This season, for the first time since the 1930s a group of foreign visitors were able to explore the labyrinthine Irrawaddy Delta in the comfort of the Katha Pandaw. We ran two trips from Rangoon to Bassein and back circling round the Delta taking in the towns and countryside as we criss crossed the backwaters of this 10,000 square mile waterworld.

Everyone who joined this intrepid voyage had sailed with Pandaw before, most several times and some couple over a dozen times. Carrying such experienced old hands can be a daunting task for any crew but they seem to have carried it off.

Highlights were a visit to a nunnery, a prison, and the sheer joy of visiting villages that had never seen foreign tourists before. Bassein, Bogale, Pyapon and all the other vibrant Delta port towns were full of interest.

Less exciting seems to have been the voluntary day trip to the beach at Ngwesaung. Most passengers felt it was too far from Bassein and back again in one day, though the beach was pleasant enough. Another issue was that we could not get close to the crocodile reserve due to tidal restrictions.

On the second voyage the Katha had engine problems and the captain promptly arranged a tug to tow her rather ignominiously back to Rangoon. I am glad to say that everyone on board took this in the right 'Pandaw spirit'.

Marianne Spender, veteran of over a dozen Pandaw voyages commented that this was not the issue and at the same time the Katha also ran out of beer and limes. Marianne quotes our captain saying 'No beer, no limes, no engines'.

Along with several other passenger remarks in emails received, Marianne felt that seven days was just not enough and commented 'The general consensus of opinion was that this Delta trip is by far the best way to see the real Burma, well off the well-worn tourist track of Bagan and Mandalay etc.'

In view of the success of these recce voyages we will most certainly be running them again next year on the smaller Kha Byoo and already bookings are coming in. It is too late now to extend next year's itineraries to ten nights but we might look at this for 2020.

We are also offering special offers to our member's club whereby members can combine the Delta with the Andaman Explorer coastal expedition from Kawthaung to Rangoon, thus covering the whole of undiscovered southern Burma.

One of our passengers, John Shingleton from Australia has kindly sent us a link to his amazing photos which he is willing to share with the Pandaw community.