Call free on: 0800 471 4754
Monday to Saturday: 9am to 7pm
There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. With a full day in charming Phnom Penh we then explore remoter waterways as we progress to the great monuments of Angkor.
Fly overnight from UK to Saigon where you transfer to your overnight hotel.
The following day transfer from your hotel to the river port for embarkation. After lunch, travel by sampans through mangroves and bamboo groves to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. In these local artisans are at work and are invite visitors into their homes for tea, fruit and honey products made from their own honey. This is an area rich in bird life and on our return journey we travel by horse cart through the lush countryside. After lunch, the ship moors off Cho Lach island for pot making and further glimpses of Delta life, agriculture and local Viet hospitality including a culinary lesson in making traditional Banh Xeo.
Day 4 - Con Phuoc Island
After breakfast, there is a short coach journey to the Gao Giong ‘green oasis’ with its bird sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water and egrets that gather in the tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowing boats traverse the canals to take us to see the principal nesting areas. After returning to the boat we cruise upstream to Con Phuoc Island. We Moor in a small canal off Con Phuoc Island and go ashore to explore the island by Xi Loi seeing basket production and visiting a 100-year old Catholic Church as well as local woodworking artisans.
Day 5 - Cambodia Border
Afternoon, explore the labyrinthine canal system around Tan Chau to visit a Taoist temple where the monks will read fortunes. Continue through local villages by Xi Loi stopping off to help locals tend their fields before stopping off to visit a fish farm and earn merit by releasing fish back into the Mekong. Border crossing formalities take up much of the afternoon and during this stationary period there is an optional tour of the working ship and fruit carving classes on deck.
Day 6 - Phnom Penh
Morning orientation of Phnom Penh by cyclo visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvelous collection of Angkorian statuary. Afternoon optional visit to the Killing Fields and Genocide museum or take a tuk-tuk to explore the riverfront and finish with High Tea at Raffles Hotel. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and night life.
Day 7 - Silk Island
Sail up the Tonle River to board our expedition vessel, the Pandaw Explorer, to visit Koh Okhna Tey, or ‘silk island’ to study the entire silk making process from worms to weavers. There will be a demonstration of the ancient Khmer martial art of Bokator. Return to ship and return down the Tonle River to turn up the Mekong at the confluence. Evening lecture on Angkor and Khmer culture.
Day 8 - Wat Hanchey, Obt Chiro Village
Morning visit to Koh Trong Island a small Mekong River hamlet which can be explored by bicycle or ox cart with a real immersion into Khmer rural life visiting local schools and English classes then visiting a reforestation site where you can leave your mark by planting your own tree. Passengers should feel free to donate items for use in the schools such as books & pens etc. After lunch, moor off Kratie and continue to the dolphin grounds by local boat where we will observe the elusive Irrawaddy Dolphins.
Day 9 - Siem Reap
Sail downstream to moor at Kampong Cham for disembarkation and road transfer to Siem Reap.
Day 10 - 11 Siem Reap & UK
Disembark and travel by coach from Kampong Cham through stunningly lovely countryside to reach Siem Reap, adjacent to Angkor Wat. Here we disembark and fly home from Siem Reap International airport.
NB: if you would like to stay longer and visit Angkor Wat you can book our Secrets of Angkor Wat extension and discover the incredible history of these temples via a private tour.
Built in Rangoon in 2002 she was sailed round to Saigon under her own power and many a drama described in Paul Strachan’s Pandaw Story. This ship was designed specially for the Mekong and unlike our other P class ships does not have a flying bridge.
The reason was so she could get under a road bridge. She did actually scrape under on her maiden but it was so scary that Paul Strachan, then standing on the bridge, never dared attempt it again. As a result, we ended up with this incredible 750 square meter teak deck that even has a full size billiard table. The MP as she is affectionately known is our most spacious ship with wider promenades, a larger dining hall and more public space per passenger than any known ship afloat. Seriously!
In 2012 she was refitted and lower deck cabins removed in favour of a professional spa, gym, library lounge and office. She is quite justifiably the most splendid ship on the Mekong and the envy of anything that floats by.
The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent exploration.
The 18 Upper deck and 6 main deck staterooms, air-conditioning 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass with panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space. New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings, Kimonos and slippers and Spa-branded amenities. Unlimited mineral water in your cabin
Modeled on Pandaw II and originally called Pandaw III, the Tonle saw a year’s service in Burma in 2002/3 before being sent under tug-tow to the Mekong where she has done continuous service between Saigon and Kampong Cham ever since.
With her gorgeous upper deck saloon, observation decks and formal dining room this ship is an old favourite and has a rich ambience. In 2013 she was fully refitted and the number of cabins reduced to just twenty-eight in order to create a professional spa and library on the lower deck.
She is not a small ship but despite her size she has a shallow draft and can usually get up river into low water areas when other vessels are stuck well below.
The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent exploration.
The 18 Upper deck and 10 main deck staterooms, air-conditioning 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass with panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space. New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings, Kimonos and slippers and Spa-branded amenities. Unlimited mineral water in your cabin
Depart | Ship | Embark | From |
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Jan 19 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Jan 25 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Feb 2 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Feb 8 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Feb 16 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Feb 22 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Mar 7 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4895 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4895 |
Oct 3 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4195 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4195 |
Oct 11 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Oct 17 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Oct 31 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Nov 8 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Nov 14 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £5295 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £5295 |
Nov 22 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4195 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4195 |
Jan 23 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Feb 6 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Feb 14 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Feb 20 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Feb 28 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Mar 6 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Mar 14 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4495 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4495 |
Mar 20 | Tonle Pandaw | Ben Tre | £4195 |
Main Deck | Twin/Double | 170 ft², French Windows | £4195 |
Cruise Price Includes: Port charges, entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes. Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.
Cruise Price Excludes: International flights (Call for prices), laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), all beverages except local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas & tisanes and tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers.
The Pandaw experience is all about exploring remote and often hard to navigate rivers and coasts in specially designed luxury small ships. each ship, hand crafted in brass and teak, is an object of beauty in itself. A Pandaw adventure is very different from that offered on an ocean cruise. The ships are small in scale, and the atmosphere is informal and very friendly. Make you trip a memorable one and talk to us about the add on available to your cruise, we can book your flights, transfers, hotels and pre and post cruise stays with included excursions for you. 0800 471 4754
Stay longer and see more that Vietnam & Cambodia has to offer. 3 nights in Ho Chi Minh City (Saignon), stay at the luxury 5* Intercontinental Asiana. Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels built by the Viet Cong, before spending the afternoon evening exploring the city. 5 Nights in Hue and Hoi An for a 2 night stay before you stay in Ho Chi Minh City for 3 nights 2 nights, to explore Angkor, visit the famous Angkor Wat temple, Angkor Thom whilst staying in luxury at Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa or Jaya House Riverpark. Please call us on 0800 471 4754 for further information, these pre and post stays are flexible and can be arranged to suit your requirements.