Popular river cruise operator Pandaw Cruises has ‘no alternative but to cease its river cruise operations’ following a prolonged break in operations due to the pandemic and with little hope in sight as much of Southeast Asia still closed to tourism. Pandaw has cancelled all its Asian river cruises.

Its key Mekong cruises in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, have been at a standstill due to border closures and the political situation in Myanmar has further affected the business.

Pandaw apparently had a good volume of bookings for 2022, but was unable to secure necessary funding for operations or essential refurbishments of its ships.

“This is a very sad moment for me, our crews and clients. It marks the end of an era for all of us after twenty-five years of real adventure,” said Pandaw founder Paul Strachan.

“We are heartbroken for our three hundred plus crew members and shoreside personnel who have stood by Pandaw and were hoping to get going again next year.”