Premier of Borneo Sarawak River Cruise

First Ever River Cruise in Borneo’s Sarawak

October 1, 2009, New York, NY –  Starting July 2009 Pandaw River Cruises, noteworthy for its trailblazing philanthropy and adventuresome cruise destinations in Cambodia, Vietnam and Burma, will initiate a new expedition cruise on the Rajang River in Sarawak, Malaysia on the island of Borneo starting July 2009.  

            Traveling some 450 miles across Borneo from Sarawak into Indonesian Kalimantan the Rajang River is the longest river in Malaysia. The river is remote and the area lacks facilities. Yet the scenery is magnificent. The Rajang presents a total jungle experience with the rainforest tumbling into the fast flowing waters that traverses the second largest island in the world after Greenland. This universe of unique flora and fauna are part of one of the most diverse eco systems on the planet. It is peopled by the Iban who practiced headhunting into the 1950s.

            On July 1, 2009 this explorer’s realm will become territory for adventurous travelers as the brand new 60 passenger m/v Orient Pandaw commences a series of eight-night cruises from Sibu to the Pelagus Rapids and beyond up the Baleh River. Cruising in the refined comfort of the Orient Pandaw, passengers will be able to view the rainforest close up. Shore excursions include a visit to Iban longhouses, boat trips up tributary rivers, a walk about the vestiges of the colonial Brooke Raja that ruled Sarawak for 100 years, tours of pepper farms, fruit plantations and other exotic fruit in Sareiki and a trip to the weaving workshops that produce traditional songkat textiles in Thanjung Manis.

Jungle treks, for all levels of walker, are among the highlights of this cruise. And wildlife is in abundance with crocodiles, monitor lizards and the hornbill (national bird of Sarawak) being common sights.

The cruise originates and ends in Sibu, a reflection of old world China with old shop houses, markets and friendly inhabitants.

The Orient Pandaw, an up market replica of a colonial river steamer, started her maiden voyage on Sep. 29, 2008 from Saigon on the Mekong River.  Passengers will find it roomy with the highest passenger to space ratio of any ship afloat. There are only 30 staterooms with 60 beds total located on two spacious decks. There’s also a restaurant, bar, café, spa as well as spacious sun deck for sunrise coffee and sunset cocktails. It is the fifth vessel to join the prestigious Pandaw fleet of river boats that capture the romance and style of colonial era cruising.

  Main deck cabins are $2,248 per person; upper deck is $2,495 per person. Rates include shore excursions, all meals including snacks, an open bar (for locally manufactured spirits), evening entertainment, transfers in Sibu and port charges.

Pandaw River Cruises highly recommends that guests add-on a two-night stop in the capital of Kuching, which is easily reached from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Brunei. Kuching offers a glimpse of what Singapore or Bangkok must have been like half a century ago. Laid back, yet full of hip cafés and bars,  the traditional Chinese shop houses as yet untrammeled by commercial development. The seren
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