News from the road – Laos by Pandaw rivership – October 2024

Our tour started with a couple of nights in Singapore, a day out visiting the Joo Chiat area and the East Coast, and then a lovely stop at the always-entertaining Gardens on the Bay.

We joined our Pandaw rivership near the Thai-Lao border and settled in for 10 nights. These ships are luxurious, featuring well-equipped air-conditioned cabins with ensuites that make you feel at home after your days out exploring.  An air-conditioned lounge and outdoor deck space add to your comfort, and the all-inclusive drinks package means there are always cold drinks available to refresh yourself. Sunset cocktails are a great way to wind down before delicious, fresh dinners.

Just before we left New Zealand, the area had experienced some very heavy rainfall and flooding, and it was a reality check to see how these people lived and what havoc the flooding had caused. Vast sections of the banks along the river had been washed away. This was the worst flooding in over 75 years. Despite these hardships, the locals are some of the loveliest people you will meet.

The crew was amazing. They helped us on and off the ship and to clamber up the banks to go on the daily excursions. A particular delight was being relieved of your muddy shoes while re-boarding the boat and finding them cleaned spick and span outside your cabin and ready for the next adventure.

Over ten days, we experienced a varied program of shore excursions, from visiting remote villages, learning about water buffalo farming, and experiencing cultural performances on deck to wandering the streets and temples of Luang Prabang, swimming in waterfalls, exploring caves and visiting elephant and sun and moon bear sanctuaries.

The Pandaw provided all the comforts you would expect from a 5-star hotel. There is a wide variety of food and drinks to suit all palates, and each menu includes delicious local and regional dishes. All members of the Pandaw team go beyond expectations, and words can’t do justice to their attention to detail.

Laos is a beautiful country full of ever-changing scenery and surprises. One’s emotions feel like a roller coaster, sometimes joy at such beauty, sometimes in awe of the simplicity of life and its challenges, and sometimes a melting heart at the attention and smiling faces of the children.

One of the participants on this tour wrote the following email to the tour group when she arrived home which sums up the tour. (Reproduced with her permission)

Hi Leen and Di – and fellow travellers

I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments about the trip. Leen, both you and Di did an amazing job coordinating everything so seamlessly in the background. For me it has been an absolutely fantastic “holiday” a new experience for me.  Laos was never on my bucket list – but after a fantastic trip to India with you (Leen and Di) I put my hand up to go on this trip with you!!  Had I studied the itinerary a little more closely – maybe I might not have been quite so keen if I had known I was going to be clambering up river banks in that heat and humidity and a few other challenges we encountered along the way – BUT – I loved the whole experience – it really has been beyond my expectations. I absolutely loved the whole experience (and of course being looked after so exceptionally well by the crew on Laos Pandaw) was the icing on the cake…. I am now hooked on doing another trip on a Pandaw – soon.

Everyone jelled and it really has been a wonderful experience for me –especially doing a tour on my own – well actually I never felt “on my own” for one minute.  Thank you all for making me feel so included.  Now I have broken the back on the uncertainty of travelling solo, I will certainly be putting my hand up to go on a few more C & L adventures.  I absolutely loved the whole experience,  especially seeing just how well the whole group interacted.  

I hope some of us will get the chance to travel together again – so please keep in touch if you are thinking of going on any further charters through C & L – it would be nice travelling with other likeminded NZers who you know just go with the flow, and enjoy the adventure as it  unfolds.

A repeat of this tour with another exclusive charter for Calder & Lawson Tours passengers is available to book on our website now.

https://www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz/tour/thailand-laos-by-rivership-october-2025/