA-SAGAING
FULL DAY EXCURSION : Monywa
Early morning drive by coach (approx. 1 ½ hours) to Monywa to visit the Hpowindaung cave where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings dated back .Serve Lunch at local restaurant in Win Unity Hotel in Monywa. After lunch we visit the splendid Sambuddhai Kat Kyaw pagoda with its more than 500,000 Buddha images.
Drive back to Myin Mu and Overnight night at River bank.
DAY 6 : AVA-SAGAING-AMARAPURA
MORNING EXCURSION: Ava
Visit Ava by horse-cart visiting the beautiful 200 year old teak Bagaya Kyaung Monastery, Nanmyin watchtower (27mt. high) and the Me Nu Ok Kyaung monastery. Return to ship & sailing to Sagaing.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Sagaing – Amarapura
In the afternoon, we visit to Sagaing Hill, a hill studded with many Pagodas and Monasteries rich in wood carving and religious art. Then we travel by coach to Amarapura, the penultimate Burmese Royal Capital (1783) to visit a traditional silk weaving workshop followed by U-Bein Bridge, the world’s longest wooden bridge (1.2 km) and enjoy the sunset there.
Dinner and overnight on board near Sagaing Hill.
DAY 7 : MINGUN-CENTRAL MANDALAY
MORNING EXCURSION: Mingun
After breakfast we will enjoy a leisurely walking tour of the small town of Mingun. Our first stop is King Bodawpaya’s monumental, uncompleted stupa. During construction, an astrologer to the king argued that the king would die upon completion of the temple, and work was immediately halted. Had it been completed, it would have been the largest in the world. The cracks we see are the result of the 23 March 1839 earthquake that shook the area. We continue our walk to the Mingun Bell, which was the heaviest working bell in the world until 2000 when the Bell of Good Luck was unveiled in Henan, China. After having the opportunity to stand inside the bell as it is rung, we have time to shop in the local market, famous for its makeshift galleries that display inexpensive art from both local and internationally known artists.
Lunch on board.
AFTERNOON EXCURSION: Central Mandalay
Visit central Mandalay: Mahamuni Pagoda, then visit to the workshops of gold leave making and marble carving. And visit to Kuthodaw Paya, which contains the world’s biggest book, near by Mandalay Hill where spiraling staircases lead to sweeping views of the city and its temples and Sunset time at Mandalay Hill. Dinner on board. Overnight at Mandalay.
DAY 8 : MANDALAY
Morning disembark at Gawein Jetty around 9:00 am
OPTION 6
Grand Voyage Of The Chindwin River - 10 Nights
Bagan - Pakkoku - Pakhan-Gyi - Monywa - Mingkin - Kalewa - Mawlayik - Mandalay
DAY 1 : BAGAN-PAKKOKU
Board the ship at 09.00 hrs. We cast off at 09.30 hrs and sail upstream to the Irrawaddy and Chindwin confluence.Continue cruising north to the bustling town of Pakkoku where we visit the monastery, cheroots and weaving workshops. We pass the Chindwin andIrrawaddy river confluence and we stop for the night
DAY 2 : PAKHAN GYI – AHMYINT
Visit the little town of Pakhan-gyi. This post-Pagan period provincial capital was walled with a moat and originally had a governor¹s palace. We see the old walls; visit the museum and a spectacular 19th century wood carved monastery.
Continue cruising to Ahmyint village and visit the local market, see beautiful houses and the lovely17th century style Min Kyaw Swa stupas with 18th century style paintings.
Arrive at Monywa, the Chindwin River largest port, in the early evening
DAY 3 : MONYWA
Visit Hpowindaung caves where hundreds of Buddha Statues are placed inside niches decorated with wonderful mural paintings. Late lunch and cast off.
DAY 4 : KANEE-KIN
Late morning explore the village of Kanee and climb the pagoda hillock for its view. Back to the ship for Lunch. In the afternoon, we explore Kin village with its beautiful wooden houses and the woodcarvings monastery. Continue sailing upstream until late at night.
DAY 5 : MINGKIN
Continue sailing upstream the whole morning. In the afternoon, we arrive the small enchanting town of Mingkin and explore its temples and 1900’s wooden houses and the Min Kyaung Monastery with old Buddha Images.
DAY 6 : KYIDAW
At Kyidaw (Kyi Taung Oo) we visit Shwe Za War Yaw monastery one of the oldest and best preserved wood carved monastery of Myanmar, embellished with wooden sculpted idols with fascinating gold leaf wall decorations. We walk through a beautiful scenario of paddy fields to the village of Kan where we visit another splendid example of Myanmar old monastery. Afterwards we return to the ship.
Proceed upstream up to Kyaw Zin, a village very close to Kalewa, where we stop for the night.
DAY 7 : KALEWA
In the morning we explore Kalewa, the main river port for the trading with India,the lively market and climb up to Shwe Moat Htaw stupa for the beautiful view.
Back to the ship before lunch and keep on cruising upstream to Mawlaik.
DAY 8 : MAWLAIK
Mawlaik (situated 35 km from the Indian Border) was the administrative capital of this area rich of Teak forests. It is a pleasant colonial town with its golf course surrounded by splendid colonial houses built by the Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation in the 1920’s and 1930’s (there is still a small community of Indians that used to work for the Scottish company and their descendents). The governor’s house, the administrative building, the school, the hospital, the “Dak Bungalows”, company headquarter are well preserved, still in use nowadays and nicely maintained.
Being this our turnaround point, we begin sailing back downstream to Monywa.
DAY 9 : RIVER VILLAGE
Continue sailing all day downstream. Stop at a typical River village, where we visit the school and the typical houses.
DAY 10 : YANDABO
In the morning stop at Yandabo, a picturesque river village specializing in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war signed on Feb. 24, 1826. Explore the village stopping to some pot-making workshops to learn their unique production technique, and visit the monastery. Back to the ship for Lunch and sail all day.
DAY 11 : MANDALAY
After breakfast, the client disembark at Gawein Jetty around 9:00 am.
