Aqua Expeditions vs Pandaw: which river cruise is better?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Aqua Expeditions and Pandaw each publish on their own websites, read 10 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Aqua Expeditions vs Pandaw: which river cruise is better?

Neither is better for everyone. Aqua Expeditions has 20 suites on Aqua Mekong, runs all its excursions in groups of no more than 12 and, on the Mekong, lists airfare, cocktails, boutique purchases, spa and gratuities as its only additional expenses; Pandaw's ships each have fewer than 30 cabins and its sailings include daily excursions, full board and free bikes, with most drinks charged.

What is each line?

Aqua Expeditions runs small-ship expeditions and was founded in 2007 by Francesco Galli Zugaro; on rivers it sails the Peruvian Amazon and the Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam. Source

Pandaw is a river cruise company in Asia founded in 1995 by Scottish historian Paul Strachan, which says it has been family-owned and independently operated for more than 30 years, without external investors. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Aqua Expeditions sails Aqua Mekong on the Mekong (launched October 2014) and two ships in the Peruvian Amazon: the 20-suite Aqua Nera (joined in 2021) and the 16-suite Aria Amazon (debut in 2011). Source

Pandaw says it has 16 owned ships operating on the rivers of Asia and, elsewhere, that it currently operates 12 Pandaw ships built by its team in Southeast Asia; named ships include the ten-cabin Kochi Pandaw (launched November 2025) and Kerala Pandaw (due December 2026) for the Kerala backwaters, Kindat Pandaw on the Brahmaputra and Bassac, Tonle and Indochina Pandaw. Source

How many guests are on board?

Aqua Expeditions carries 40 guests with 40 crew in 20 suites on Aqua Mekong and 32 guests with 26 crew in 16 suites on Aria Amazon; Aqua Nera has 20 suites. Source

Pandaw does not publish this on the pages read.

Which rivers does each line sail?

Aqua Expeditions sails the Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam all year, with itineraries departing from Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap; it also sails the Peruvian Amazon in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Source

Pandaw sells sailings on the Mekong (its most popular route from Saigon to Siem Reap, plus Laos via Vientiane and Luang Prabang), the Brahmaputra (The Brahmaputra, 7 nights, Guwahati to Silghat and back to Guwahati), West Bengal (9 nights), the Ganges (14 nights), the Kerala Backwaters and Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta, where it sails two ships; it also goes through Halong Bay and the Red River in Vietnam. Source

How large are the cabins?

Aqua Expeditions: On Aqua Mekong its Design Suites measure 322 square feet (30 sqm); of the 10 on the second deck, four have a balcony and six do not. It gives no suite sizes for Aqua Nera or Aria Amazon. Source

Pandaw's main and upper deck staterooms measure 168 square feet (15.6 sqm); each suite offers over 40 square metres, a private deck and wide French windows on both sides. Every ship has fewer than 30 cabins. Source

What does the fare include?

Aqua Expeditions: On the Amazon its rates include all meals, non-alcoholic drinks, design suite accommodation, small-group excursions with expert guides, the entrance fee to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, high-speed satellite internet and laundry service; on the Mekong the only additional expenses are airfare, cocktails, boutique purchases, spa and gratuities. Source

Pandaw's sailings include daily excursions, full board, cultural performances, movie nights and free bikes, with complimentary WiFi on the sundeck; local mineral water, jugged coffee, teas and tisanes are complimentary and all other drinks are charged, except on its India expeditions, which now include local soft drinks, mixers, spirits and beers. Source

Are shore excursions included?

Aqua Expeditions includes small-group excursions with expert guides in its Amazon rates; all its excursions run in groups of no more than 12, with naturalist guides on private skiffs. Source

Pandaw includes excursions in the sailing, with small groups, expert local guides and options for different levels of mobility; guides speak English, while foreign-language guides must be pre-booked and may cost extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Pandaw offers cabins with no single supplement on a wide selection of expeditions and departure dates; its offers list sailings as 'Singles welcome! No Single Supplement' with a 10% Discovery Discount. Source

Aqua Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

How much is the deposit?

Aqua Expeditions asks a deposit of US$1,000 per person to confirm bookings made 91 days or more before departure, with the final balance due 90 days before departure; private charters pay 20% of the gross charter hire at signing and 30% at 180 days before departure; charter deposits are non-refundable. Source

Pandaw asks a non-refundable deposit of 20% of the total booking value on confirmation; the final balance is due 61 days before departure or the booking is cancelled and the deposit forfeited. Source

What happens if you cancel?

Aqua Expeditions refunds the deposit less a US $500 service charge per person for cancellations 121 days or more before departure; from 120 to 91 days all deposits are non-refundable and at 90 days or less full payment is the cancellation penalty. Departure dates can be changed without penalty at least 181 days before departure. Source

Pandaw keeps the non-refundable 20% deposit if you cancel before the balance is due and charges 100% from 60 days and less before departure, including no show, late arrival or early return; a material change such as a change of date may incur a $150 USD per person administration fee. Source

What happens if the water is too high or too low?

Aqua Expeditions offers complimentary flight extensions to Siem Reap when its Mekong vessels are seasonally unable to travel up the Tonle Sap Lake due to low water levels; if a voyage is cancelled or curtailed and no substitute vessel is provided, it offers credit towards a future voyage or a pro rata refund per cruise night not used. Source

Pandaw says its published itineraries are indicational only and subject to sudden change and that passengers are expected to be flexible and patient; its terms reserve the right to change the vessel without notice. Source

What if your mobility is limited?

Pandaw does not allow wheelchairs; access to the ship at some river stations can be difficult, with steep and sometimes slippery river banks, so elderly passengers should consult their doctor. Excursions offer options for different levels of mobility. Source

Aqua Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

Can children come?

Pandaw says its cruises are not suitable for children under 8, as the ships have railings but no netting; on family sailings in the spring and Christmas school breaks on the Classic Mekong, the Hooghly or the Brahmaputra, one or two children aged 8 to 18 travel free in a second cabin. Source

Aqua Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Aqua Expeditions: not the fit if you may need to cancel late: from 120 to 91 days before departure all deposits are non-refundable and at 90 days or less full payment is applied as the cancellation penalty. Source
• Pandaw: not the fit if you use a wheelchair: wheelchairs are not allowed and access to the ship at some river stations can be difficult, with steep and sometimes slippery river banks. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 10 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Aqua Expeditions: Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 11 reviews. Read 10 November 2026.
• Pandaw: no Google or Trustpilot listing under Pandaw's own name was found.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel river cruise page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 10 November 2026 · updated 10 November 2026