RV Paukan Cruise

Cruising the Irrawaddy is a fantastic way to see Myanmar and also to get a little bit off the beaten track.

This Myanmar River Cruise itinerary covers the best of Myanmar including Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake with the option to add a few days at the end of the trip to relax on the beach if you wish (just ask us).

The RV Paukan is a charming boutique River Cruiser established in 2007 accommodating a maximum of only 55 passengers on it's Irrawaddy River Cruises.

The Paukan is one of the best boutique river cruisers in Asia and has spacious cabins with comfortable beds.

We have combined 2 nights in Yangon and Inle Lake either side of the cruise to create a perfectly balanced and inclusive river cruise holiday in Burma with RV Paukan.

This Burma River Cruise Holiday is completely tailor made to fit around the Paukan River Cruise itinerary and can be tailored to fit your interests, time and budget so just let us know the kind of trip you have in mind.

Day 1: Depart the UK

Fly from UK to Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon

Arrive Yangon and transfer to  hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight Yangon. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Yangon

Enjoy a full day private tour of Yangon including Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, National Museum, Scott's Market, Botataung Pagoda and Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda.

Overnight Yangon. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Yangon - Bagan - Salay

Fly to Bagan and board the RV Paukan before lunch, with lunch on board.

After Lunch, enjoy a walk ashore at Salay, a historic town with Bagan-era shrines, beautiful 19th century teak monasteries and preserved British colonial buildings.

Overnight on board. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.

Day 5: Bagan

Explore the best of Bagan with morning and afternoon excursions to the best temples and sights of this World Heritage Site.

The afternoon trip includes a stop for a great sunset view over the temples.

Overnight on board. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.

Day 6: Bagan

Explore some of Bagan's local markets selling wood carvings, fabric, longyis and rattan products.

Visit a lacquer workshop or hire a horse and cart to explore the temples further in the traditional way.

Overnight on board. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.

Day 7: Yandabo

Visit Yandabo, a picturesque village specializing in Pot-Making. Village walk including pot-making workshops and visit to a school and monastery.

Cruise upstream, mooring overnight at Myin Mu jetty.

Overnight on board. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.

RV Paukan

Paukan is the ancient name of Bagan, famous for its temple covered plain by the banks of the Irrawaddy.

There are three RV Paukan cruisers, plus the Irrawaddy Explorer.

RV Paukan 2007

RV Paukan was built in 2007 at the Myanmar Shipyards in Yangon and can be considered as a boutique hotel on the Irrawaddy.

Fitted with a combination of modern and traditional motifs, the timber-walled cabins are furnished with colonial style cupboards, dresser and doors, complimented by traditional Burmese style ceilings.

Choose from Superior or Deluxe Cabins or Suites, all of which have real (and comfortable) beds, not mere bunks.

RV Paukan has capacity for up to 55 passengers, making the ship about twice the size and capacity of Pandaw Cruises.

Facilities include two massage rooms on the lower deck offering traditional Myanmar massage.

The sun deck has a stage for cultural performances, and a bar and lounge for relaxation, whilst the upper deck has a lecture / movie room with LCD projector and LCD TV screen.

Meals in the dining room on the main deck include both Eastern and Western cuisine. Vegetarian meals can be prepared when informed in advance.

Prices are inclusive of all meals, shore excursions and entrance fees at monuments.

Irrawaddy Explorer

The sleek Irrawaddy Explorer is the most luxurious of the four Paukan Cruise vessels, reflecting the elegant, stylish era of the colonial period.

As soon as you step foot in the reception area, you are amongst the décor of an earlier era - the beautiful art nouveau stairway, old-style furniture, the gleaming hardwood floors, potted plants and classic light fixtures.

The theme is carried into the whole interior of the ship including the 28 luxurious suites, the Writers” Lounge, the ‘Custom House’ dining room and even the Spa room and Fitness Centre.

The 28 luxury suites are named Mandalay, Kipling, Orwell and Maugham, all with floor-to-ceiling glass doors to enjoy the magnificent views of the Irrawaddy River.

Each suite comes with its own unique artwork.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

All of our tours are private tailor made itineraries, customised for you - we can amend things to entirely suit you around the cruise itinerary.

You will have your own private car, driver and guide on any additional excursions you choose to do before or after the cruise.

All shore excursions are done on a group basis with other cruise passengers.

What are the departure dates?

Let us know your preferred dates of travel and we will find the best and most suitable flights to fit your itinerary.

We will organise dates around departure dates with Paukan Cruises.

Which Airlines do you use?

We work with all the major airlines flying to this part of the world.

Typically for Burma, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Emirates would be airlines we would often use.

However, just let us know your preferred airline if you have one. We can organise flights from any regional destination in the UK.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Myanmar currently.

Which Hotels do you use?

We're careful with our choice of hotels, but we're guided by our customers also. If you have some preferred hotels, just let us know.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller hotels where we think these will be suitable.

We keep on top of hotel developments in Burma from our office in South East Asia and regularly inspect the hotels we use.

Do you cater for Solo Travellers?

Yes, we have many solo travellers and Burma is a very safe, friendly and welcoming destination for those travelling alone.

River cruises in Burma are a popular option for solo travellers, especially with Paukan Cruises who offer no Single Supplements on many departures.

View Itinerary in Detail

To view a sample holiday, click on one of the links below. This will open the itinerary up in a new window.

All of our Myanmar Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.