Classic Mekong 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. Upstream departure: 12-Aug-17 | 09-Sep-17 | 10-Sep-17 | 07-Oct-17 | 21-Oct-17 | 04-Nov-17 | 05-Nov-17 | 18-Nov-17 | 19-Nov-17 | 02-Dec-17 | 16-Dec-17 | 17-Dec-17 | 30-Dec-17 | 31-Dec-17 | 13-Jan-18 | 14-Jan-18 | 27-Jan-18 | 28-Jan-18 | 10-Feb-18 | 11-Feb-18 | 24-Feb-18 | 25-Feb-18 | 10-Mar-18 | 11-Mar-18 | 24-Mar-18 | 25-Mar-18 Downstream departure: 05-Aug-17: 02-Sep-17 | 03-Sep-17 | 30-Sep-17 | 14-Oct-17 | 28-Oct-17 | 29-Oct-17 | 11-Nov-17 | 12-Nov-17 | 25-Nov-17 | 26-Nov-17 | 09-Dec-17 | 23-Dec-17 | 24-Dec-17 | 06-Jan-18 | 07-Jan-18 | 20-Jan-18 | 03-Feb-18 | 17-Feb-18 | 03-Mar-18 | 04-Mar-18 | 17-Mar-18 | 18-Mar-18 ON REQUEST ON REQUEST Morning transfer to the port, embarking the RV Mekong Pandaw in time for welcome drinks, a briefing and lunch. Sail across the vast Mekong Delta. Your guide will collect your passports at the meeting point so we can arrange the immigration formalities. Please note: Between mid of February and end of March we are expecting low water levels. Alternate itinerary and excursions will apply should we not be able to reach Kratie and the river dolphins. Registration Details INTERCONTINENTAL ASIANA SAIGON HOTEL In the morning we will visit Cai Be floating market along canals and backwaters and then continue to Sa Dec via Vinh Long Province. Sa Dec has an interesting local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the ‘lover’ of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was imortalised in the film L’Indochine. Visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm in Chau Doc with our guide or do your own thing and take one of our mountain bikes and explore teh local market or the Catholic Church. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities. Whilst in Phnom Penh you will be provided with their own private cyclo. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers. You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. In the afternoon, optional excursion (by coach) to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre. Explorations up Tonle River to a silver making village, Kampong Trolach, and Chong Koh either by ship or by coach depending on water levels. This river is very pretty and there is a vibrant local life to be viewed along the river banks and in lesser craft. Morning walk at Angkor Ban and after an all day sail through delightful Cambodian countryside we reach charming French colonial town of Kratie in the evening. No other river ships get this high but thanks to the Mekong Pandaw’s shallow draft we can attempt it. From Kratie we go further upstream using a local bus to view the dolphin grounds in a national park protected area. In the afternoon on our return downstream we stop at a curious shrine known as the Monkey Temple on the way to moor overnight near Kampong Cham. Early morning coach transfer to the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap. Refreshments will be provided and we will stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Arrive at Siem Reap mid-afternoon ( approx. 13.30pm). Morning transfer to your Pandaw moored at Kampong Cham. A packed lunch will be provided on the coach and we will stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Once on board we will set sail upstream to moor overnight at Cchlong. Your guide or purser will collect your passports at the meeting point so we can arrange the immigration formalities. PLEASE NOTE: We may experience low water levels between January and April. If we are unable to reach Kratie to see the river dolphins a revised itinerary will be offered with an exciting variety of excursions. REGISTRATION DETAILS VICTORIA ANGKOR RESORT & SPA Sail through the morning to reach Kratie, a charming French colonial river port, and after lunch visit the dolphin grounds travelling further upstream by local bus. Sailing down river we stop at the very curious Monkey Temple, Wat Hanchey and Angkor Ban. Whilst in Phnom Penh you will be provided with their own private cyclo. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers. You will visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. In the afternoon, optional excursion (by coach) to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre. Explorations up Tonle River to a silver making village, Kampong Trolach, and Chong Koh either by ship or by coach depending on water levels. This river is very pretty and there is a vibrant local life to be viewed along the river banks and in lesser craft. Sail for the border and formalities and then continue to Tan Chau for the evening. Please note border crossing will take place on Day 5 during low water (for visa purposes). Morning either visit a Moslem Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm in Chau Doc with our guide or do your own thing and take one of our mountain bikes and explore the local market and the Catholic Church. Afternoon excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long to see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the ‘lover’ of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist whose book was imortalised in the film L’Indochine. We continue along canals and backwaters to Cai Be for the floating market and overnight. Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where passengers disembark in the early morning for a coach transfer to Saigon. Arrive late morning at around 10.30am. RV MEKONG PANDAW 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. ACCOMMODATION WINING & DINING SAFETY & SECURITY ``Now back in the midst of a Sydney winter, I'm reminiscing fondly about my cruising days, and planning my next Pandaw itinerary. This time though, I won't get away without my husband, now that he's seen the photos and heard the stories!`` Laos Culture Luang Prabang, a former capital and the World Heritage Site offers you an unexpected stay along the Mekong river banks, temples, elephant rides along the Nam Khan river. Cambodia Culture The UNESCO World Heritage Angkor Complex with 1000 year old ruins are the remains of the highly developed Khmer empire including Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom...
Myanmar Culture Beginning from Yangon, the main gateway to the rest of Myanmar, you also have a chance to visit Bago, the former capital of the Mon Kingdom and epecially Golden Rock,...
Pandaw Cruises HCMC & Siem Reap 8 days
Pandaw Cruise HCMC & Siem Reap 8 days
New and exclusive upgraded itinerary – now visiting Kratie and the Mekong dolphins. No other river cruise operators goes there!
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Day 1: My Tho Embarkation | Meal: L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Please arrive at meeting point no later than 10.00am. Transfer will depart 10.30am.
Registration is at 10.00am
THE LIBRARY Bar, ground floor next to the hotel’s reception,
39 Le Duan, Ben Nghe,
Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam
Tel: (+84) 8 3520 9999
Day 2: Sadec | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 3: Chau Doc | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 4: Phnom Penh | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 5: Tonle river | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 6: Kratie | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 7: The Dolphin Grounds | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 8: Disembarkation - Siem Reap | Meal: B
Day 1: Siem Reap Embarkation | Meal: L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Please arrive at meeting point no later than 11.00 AM. Transfer will depart 11.30 AM
Registration is at 11.00am
Central Park,
Siem Reap Town, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: +855 63 760 428
Day 2: Kratie & The Dolphin Grounds | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 3: Prek Kdam | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 4: Phnom Penh | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 5: Tonle river | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 6: Vietnam Border | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 7: Chau Doc | Meal: B - L - D | Overnight: Pandaw Cruise
Day 8: My Tho Disembarkation - HCMC | Meal: B
Lex Lees | Australia | Oct 2016
Culture Extension 4 days
Angkor Experience 3 days
Compact of Myanmar 4 days
