The Mekong Unexplored

11 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
9 reviews  
90%
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Cancellation Policy
River Cruise
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 ...
From$2,495
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Overview

Trip type
River Cruise
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Experience an ox cart ride to the village of Kampong Trolach
    • Visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish farm
    • Enjoy trishaw ride round Chau Doc
    • Experience narrow canals on a rowing boat to see local life and fishermen

What's this trip about?

    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.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySiem Reap
End CitySaigon

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Singles Travel
  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

  • Asia
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam

Attractions

  • Phnom Penh
  • Saigon
  • Siem Reap

Activities

  • Culture
  • Nature
  • River cruise

Trip includes

    • Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees
    • Guide services (English language)
    • Gratuities to crew
    • Main meals
    • Locally made soft drinks
    • Local beer and local spirits
    • Jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes
    • Mineral water
    • Transfers between the meeting point and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Siem Reap

Meals: Lunch

Passengers will transfer by coach to Kampong Cham. A packed lunch will be provided on the coach and we will stop at Kampong Thom along the way. Embark your ship and cast off to Kratie.

Please note: Your guide will collect your passports at the meeting point so we can arrange the immigration formalities.

Day 2: Chhlong

Morning excursion to Chhlong with its beautiful French colonial style buildings. Enjoy the afternoon on board.

Day 3: Kratie

We will travel by coach and transfer by boat to the WWF protected area where we hope the see the rare river dolphins. The river here is rocky and not navigable for larger vessels. In the Afternoon we will visit the island of Koh Trong with our small Pandaw Explorer boat.

Day 4: Angkor Ban

Morning excursion to Angkor Ban village to see traditional Khmer houses, villagers at work and a pagoda. In the afternoon you will visit the pagoda at Preak Bong Kong.

Day 5: Kampong Trolach

Cast off to Preak Kdam, en route you will experience an ox cart ride to the village of Kampong Trolach. In the afternoon we will visit the Silversmith village of Kampong Trolach.

Day 6: Phnom Penh

Passengers will visit Phnom Penh and 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 (www.cyclo.org.uk). In the afternoon, optional exc...

Day 7: Cruising

Cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities. Enjoy a day on the ship.

Day 8: Chau Doc

Visit a Cham tribal village, a cat fish farm, and enjoy a trishaw ride round Chau Doc. We will sail to Sa Dec in the afternoon.

Day 9: Sa Dec

We will take an exciting Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along canals and backwaters and see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous French novelist.

Day 10: Vinh Long

We will visit a local market in Vinh Long by local boat and then continue to floating villages to see catfish farms. Visit a candy and rice paper factory where we will have tea and refreshments at a local house. Before we return to our ship we will experience narrow canals on a rowing boat to see local life and fishermen.

Day 11: Saigon

Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Saigon City. Arrive late morning.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,495
Price per day$227
Last Updated: 7/16/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Pandaw.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Pandaw Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
9
Great
0
Average
0
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Terrible
1
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Other Pandaw Reviews

D

Dianne

Apr 2018

Provided byPandaw

Beautiful and was the perfect place

We joined the RV Mekong Pandaw in Kampong Cham for a 3 night cruise to Phnom Penh. I wish we had booked for 7 nights! Amazing staff, gorgeous staterooms, a welcoming...

S

Staffan

Apr 2018

Provided byPandaw

The Delta expedition was introduced this year and was unforgettable

Manage to squeeze both the 7 night Mandalay Pagan and the Irrawaddy Delta expeditions within my 28 days visa permit. Just as nice, comfortable and exiting as my prev...

S

Simon

Mar 2018

Provided byPandaw

Out of this world.

Out of this world. Great staff, boat, food and experience. We did the Bagan to Mandalay cruise 7 nights. Patrick the tour guide was awesome also. Will book another t...

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Tour Operator

Pandaw

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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-going cruise. The ships are small scale, and the atmosphere is informal, and very friendly.

Our Ships

We have sixteen beautifully crafted Pandaw ships in operation that we built ourselves – plus our first coastal ship the Andaman Explorer. Each ship, hand-finished in brass and teak by traditional craftsmen, is itself an object of great beauty.

The secret of our success is that, whilst luxury and comfort are ever-present, on our ships it is the colonial-era character and friendly atmosphere that predominate. All our Pandaws have ultra-shallow drafts and can travel to remote areas, which are unreachable by other passenger-carrying vessels, let alone overland.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Cruise Price Excludes: International flights
    • Port dues (if levied)
    • Laundry
    • All visa costs
    • Fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions)
    • Imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs
    • Fancy soft drinks like Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos at bar and
    • Tips to tour guides, local guides, bus drivers, boat operators and cyclo drivers

Transportation & Flights

Transfers & Joining Day 1 Siem Reap Transfer by coach from the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa to Kampong Cham. Registration Details Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa Registration is at 11.30am Central Park, P.O. Box 93145 Day 11 Saigon Transfer to Saigon City, InterContinental Asiana Hotel, arriving late morning.,

Transportation & flights

Transfers & Joining Day 1 Siem Reap Transfer by coach from the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa to Kampong Cham. Registration Details Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa Registration is at 11.30am Central Park, P.O. Box 93145 Day 11 Saigon Transfer to Saigon City, InterContinental Asiana Hotel, arriving late morning.
Ship & cabin information
Rv Mekong Pandaw
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. Accommodation 18 upper deck, 6 main deck staterooms 170 square feet, finished in teak and brass Panoramic French window, leading to personal deck space New bathrooms with natural stone shower and branded quality fittings Kimonos and slippers Spa-branded amenities Unlimited mineral water Electric mini safe Central AC with individual control Imported quality linens with duvet and two kind of pillows Premium mattresses Convertible bed configuration Welcome flower arrangement and welcome gift Mirror Multi-configuration plugs Generous closet space and under-bed storage Hair dryer Daily nightly turndown service 24h laundry service Complimentary evening canapés
Build 2003 in Yangon, refit 2013 Length: 200ft / 60m Beam: 36ft / 11m Draft: 4ft / 1.5m Berths: 48 paxRv Mekong Pandaw
Cancellation policy

Cruise Cancellation and Refund

Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until received in writing in the offices of Pandaw. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:

From time of booking until 61 day prior to departure non-refundable deposit

From 60 days and less till departure, no show, late arrival or early return 100% cancellation fee

Note: We strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase a trip cancellation insurance.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

1 Lunch

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
pandaw-MekUnePan

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