Pandaw expands Mekong cruise

Pandaw is expanding its horizons in Cambodia with a series of 10-night ‘Mekong Unexplored’ river cruises between Siem Reap and Saigon.

The five-cruise program in July, August and September offers more in-depth visits to cultural, historical and village attractions as an expansion on its usual seven-night cruises.

Sampans, small boats, buses and cyclos (rickshaws) are used to access some remote areas for sightseeing.

Highlights of the cruise include the Tonle Sap Lake’s floating villages, Battambang’s bamboo railway and circus school, the Kratie river dolphins, an overnight in Phnom Penh, fish farms at the border town of Chau Doc, and the Cai Be floating markets.

Prices start at US$2964.50 (A$ 3322.00) twin-share including transfers, main on-board meals, entrance fees, guides, crew gratuities, and locally made soft and alcoholic drinks.

Passengers can also spend two nights pre-cruise at Siem Reap’s classic Angkor Resort and Spa for visits to the Angkor temples for an extra US435.00 (A488) per person. A two night post-cruise stay at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel in Saigon costs US$315.00 (A$ 354).

Pandaw has 11vessels in Burma and Vietnam/Cambodia. All Pandaw craft are luxury replicas of pre-World War II colonial river steamers with teak and brass staterooms, fine dining and attentive Asian crew.

(Bookings through travel agents. Further information at www.pandaw.com or contact John Boyd jlbati@ozemail.com