Upper Ayeyarwady 8 Days / 7 Nights on the RV Paukan

Day 01 MANDALAY - MINGUN (L, D)

Day 02 KYAUK MYAUNG (B, L, D)

After breakfast, visit the spectacular pottery-making village of Ngwe Nyein and see the manufacture stages of the famous 50 Gallons (200 liters) pots, often referred to as Martaban or Ali Baba jars in colonial times, they played an important part of maritime trade throughout Asia for centuries. Afternoon lecture “Myanmar: Past and Today” & post dinner Movie show. Moor overnight mid-stream.

Day 03 TIGYANG (B, L, D)

Enjoy sailing the whole morning. Tea Leaf and Ginger Salad Demonstration. In the afternoon visit the small village of Tigyang for an afternoon walking tour through its narrow lanes and to visit the pagoda and reclining Buddha on a hilltop with stunning views. Moor overnight at Inn Ywar Village.

Day 04 KATHA (B, L, D)

In the morning, visit Katha Elephant Logging Camp located at the edge of the surrounding teak and hardwood forest, once used for the transportation of the Teak logs now they have found themselves “jobless” due to the logging ban but they are still taken care by their Mahout (the elephant caretaker) with the help of government and private funds. You will experience the Mahout bathing and feeding the Elephants. An interesting reading to know more about the close relationship of an elephant to its mahout is the George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant”. Back to the ship for Lunch. In the afternoon sail to Naung Po Village by the entrance of the Ayeyarwady 2nd Defile (Gorges) and moor overnight.

Day 05 SECOND DEFILE - KYUN DAW - KATHA (B, L, D)

Sunrise by the entrance of the gorges and cast off. You will sail upstream through the spectacular 2nd Defile, the largest of the Ayeyarwady gorges, with its magnificent cliffs reaching down the narrow channel till the end of it where the ship will turn around. Further downstream stop at the fascinating island village of Kyun Daw where over 7,000 stupas surround the monastery. Take a walking tour for memorable encounters with the villagers. Visit a school to interact with the children. You will also visit a nunnery to present offers to the nuns. Unlike monks, they have to collect and cook their own food. Back to the ship for lunch. In the afternoon arrive at the enchanting colonial town of Katha, the setting for George Orwell’s book “Burmese Days“ and the place where in the 1942 hundreds of Irrawaddy Flotilla Company ships were scuttled before the Japanese could seize them. Katha had been an important center for the Teak trading since the colonial days. Explore the old streets, a fresh market, the former British Club and the Tennis Court featured in the novel to learn more about how life was here during the British Rule. Then visit what is claimed to be the Bungalow where George Orwell resided, when he was posted here as a policeman, now turned into a small museum. Drive a short distance to visit a Kachin ethnic Village where you will see their traditional houses and learn about their culture, traditional dress, and their unique method of making rice wine. Moor overnight in Katha.

Day 06 KYAUK PONE VILLAGE (B, L, D)

This morning stop at the gorgeous village of Kyauk Pone with its pagoda located on a hill for a wonderful view of the Ayeyarwady River. Sail the rest of the day. Afternoon lecture “Buddhism and the meditation practice” & post dinner Movie show. Moor overnight midstream.

Day 07 KOTE TAK VILLAGE - IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN PROTECTED AREA (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you arrive at Kote Tak village located in a very nice location at the beginning of the 3rd Defile. You will visit the monastery where you will interact with the Monks and the school children.
In the late afternoon, stop by the village of Sheinmaga in the Irrawaddy Dolphins Protected Area. You will board a local small boat to try spotting the dolphins in their natural habitat with the help of some local fishermen, even if not lucky enough to see them popping up it will be anyway an interesting experience the interaction with the local people and the beautiful river scenery. Crew Presentation & Farewell Reception.

Day 08 MANDALAY (B)

Disembarkation at Mandalay Gawein Jetty in Mandalay from 06:00 A.M onwards.