- We are a social business. All tours include local guides, local food, local crafts & activities with local people. All tours include a dolphin conservation fee. All tours are carbon neutral.
- Itineraries are designed for best chances of seeing Irrawaddy dolphins & cooperative fishing.
- Only glamping experience on the Ayeyawaddy.
Irrawaddy Dolphins
Fishing with Dolphins
the Ayeyawaddy River
of the Ayeyawaddy
Burma's Irrawaddy Dolphins
by Supporting Communities
Introduction 1-Day
Take a 1-day boat excursion to see Irrawaddy dolphins and cooperative fishing, with lunch in a fishing community.
Experience 2-Day
Experience dolphins & life on Ayeyawaddy, overnighting in tents at a fishing community & learning how to fish with dolphins.
Explorer 3-Day
For best chances of seeing dolphins and a rich cultural experience, explore the Ayeyawaddy Dolphin Protected Area on a 3-day journey.
WHY OUR TOURS
WELCOME TO THE LIVING IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN PROJECT!
The Irrawaddy River is home to the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin, found just north of Mandalay. What’s unique about Burma’s (Myanmar) Irrawaddy dolphins is their relationship with local fishermen. Dolphins and fishermen communicate and fish together, a practice called “cooperative fishing”–a unique phenomenon found in only two other places in the world! Your visit helps raise awareness for dolphin protection and generates income for local fishermen to continue their practice of cooperative fishing with dolphins. The Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project is an initiative of Living Irrawaddy Travel and works with 6 communities to help them develop and market community-based ecotourism.
Cooperative Fishing with Irrawaddy Dolphins - An Experience Found Only Here!
We are a proud Travelife Partner (click to see our certificate)! The Travelife Partner award is a recognition of our commitment towards social and environmental sustainability. We are complying to more than 100 criteria related to sustainability management, office operations, working with suppliers and customer communication. We are working towards further improvements aiming to eventually reach the Travelife Certified stage.
The Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project was the winner of the 2020 Experience Mekong Showcase for its significant social impact to its community, having an innovative concept and sustainable business model, and providing an authentically local experience positioning the GMS as a responsible, inclusive, and experiential tourism destination.
- mscast
What an amazing experience - such fun and such comfort. Thank you Chit - you are an excellent guide.
March 9, 2020Mayphoo99 I checked off an item from my my bucket list, which was meeting the Irrawaddy dolphins. I contacted WCS, the living Irrawaddy dolphin project. First, we headed to Sinkyun Village... read more
March 10, 2020Gavin T My wife and I booked a private 1 day tour (we wanted to do 2 days, but only had 1 extra day in Mandalay). We booked in advance, Paul... read more
March 21, 2020 - Taking this trip in the hottest month in Myanmar turned out to be a great idea. As a group of 4 we opted for the 2 days/ 1 night trip... read more KerryMig
May 8, 2019Julie D Our day began with a short ride to the boat dock where we took a boat crewed by a local family and our guide Chit along the Irrawaddy river past... read more
March 1, 2020Netta888 We went on the 2 day sail. During the sail we stopped a few times to see local people and villages. The real beauty of this tour is the authentic... read more
December 21, 2019 - 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 Barflyer
March 26, 2019maggay It was definitely one of my highlights in Myanmar! Taking a break from pagodas/stupas after 3 amazing days in Bagan, I opted to do this tour instead of probably the... read more
January 18, 2020 Signed on for the 3 day, 2 night Irrawaddy River tour along with 2 other guests. Our hosts/guides Paul, Chit and Thien were great. Over the... read more joey262
December 3, 2018
Our Activities
Engage with communities and learn about local livelihoods, such as throwing a cast net, making a bamboo hat and fishing with dolphins.
Our Boat
Travel on the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Boat and take in the scenes of the Ayeyawaddy Dolphin Protected Area.
Our Food
Get to know local culture through local food. Enjoy authentic dishes prepared and hosted by communities.
OUR PROJECT - Why it's important & What we do
Why protect Irrawaddy dolphins & cooperative fishing?
Irrawaddy dolphins are an endangered species found in only three rivers in the world, including the Irrawaddy River in Burma (Myanmar)--the only place where cooperative fishing with Irrawaddy dolphins exists.
What is our project?
The Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project is a social business working to protect Irrawaddy dolphins and the tradition of cooperative fishing through community-based ecotourism.
