Pandaw · All Pandaw ships · Pandaw K class, shallow-draft Upper Mekong ship, 20 guests
Laos Pandaw: ship guide
Ten teak-and-brass staterooms on the Upper Mekong, Vientiane to the Golden Triangle.
Best for: Well-traveled couples and small groups who want Laos at village scale, with Luang Prabang, the Golden Triangle and every excursion included, on an intimate 20-guest ship. Sails from Vientiane, Chiang Khong in 2026 and 2027.
About Laos Pandaw
Laos Pandaw is a ten-stateroom river ship built for the Upper Mekong in Laos, the stretch of river above Luang Prabang that Pandaw opened to overnight cruising in 2015. She started life as a 40-meter Mekong cargo barge and was converted on the riverbank in the Golden Triangle by a team from Mandalay, in time for her maiden voyage on 1 November 2015. At 148 feet with a draft of under five feet, she is sized for gorges, rapids and sandbanks that bigger ships cannot attempt.
Life on board follows the Pandaw pattern: a single dining room with al fresco bistro seating, an open-air lounge and bar on the upper deck, a 24-hour hospitality bar, an onboard bakery and a small library. All ten staterooms sit on the main deck, finished in teak and brass with a panoramic sliding door, individually controlled air conditioning, a Nespresso machine and a minibar that is restocked without charge. With only 20 guests, dinner is one sitting and the guides know everyone by name on day one.
In 2026-2027 Laos Pandaw sails The Laos Mekong, a ten-night expedition between Vientiane and Chiang Khong on the Thai border, upstream or downstream, from October through March. Days are built around Luang Prabang, the Pak Ou Buddha caves, Hmong and Khmu villages, the Xayaburi dam lock, an elephant sanctuary at Pak Beng and the Golden Triangle. She suits well-traveled couples and small groups who want Southeast Asia at village scale, not a floating hotel.
- The original of Pandaw’s three Upper Mekong ships in Laos, joined by sisters Champa and Sabaidee Pandaw
- Ten identical 150-square-foot teak-and-brass staterooms, all on the main deck with a panoramic sliding door
- Ten-night Laos Mekong expedition between Vientiane and Chiang Khong, with three full days in and around Luang Prabang
- Pak Ou Buddha caves, Kuang Si waterfalls, the Xayaburi dam lock and a riverside sandbank barbecue with lantern release
- Open-air upper-deck lounge and bar, 24-hour hospitality bar and bistro-style al fresco dining
- Entrance fees, English-speaking guides, crew gratuities and all excursions included in the fare
- Mountain bikes carried on board for independent exploring at village stops
- Conversion story: a Mekong cargo barge rebuilt on the riverbank in the Golden Triangle by shipwrights from Mandalay
Staterooms and suites
Main Deck Stateroom
All ten staterooms are the same grade, about 150 square feet (14 square meters) on the main deck, finished in teak and brass with a panoramic sliding door onto the promenade, individually controlled air conditioning, premium mattresses, a Nespresso machine, a minibar with free drinks, glass bottled water, expedition flasks, spa-branded amenities, an electric safe, kimonos and slippers, a hair dryer and yoga mats. Beds convert between twin and double, and evening canapes, nightly turndown and 24-hour laundry (laundry is charged) are standard.
Laos Pandaw deck plans
Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.
Upper Deck
Saloon, Dining, Staterooms.
- Dining AreaBistro style al fresco dining.
Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.
On board Laos Pandaw
Dining on Laos Pandaw
Dining RoomIncluded
One air-conditioned bistro-style dining room with outside seating, where a local master chef leads semi-buffet breakfasts and lunches, seated theme dinners and daily lean-and-light options, with fresh bread from the onboard bakery.
Upper Deck Lounge and BarIncluded
Open-air lounge and bar on the upper deck for the welcome cocktail, evening talks and sundowners as the ship anchors for the night.
24-Hour Hospitality BarIncluded
Self-service local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas and tisanes at any hour, all included in the fare.
Bar DrinksSpecialty
On the Laos Mekong only water, coffee and tea are included; local beer, spirits, soft drinks and wine are charged on board, and Pandaw sells pre-bookable Free Flow Drinks and House Wine packages for the cruise. The cabin minibar is complimentary.
Private DiningSpecialty
A pre-bookable private dinner on deck for a special evening, priced as an add-on.
Entertainment and activities
- Open upper deck for watching the gorges and rapids of the Upper Mekong from a deck chair
- Onboard talks on Lao language, culture and river life from the English-speaking cruise guides
- Lao dance-drama and a traditional Thai dance performance on board during the cruise
- Cooking and candle-making workshops in Luang Prabang and a fruit-carving demonstration on deck
- All shore excursions included: village walks, Pak Ou caves, Kuang Si waterfalls, the Pak Beng Elephant Sanctuary and the Golden Triangle
- Riverside barbecue on a sandbank with a paper-lantern release
- Mountain bikes for independent exploring, plus a library of classic and contemporary titles
- No spa on board; Pandaw offers massage only on its Lower Mekong ships
Families and who it suits
Pandaw says its ships are not suitable for children under 8 because the open decks have no safety netting and the rail gaps are wide; children 8 to 17 are welcome with their own berth, and some Laos Mekong dates are flagged Family Friendly. There is no kids program.
Best for: Well-traveled couples and small groups who want Laos at village scale, with Luang Prabang, the Golden Triangle and every excursion included, on an intimate 20-guest ship.
Sails from: Vientiane, Chiang Khong · Regions: Upper Mekong (Laos)
Laos Pandaw questions we answer every day
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How does Laos Pandaw differ from Sabaidee Pandaw?
Facts checked against Pandaw: RV Laos Pandaw, Pandaw: The Laos Mekong expedition, Pandaw: Laos Mekong cruise dates, Pandaw: Frequently asked questions on October 14, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.
Every Laos Pandaw sailing, priced all-in
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Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.