the irrawaddy flotilla company pandaw river...

pandaw rIVEr EXpEdITIonSThE Irrawaddy FloTIlla Company

EST. 1865

abouT uS

The Irrawaddy FlotillaCompany was established byScots merchants in 1865. Bythe 1920s the company ranover 650 vessels on therivers of Burma. It hadbecome the largest privatelyowned fleet of ships in theworld.

VISIT WWW.PANDAW.COM2 VISIT WWW.PANDAW.COM 3

pandaw STory

There is no dressing up for dinner and no ‘captain’s table’. The atmosphere on board is very friendly and informal,more like a party on a private yacht than a cruise ship. Nearly everything is included in the price and there areno hidden extras for excursions. Even your drinks and the crew tips are included in the price of your ticket. Thereis an incredibly high level of personal service and care aboard, with a crew passenger ratio of 1:2. For thesereasons passengers keep coming back and exploring more of a lost South-East Asia.

A Pandaw river expedition in Burma and on the Mekong is not like an ocean going cruise. 2015 is the 150th anniversary of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and the 20th since its revival by Burma historian Paul Strachan in 1995

1865 Today

1865 2003 In 2003 we took our Pandawconcept to the Mekong Riverin Indochina plying betweenSaigon in Vietnam andAngkor Wat in Cambodia.Here, the Pandaws broke theseemingly impenetrableriver border between twovery different countries.

2009 We inaugurated newriver cruises on theRajang in Borneo andGanges in India.Another twomagnificent Asianrivers, rich in things todo and see, withvaried topography ofgreat beauty.

Paul and RoserStrachan revive theIrrawaddy FlotillaCompany and are thefirst to offer rivercruises on theIrrawaddy sincecolonial times. 1995

In 1998, Paul Strachandiscovered an originalClyde-built steamercalled the Pandaw andarranged for its leaseand restoration.

1998

We now have twelvebeautifully craftedships that we builtourselves. Each ship,hand finished in brassand teak by traditionalcraftsmen, is in itselfan object of greatbeauty. TODAY

We were the first since the Second World War to offer pioneering cruises on Burma’s spectacular Irrawaddy River, reaching Bhamo, one thousand miles from the sea, and the first to offer cruises on the Mekong since French colonial times.

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why pandaw?

what’s key to our success? well, we say yES to lots of things…

yES To TranQuIlITyCurl up with a kindle and relax in our peaceful sittings areas dottedthroughout the ships. Rest assured you won’t be interrupted withunnecessary PA announcements or annoying drones of TV’s inneighboring cabins. We promote a relaxed atmosphere on ourships so all our cabins give to a very social promenade deck.yES To ConVIVIalITyWe don’t believe in compulsory excursions, a Pandaw river cruiseis whatever you want it to be! With so many river stops, weguarantee you’ll find it hard to resist exploring and creating yourown adventures.Gone are the days of the mini bar – if you’re feeling in need ofrefreshment whilst in your cabin, there is a bar service on thesundeck open from dawn to dusk waiting for you. We don’t docaptains tables at dinner either; instead, everyone can dinetogether, alfresco style with our open-air environment.

yES To FrEEdomWe offer daily briefings to whet your appetite for the culturalevents and activities available onboard. Fancy kicking back with acocktail? That’s fine too!All our Pandaw ships have the highest public space to passengerratio of any ship, seagoing or river, in the world. With at least onestop and excursion per day, you’re never cruising for longuninterrupted periods of time which make our cruises unique toother cruise liners.Freedom on the river too; we can operate in all seasons and allareas due to the shallowest drafts on the river, so we’re notrestricted by water levels.yES To CarEOur onboard staff do a great job of making our passengers feelwelcomed and fully entertained for the duration of their stay. Wehave a 1:2 staff passenger ratio which means we’re always on handto satisfy whatever requests our passengers throw at us. Safety isnumber one priority for our crew – we have a full time ex RoyalNavy officer responsible for emergency drills, safety appliancechecks and ship security. You’re in safe hands!


lIFE on board

Pandaw River Cruises are very different from other cruise experiences.We’re lucky to have such a huge following with passengers returning again and again to experience all of what our river cruises have to offer.

Sailing on a Pandaw is essentially an outdoor experience.

When sailing our passengers sit on deck and become absorbed by greatpanoramas as they unfold around them. Spellbound, one cannot help but tomeditate upon the unceasing human and wildlife activity of these teaming water worlds.

Whilst the staterooms are very comfortable and roomy, passengers prefer tospend their time sitting outside, on the promenade decks or on the vastobservation deck above. Unlike other cruise ships, every window can open.

STaTEroom


EXCurSIonS

The Pandaw stateroom is the most celebrated feature of our ships.Finished in brass and teak, the main and upper deck roomsare very spacious at just under 180 square feet. Much lovedby all our passengers we have ensured that with each shipwe build the stateroom remains the same. Our cabins donot have mini-bars, satellite TV’s, internet or phones.Pandaw passengers usually want to escape from thetiresome features found in international business hotels.

Many passengers describe life on board a Pandaw more likebeing a guest on a private motor yacht than a cruise ship.Where we go and what we see is intrepid in extreme. Whatyou come back to is a floating base of discreet comfort,caring service and all the good things one looks for in life. Fruit and flowers on arrivalKimonos and slippersSpa-branded amenitiesUnlimited mineral waterFree use of mini DVD player on request and selection of DVDs from our library

Excursions ashore 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 speedboat going deeper into jungle or up river; horse cart rides in Burma or cyclos in Cambodia.

All scheduled excursions accompanied by an expert member of crewEntrance fees for sights included in the itineraryComprehensive fact sheets or ‘trip books’ providedVisit Pandaw Charity projects along the way and interact with the local communities who welcome usOpportunity to travel to local markets with the Pandaw Chef at least once during the cruise programCrew assists in areas where river banks are steep and slipperyIndividual excursions welcomed, but please rejoin the ship on time

Ply exactly 1,000 miles from Downtown Rangoonto the delightful city of Prome on the edge of theDelta to Katha and the great 2nd Defile on theUpper Irrawaddy. Daily stops include tours of thehistoric capitals of Pagan with its 3,000monuments, and Mandalay with its royal palace

and many sites around the city, particularly on theriver. We will pass from the lush teak forestsaround Prome, through the near desert of MiddleBurma, and then into the forests and mountains ofUpper Burma. This expedition encompasses allBurma geographically and historically. ThE rV KaTha pandaw

14 nIGhTS ranGoon-mandalay

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ThE Irrawaddy

BURMADISCOVER HIDDEN

Pandaw run expeditions on three greatSouth-East Asian rivers: Burma, on theIrrawaddy and Chindwin Rivers andthrough Cambodia and Vietnam on theMekong River.

We began in Burma. The unique Pandawriver expedition concept evolved here fromthe vestiges of the colonial IrrawaddyFlotilla Company. Our first ships were builthere and in Burma we learnt to masterriver navigation at its worst. These lessonswere applied to the other rivers of Asia.

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ThE GoldEn land

Sailing from Mandalay through the heart of‘Middle Burma’, we pass through a varyinglandscape – from desert country south of Paganto the lush teak plantations around Prome andthen traversing the vast Delta to ColonialRangoon. We visit a number of small villagesand towns and see local agriculture and

manufacturing at first hand. We will see thePandaw schools and clinics at work. Remotefrom the modern world, these stops offer aglimpse of a timeless, lost Burma far from theusual tourist track. Cultural highlights includevisits to rare wood carved monasteries

10 nIGhTS mandalay-ranGoon

The scenery on this river cruise is spectacular andwe are welcomed with astonishment by the manyremote communities through which we passed.Achieving our goal of Homalin, over 600 milesfrom the Chindwin’s confluence with theIrrawaddy, we return downstream all the way tothe ancient city of Pagan just below the confluence.

Then we continued a further 700 miles up theIrrawaddy past Mandalay to the great 2nd Defile,and Bhamo. This is the most northerly navigablepoint on the Irrawaddy and gateway to China. Notwo days are the same with varied scenery anddiverse cultural sites.

20 nIGhTS homalIn-paGan-mandalay-KaTha

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ChIndwIn and uppEr Irrawaddy

ThE rV pandaw II

ThE rV pandaw II

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ChIndwIn

7 nIGhTS wEEKly ChIndwIn monywa-homalIn

7 nIGhTS wEEKly mandalay-KaTha-bhamo


bEyond bhamo

In the past we only offered this during themonsoon, but with the ultra shallow draft KalayPandaw we can offer this year round. The rivercarves it way through mountains and forests andwe stop at delightful unspoilt little towns. Ourobjective, Homalin is the capital of Nagaland andclose to the India border. We will ply the Upper

Chindwin weekly between Monywa and Homalin.Monywa is under three hours from Mandalay andthe car transfer is included with the cruise.Homalin is now connected by scheduled flight withRangoon and Mandalay. Combines easily withBeyond Bhamo.

Sail between Mandalay and Bhamo, the mostnortherly navigable point on the Irrawaddy, 1000miles from Rangoon and close to the China border.Highlights will be passage through the 3rd and 2nddefiles, not to mention visits to enchanting localtowns, most favorite being Katha, once home toGeorge Orwell and the setting for Burmese days.

Bhamo is now a big trading town with a strongChinese influence. We will then continue by localboat to enter the awesome 1st defile with itscataracts and towering gorges. Combine with theChindwin. Flight connections Bhamo fromRangoon.

ThE rV KanEE pandaw

ThE rV Kha byoo pandaw

mandalay paGan paCKET

7 nIGhTS wEEKly paGan-mandalay

7 nIGhTS wEEKly anCIEnT araKan


anCIEnT araKan

Pandaw is introducing the new Mandalay PaganPacket. Why not use a luxury Pandaw ship as yourfloating hotel in Mandalay and Pagan with a rivercruise between them?The Kalaw and Kindat will each cruise weeklybetween the historic cities with two nights mooredat Pagan and three at Mandalay and exploring

small towns and villages of lost Burma in between.Connecting with international flights out ofMandalay airport we will meet you at the airportand take you back and you will see all the key sitesat Pagan and around Mandalay from your floatingbase.

Arakan was an independent kingdom up till the18th century where an extraordinary mix ofIndian and South-East Asian cultures merged.Mrauk U, the capital, is a temple city that rivalsPagan, Angkor or Borobadur in significance as acenter of Buddhist culture. There is much else toexplore in the Arakan river system of the Kaladan

and Le Myo rivers not to mention the old colonialport city of Akyab now called Sittwe. Currentlythere are no deluxe hotels or comfortable meansof exploring this fascinating region with its ownculture, language and cuisine so different fromBurma proper. ThE rV Kaladan pandaw

ThE rV Kalaw pandaw \ ThE rV KIndaT pandaw

5 nIGhTS wEEKly From oCTobEr 2015 moulmEIn - hpaan


SalwEEn

The Salween is the longest river in Burma but is onlynavigable on larger boats between Moulmein andHpaan. Moulmein was the first British capital ofBurma and has a number of old old colonialbuildings, churches and church yards not tomention some spectacular Buddhist treasures. Wewill explore the town and cruise the coastal areaand islands around the old port city before plying

up the Salween to enter an area of stupendouslymagnificent scenery. We will visit Mount Zwekabin,with its Karen communities and the regional capitalof Hpaan itself. If security permits we would thenproceed further upstream on our ship or by localboat. Passengers will travel by car to or fromMoulmein or Hpaan from Rangoon with stops inPegu and Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock.ThE rV Kalay pandaw

paGan mandalay ShorT CruISE

1 or 2 nIGhTS paGan-mandalay


For those without the time for a longer classicPandaw expedition join one of our cult shortcruises between the two ancient capitals of Burma.We started these in 1998 and they are a greatcomponent in a tailored land tour.You will see the best of river life with stops in thebustling monastery city of Pakokku and the

delightful pottery village of Yandabo with itsPandaw School.Departs four times a week for two nights upstreamand one night downstream.Warning! Most people who book the short cruiserebook for a classic longer cruise in a future year.ThE rV orIEnT pandaw


INDOCHINAEXPLORE THE SECRETS OF

There can be no tapestry of river life asfascinating and varied as the River Mekong.Indeed there can be no more striking a culturalcontrast as that between the bustling Vietnamdelta and the tranquility of Cambodia.

Pandaw continues to maintain its edge beingthe first on new rivers and routings. In 2015 wehave two exciting new routes in Indochina: theRed River and tributaries encompassing muchof North Vietnam and the Upper Mekongthrough Laos to Thailand. Only our ultrashallow draft Pandaws can tackle suchchallenging waters bringing our pioneeringpassengers further enriching experiences.

burma CoaSTal EXpEdITIonS

ranonG - ranGoon


a limited number of 'no itinerary' reconnaissance cruises will be offered in early 2015

weekly operation every Saturday from october 2015

We recently acquired the Callisto, a classic 1960smotor yacht with 17 very comfortable cabins thatis currently undergoing a full restoration. Thisdesign classic, with its gorgeous lines andcharming atmosphere on board, will operateweekly between Ranong (near Phuket) andRangoon. She will explore the little known MerguiArchipelago with its thousand tropical islands,and stunning white beaches and encounter it's

sea gypsy inhabitants. The Callisto will call at theold colonial ports of Kawthaung, Tavoy, Merguiand Moulmein, so redolent of Kipling andSomerset Maugham. In Rangoon we will moordowntown on the Strand Road a short walk fromall the splendours of Old Rangoon. Thisexpedition then connects easily with our riverexpeditions up country.

7 nIGhTS wEEKly

ClaSSIC mEKonG

7 nIGhTS wEEKly SaIGon-SIEm rEap

10 nIGhTS SaIGon-SIEm rEap


mEKonG unEXplorEd

In 2003, with the RV Mekong Pandaw, we werethe first ship to attempt this extraordinaryjourney, surmounting complex bureaucratic andnavigational obstacles. Upstream or downstreamthis weekly expedition connects French colonialSaigon with the monuments of Angkor at SiemReap via Phnom Penh. We also stop at various

villages in the Mekong Delta and in Cambodia onthe Mekong and Tonle rivers with explorations ofthe Tonle Sap wetlands.The Mekong Pandaw was fully refitted last yearwith new look cabins, a gym, spa and library.

Only operable in the high water season of July -August, this expedition follows the Classic Mekongroute to Phnom Penh, only commencing in Saigoncity centre, and taking in the Delta and CentralCambodia. The ship then explores further up theMekong to Kratie and its dolphin grounds. We thenreturn to explore the Tonle river and making a

circumnaviation of the great lake visiting birdsanctuaries, remote stilted villages and thebustling town of Battambang. Passengers thendisembark at Siem Reap for the monuments atAngkor. Only the Angkor with her low airdraft canget under the bridges! ThE rV mEKonG pandaw

ThE rV mEKonG pandaw

uppEr mEKonG - laoS

7 nIGhTS wEEKly From noVEmbEr 2015 VIEnTIanE - ChIanGraI

10 nIGhTS STarTInG July 2015 halonG - hanoI - lao CaI


rEd rIVEr - VIETnam

This expedition will connect the French colonialcapital of Vientiane with the Chiangrai area ofNorth Thailand with a two day stop over at LuangPrabang, the ancient capital and temple city. Wewill pass through dramatic scenery of mountainsand gorges moving on a fast flowing river with

many a rapid. The Laos Pandaw has been speciallydesigned with super powered engines to cope withsuch river conditions. We will also pass throughtribal areas and see local life at first hand. BothVientiane and Chiangrai have excellent flightconnections to all main Asian cities.

This expedition really covers all that one could see and doin North Vietnam. Commencing in Halong Bay the AngkorPandaw will explore the picturesque islands and thenproceed up the Red River to Hanoi to moor in the citycentre for city visits. We then continue up the Red Riverand in high water (July - Oct) continue up to the Chinaborder port of Lao Cai. From here you would continue bycar to the Tonkinese Alps and the delightful French resortof Sapa. You would then return to Hanoi by the very comfy

overnight sleeper train. In low water (Nov, Dec, May, June,July) we will operate on the even more lovely Lo River thatpasses through equally magnificent mountain scenery tothe wild life park of An Giang. On both rivers the interestis the scenery, local Vietnamese life, in the larger towns,and ethnic minority life in the hill villages we will travelto from our expedition ship. North Vietnam has aEuropean type of climate and best time to visit is in thesummer months June - September. ThE rV anGKor pandaw

ThE rV laoS pandaw

a day on ThE rIVEr


aCTIVITIES onboard

On a typical day there will be at least one shore excursion. Thiscould be a visit to a major city like Mandalay or Phnom Penh orheritage site like Pagan and most of the day spent ashore.On other days we may be cruising and covering considerabledistances. On these days passengers like to relax and enjoy theon board amenities and facilities. Our larger ships have dedicated gyms, spas and libraries whilstour smaller more intimate ships lack these features but makeup for them in atmosphere.On every day there is at least one shore excursion, even if justtying up for a couple of hours so that passengers can stretchtheir legs and offer entertainment to bemused locals.

On the Irrawaddy after twenty years we are still tying up in newplaces and discovering new things of interest. When cruising there is never a dull moment as our rivers areteeming with life, human or wild. There is just so much going onthat it is hard to concentrate on a book. Other ships, fishermen, kids playing along the banks andvillagers going about their daily routines the panoply of life aswe puff along is totally absorbing.Then there are great moments of tranquility, the stupendoussun rises and sun sets and the vast landscapes that unfoldabout us. brIEFInGSExpert Pandaw guides accompany all expeditions and each evening at the cocktail hour will debrief passengers on the day’s events and explorations and brief them for the day ahead followed by questions and answers and a short talk on aspects of history, art and culture for the areas visited.EVEnTSOn cruising only days our pursers organise a variety of on board events including cookery classes for local dishes, tours of the engine room and the working ship, fruit carving and other demonstrations that passengers find highly amusing.

EnTErTaInmEnTSOn every expedition there is at least one on board show - puppets, ballet or orchestral. On longer expedtions there will be two shows.

CharITy


The Pandaw Charity was established following Cyclone Nargis in 2008 when the Pandaw ships, converted tofloating hospitals, and their crews saved so many lives. Since then over 12 schools have been built and the UK-registered charity operate seven Pandaw Clinics in middle Burma which provide an average of 5,000 freetreatments a month with a full time team of 20 medics, paramedics and pharmacists. This is entirely sponsoredby donations from Pandaw passengers and a profit share from Pandaw River Expeditions.

When you buy a Pandaw ticket you are also supporting education and healthcare in Burma.

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ThE pandaw CrEw

Each crew member is committed to incredible levels of care and service not to mention health and safety.All our crews are recruited from the communities inwhich we operate and supervised by an expatriateteam committed to quality and excellence. Safety is of paramount importance and in both theMekong and in Burma we have a full time expatriateMarine Superintendent mainly concerned withtraining and emergency equipment checks. Our hotel directors ensure that food, beverage and

house keeping standards are of a level to be found inany five star hotel. We are particularly proud of the high levels ofmaintenance and care of our beautiful teak andbrass ships that require daily love and care.However, it is thanks to the high level of care that ourdedicated crews offer that we get so many thank youletters and such a high number of repeat cruisers.

charity.comPandaw

www.pandaw.com

uK & Global

T +44 203 287 6113E [email protected]

uSa

T 888 565 5987 (Toll Free)E [email protected]

auSTralIa


VIETnam


PANDAW RIVER EXPEDITIONS

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