Airport transfers from Sibu airport on
dates of embarkation and disembarkation
entrance fees
guide
services (English language)
gratuities to crew
main meals
locally made beers and soft drinks
jugged coffee and
selection of teas and tisanes
mineral water.
CRUISE EXCLUDES:
International Flights
Laundry
All
visa costs
Fuel
surcharges
Visas
No visa is required for nationals of most countries including
EU, USA, AU & NZ, Asean, Apec (for an
updated list see http://www.imi.gov.my/eng/perkhidmatan/im_HapusVisa.asp).
The passport must be
valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into Malaysia.
Excursions
When moored you are welcome to come and go from the ship as much
as you like. Our next sailing time
will be advised on the daily schedule and passengers are requested
to note this before disembarkation.
Group shore excursions are organized by the Purser and you will
be accompanied by a member of the
ship's company. Details of these are posted on the daily schedule.
Fifteen minutes prior to casting off the
captain will sound the ship's horn to warn you to return to the
ship. Passengers should hang their keys on
the key board on the main deck when disembarking so that we know
if anyone has not returned. If you go
ashore with your cabin keys and we leave without you we cannot
be held responsible for this.
Gratuities
The price of a ticket includes all gratuities and passengers
are not expected to tip staff individually or
collectively. We have calculated $5 per passenger per day to
be added to crew salaries as an end of a
month bonus subject to passenger satisfaction.
Guides
All guides services are in the English language. Guides in other
languages may be supplied by special
arrangement at additional cost which may include using guest
accommodation at guest rates.
Meals
Breakfast and lunch are cold buffets and à la carte menu.
Dinner is served at the tables with a table
d'hôte selection of dishes. We offer a mixture of Asian
and Western cuisine and there are always
vegetarian dishes offered. Special diets may be catered for with
advance notification.
Footwear
Slippers are provided for your comfort on board the vessel. When
ashore guests should wear comfortable
but safe walking shoes. At certain times the river banks and
paths used can be muddy and therefore
sl ippery or very dusty and we ask you to remove your footwear
when returning on board so that we can
clean your shoes for you and return them to you later.
River Conditions Warning!
The Rajang River is unlike the other
great rivers Pandaw navigates which have seasonal rises and falls
of water level. On the Rajang
water levels can change dramatically overnight at any time of
year. A sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably.
A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain
places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Either way itineraries
are subject to sudden changes and passengers are asked to be
flexible and patient. River cruising on the Rajang is a dramatic
and exciting experience - not like cruising the controlled waterways
of Europe or America. Note also this is our first season of operation
in an area that has no tourism infrastructure at all. As a result
local services and suppliers, like boats, buses and guides, can
be erratic to say the least. Be prepared for this and it is all
more the fun!
An
Expedition on the Mighty Rajang River on the new RV Orient
Pandaw
The Rajang River, at 640km is the longest river in Malaysia,
flows across Borneo from Sarawak into
Indonesian Kalimantan. Though well know to many from Redmon
O’Hanlon’s classic Into the Heart of
Borneo, there is very little tourism here due to the river’s
remoteness and lack of facilities. The scenery is
magnificent – a total jungle experience with the rainforest
tumbling into the fast flowing river.
The Rajang is navigable on a ship of Pandaw’s size
for at least 250km until the Pelagus Rapids, and further
on its main tributary the Baleh River. The river is peopled
with the Iban, headhunters till the 1950s, whose
unique long house culture survives well to this day, blending
well animist tradition with modernity.
There is much to do and see upriver, whether just gazing
at the amazing scenery or visiting long houses
traditional and modern. In these river towns we can explore
the architectural vestiges of the Brooke Raj.
Jungle treks, for all levels, are a must as are long boat
trips to the Pelagus rapids. Wildlife is in abundance
and crocodiles, monitor lizards and the hornbill (national
bird of Sarawak) common sights.
Downriver, the prosperous Chinese city of Sibu with its old
shop houses, markets and friendly inhabitants,
is a calm reflection of an old China that probably no longer
exists in mainland China. Sibu with its rich
surrounding farmlands and tropical climate is an important
agricultural area.
Sibu is the world’s biggest producer of pepper and
at Sareiki we will visit pepper farms, fruit plantations
that boast seven kilogram pineapples and a host of other
exotic
fruits. The sea port of Thanjung Manis is a
centre of traditional songkat textile production and we will
visit weaving workshops.
The most delightful city in South-East Asia, 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 greedy developers. The serene Sarawak River flows
through the city centre,
flanked by gorgeous Brooke Raj palaces, courts and a glistening white fort
that marks the first White Raja’s landing.
Upstream SIBU – KANOWIT– KAPIT-
BALEH RIVER – PELAGUS RAPID (TURNAROUND POINT)- SONG– SARIKEI
AND TANJUNG MANIS- SIBU
Duration
8 nights / 9 days
How to get to Sibu
Sibu is well served with several daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu,
Brunei and Kuching (Air Asia
and MAS) thus connecting with international flights to Europe or other Asian
cities.
Day 1: Sibu / Durin
Transfer from the airport to the ship moored at the Burung
Apu Warf next to the Express Boat Terminal. Cast off in the
evening cruising upstream towards the Durin Bridge.
Day 2: Kanowit River
Cruise up the Rajang River to Kanowit where, water levels
permitting, we will enter the Kanowit River and cruise deep
into the jungle. Return to the Rajang and moor at Kanowit
for a walk around the small river port. Cast off from Kanowit
midday and continue upstream until sunset.
Day 3: Kapit
Early morning sail to within sight of Kapit. Passenger are
transferred to shore by Shuttle Boat and enjoy a guided walk
through the bustling market at height of morning activity
followed by a visit to Fort Sylvia and Kapit Museum. Return
to ship for lunch. After lunch we travel back into Kapit
on the shuttle boat and transfer to van and drive out to
town to a traditional longhouse where we witness the ceremonial
miring (welcoming) ceremony. Passenger return to ship for
dinner with a local twist.
Day 4: Pelagus Rapids
We experience a jungle trek in the cool of the morning along
a specially prepared trail through strands of primary and
secondary forest. There are two bridges over a jungle creek
with small waterfalls. Active walkers should be able to complete
the whole loop of the trail. Less active walkers are encouraged
to climb up the first ridge to the second rest area and return.
During lunch we will move the ship to the Rajang/Baleh confluence
and await an excursion boat for the afternoon sail up to
the famous Pelagus Rapids. Ship anchor overnight near the
Baleh Junction.
Day 5: Baleh River
We
will travel by open expressboat up the Baleh River "Into
the heart of Borneo". Our first stop is at Mujong village
where we visit the local school (unless holiday pr weekend)
and meet the children and teachers. We then travel to the
Palawan area and enjoy a picnic lunch of bamboo cooking on
shaded beach in a tranquil setting. After lunch we sail to
Song. Onboard entertainment in Song is a traditional dance
evening after dinner presented by students of the local school
and residents.
Day 6: Song to Rajang Village
We enjoy an early morning, before breakfast, excursion on
long boats. We sail up two small creeks opposite Song to
witness locals travelling market and possibility of some
bird watching. After breakfast, we sail all day downriver
to reach the mouth and sea at Rajang village by sunset.
Day 7: Rajang Village to Sarikei
We will take a morning stroll through this delightful Melanau
Village which has a far different culture to the upriver
towns. We then sail back upriver to Sarikei. The afternoon
is free to wander around Sarikei and appreciate the sea air.
Day 8: Sarikei to Sibu
We visit Nyuka longhouse from Sarikei travelling by van
for a pleasant morning walk through pastoral fields to pretty
waterfall and return for refreshment and other activities
in the longhouse and grounds. Non walkers depart after breakfast
to same longhouse and visit a pepper garden on the way. On
return to ship, we sail for Sibu.
Day 9: Sibu
All day disembarkation in Sibu. Passengers can disembark
from 8am on the last day of the cruise. A transfer form the
ship to Sibu airport is included in the price of your cruise,
however, Pandaw MUST be notified at the time of booking confirmation
of passengers' flight number and departure time. For those
who wish to leave the ship in the afternoon, lunch can be
provided if Pandaw are notified in advance.
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