Asia’s Great Rivers · Authentic Exploration

Pandaw Cruises

Discover the soul of Asia aboard handcrafted colonial-style river ships, exploring the Mekong, Irrawaddy, Ganges, and beyond with intimate, expedition-style cruising.

A large, sleek cruise ship sailing on blue ocean waters, showcasing contemporary maritime design and impressive scale.
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Boutique River Cruising in Asia

Pandaw is the pioneering river cruise line of Southeast Asia, operating handcrafted colonial-style ships on the great rivers of the continent. Founded in 1995 by Paul Strachan, a Scottish historian and writer, Pandaw revived the tradition of luxury river travel that once connected the communities along Asia’s most storied waterways. With shallow-draft vessels carrying no more than 60 guests, Pandaw delivers an intimate, expedition-style experience that takes you deep into the heart of Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, India, and beyond.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Pandaw Cruises – Boutique River Cruising, Expedition-Style

Fleet: [INSERT NUMBER OF SHIPS] handcrafted shallow-draft river ships carrying up to 60 guests each

Destinations: Mekong, Irrawaddy, Chindwin, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Red River, and other Asian waterways

Service: High crew-to-guest ratio with attentive, locally trained staff

Signature Feature: Colonial brass-and-teak ship design, open-air observation decks, and authentic cultural immersion at riverside villages inaccessible to larger vessels

  • All meals onboard with locally inspired cuisine and Western options
  • Daily guided shore excursions with expert local guides
  • Complimentary local beer, soft drinks, and drinking water
  • Spacious staterooms with river views
  • Onboard enrichment lectures by historians and cultural experts
  • Cooking demonstrations and cultural performances
  • Use of onboard bicycles for shore exploration
  • Airport transfers on select itineraries

Inclusions may vary by itinerary. Premium spirits and wines available for purchase.

  • Shallow-draft ships access remote villages and waterways unreachable by other vessels
  • Intimate ship sizes with a maximum of 60 guests create a personal, friendly atmosphere
  • Handcrafted colonial brass-and-teak design evokes the golden age of river travel
  • Deep cultural immersion with expert-led excursions to temples, markets, and local communities

Main Dining Room: Open-seating restaurant serving a blend of local and international cuisine prepared with fresh regional ingredients

Breakfast & Lunch: Buffet-style with both Asian and Western selections

Dinner: Multi-course set menu featuring dishes inspired by the regions you’re sailing through

Sundeck Bar: Relaxed open-air bar on the upper deck, perfect for cocktails at sunset

Pandaw’s cuisine emphasizes authentic local flavours, with cooking demonstrations offered on many itineraries so guests can learn to recreate regional dishes at home.

Mekong River: Vietnam and Cambodia — from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, passing floating markets, Khmer temples, and lush delta landscapes

Irrawaddy River: Myanmar — from Mandalay to Bagan, exploring ancient pagodas, traditional villages, and sacred sites

Chindwin River: Myanmar’s remote frontier — deep jungle, tribal communities, and pristine wilderness

Ganges & Brahmaputra: India — spiritual heartland cruising past ghats, temples, and tea plantations

Red River: Vietnam — northern Vietnam’s cultural treasures and the gateway to Halong Bay

At a Glance

Boutique River Cruising

Intimate & Authentic

Max 60 guests on handcrafted ships

  • All meals onboard included
  • Daily guided shore excursions
  • Complimentary local beverages
  • Expert onboard enrichment lectures
  • Colonial brass-and-teak ship design
  • Shallow-draft river access
  • Onboard bicycles for exploration

Inclusions may vary by itinerary

Explore

Discover Pandaw

An excited passenger slides down a vibrant yellow water slide on a cruise ship, with blue and red water slides in the background and ocean visible beyond the ship's deck.
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Handcrafted Colonial-Style Ships

Every Pandaw ship is built in the company’s own shipyard, crafted with polished brass fittings and rich teak wood in a design inspired by the colonial river steamers of the 19th century. The shallow draft of each vessel allows Pandaw to navigate waterways that are simply inaccessible to other cruise ships, bringing guests to remote riverside villages, ancient temples, and pristine natural landscapes. With spacious open-air sun decks, a relaxed onboard atmosphere, and generous crew-to-guest ratios, Pandaw creates a uniquely personal river cruising experience that feels more like a private yacht expedition than a traditional cruise.

Deep Cultural Immersion

What truly sets Pandaw apart is the depth of cultural connection woven into every itinerary. Each voyage includes daily guided excursions led by expert local guides who bring the history, traditions, and stories of riverside communities to life. Visit ancient pagodas and temples in Myanmar, explore vibrant floating markets in Vietnam, witness traditional crafts being practised as they have been for centuries, and interact with local families in villages that rarely see tourists. Pandaw’s enrichment programme includes onboard lectures by historians and cultural specialists, cooking demonstrations, and evening performances by local artists — ensuring every moment is an opportunity to learn, discover, and connect.

An elegant, multi-story atrium interior featuring a grand blue-carpeted staircase, crystal light columns, and ornate Art Nouveau-style balustrades and decorative elements. The space showcases sophisticated design with curved architectural lines and soft, warm lighting.
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Explore Asia’s Great Rivers

Pandaw’s itineraries span the most legendary waterways of Asia. Cruise the Mekong from Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap, drifting past vibrant floating markets and ancient Khmer temples. Navigate Myanmar’s sacred Irrawaddy from Mandalay to Bagan, where thousands of pagodas dot the horizon. Venture up the remote Chindwin into pristine jungle territory rarely visited by outsiders. Explore India’s spiritual Ganges past holy ghats and bustling riverside towns, or the Brahmaputra through the tea plantations of Assam. Each river tells a different story, and Pandaw’s shallow-draft ships are uniquely designed to take you deeper into these extraordinary landscapes than any other vessel can.

Experience

The Pandaw Experience

Intimate Ship Sizes

With a maximum of just 60 guests per ship, Pandaw creates a friendly, sociable atmosphere where you get to know fellow travellers and receive genuinely personal attention from the crew throughout your voyage.

Cultural Enrichment

Every itinerary includes daily guided shore excursions, onboard lectures by historians and cultural experts, cooking demonstrations, and evening performances — transforming each day into a meaningful cultural encounter.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Access

Pandaw’s shallow-draft vessels navigate waterways no other cruise ships can reach, taking you to remote riverside villages, hidden temples, and pristine natural landscapes far from the tourist trail.

Images

Gallery

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Pandaw is the pioneering river cruise line of Southeast Asia, operating handcrafted colonial-style ships built in their own shipyard. Their shallow-draft vessels access remote waterways that larger ships simply cannot navigate, bringing guests to riverside villages, hidden temples, and pristine natural landscapes far from the usual tourist routes. With a maximum of 60 guests per ship, Pandaw creates an intimate, expedition-style experience that prioritises authentic cultural immersion over onboard luxury amenities.

Pandaw fares typically include all meals onboard (breakfast, lunch, and multi-course dinner), daily guided shore excursions with expert local guides, complimentary local beer, soft drinks, and drinking water, onboard enrichment lectures and cultural performances, cooking demonstrations, use of onboard bicycles, and airport transfers on select itineraries. Premium spirits and wines are available for purchase. When you book through Cruise Help, you also benefit from our exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no booking fees — ever.

Pandaw operates on the great rivers of Asia, including the Mekong (Vietnam and Cambodia), the Irrawaddy and Chindwin (Myanmar), the Ganges and Brahmaputra (India), and the Red River (Vietnam). Each river offers a distinct cultural experience, from the ancient pagodas of Bagan to the floating markets of the Mekong Delta, the spiritual ghats of the Ganges, and the tea plantations of Assam.

Pandaw ships are deliberately small, carrying a maximum of around 60 guests. This intimate size creates a friendly, sociable atmosphere where you get to know fellow travellers and the crew. It also allows the ships to dock at small riverside villages and navigate narrow waterways that larger vessels cannot access, giving you a more authentic and immersive experience.

Pandaw staterooms feature the line’s signature colonial brass-and-teak design with en-suite bathrooms, river views, and comfortable furnishings. While the cabins are not as large as those on ocean-going luxury ships, they are thoughtfully designed with everything you need for a comfortable river journey. The focus on Pandaw is on what’s outside your window and beyond the ship — the incredible destinations and cultural experiences.

Dining aboard Pandaw features a blend of locally inspired cuisine and Western options, prepared with fresh regional ingredients sourced along the route. Breakfast and lunch are typically served buffet-style with both Asian and Western selections, while dinner is a multi-course set menu reflecting the culinary traditions of the region you’re sailing through. Many itineraries include cooking demonstrations so guests can learn to recreate regional dishes at home. The relaxed Sundeck Bar is the perfect spot for sunset cocktails.

Pandaw maintains a relaxed, casual dress code throughout the voyage. Smart casual attire is appropriate for dinner, and comfortable clothing suitable for warm climates and shore excursions is recommended during the day. There are no formal nights. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for temple visits and village explorations. The atmosphere is laid-back and friendly — perfectly suited to the expedition-style nature of river cruising in Asia.

Absolutely! Pandaw is an excellent choice for first-time river cruisers, particularly those who value cultural discovery and authentic experiences over onboard entertainment and mega-ship amenities. The intimate ship size means you’re never overwhelmed, the daily guided excursions are well-organised, and the friendly crew and fellow guests create a welcoming social atmosphere. Our expert advisors at Cruise Help can help you choose the perfect Pandaw itinerary based on your interests, travel style, and experience level.

The best time depends on your chosen destination. For the Mekong (Vietnam and Cambodia), the season typically runs from September through April, with the dry season from November to March being most popular. Myanmar’s Irrawaddy is best from October to March. India’s Ganges cruises generally operate from October to March during the cooler months. Our Cruise Help advisors can guide you on the ideal timing for your preferred itinerary, including water level considerations that affect routing.

When you book Pandaw through Cruise Help, you get access to exclusive group rates with savings up to 50% off published fares — with just one room. Our team of 23+ expert advisors provides personalised itinerary recommendations, cabin selection advice, and pre- and post-cruise planning to help you make the most of your Asian river adventure. We perform weekly price monitoring on every booking and automatically adjust your rate if the price drops. Plus, we never charge booking, consultation, or change fees — ever. With 365-day support, you’re never on your own from the moment you inquire to the moment you disembark.

Get Started

Ready to Explore Asia’s Rivers?

Discover the soul of Southeast Asia aboard a Pandaw river cruise. When you’re ready for an authentic cultural adventure unlike any other, speak with our expert advisors at Cruise Help. With exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no fees — ever — your river journey begins with us!