Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay

Boat is really comfortable, food was better than expected, crew very nice. We were only 15 people on the boat (mid february). Overall fantastic experience for me and my family. Great sunrise, too.

There were only 4 guests on the trip with a staff of about 10! What a great experience. The cruise itself was relaxing with the use of 2 decks. Food was great and staff were very entertaining. A wonderful way to spend a day observing local life on the river. Highly recommended.

At first I thought to myself: Twelve hours on the boat without interruption will be a hell of a long time. But the opposite was true. Time flies, you slow down and enjoy the time from sunrise to sunset. The crew on the boat is very warm and friendly. It was a great experience :-)

We boarded the cruise to get from Bagan to Mandalay. The boat leaves early at 5:30AM. It is a good idea to wear warm clothing as it is rather cold on the deck. Breakfast and lunch were served, which were decent. Staff were very nice and it was overall a great journey on the Irrawaddy river

Take in mind that it takes 11 hours. You are sitting in onconfourtable chairs, the food is really bad and you are looking at the same view for 9 hours. Thereby the boats are old. Only the last two hours get interesting, because you see a lot of pagodas on your way. If this is your first time in Asia, you will see people washing themselfs and there clothing in the river.

For us this was a transfer from Mandalay to Bagan. Great choice. Well equipped boat. Breakfast, bar, business class level seat in aircon room, but better sitting on deck in lazy chairs. Little stop half way visiting a small farming village was refreshing. Friendly yet professional staff. Definitely must be better that car or bus.

I used it to move from Bagan to Mandalay. It was a bit of a struggle because the pier at Nyang Woo was not clearly marked. The route was comfortable, the food was delicious and the scenery was enjoyable. It takes time, so flying might be better if you rush. It might be a good idea to take a break during your trip. In Mandalay, we took the pick up track to the hotel without any problems, but if you are unsure, you might want to ask for a pick up.

I took the ferry on 29 Dec from Bagan to Mandalay and this is one of the major highlights of my trip. Here’s why: 1. After a hectic day of temple hopping and a restless overnight bus ride before that, I appreciate a ‘rest & relax’ day. It is true that there were no breathtaking views but I did enjoy the beautiful sunset and sunrise en route, as well as scenic views of Pakokku Bridge and Sagaing region. 2. Bagan to Mandalay leg is a less popular route as the ferry will sail upstream, requiring more effort and longer duration. There will not be any stop en route unlike the other direction. This also means that the ferry is hardly filled. In fact, my ride was only 20% filled and I have plenty of room to move around. 3. If you have a weak bladder like me, it is better to travel on a ferry with clean toilets than take a bus and wait for a toilet stop. 4. The 2 meals provided were delicious. 5. The bus ride can be very cold. The upper deck is just as cold as the bus I took but the lower deck cabin is warm and seats are cosy. 6. As an added bonus, the crew did an informative and humorous sharing session on applying Thanaka and how to wear a longyi. The only negative thing I have to say, which is no fault of the operator is the jetty is a makeshift one. Thankfully, I only carry a backpack. I think it will be challenging for those with big luggages. Tips: It is really chilly in the morning. Please bring along a weatherproof jacket if you want to enjoy the views on upper deck.

Although it's a long journey through a relatively boring landscape the boat tip is a relaxing break from undoubtedly busy schedules in Bagan and Mandalay. Very friendly crew, options to relax/sunbathe on upper deck or sit in comfortable chairs one level below. Food is simple but tasty. Recommended when you have the time!

We went on an excursion with Hands Without Borders, in the last days of October and November of this year, it is a very nice walk across the river and we went to know the sunken, broken and tallest palace that would have been built, recommended