We had such a fun trip with Chit and his team floating up the Irrawaddy earlier this month. It was incredible getting to see the dolphins up close and we... read more saw a number over the course of the 2 day trip - whilst this isn't guaranteed - the team make every effort to work together with the local communities and fishermen to share sightings. It's a good mix of being able to experience a little flavour of village life, boating time and fishing with the expert fishermen who have been honing their craft for decades, their commitment and skill is amazing. Camping on the sandy island was one of our highlights and it was so comfortable to be in the tents as other reviewers have said, definitely more comfortable than our night in Mandalay, everything was set up for us already when we arrived at the island and we could relax, have a beer and watch the sunset. Absolute bliss! Thank you to them all for their kindness. 2 things to keep in mind: - If you don't do a private tour, you spend 24/7 pretty much with your fellow tour-mates, so get ready to make friends! If this does not appeal, consider the private tour option. Our friends opted for the private tour and also highly recommended, that gives a little bit more flexibility around how long you spend in each location also. - Check the itinerary closely, the dolphin tour includes a visit to Mingun, if you're travelling in Mandalay beforehand, it may be worth saving that trip so you don't end up visiting twice and use the time to see other fun things in Mandalay instead. …

  We weren't to sure about this tour as it was a part of our pre organised package. From the minute we stepped on the boat, we got great surprises. We... read more were lucky enough to have heaps of dolphin sighting throughout the trip. The village visits were fantastic, interesting and hands-on and didn't feel forced. The tour used local vllage people for catering and shared the love among several villages. The food was some of the best we have had in Myanmar. All the staff were amazing, helpful and knowledgeable. Our daughters 3 and 5 were catered for and the guide won their hearts. The tent accommodation was more confortable then some hotels we had stayed in. Overall we really loved how we were able to support several local villages and dolphin conservation. We got the surprise of so many dolphins, so much culture and historical sites. A really fantastic way to experience this part of Myanmar.

  This is a top notch experience from any angle. As a tour it's excellent, with temples, traditional farming and fishing, and rural landscapes. As a cultural experience, it's... read more superb. You interact with a family living on the boat as well as a tour guide with...More

  Can't recommend this trip enough. It was a really good mix of activities with some free time on the boat mixed in. I definitely wanted to see the dolphins but... read more birdwatching was also high on my list and I feel I got a good amount of time in and saw some great birds.

We actually saw dolphins very early on while on the main, large boat, before we even went out with the fishermen. Going out on the small was great, seeing how the fishermen work with the dolphins, seeing a fish skid across the top of the water out of nowhere because a dolphin flicked it with his tail to let the fishermen know where the fish were.

That part was a little hard on certain parts of the body because we were out in the small boats longer than planned. There was an issue with the propellor of the main boat that needed to be fixed, so once the fishing was over they too us in the small boats to the camp site. It took about 5 hours or so for them to fix the boat and get it up to the campsite. It was one of those experiences in this country where something has gone wrong, no clear idea of how or when it is going to be fixed, but if you roll with it and have faith in them you know it will work out fine, and it did. They handled it very well.

Everyone in my group and the other group with us took naps in the tent once we got there and I had a fun time around a fire with the guide and the women from the village who prepared our dinner. I got to practice my Burmese and push my vocab to the limit while being giggled at around the fire for a couple hours before everyone else woke up.

The bed in the tent was more comfortable than the one in our guesthouse in Mandalay.

The village visits were interesting and the meals cooked by the wonderful villagers were fantastic, not a huge difference in variety from village to village but it was really good so that didn't matter.

The sort of trip I would easily consider doing again.

  My husband and I booked the 1 day dolphin tour. We were picked up on time by our Guide Chid and taken to the jetty where we boarded a slow... read more boat owned by a Myanmar family. We were the only ones on todays tour and...More

  I cannot recommend this trip enough. The service was top quality, with a very friendly, helpful and informative guide. The food was delicious, organic and restaurant-beating (made by villagers). Their... read more flat beans, chapattis and home-made peanut butter were especially tasty. It was wonderful to be welcomed into their homes and gardens, and to see their many skills, learning to make bamboo hats and about cooperative dolphin fishing. And of course, the dolphins - how magical to see them splash out of the water so close to our boat at sunset, as well as in the morning. The dolphins work with the fishermen to catch more fish together: one of the last examples of animal-human cooperation on earth. Much of the money gained from your fare goes back to these rural local communities, as well as to dolphin conservation. It was so enjoyable to just sit on deck, drinking tea in the sunshine and watching the sleepy Irrawaddy world go by. Gleaming gold pagodas appear between forests and riverbanks, as well as ancient sites, such as Mingun village - a fascinating trip in itself, which is included here. We were also taken to a deer forest, a monastery and sailed past a natural mountain of marble. We dined by candlelight on the riverbank in the evening and slept in the beautiful (and very comfortable) tents. Being here is good for the soul - you remember the joy of nature and forget the madness of modern life.

  You can experience an amazing contact with the people of the fishermen´s villages. Very nice. Also you can see the Irrawaddy river dolphins colaborating with the fishermen, something unique in... read more the world. If you make the trip you are supporting this way of life and...More

  Excellent way to see how rural communities live on the banks of the river and of course the river dolphins! Chit is a great guide, full of knowledge and always... read more up for a joke. We were very impressed with the way that the project is...More

  The experience of traveling in the boat and visiting the villages involved in the project was simply awesome. The best thing was the people. Both people in charge of the... read more trip and people in the villages were really kind and they explained us all related...More