In a nutshell
Currently, travel to Myanmar is not recommended. The German Foreign Office has issued a travel warning, as the security situation in the country is still considered critical. It is currently unclear when the situation will improve.
The Boat
We traveled aboard the RV Katha Pandaw — a faithful replica of a vessel that first sailed the Irrawaddy back in 1887.
The attention to detail is immediately obvious. Nothing was overlooked, and you really do feel transported back to another era. Even the fans on deck looked like they came straight out of the 19th century.
The cabins come with comfortable beds, air conditioning, and a surprisingly well-appointed bathroom. They’re not huge, but for a river boat, they’re genuinely excellent.
Food and Drinks on Board
All meals are included — breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, tea, beer, and local spirits are covered too. Only wine and imported spirits cost extra.
The food was consistently delicious. There were plenty of local specialties on offer, plus safer options for anyone who prefers to keep it simple.
The Staff
The crew was simply outstanding. All 16 of them — and you could genuinely tell they loved what they were doing. The friendliness felt completely authentic, not performative.
The crew members who worked directly with guests spoke good English, and there was also a dedicated guide on board with excellent English.
On the last evening, the crew treated everyone to a little serenade with two guitars. Everyone sang along at full volume — and honestly, it didn’t sound half bad.
The Price
Pandaw Cruises are a seriously exclusive experience. Prices start at around **$660 per person**. The Bagan to Mandalay boat trip runs roughly every two to three days and is also available in the reverse direction.
Beyond this two-day cruise, Pandaw mainly offers longer tours through Myanmar — a great option if you want to explore more of the country by river.
You can browse all available routes here: Pandaw Cruises.
The Boat Trip
You don’t technically need two days to get from Bagan to Mandalay — the actual journey takes about 14 hours. But the cruise also includes two shore excursions, stopping at the towns of Pakokku and Yandabo along the way.
In the evenings, the boat drops anchor and moors at a dock until morning. That’s perfect for sleeping — it’s completely quiet throughout the night.
Shore Excursion to Pakokku
The stop in Pakokku was our favorite part of the entire Irrawaddy river boat trip. The town sees very few tourists, so it still has a wonderfully authentic feel.
We visited a small family business where traditional fabrics are woven by hand, and watched cheerotes — the traditional cigars smoked by locals — being rolled. Fascinating to see up close.
The real highlight, though, was the local market. Fish, meat, vegetables, betel nuts, rice — you name it, it was there. We visited a lot of markets on our trip through Myanmar, and this one in Pakokku stood out as a genuine favorite.
Shore Excursion to Yandabo
On the second day, we made a short excursion to Yandabo, a pottery village where the entire community lives off the production of clay pots — made almost entirely for the domestic market.
Watching the different stages of pot-making was genuinely fascinating.
After the morning excursion, the rest of the day was all about relaxing. We settled into chairs on the breezy upper deck and watched the scenery drift by — and after more than three hectic weeks in Myanmar, barely stopping from morning to night, it was so good to finally slow down.
After a second peaceful night and one last breakfast, we disembarked around 10:00 AM. We’d made it: Mandalay!
Our Boat Trip in Video
Want to get a real feel for the journey? Check out our video of the Bagan to Mandalay boat trip.
Our Verdict on the Bagan to Mandalay Boat Trip
This was actually our first time doing anything resembling a cruise — and it was a genuinely fascinating experience. An incredibly comfortable, luxurious way to see a country from the water.
We’ll always be independent travelers at heart, but having two days where we didn’t have to think about logistics — and were treated to great food throughout — definitely has its appeal.
Have you ever done a river cruise like this? We’d love to hear about it — drop a comment below!
