Dala day trip from Yangon: Rural island by local ferry

A local ferry carries you across the river into a different world.

This guided day trip from Yangon takes you by local ferry across the Yangon River to Dala, a rural island where you travel by trishaw through villages and quiet side streets. You visit a monastic school, stop at a market, taste Burmese breakfast at a tea shop, and see the Chu Chu Workshop where artisans turn plastic waste into products. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours with an English-speaking guide and includes the ferry, trishaw rides and tea with a snack.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore rural Dala and local life

• Meet near Nan Thida Ferry Terminal
• Take local ferry across Yangon River
• Travel by trishaw through Dala town
• Stop at tea shop for Burmese breakfast
• Visit Dala market and meet locals
• Visit monastic school and meet children
• Tour Chu Chu Workshop and see plastic recycling
• Return by ferry to Yangon
• End at Nan Thida Ferry Terminal

The experience

The ferry that crosses the Yangon River carries thousands of local commuters every day, and you board it at Nan Thida Ferry Terminal near Junior Duck restaurant. The moment you leave the busy streets behind, the scenery shifts: trees, quiet neighborhoods, side streets without traffic. Once in Dala, a trishaw takes you through the town and out into the countryside, stopping first at a tea shop where locals gather for breakfast. You taste Burmese tea and a typical morning snack, sitting where the rhythm of daily life moves at a different pace than Yangon.

The monastic school sits on country roads through local villages. Children attend classes with minimal resources, and the head monk welcomes visitors to meet the students and teachers. Your guide translates conversations, and donations go directly toward school books, blankets, rice and clothing. The Chu Chu Workshop comes next. You see how plastic bags collected from dumping sites and markets are sorted, cleaned and turned into new designs for local and international buyers. On the return journey, the ferry ride back gives you time to watch life along the river and reflect on what you have seen, arriving back at Nan Thida Terminal as the day ends.

What’s included

• Tea and a snack at a local tea shop in Dala.
• trishaw rides through villages and countryside.
• entry to the monastic school and the Chu Chu Workshop.
• an English-speaking guide for the full tour.
• ferry crossings of the Yangon River.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asian Tour Myanmar

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guided group experience crossing the river by local ferry to explore rural Dala. You'll move together through each stop with translation, rather than navigating independently.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Chu Chu Workshop and what do I see there?

Chu Chu Workshop is a social enterprise where artisans gather plastic bags from dumping sites and markets in Yangon and transform them into useful products. You watch the process of sorting, cleaning and developing new designs that meet local and international market demand.

Can I interact with the children at the monastic school?

Yes, you meet the children and talk with the teachers with help of your guide. The children are delighted to meet foreigners, and these encounters are often rewarding for visitors. Donations made during the visit go toward school books, blankets, rice and clothing.

What happens at the tea shop in Dala?

You stop at a local tea shop to experience a daily staple of life in Myanmar and taste Burmese typical breakfast. This is included in the tour and gives you a chance to sit where locals gather in the morning.

How do I get across the Yangon River to Dala?

You take a local ferry boat that crosses the river every day with thousands of commuters. The ferry departs from near Nan Thida Ferry Terminal and the crossing itself shows you the shift from the busy city to the quiet countryside on the other side.

What is the market visit like in Dala?

The market in Dala gives you plenty of opportunities to stop and interact with friendly locals. You see how the town functions as a real rural community, very different from Yangon's busier streets.