Grand Vegan Voyage on the Chindwin
02 Oct - 12 Oct 2021

SO MUCH IS INCLUDED

10 nights aboard in your choice of stateroom, all with private bathrooms and fine organic vegan toiletries
Ship exclusive to Vegan Travel
Vegan fine dining (full board)
Welcome & Farewell cocktail
Most activities on board
All shore tours
Coffee, Tea and Water
Complimentary local beer
A glass of wine at lunch & dinner
Vegan Travel Cruise Director to guide and assist
All taxes, port charges and fees

Grand Vegan Voyage on the Chindwin

Our unique journey on the Chindwin River offers a chance to explore otherwise inaccessible parts of northern Myanmar (Burma) in comfort and style.

Each day of the journey you will have the chance to disembark to explore the towns and villages that lie on the banks of the river, learning about the fascinating history of an area rarely seen by tourists.

The Chindwin is the sister to the Irrawaddy and one of Burma’s loveliest rivers. It is also one of the country’s most remote and unknown waterways as it makes its way through mountain and forest passing delightful unspoilt and traditional riverside communities. Splitting from the Irrawaddy close to Bagan, the Chindwin winds its way north close to the Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland. The highest navigable point on the Chindwin is the small town of Homalin and on the portion of the river between this rural outpost and Monywa the river provides virtually the only route between the two. As such, this all-vegan cruise on the Chindwin is a true voyage of discovery and exploration and, although relaxed and unhurried, retains a pioneering spirit.

THIS IS YOUR ALL VEGAN FLOATING HOTEL

Welcome aboard the RV Paukan 2012 which was launched in September of 2012. She was 'born' in the well-known Ahlone Ship Yards on the banks of the Yangon River, where men with decades-long experience started work on her in 2011. Captain Michael Symes of His Britannic Majesty's 7th Regiment who saw the shipyards in 1795 noted the Yangon River as "the most favourable river in the world for naval architecture". The 200 years-old tradition of excellent craftsmanship still exists in this workplace.

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 showoff 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, all with private bathrooms for a total of 34 passengers.

Included in your cruise fare are all meals, sightseeing tours and entrance fees at monuments. All the staterooms are nicely decorated and comfortable with ensuite bathrooms. The most beautiful cabins are the two 'Premier' on the upper deck, each with French windows on two sides, leading out to a spacious balcony. The six Double Deluxe cabins on the upper deck have a balcony and French window, as do the eight Twin Deluxe cabins on the main deck. There are also two single cabins on the upper deck.

The dining room with a capacity for 34 is a spacious hall on the main deck where every morning a lavish and scrumptious all-vegan breakfast buffet is served. The other meals are prepared with loving care for freshness and incredible tastes by experienced chefs. If The lounge on the upper deck seats 16 and the open deck with a well-stocked bar leading out from it seats 15. It is the perfect place to make new friends or to hold a party.

The solarium on the roof deck is the best place to enjoy an evening drink as the sun sets with a backdrop of the sky's spectacular display of colours.

Date	Ports of Call	Arrival	Departure
02-10-21	Mandalay	-	-
03-10-21	Yandabo	-	-
04-10-21	River Village	-	-
05-10-21	Mawlaik	-	-
06-10-21	Kalewa	-	-
07-10-21	Kyidaw	-	-
08-10-21	Mingkin	-	-
09-10-21	Kanee-Kin	-	-
10-10-21	Monywa	-	-
11-10-21	Pakhan Gyi - Ahmyint	-	-
12-10-21	Bagan-Pakkoku	-	-
Note: The itinerary presented is subject to modification due to water levels, lock closures or other uncontrollable factors. Every effort will be made to operate cruise programs as planned, but changes may still be necessary throughout the cruise. This schedule is su bject to change. Your final itinerary will be provided with the cruise tickets.

RV Paukan 2012

THIS IS YOUR ALL VEGAN FLOATING HOTEL

There are 18 cabins, twin and double, all with private bathrooms for a total of 34 passengers.

The solarium on the roof deck is the best place to enjoy an evening drink as the sun sets with a backdrop of the sky's spectacular display of colours.

Ship Gallery

Single Deluxe

Size: 107 sq ft / 10 sq m

Beds: Fixed bed

Windows: Standard window

Features: Each Upper Deck Single cabin comes with a private bathroom/toilet, individual climate control, in-room safe, and hair dryer.

Includes the following cabin numbers : 303

Stateroom Deluxe with French Balcony

Size: 250 sq ft / 23 sq m

Beds: Fixed twin beds

Windows: Floor-to-ceiling glass doors/windows

Balcony: French balcony

Features: Each Main Deck cabin comes with a French balcony, sitting area, desk, well-appointed bathroom, individual climate control, in-room safe, and hair dryer.

Includes the following cabin numbers : 203, 204, 205, 206, 208

Stateroom Deluxe with Balcony

Size: 270 sq ft / 25 sq m

Beds: Fixed queen bed

Windows: Floor-to-ceiling glass doors/windows

Balcony: Walkout balcony

Features: Each Upper Deck cabin comes with a balcony sitting area and table, desk, well-appointed, bathroom, individual climate control, in-room safe, and hair dryer.

Includes the following cabin numbers : 306, 307, 308, 309, 310

Stateroom Premiere Deluxe with Balcony

Size: 270 sq ft / 25 sq m

Beds: Fixed queen bed

Windows: Front facing floor-to-ceiling glass doors/windows

Balcony: Front facing walkout and French balconies

Features: Each Upper Deck Premier cabin comes with a balcony sitting area and table, desk, well-appointed bathroom, individual climate control, in-room safe, and hair dryer.

Includes the following cabin numbers : 301, 302

All shore tours are already included!

Cabin Category	PRICE PER PERSON
Stateroom Deluxe with French Balcony	2399€
Stateroom Deluxe with Balcony	2899€
Stateroom Premiere Deluxe with Balcony	3299€
Single Deluxe	3333€

Cruise Pricing Terms and Conditions:
Cruise prices listed above are the average "from prices," and are in Euros (unless noted otherwise), per person, based on 2 Guest(s) occupancy, and do not include airfare or any other additional charges (unless noted otherwise). Pricing and availability are subject to change at any time prior to successful payment processing and reservation creation. All prices and dates are subject to availability. All offers and upgrades are for select sailings and accommodation categories only, are subject to availability, and are capacity controlled. Bonus offers listed above (if any) are not combinable, unless noted otherwise. We reserve the right to correct errors.

Where do I leave from?

The country of Myanmar has currently three international gateways. The country's newest airport stands in the capital Naypyidaw, but it's right in the middle of nowhere as far as tourists are concerned. Then there's Mandalay International Airport, which is Myanmar's biggest, putting travelers closer to the country's most beloved tourist stops. Yangon International Airport, located far to the south, is older but has better international connections than its northern rival.
Yangon Airport is well connected to the rest of the world, offering more international connections than the two other Myanmar airports combined. Yangon visitors can take advantage of far more flight schedules via a larger choice of airlines. You can fly to Yangon from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport and Kuala Lumpur's KLIA—two of the most popular international gateways leading to Yangon—but you can also easily book flights to Yangon from Hong Kong, Seoul, Narita, and Doha, too, among many other destinations.
Yangon also offers great domestic connections to the rest of Myanmar.

BAGAN – GETTING THERE
Fly into Nyaung U Airport (NYU), located in Nyaung-U, a town in the Mandalay Region, Burma. It is the primary air gateway to the ancient sites of Bagan and surrounding areas. Nyaung U Airport is 11 km west of Bagan.
There are some direct flights from Yangon Airport (Rangun, RGN) or from Mandalay International Airport (MDL).

Where do I fly to?

Mandalay International Airport (MDL), located 35 km south of Mandalay in Tada-U, is one of only three international airports in Myanmar. Completed in 1999, the airport was the largest and most modern airport in the country until the modernization of Yangon International Airport in 2008.
There are direct flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and to Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).

Do you offer a pre-cruise tour?

Yes, we do.

Details will be published in in due course.

Do I need a visa to travel to Myanmar?

While citizens of many countries may apply for a visa upon arrival in Yangon, it is highly advisable to apply for a visa in advance in your home country. The good news is that Myanmar has begun an evisa application process which should make things easier and quicker.

Here are the steps involved in applying for an evisa:

Fill-in the secure online evisa form

Your visa must be valid for a minimum of six months from date of travel
You must send one color photo (4cm x 6cm), taken within the last three months
Length of stay is 28 days from day of arrival in Myanmar
You can pay the application fee of $50US by Visa, Mastercard Credit/Debit

Confirm and pay – verify that all the information is correct before proceeding. Pay by credit card. You’ll then receive a confirmation email within one hour.
Receive approval letter by email within five business days. Print off this letter and bring it along with your passport. You’ll need to present it upon arrival at Yangon airport. The validity of the evisa approval letter is three months from date of issue. If it is expired, entry will be denied.
Get your visa stamped upon arrival

The evisa is applicable for nationals of 43 countries. Check here to see if it applies to you.
Should you wish for assistance in getting your visa, you may check VisaHQ.

What kind of shoes should I bring?

It’s going to be hot so sandals will work well for much of the time. There will be times when you’ll be walking through villages and it will be dusty. If you prefer, bring close-toed shoes.

Do I need insurance for this cruise adventure?

Although we don’t require trip insurance, we definitely think it’s a great idea – not just for unexpected cancellations, but also for health issues and medical evacuation while you’re abroad.We highly recommend evacuation insurance for this and all international cruises operated by Vegan Travel. We recommend Insure My Trip. They have a wide range of options, good customer service, an easy to navigate website and they offer numerous affordable options including travel, medical and evacuation insurance.

If you think for any reason there’s a chance that you may have to cancel at the last minute (for a family illness, for example), we recommend travel insurance to protect you against last minute issues that arise. Unfortunately, we can’t issue refunds past a certain point because everything’s been paid for in Burma in advance.

Will someone meet me at the airport upon arrival and take me to the hotel / ship or do I make my own arrangements?

Yes, we arrange to have a guide and/or driver meet you at the airport. All you have to do is find your name with the Vegan Travel logo among the signs in the arrivals area.

Is it OK if I go to Myanmar, given the political situation?

As you probably know, travelling to Myanmar is not uncontroversial. The Foreign office in the UK has no restrictions in place at present but you can check the current situation on their website. It is always worth to check the advice for travellers from your own country.

Vegan Travel has published a statement.