LEXCORP CRUISE & TOUR - MYANMAR, BURMA RIVER CRUISE. Irrawaddy River Cruise & Tour. Rangoon, Prome, Pagan, Mandalay

Cruise Marketing International / Lexcorp Cruise & Tour
3401 Investment Blvd. Ste.#3 • Hayward, CA 94545-3819 USA
1 (800) 578-7742 • CSTR #1014072-40 • E-mail: lexcorp1@pacbell.net

Vietnam + Cambodia

2007 / 2008 Grand Burma Cruise & Tour
Myanmar (Burma): Irrawaddy river cruise Burma (Myanmar) is a former British colony that in 1962 closed its doors to the world. Isolated, the culture and way of life of this devoutly Buddhist country escaped the changes that affected her South-East Asian neighbours. Even the most travelled of travellers find themselves in a world that is beyond both experience and imagination.
The Irrawaddy is of interest not only on account of its geographical variety, and moving natural beauty, but because along its banks the main vestiges of a millennium and a half of Burmese Buddhist civilisation are dispersed. Burma is like Egypt in the respect that it is a country dominated by a river. This is most convenient for the traveller, as both ancient sites and centres of contemporary life and culture are situated close to the river banks. In many instances the places we visit could never be reached by land as there is no access by road. The river proves the most logical and practical means of penetrating the real Burma (see Pandaw IV deck plan) .
All meals, transfers, and sightseeing with English speaking guides are included as per itinerary below. Sit back and relax while your floating hotel takes you from one exciting port of call to another. Bon Voyage!
For information and reservations call: 1 (800) 578 - 7742

Rangoon (1 night) - The Irrawaddy River Cruise (10 nights) / MV Pandaw IV - Rangoon (1 night)
Fly	Depart on your overnight flights to Asia. Meals and services as per airline policy.
Day 01	Rangoon: International arrivals in Rangoon and transfer to your first class hotel (Dubit Inya Lake or simialar). City tour by motor coach followed by visit to the Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda). The Paya lies to the west of the Royal Lake on Singuttara Hill dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within.The story of Shwedagon Paya begins with two merchant brothers meeting the Lord Gautama Buddha and receiving eight of the Buddha's hairs to be enshirned in Burma. The two brothers made their way to Burma and with the help of the local king found Singuttara Hill where other Buddha relics had been enshrined. When the hairs were taken from their golden casket magic happened... (D)
Day 02	Prome and the Ancient Pyu: Transfer by motor coach to Prome (approx. 4,5 hours) and board the MV Pandaw IV. Visit the 5th-8th century archaeological site of Thiri-ya-kittiya, former centre of the Pyu civilization. Chinese records emphasized the humane nature of Pyu government and the elegance and grace of Pyu life. Fetters, chains, and prisons were unknown, and punishment for criminals was a few strokes with the whip. Pyu men, gaily dressed in blue, wore gold ornaments on their hats, and Pyu women wore jewels in their hair. The Pyu lived in houses built of timber and roofed with tiles of lead and tin; they used golden knives and utensils and were surrounded by art objects made of gold, green glass, jade, and crystal. Visit a fascinating museum of early Buddhist artifacts and sculpture. Cast off at sundown with cocktails on deck. (B,L,D)
Day 03	Thayetmyo Frontier Post: This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal and British Burma. Many buildings including the covered market date from that period. The oldest golf coarse in Burma (1885) is located here. Golf arrived in Myanmar with the annexation of Lower Myanmar by the British in 1826. The first golf course was established in 1887. It was named Thayetmyo Century Golf Club. Golf was essentially the British colonialists’ pastime. We visit the market, see the colonial houses and ride out by horse carts to see the countryside and golf links. (B,L,D)
Day 04	Minhla and Gwechaung Forts: We visit the two forts constructed by Italians to keep the British at bay from Royal Burma. The forts were captured by the British in the 3rd Anglo Burmese War. The war lasted from 1885 to 1887. It was the last of the three wars between Burma and the British Empire during the 19th century. The war resulted in the extinction of Burmese independence. The fight for the Minhla no doubt was the only serious action in the war and the death of a young subaltern inspired Kipling to write a poem. We climb the Gwechaung hill for the view. (B,L,D)
Day 05	Magwe Gold Bricks: We climb the river bank and wend our way through a labyrinth of passages and paths to reach the magnificent Myat-thalon Pagoda. This pagoda is constructed with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many nat shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.
Day 06	Sale Monasteries: 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; moor at the Tan-chi-taung mountain and ascend on foot or by WWII jeep for the spectacular sunset over Pagan. Located in a vast arid plain dotted with myriad temples, pagodas, and scattered stands of toddy palms and acacia trees, with majestic mountains rising in the distance, Pagan is especially scenic around sunrise and sunset.
Day 07	Pagan Monuments: Pagan - (also known as Bagan) is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. The city was at its most active between the 11th and early 14th Centuries AD, but it remained in use as a religious centre after the Burmese capital moved north to Sagaing, Ava and Mandalay. It is now a popular site with Buddhist pilgrims, and with tourists from overseas. Situated on the Eastern bank of the Irrawaddi River in middle Burma, it is also famous for its tranquillity and majesty. The area is decidedly rural, with wide open spaces and probably more ox carts, horse buggies, bicycles and shoulder yoke-laden pedestrians than cars. There are more red brick temples than you could imagine. We tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments.
Day 08 Day 09	Theingone Monsatery: Further explorations of Pagan; we cast off at lunchtime and proceed to the Theingone village to make a tour of construction of both the new school and the monastery. Yandabo Potteries and Pandaw School: this very small rural village that specialises in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School and the new dispensary both built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.
Day 10	Ava and Amarapura Old Capitals: South of the Patodawgyi Pagoda a huge teak bridge crosses the shallow Taungthaman Lake. During the dry season the bridge crosses dry land. U Bein was the "mayor" at the time of the shift from Inwa and he wisely salvaged material from the deserted Inwa Palace to build this km long footbridge. It has stood the test of time for two centuries. We explore the ancient capitals by coach or sampan visiting the teak Bagaya Kyaung, Menu Ok-kyaung and crossing the U Bein Bridge that leads across the lake to a little village and the Kyauk-taw-gyi Pagoda.
Day 11	Sagaing Hills: Sagaing became the capital of Shan Kingdom after the fall of Bagan around 1315. Today, it is mostly known as a religious centre. Close to Sagaing are the Sagaing Hills with numerous Zedis and Kyaungs scattering all over are known as Sagaing Chaung. Morning visit by boat and walk in the beautiful hills with over 1000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in wood carving and religious art. Return to ship for lunch and sail up to the Mandalay Gawein jetty. In the afternoon we tour central Mandalay visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe-im-bin teak carved monastery and Mandalay Hill for sunset. We stop to see traditional crafts.
Day 12	Mandalay to Rangoon: Disembark (Gawein Jetty) and fly to Rangoon; transfer to your first class hotel .
13	Rangoon: Early morning visit to war graves at Htaukchan; transfers for international departures.

Subject to change without notice

2007 / 2008 Departure Dates & Prices: Per person in US Dollars
Cruise	Arrive in Rangoon	Program Ends	Main Deck Twin	Upper Deck Twin	Main Deck Single	Upper Deck Single
Upstream	March 10	March 22	$3,499	$3,799	$6,124	$6,649
Downstream	Nov 24	Dec 16	$3,599	$3,899	$6,199	$6,724
Upstream	Dec 22	Jan 3, 2008	$3,699	$3,999	$6,274	$6,799
2 0 0 8
Downstream	Jan 4	Jan 16	$3,599	$3,899	$6,199	$6,724
Upstream	Jan 17	Jan 29	$3,599	$3,899	$6,199	$6,724
Downstream	Jan 27	Feb 8	$3,599	$3,899	$6,199	$6,724
Upstream	Feb 8	Feb 20	$3,499	$3,799	$6,124	$6,649
Downstream	Feb 19	March 2	$3,499	$3,799	$6,124	$6,649
Port & Cruise Fuel Charges: $110
Burmese Visa: $45
Airfares are available at additional cost and subject to confirmation at the time of booking.

VIETNAM & CAMBODIA	NORTHERN VIETNAM	LAOS	BURMA	THAILAND

1 (800) 578-7742, 1 (510) 784-8500, lexcorp1@pacbell.net

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