Passenger Feedback

We participate on a ship-cruise on the red river in Vietnam from 02-05-2017 - 02-15-2017. The name of the ship was RV Angcor Pandaw. The ship and the crew were excellent. We enjoy all very much. In the brochure of our travel-agency was announced that the trip goes also in the part of the nothern red river. Unfortunately we were not there. But the other excursion destinations were also very interesting.

I have made a little film from our journey;

 

Greetings
Gerhard Ohly, Germany

The itinerary organised for me by PANDAW met my brief and excelled in so many ways. Having been met and given a half day tour of the main sights of Yangon followed by two days pre-cruise at Inle Lake, a seven day cruise from Bagan to Mandalay and a five day post-cruise to Hsipaw in the North Shan district with a day in Mandalay, each element in its own way contributed towards a memorable holiday which was both relaxing and rewarding.

The visit to Inle Lake was like a breath of fresh air, I didn't know what to expect but it certainly didn't disappoint and it set the tone for the rest of the holiday. The cruise up the Irrawaddy was like taking a step back in time to the colonial era, the ship was very well maintained and had a traditional comfortable aura about it and the crew seemed to be telepathic, knowing what you wanted before you had asked for it.

Being a retired seafarer myself, I found the whole cruise fascinating, as were the places visited. Finally, my trip to Hsipaw was a kaleidoscope of activities, each one special in its own way. I cannot praise too highly the appointed guides, and the bar was set very high by Aye Aye at the Inle Lake, Ko Tin on board the Orient Pandaw was always smiling and had an encyclopedic knowledge of all the places visited and finally, when I went to North Shan I was on my own and it was necessary to have a local guide, Ohm, as well as the Phyu Phyu the guide who escorted me to and from Hsipaw, both spoke excellent English, were very attentive and had a wonderful sense of humour which only went to confirm that the nature of the Burmese is really something very special. Many years ago, I visited South East Asia on a regular basis but never managed to get to Myanmar, yet it is a country that has long held a fascination for me, and I was not disappointed.

Thank you PANDAW.
Peter Morgan

I have just returned from a cruise on Kalaw Pandaw from Mandalay to Bagan with 17 other single people. I would just like to say how much we all enjoyed the time on (and off) the boat. The crew could not have been more friendly and helpful, the food better or the boat cleaner.

On boarding we were told "welcome to your second home", and that is indeed how it felt. The company is to be congratulated on its achievement in building such lovely traditional craft, and encouraging an atmosphere on board from a happy crew making a cruise such a lovely restful and interesting experience.

Don't change a thing,
Kind regards
RT

It was an extremely good experience. The staff on the boat, Mr. Bee and his team, were extremely helpful and efficient and any minor problems immediately sorted out. I was particularly indebted to the staff who helped me on and off the boat at each landing as I am awaiting a knee operation and found the steep, sandy slopes somewhat difficult. They were so kind and thoughtful.

It is my second experience of travelling with the Pandaw (first was Vietnam and Cambodia) and both trips have been excellent. I would always recommend them.

Yours sincerely,
M.H.

We travelled in October 2016 on the Classic Mekong trip.

Thank you for a really wonderful trip on the RV Mekong Pandaw. We had the most amazing time and have returned with lovely memories that we will cherish forever (and over 2000 photos).

Firstly we were very impressed with the 7-night cruise, the ship was wonderful, the crew (all of them - no exception) were incredible, friendly, welcoming, the list could go on. We received impeccable service from all crew members, my vegetarian requirements on the ship were always met, all the crew were so willing to help; it was faultless. Housekeeping was spot-on and our room was kept very clean, laundry was taken care of promptly, the welcome back on the ship from excursions was a lovely touch, the evening entertainment / quiz night was great and the briefing on the evening was always very detailed and informative. We both thought the last night was delightful with the BBQ and dance.

The excursions whilst on the ship were really great; varied and off the beaten track which we particularly enjoyed. One of our highlights was visiting a local school. The Killing Fields excursion and museum we will never forget! Our guide Phaly was superb and gave a touching insight on this Killing Fields tour.

We were lucky to have a lovely group of people travelling with us who also made the trip and a few of them have kept in contact with us which is nice.

We enjoyed our Saigon and Siem Reap sightseeing. We had great guides who were very informative.

Thank you to everyone who made this such a wonderful trip, we were very impressed!

This trip was a truly inspiring and memorable experience encompassing beautiful scenery, wonderful cuisine and fascinating culture. The warmth and friendliness of the local people together with unforgettable historical sights has left us with long-lasting memories. Truly amazing!

April and Barry Palmer
Gloucestershire
UK

Trying to get a 5 photo flavour of this amazing trip, from my 600, was impossible! I can only say that it was a fantastic, informative, memorable and enjoyable adventure that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in history, culture and new experiences. Oh yes, in friendly, cared-for comfort as well!

The guides, crew and boat were all excellent.

Thank you Pandaw.
Susan and David Burgess

Following our fantastic cruise on the Irrawaddy we want to complement you on founding and developing such a wonderful cruise operation.

We experienced a beautiful ship and an excellent crew who happily looked after our every need. We could not fault the service with all devoted to providing us with the best experience aboard as well as on shore with the great village expeditions. As mentioned all crew were great but we would also like to especially mention a young trainee onboard, Qosai Wai Yan Po, who was marvellous and we believe has great potential. He particularly helped Nola with her mobility problems ashore.

I had the pleasure of a birthday whilst onboard, with the crew presenting a special cake and a copy of The Pandaw Story which I am in the process of reading and take my hat off to you for tackling the enormous challenge of forming the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and now such successful Pandaw Expeditions.

We have and will continue to pass on our recommendations for Pandaw.

Best Regards
John and Nola Davies

Four cruises down and a few more to go. Everyone a great trip. Give a 4.9 listing, never give a 5 as from there it can only be downhill. Great staff on all, great places to see, great pace to keep up with every one, great food, great accommodation on board. One cruise was cancelled at the last minute to our dismay but the company was fantastic and found another cruise which we took and really looked after us with additional fares and accommodation to fit in.

Cannot speak highly enough of Pandaw and the way they have treated us over the trips we have done with them. More to come.

Sailing up the mighty Brahmaputra River in North India with Pandaw River Cruises was a truly amazing adventure. I had always dreamed of seeing the real India and when we saw this opportunity to explore the Assam region by boat we couldn't resist.

The ship itself was wonderful - a real floating hotel. The cabins were beautifully appointed and spotless (I'd recommend a balcony birth so you can watch the ever-changing scenery slip by and enjoy an evening cocktail as the sun set) the crew were superb and really looked after us. The food was delicious with a great range of both western and Indian delicacies. Dinner was a very social affair we made some great friends and had many laughs with our fellow passengers.

What really set this trip apart was the sense of discovery. Every morning we woke up to watch the majestic river reveal new landscapes. Our itinerary was jammed packed with the most amazing experiences. Everyday we had excursions to temples, local villages and tea plantations. I have to make a special mention of Venkatesh, our resident naturalist, historian and all round lovely guy. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of the animals, birds and plant life and was always fascinating to talk with. When we visited temples, he could describe in detail the symbolism, spiritualism and beliefs. Every evening we were treated to talks on the wildlife and could watch the amazing sunsets from the 360- degree sundeck. One evening we disembarked to a deserted island to enjoy a bonfire barbeque and cocktails under the starlight sky.

The highlights of the trip had to be the two safaris to Kaziranga National Park. The first was by jeep which allowed us to cover a lot of ground and see as much of the abundant wildlife, culminating at sunset with a stunning view of the animals gathered at a watering hole. Our second was on elephant back which allowed us to get really close to the wildlife. At one point we were within feet of a basking Rhino, a truly amazing sight.

Sailing with Pandaw is more than just a holiday it's a truly unique and immersive experience, a trip of a lifetime. If you're interested in getting off the beaten track and seeing slices of life that the regular tourism would miss out on then this is the trip for you. It was an unforgettable journey and I can't recommend it enough.

Dawn Clarke and husband/partner