Starting: 18 Nov 2012 for 15 days
Tour Status: Closed
Land Only Price: £2,995
Single Supp: £350
Please note that a Wild Frontiers price means NO hidden extras, NO local payment or kitty, NO compulsory single supplement.
Download DossierAn enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Myanmar was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. It was into this timeless landscape that a young man by the name of James Howard Williams arrived in 1920, to take up a post with the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation. Over the next 25 years this remarkable individual lived a life straight from the pages of a ‘Boy’s Own’ adventure story, going on to earn himself the moniker of ‘Elephant Bill’ and eventually leading a dramatic exodus of elephants and refugees across the Burmese highlands into India. Following in his adventurous footsteps we journey by river into the jungles of the Upper Chindwin Valley, travelling into some of Myanmar’s most remote landscapes. We’ll take in the cultural highlights of Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan and sail into the very heart of Burma’s ancient teak forests; journeying to the northern reaches of colonial Burma, where J.H. Williams began his remarkable story.
The tour starts with a full afternoon sightseeing old Burmese capital, visiting the harbour area, central market and famous Shwe Dagon Pagoda.
Today we fly to Mandalay where we will pay a visit to Amarapura to visit the famous monastery of Mahagandayone, and the 140 year old U Bein Bridge. We will spend the afternoon exploring the monastic refuges of Sagaing.
After more local sightseeing we drive to Monywaon the eastern bank of the Chindwin River. Herewe will travel out to the extraordinary caves at Po Win Taung, where we'll find some 947 sandstone caves, which archaeologists believe contain the richest collection of mural paintings in South-East Asia.
Following an early breakfast this morning we will transfer to our intimate river boat, to continue our journey into the heart of the Chindwin Valley by river.
For the next two days we will travel north up the Chindwin River, cutting ever deeper into the interior. Along the way we will stop at remote villages, visiting markets and pagoda. One the third afternoon we will make it the town of Mawlaik; an old colonial outpost.
This morning we will explore one of the camps where 'Elephant Bill' spend his early years in Burma, exploring something of the town and taking lunch at one of the local houses before returning to the boat.
Following in the footsteps of Hannibal, 'Elephant Bill' who during the war led a rag-tag group of 45 elephants and a small army of refugees across over 100 miles of jungles and mountains to the safety of India, we will take a day trek into the interior.
Setting sail again, we leave Mawlaik behind and head downstream towards the charming village of Mingking. Wonderfully reminiscent of Luang Prabang in neighbouring Laos, the village is home to a number of Konbuang style monasteries, relics of the last dynasty to rule over Burma.
A long day's sail brings us full circle today, returning us to Monywa where we began our journey. Arriving back in the city late this afternoon we will take dinner at a local restaurant, spending this evening moored up close to the city.
As our river journey takes us ever closer to the fabulous archaeological ruins of Bagan, we near the lower reaches of the Chindwin River, close to where it enters the Irrawaddy.
Our final day on the river sees us rising with the sun and sailing past more rural villages as we head for the stunning climax of our river journey. Sunset on the Irrawaddy sees us finally approaching the ruins of Bagan, one of Asia's most spectacular sites.
Time, earthquakes, Mongol armies and the inundation of the River Irrawaddy have ravaged much of the original city, but there are still over 2200 structures remaining, presenting us with one of the most unforgettable views anywhere in Southeast Asia.
A morning visit to the local market affords a chance for some great photo opportunities before continuing on to the Mingalazedi Pagoda. There will then be more visits to local villages before ending our day with free wander around the temples.
After a morning at leisure in Bagan we will transfer to the airport for the flight back to Yangon, from where we can transfer for our international flights.
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