Over the last 10 years, Burma has becoming more and more popular for travelers worldwide. The country has been famous for its magical beauty of thousands of temples, stupas, and monasteries. Moreover, it is the land of shimmering lakes, mythical rivers and authentic villages which have been unchanged for centuries. If you are excited to relish Myanmar’s beauty to the fullest, river cruise is just right for you. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about Myanmar river cruise, from the best time to visit to our top-picks for cruises.

River cruise in Myanmar

Luxury River cruises in Myanmar are touring in two rivers which is Irrawaddy river and Chindwin River. Irrawaddy river is the longest river, flows from North to South and connecting the famous cities Mandalay and Bagan with Yangon. Chindwin River is the largest tributary of Irrawaddy river. Most rivers run through beautiful scenic landscapes and flow through mountain ranges and dense forests.

Best time for your cruise trip

There are three things you should consider when planning a river cruise. They are monsoon season, heat, and water level. The monsoon season in the heat of summer weather from May to September is not a good time for cruising around Southeast Asia in general and Myanmar specifically.

Water level is another factor that would affect your experience. Due to low water level toward the end of the dry season, itineraries (especially for smaller rivers such as Chindwin River) may change.

In summary, the best time for a river cruise is between September to April for cruises from Mandalay to Bagan.

Irrawaddy river cruise itinerary

The most popular river cruises in Irrawaddy river travel between Mandalay and Bagan. Normally the cruise trip will last from three to four nights. The cruise will give a superb taste of amazing Myanmar and its serene river. There will be a lot of time to explore the cultural, historical sights as well as to experience the life of Burmese people. The second most popular itinerary is a 7-night one which offers a journey from Bagan to Yangon and vice vera. Beside the most popular sites, this voyage allows people to visit lesser-known places such as Magwe with its famous Myathalon Pagoda.

However, The 7-night cruise is not the longest itinerary. Some companies even arrange 11-or-12-night voyages to remote areas which are close to Chinese border or India border.

If your budget and time do not allow an overnight cruise, you can consider a day cruise. A day voyage from Bagan to Mandalay, from Mandalay to Bagan, and a sunset dinner cruise on Yangon are some good options for you.