
Pandaw River Adventures
Teak panelled cabins and public spaces with brass fittings are distinctive features of the traditional small Pandaw ships. They recapture the spirit of the colonial Irrawaddy Flotilla Company which by 1920 had over 600 ships on the rivers of Burma.
With extremely comfortable cabins and modern facilities, Pandaw ships range from 10 to 60 passengers, giving a small hotel feel, yet with top quality service and dining. Their itineraries can travel into remote areas of Vietnam, Laos, Burma and India, offering a true sense of adventure.
Cruise Collection
Brahmaputra River Cruise

Special OfferExclusive 10-night fly-cruise package from just £4399pp!
Cruise India's mighty Brahmaputra river through the scenic Assam Valley and the Kaziranga National Park on this superb 7-night cruise
Guwahati and back
Classic Mekong

Special OfferSave £1000pp on our exclusive escorted 13-night fly-cruise and tour departing 19 Feb 2026 – now from just £3999pp!
This 7-night Mekong river cruise travels along the mighty Mekong River from central Saigon through the vast delta to the serene countryside of Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City to Siem Reap
Halong Bay and the Red River

This 10-night adventure travels well off the beaten track into the highlands and mountain villages of northern Vietnam. In contrast visit bustling Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, plus an overnight cruise in the amazing limestone island scenery of Halong Bay.
Ha Long Bay to Viet Tri
The Kerala Backwaters

A unique 7-night cruise from Kochi, exploring the wildlife and fascinating culture of the lagoons and canals of the Kerala backwaters in south-west India
Kochi and back
The Laos Mekong

Cruise the upper Mekong river through the mountains and forests of Laos on this 10-night cruise, with visits to the Laos capital Vientiane and two nights in historic Luang Prabang
Vientiane to Chiang Khong
The Lower Ganges River

This 7-night voyage meanders through some of the prettiest parts of India between Kolkata and Farakka, travelling through the lush countryside of West Bengal.
Kolkata to Farakka
The Upper Ganges River

Cruise the Upper Ganges through pretty scenery and visiting villages and pilgrimage sites on this unique 7-night voyage
Farakka Barrage to Varanasi
Deeper and Further on the Mekong River

Ho Chi Minh City, Ben Tre, Châu Đốc, Phnom Penh, Peam Chi Kang, Koh Trong Island, Kratie, Tonlé Sap, Siem Reap
Highlights of India

Fly to Delhi, Explore Delhi, Agra, Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Guwahati, Embarkation, Sailing the Brahmaputra, Tezpur, Nameri National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Tea Gardens, Sualkuchi Silk Village, Disembarkation, Delhi and home

Highlights of India

New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Barrackpore, Chandannagar, Kalna, Mayapur, Matiari, Murshidabad, Farakka Barrage, Bhagalpur, Munger, Mokama, Barh, Patna, Onward Travels

The Full Brahmaputra

Guwahati, Mayang, Sutar Gaon, Kaziranga National Park, Biswanath Ghat, Mājuli Island, Jorhat, Sibsagar
The Ganges & Kerala Backwaters

Barrackpore, Chandannagar, Kalna, Mayapur, Matiari, Murshidabad, Farakka Barrage, Bhagalpur, Munger, Mokama, Barh, Patna, Kochi

About Pandaw River Adventures
Pandaw River Ships
Each beautifully crafted Pandaw river ship is hand finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen, and offers luxury and comfort with a colonial character. The ships have ultra shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas unreachable by other vessels or even by land.
On a Pandaw ship the atmosphere on board is very friendly and informal, and there is no dressing up for dinner. Everyone can dine together, alfresco style in an open-air environment.
Sailing on a Pandaw ship is essentially an outdoor experience. Whilst the staterooms are very comfortable and roomy, passengers prefer to spend their time sitting outside, on the promenade decks or on the observation deck. With at least one stop and excursion per day, you’re never cruising for long uninterrupted periods of time.
More about Orient Pandaw, Indochina Pandaw, Katha Pandaw, Angkor Pandaw, Kalaw Pandaw, Laos Pandaw, Champa Pandaw, Kha Byoo Pandaw, Kanee Pandaw, Zawgyi Pandaw and Kindat Pandaw
Cabins
The Pandaw cabin is a renowned feature of our ships. Finished in brass and teak, the main and upper deck rooms are very spacious at 168 square feet (15.6 sqm), and on each ship we build the cabin remains the same. Our cabins do not have mini-bars, satellite TVs, internet or phones. If you’re feeling in need of refreshment there is a bar service on the sundeck open from dawn to dusk.
Dining
The Pandaw dining rooms are designed to open up along the sides and only at night do we close them up and use air conditioning. Our chefs know that the majority of passengers want to eat the best of each country they pass through, so we offer a great choice of local cuisine and exotic foods. European alternatives are available and vegetarians are well catered for. Special diets may be catered for by prior agreement.
All meals are single seating. Breakfast is a buffet and buffet lunch has a soup, salad and dessert table with the main course served at the table. Dinner is served at the tables. Breakfast and lunch are open-air, dinners are candlelit and any indoor dining rooms are air-conditioned. New smaller ships have outdoor dining. There is no captain's table at dinner.
Excursions
Excursions ashore accompanied by expert guides are a key part of any Pandaw river expedition. These may be in the form of a good walk through countryside and villages, further explorations by boat going deeper into jungle or up river or cyclos in Cambodia. We try not to use cars or coaches wherever possible. Our included excursions are optional, so you can create your own adventures if you wish.
We care about the towns and villages we cruise through, and support a variety of community projects. All meals are prepared onboard and nearly 100% of supplies are sourced from local producers.
Pandaw River Adventure Videos