The country's longest river and a waterway that is inextricably linked with Myanmar's history, culture and spirituality, the Irrawaddy has provided transport, communication links, irrigation and water for cooking, washing and drinking for centuries. It is along the banks of the Irrawaddy that you’ll glimpse the day to day panoramas of Myanmese life, and get to see some of its most spectacular natural scenery – farmers tending rice paddies, stilt villages in the shallows and, farther north, dramatic gorges that channel the river into an angry rush. An Irrawaddy River cruise is one of the best and most relaxed ways to explore Myanmar, and gives you access to a side of the country that those travelling by land just won't see.