Back to Homepage / Blogs / Nov 2016
Extra, extra! Pandaw adds more dates as Laos becomes firm favourite
We pride ourselves on our flexibility at Pandaw, so when a product proves as big a hit as our Laos Mekong expedition, we do everything we can to meet extra demand.
The good news for disappointed bookers is that we have added a string of new dates from December to April (see below), hopefully enough to keep everyone happy!
What is behind the excellent word-of-mouth that is making this expedition a particular hot ticket? Hugh Clayson, Pandaw's director puts it down to the "sheer variety of attractions that Laos offers, the charm of its people, and the unspoiled quality of the countryside."
Guide books have often described Laos as "sleepy", and you can see what they mean, but the country that you will discover with Pandaw is buzzing with activity, often colourful, and presented with a charm that is unique to this tiny (population 6.7m) land-locked country.
Take the country's second city, the Unesco-protected Luang Prabang, memorably once described as 'the last refuge of lovers and dreamers'. Sited at the confluence of Mekong and Khan Rivers, it has 33 golden wats (temples), ceremonious gatherings of saffron-clad monks, and the faded and atmospheric architecture - and cuisine - redolent of its French colonial past.
Or there's the Pak Ou Buddha caves, unforgettably atmospheric natural limestone "temples" housing hundreds of images of the Buddha in his many traditional poses, or the amazing Khaung Si waterfall, a sacred site for centuries, and one of the natural wonders of Southeast Asia.
The expedition also includes a close encounter (via the lock) with the famouos Xayaburi Dam, probably one of the most controversial Southeast Asian construction projects in living memory. This $3.8bn, 1.4MW hydro plant, under construction since 2012, has been the cause of diplomatic friction between Laos and its neighbours, but it is nevertheless a breathtaking feat of engineering, especially at close quarters. As interested Pandaw passengers have learned from our expert guides, the background to its planning and construction is one of the environmental stories of the age.
So, something for everyone on the Mekong in Laos with Pandaw, that is of course, in addition to the comfort and service standards that our passengers take for granted wherever they join us on board. So if you fancy a destination that will submerge you in a rich and ancient culture, fabulous nature, including abundant butterfly life, amid hazy green mountains, come and join us.
Our extra dates are as follows:
- 4 Dec 2016 - Downstream
- 14 Dec 2016 - Upstream
- 1 Jan 2017 - Downstream
- 11 Jan 2017 - Upstream
- 29 Jan 2017 - Downstream
- 8 Feb 2017 - Upstream
- 26 Feb 2017 - Downstream
- 8 Mar 2017 - Upstream
- 26 March 2017 - Downstream
- 6 April 2017 - Upstream
