Pandaw River Cruises

Replicas of the colonial-era ships that plied the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia in the early 1900s are luxury riverboats bringing you close to the countries’ cultures.

>A new cruise experience that truly is like no other, takes holidaymakers to Cambodia and Vietnam aboard a replica of a four-deck boutique teak-and-brass riverboat from an era of early 1900s colonial splendour.

Pandaw River Cruises' 30-cabin Indochina Pandaw sails seven-night cruises for just 60 passengers served by 28-crew, from Siem Reap to Ho Chin Minh City (French colonial Saigon). Her ultra-shallow draft enables her to get into areas inaccessible to most tourists.

Indochina Pandaw embraces bustling ports, tranquil rural towns and villages, backwaters, and shore excursions to historic temples (including Angkor Wat), wildlife wetlands, floating markets, an orphanage, and pottery factories in Indochina’s heartland. Ports visited include Tonle Sap, Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham, Phnom Penh,
Chau Doc, and Cai Be.

Indochina Pandaw is a nearest-to-possible replica of the riverboats of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company that once had more 650 freight and passengers vessels on the waterways of South East Asia. The company burned every ship to the waterline in 1942 to prevent the invading Japanese using them to move their troops, weapons and freight.

Prices include return air and taxes from mainland Australian capitals, transfers, most meals aboard ship, lectures and music presentations on board, soft drinks, local beers and spirits, onboard gratuities and extensive daily guided shore excursions. Also included in this price is two nights’ pre- and two nights’ post-cruise deluxe accommodation featuring Raffles Grand Hotel d’Agnkor, Siem Reap and the Caravelle Hotel, Saigon.

Dining

Dining features a mix of exceptional Asian and Western food. Both breakfast and lunch feature a buffet and à la carte dining. For dinner there is a choice of set menu or a la carte dining.
The culinary team presents a taste of the regions through which you cruise and serve chilies ‘on the side’ to allow for individual taste. Available daily for personal choice is grilled fish, chicken breast, beef steak or ostrich fillet

Accommodation

Accommodation consists of two decks of identical luxury cabins. Passengers have the choice of booking Main or Upper deck. All cabins have individual air conditioning units, shuttered doorways opening onto the teak common verandahs, security safes, twin beds, and storage space. They feature private bathrooms with showers. Cabins do not have television nor phones.

Highlights

Fully inclusive package. Excursions are numerous and inclusive. They range from a visit to the extravagant Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh to a Cham tribal village. Visit the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey, dating from the seventh century, explore fish farms and visit local markets. You will truly gain an understanding and appreciation of life as it is along the riverbank.