Burma

Burma Cruises

Burma

USA Today AwardWorld's Best River Cruise Suite 2023Conde Nast Traveler 2023TripAdvisor Travellers Choice 2026TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Discover the majestic world of Burma

Burma is a majestic country. A country less travelled compared to its neighbours. The Burmese people are amongst the warmest and most welcoming of any you’ll meet in Southeast Asia. The best way to immerse yourself in their rich history and culture is on a river cruise.

Burma, now known as Myanmar, is awash with rivers. The largest and the countries most important is the Irrawaddy River. It’s 2,210km and navigable for over 1,600km.

The Chindwin River is the main tributary of the Irrawaddy and is navigable for 965km.

The Salween is approximately 2,815 km but the people who live on the river are extremely segregated because it’s only navigable up to 90 km from the mouth.

The Sittaung is only 420km, strong currents make it less valuable as a means of transport so the river is used primarily to float timber for export. The river is navigable for 40 km year-round and for 90 km during three months of the year.

And lastly the Mekong. The Mekong is the twelfth longest river in the world, running from the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its estimated length is 4,350km.

With so many rivers running through one country, the best way to experience the life of the Myanmar people is to embark on a river cruise. Our ships allow you to sail through the heart of Burma, through the breath-taking landscapes, past working villages, and awe-inspiring monasteries and temples. We’ll take you off the beaten track to a seemingly forgotten world.

Our ships and our staff will have you relaxed and comfortable from the moment you step onboard. Your staterooms are spacious and come with fresh fruit and flowers on arrival. We supply kimonos, slippers and spa-branded amenities to make your stay extra special. We go above and beyond to make sure your time on our river cruise is enjoyed exactly as you wish; we provide a peaceful setting as well as arranged talks and demonstrations from the local people.

Available

Expeditions

The Great Irrawaddy Delta
No Single Supplement on selected dates

Explore the wetlands, creeks and channels

10 Nights
RV Kanee Pandaw, RV Kha Byoo Pandaw
Irrawaddy RiverIrrawaddy Delta

Rivers of

Burma

Irrawaddy Delta

Irrawaddy Delta

The Irrawaddy Delta covers an area of over 1000 square miles with Rangoon, its most famous port and capital of all Burma from 1886 to 2005. Orig....

Our Fleet In

Burma

The RV Kha Byoo Pandaw Ship

RV Kha Byoo Pandaw

This ten cabin K class was completed in 2016 and is currently serving as the Pandaw Academy training ship at Pagan. Like so many of our K class ....

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The RV Kanee Pandaw Ship

RV Kanee Pandaw

Pandaw are delighted to announce the construction of a new fourteen cabin K-class ship for Burma, now renamed Myanmar. These ultra-shallow twin ....

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River Stops In

Burma

Bogale View

Bogale

Bogale is a small city located in the Bogale Township, Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar. It is located on the southwestern part of Myanmar/Burma on the mainland section of the country.

Maubin View

Maubin

A town in the Ayeyarwady Division in south-west Burma, Maubin (also known as Ma-ubin) is an incredible place to visit. Known for its growing communication and transportation...

Myaungmya View

Myaungmya

When boarding a Pandaw River Cruise, you can be prepared to visit some of the most beautiful places in Asia. One of those incredible places is Myaungmya.

Pyapon View

Pyapon

On one of our Irrawaddy Delta cruises , you can experience the small town of Pyapon on the Pyapon River, a tributary of the Irrawaddy Delta.

Rangoon (Yangon) View

Rangoon (Yangon)

The largest city in Myanmar, Rangoon (Yangon) is a mix of cosmopolitan high-rises, stunning architecture and historical sights.

Wakema View

Wakema

In the Ayeyarwaddy Division of south-west Myanmar lies the idyllic town of Wakema. A small yet bustling town surrounded by awe-inspiring greenery and wildlife, it is known as a...

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From Our Travellers

Feedback

With Pandaw you not only get what you pay for but you get memories like never before

Mr Rodney and Valerie Nash

Just returned to the UK following an Amazing Experience with your Company, from Vietnam airlines from London to Ho Chi Minh - Siem Reap-Hanoi- back to London. I will retain a lasting memory of a fabulous holiday provided by Pandaw. Truly a very professional company.

Very difficult to explain in a few words the feelings that you come away with. Your team on the "RV Mekong Pandaw" looking after us on this river cruise were brilliant. Food Quality -Selection -Service/Organisation/Management in the restaurant, a Big First Class, always met with a smile. Massage room and lady very professional.

Cabin was well appointed, well maintained and comfortable; ability to open those cabin doors every morning watching a different world go past – Wow!! Need to have "done it" to get that feeling.

Tour Organisation excellent - the Tours from Viet Cong Tunnels, to Khmer Rouge Regime Killing Fields. Standing in those Memorial sites you feel the horrors that one set of humans can inflict on others.

You can only sample the culture with visits to temples and palaces, having good fun on the roads with your own private Cyclo tour around Phnom Penh. Crossing the roads was a challenge; bikes, hundreds of motor cycles and at traffic lights was like the starting grid at a race meeting but we managed ok.

The People in the river bank homes, floating villages, fish farms, markets were working day-to-day looking after families, mini village communities and schools. Family unity is something we have lost a bit in the big Western world. The investment in villages and in the people that Pandaw make along the Mekong should be greatly highlighted in your brochures and websites.

Along with many of the new friends we have met on board, common points of conversation, lasting impression - how can you go home and try and explain this humble feeling? You have visited another set of people who compared to our way of life, have very basic accommodation, really work hard every day, with their children learning English for a few hours a day at school, all seem to be so content, smiling and made you so welcome in their world, when not so many years ago there were terrible acts of savage war.

Memorable for me the evening 1st of March cocktail in the village with music and dance and lots of happy, smiling children - amazing.

You pay your money up front and choose your holiday but with Pandaw you not only get what you pay for but you get memories like never before.

Brilliant Thank You
Ron and Val Nash

Made special by your brilliant crew!

John Bowling

Start of cruise disappointing as no advance notice that would spend first night in hotel in Vientianne. . The hotel wasnt good quality (we had been staying at Crowne Plaza which much nicer) and poor dinner with just european food. it was a shock for everyone and could have been handled much better by giving advance notice . The guide and other staff put in difficult position as they thought we knew of problem. In fact the next day with slow boat trip was a real treat!!Also better if a light lunch option was offered!Although local dinner food good felt not as good as on previous cruises . Disappointing too that wine no longer included as part of club free drinks option ( we bought wine each evening though)Overall a super relaxed trip on mekong - made special by your brilliant crew!

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From Our Travel Blog

An Irrawaddy Voyage

An Irrawaddy Voyage

By Paul Strachan, Pandaw Founder   By the 1920s, travel to Burma became all the rage. To give an idea of the destination's popularity,....

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