Prome, Thiri-ya-kittiya

Meet at the Chatrium Hotel in Yangon and transfer by coach to Prome. Visit the 5th to 8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization. We cross through countryside to visit monumental Pyu stupas, and the excavations of the former palace-city.

Thayetmyo

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Burma and British Burma following the 2nd Anglo Burmese War of 1855, and many of the buildings (including the covered market) date from this period. We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse and cart to see the countryside and golf links.

Minhla, Magwe

In Minhla and Gwechaung we visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Burma. Climb the Gwechaung hill for fantastic views. In the afternoon we cruise on to Magwe, where we wend our way through a labyrinth of passages to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda.

Sale

Here we visit a number of teak monasteries, including the Yout-saun-kyaung with its spectacular wood carvings. We also explore an area of splendid colonial-style houses.

Bagan

In the morning, moor at the Tan-Chi-Taung mountain and ascend by jeep. In the afternoon, we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at the World Heritage Site of Pagan.

Yandabo

The day begins with further exploration of the monuments, followed by a visit to the lacquer ware workshops and the local markets. Sail upstream before an evening walk in Oh Ne Kyaung village to see the local life in this typical river side community.

Mandalay, Amarapura

This very small rural village specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

Mingun

Take a tour of central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. Next we explore the ancient capital of Amarapura and Sampan by coach and cross the U Bein Bridge to see the temple paintings.

Kyauk-myoung, Khan-nyat

We stop at Mingun to see the largest working bell in the world and the unfinished pagoda. This is said to be the largest single mass of brick building in the world. We also visit the Mingun Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy FlotillaCompany in the 1930s.

Tagaung

Visit the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are hand made. We see all stages of manufacture from the throwing of the pots to the week long firing in huge kilns. We enter the Third Defile and sail upstream all day, stopping at Khan-nyat village with its many Buddhist monasteries and an orphanage.

Katha

We explore by foot the ancient city of Tagaung viewing the fortifications, the shrine of Bo Bo Gyi (a spirit who protects sailors), and the archaeological area. In the evening we climb the Pagoda Hill at Tigyang with its stunning views of the Irrawaddy.

Irrawaddy gorges

We reach the enchanting colonial town of Katha, the setting for George Orwell’s Burmese Days. Of interest is the fire station’s collection of IFC ships bells taken from sunken ships in the Second War.

Village walk

Travel by local speedboat to view the largest of the Irrawaddy gorges.

Mandalay

Today, we stop for a cultural walk through a village, set in jungle landscape.

Disembark at 2.00 pm at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, Mandalay.