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 the towns of Mingun and Sinjun. We then transferred to a small boat and followed the local fishermen as they communicated with the dolphins. The dolphins work with the fishermen and being the fish to them so that they can cast their nets for their catch. It is amazing to see the dolphins surfacing briefly and then circling the boat. We had about 90 minutes to watch this and learned that although still very much endangered, the number of dolphins is increasing slowly through the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project. We had lunch back on the larger boat which was provided by a local village. We then spent some time in Sinjun where we had refreshing snacks and drinks and learned how to tie a longhi in many different ways and got to see how the local women make the conical bamboo hats. We received 2 of those hats as gifts. We then sailed over to Mingun and visited Hsinbyume Pagoda which was delightful. We sailed back to Mandalay as the sun was setting after a most wonderful day. …

  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

  Though I am typically inclined to skip tours in favor of my own plans, I am so glad we had this amazing experience! We did the full 3 day tour... read more in early May, spending two amazing nights beside the river. The area is so beautiful...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.

  We took the two day tour with camping/ glamping for the overnight. Despite a romantic name, Mandalay was a little underwhelming so this experience was a highlight of the... read more area. First of all, we saw loads of dolphins and plenty of episodes of the dolphins...More

  Did the 2 day experience at the end of Feb 19. This trip was just fantastic. Firstly I had 2 great fellow travellers (James from the UK and Michelle... read more from Singapore) who were such fantastic company. We went to remote villages to meet locals who...More

  A very good couple of days on the Irrawaddy river. Village excursions and visits to monasteries and to the attractions in Mingun were interesting and worthwhile. Lovely leisure... read more time spent on the boat cruising the river - lots to see. Trips in the small fishing...More

  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.

  What a great company & great day trip. We did the 1 day tour as that was all the time we had. Unfortunately we didn't see any dolphins which is... read more unusual from reviews I have read. This was due to the rain which was heavy...More