Irrawaddy Delta Cruise
Ten nights of creeks, rice ports and river life from Yangon.
Ask About Delta DatesThe Irrawaddy Delta: Burma’s First Cruises in Six Years
The Irrawaddy fans out into a maze of creeks and channels before reaching the Andaman Sea west of Yangon. It is rice country, flat and green, crossed by waterways that have always been its roads. In November 2026, Pandaw plans to bring passengers back here — the first Burma river cruise from an international operator in six years.
Status check, October 2026: Burma (Myanmar) is under a U.S. Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory (State Department’s Burma advisory, May 8, 2026). The one Irrawaddy cruise we found on sale from an international operator is Pandaw’s Irrawaddy Delta expedition, restarting in November 2026. Everything else on this site describes routes as they ran before sailings stopped, so you can judge what is worth waiting for.
The Itinerary in Outline
| Detail | What Pandaw has announced |
|---|---|
| Name | The Great Irrawaddy Delta |
| Length | 10 nights, round trip from Yangon |
| Ships | RV Kanee Pandaw and RV Kha Byoo Pandaw |
| Season start | November 2026, second ship from December |
| Character | Wetlands, creeks and channels; village and market stops |
Exact stops are not published as text, and Pandaw has said it will review conditions at Pathein before sailing. Check Pandaw’s Burma itineraries for the current version.
What the Delta Is Like
Where the middle Irrawaddy is wide and sandy, the delta is narrow, muddy and alive with traffic: rice barges, ferries, fishing boats and floating markets. Towns grew up as rice ports. Pathein, the main town of the western delta, is known for its hand-painted parasols; nearer Yangon, Twante is famous for pottery and gives its name to the canal linking the Yangon River to the Irrawaddy.
The region was devastated by Cyclone Nargis in 2008, and much of what you see has been rebuilt since.
A Day in the Delta
Days on a delta expedition follow the tide and the light. Mornings start with a walk ashore to a village, a monastery school or a market, while the boat moves on to meet you further downstream. The hottest hours are for the shaded deck and a talk from the guide on rice farming or river trade; late afternoon brings a second landing or a ride in a small local boat up a creek too narrow for the ship. Evenings are quiet, moored at a riverbank far from any town lights.
Before You Book an Irrawaddy Delta Cruise
- Read the current State Department advisory and decide whether it is right for you.
- Confirm your travel insurance covers Myanmar and medical evacuation.
- Allow for itinerary changes; delta routes depend on conditions on the ground.
- Plan time in Yangon before or after, for the Shwedagon Pagoda and the colonial downtown.
Delta Questions
How long is the Irrawaddy Delta cruise?
Pandaw’s Great Irrawaddy Delta itinerary is ten nights, round trip from Yangon.
When does it start?
Pandaw has announced a first departure in November 2026, with the second ship joining in December.
Will it visit Pathein?
Pandaw has said it will assess Pathein before departure and substitute another stop if needed.
Ask About the Irrawaddy Delta Sailings
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will give you current dates and a free quote, along with an honest view of whether it suits you.
Ask About Delta Dates