1
Upper Deck
U
Overview
Seeing the quality of this ship it is hard to believe it was built in a hurry. There are no proper ship yards above the Khone Falls and we could not persuade our Vietnamese builders to assemble a ship trucked in in bits on the river bank. We tried our Rangoon builder and he also chickened out. By January 2015 we were taking bookings and selling out for November but still had no ship. Paul Strachan in a panic flew to Vientiane and took a taxi down to the river bank and boarded the first cargo ship we saw, a 40 meter barge used to carry heavy loads of cement and rice up to China. She had two 400hp truck engines and was just the thing for tackling the terrifying fast flow of the Upper Mekong .The captain was the owner and agreed terms with Paul. The owner agreed to stay on as skipper and is still there. He immediately took her up to the Golden Triangle, a week’s sail away.
The Golden Triangle is where Burma, Laos and Thailand meet and was the perfect place to convert the ship. The build team came over from Mandalay, a two-day bus journey across the Shan mountains. They made a camp on the Burma river bank opposite where she lay on the Laos. We hired a house on the Thai side to act as an office and could source material and supplies from Thailand. Amazingly we had the ten cabin ship finished on time for the maiden voyage on the 1st November 2015. Actually it was the first time we have actually had the ship finished on time! Normally there are still sparks flying as the first passengers come on board.
The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent exploration.
Dining
2
Restaurant
Regional
Restaurant
Regional
Life on board
Activities
Local Entertainment
Whilst the peace and tranquillity of our passengers is our priority and many passengers prefer to read, write or engage in painting or photography, we do offer a number of social activities that have become a traditional part of any Pandaw river expedition. There are a number of social events during an expedition which will include a welcome dinner, cocktail parties on deck, a farewell gala dinner and dinners themed with local menus and costume. …
Activities
Whilst the peace and tranquillity of our passengers is our priority and many passengers prefer to read, write or engage in painting or photography, we do offer a number of social activities that have become a traditional part of any Pandaw river expedition.
There are a number of social events during an expedition which will include a welcome dinner, cocktail parties on deck, a farewell gala dinner and dinners themed with local menus and costume. In the Burma dry season we often tie up on a sandbank and have a barbeque beach party on the sands, usually around a bonfire in winter.
Open Air Lounge & Bar
Sun Deck
There is an open air lounge and bar on the sundeck.
Saloon Bar
Bar
Spacious, air-conditioned saloon bar with nightly entertainment
Excursions
Excursions
With small group sizes and expert local guides, guests are invited to go beyond the typical tourist trail and explore daily life in rural communities. Each experience is thoughtfully curated to showcase the diversity of each region while allowing plenty of time to absorb it all at a relaxed pace. Excursions are included in your sailing and are designed to be flexible, with options available for different levels of mobility and interest. Highlight …
Excursions
With small group sizes and expert local guides, guests are invited to go beyond the typical tourist trail and explore daily life in rural communities. Each experience is thoughtfully curated to showcase the diversity of each region while allowing plenty of time to absorb it all at a relaxed pace. Excursions are included in your sailing and are designed to be flexible, with options available for different levels of mobility and interest.
Highlights of Pandaw excursions often include:
- Guided walks through riverside towns and local markets
- Visits to historical sites and temples
- Artisan demonstrations in traditional crafts
- Bicycle rides through scenic countryside (by request where available)
- Speedboat or sampan excursions into jungle backwaters
- Opportunities to meet with local community members and visit Pandaw Clinics projects
Cycling
Bikes
There is no better way to explore a country than by bike. All our ships in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma carry trek mountain bikes for guest use. Guests have the chance to opt out of our scheduled excursions and explore villages, temples and the countryside on two wheels (no extra charge and no prebooking necessary).
Family Friendly Cruises
Children's Activity
On board, there’s plenty to keep young explorers engaged—from cookery demonstrations to classic board games. We also carry badminton nets, often setting them up when moored for the night, creating opportunities for fun and connection between crew, kids, and locals alike. Certain school holiday departures are specially designated as 'family friendly', making it easier than ever to enjoy a relaxed yet enriching journey across some of Asia’s m …
Family Friendly Cruises
On board, there’s plenty to keep young explorers engaged—from cookery demonstrations to classic board games. We also carry badminton nets, often setting them up when moored for the night, creating opportunities for fun and connection between crew, kids, and locals alike. Certain school holiday departures are specially designated as 'family friendly', making it easier than ever to enjoy a relaxed yet enriching journey across some of Asia’s most fascinating waterways. And to make your family adventure even more accessible, one or two children aged 5 to 18 can travel for free on most departures (excluding the RV Kalay Pandaw).
Deck plans
Upper Deck
- Saloon Bar
- Dining Room
Main Deck
- Main Deck Staterooms
