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Mekong Exploration River Cruise - 8 Days
A fascinating exploration of the
upper Mekong River. Travel back in time in a colonial style boat that
captures a period when steamers carried royal princes, viceroys and a
succession of famous artists, writers and poets along the rivers of east
Asia.
Cambodia and Vietnam provide the backdrop to a fascinating journey along the
river with onshore excusions and boat trips. Explore evergreen islands and a
former mandarin’s residence.
Destinations: Siem Reap | Phnom Penh
| Tonle Sap | Kratie | Kampong Cham | Chao Doc | Cai Bei | Saigon (Vietnam)
Itinerary
Upstream from Saigon to Siem Reap
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Ho Chi Minh City |
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Mekong Delta |
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Angkor Wat |
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Angkor Wat |
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Fishing village |
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Tonle Sap Lake |
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DAY 1: HO CHI MINH - MY THO
We transfer passengers from the Renaissance Hotel in Saigon to the Delta
Port of My Tho by coach avoiding tidal delays on the Cao Gao canal. The time
saved in cruising this more industrial sector gives us more time in the
wilder areas upstream. The transfer time is approximately two hours. My Tho
is the hub of the Delta but not of great cultural interest so once on board
we set sail and have lunch. In the afternoon we moor near Cai Be and make a
fascinating trip by traditional House.
Here surviving members of the Kiet family will welcome you with tea and we
can wander in the fruit orchards around the house. On the way back we stop
at Dong Hoa Hiep Island to see boat
yards, brick works and traditional roofers. Overnight moor midstream at Cai
Bei..
DAY 2: CAI BE
We make a morning junk trip around Cai Bei to see a floating market and walk
ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colourful port area with its
colonial buildings and delightful flower
gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper manufacturies. Remainder of
day cruising through the Mekong Delta and moor overnight at Chau Doc.
DAY 3: CHAU DOC
Travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau down the canals and
backwaters by local ferry boat. At Chau Doc we transfer to small boats to
visit a Cham tribal village. We also visit a cat fish farm.
We make a trishaw ride round this fascinating town
with it fine French-colonial buildings and bustling market. Return to the
ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Border for (lengthy)
formalities. Evening cruise up the broad Mekong channel, which is an
international shipping route. Moor overnight just downstream from Phnom
Penh.
DAY 4: BORDER -
PHNOM PENH
The capital of Cambodia, retains a French charm. The
crumbling colonial architecture makes an attractive backdrop to lively
cafes and the redeveloped river "corniche" is full of life. The city has
several impressive Wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat
Phnom and the newly painted Wat Lang Ka.
Pride of place goes to the spectacular Silver Pagoda,
one of the few places in Cambodia where artifacts embodying the brilliance
and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the Khmer Rouge. The
National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer
crafts. An afternoon excursion is arranged to the Killing Fields and the
grim Khmer Rouge detention centre called S21 situated outside the city.
(Optional) Phnom Penh has a lively night life and some passengers choose
to dine ashore or try one of the capital’s many watering holes, a
favourite being
the Foreign Correspondent’s Club.
DAY 5: PHNOM PENHT
KAMPONG CHAM
Early morning departure from Phnom Penh and stop at
the little known Chong Koh silk weaving village for a morning walk at
leisure. We cruise the Mekong seeing timeless villages and river life and
see extensive fishing activities.
The scenery is very lovely here and in the distance
forested hills rise. On the river above Phnom Penh there is little
shipping, only real Cambodian life. In the afternoon we stop at Peam Chi
Kang village to visit the wat or monastery and school. Passengers are at
leisure to explore this peaceful and friendly community. In the wat the
splendid village racing boats are stored.
DAY 6: KAMPONG
CHAM
Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian
temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating from the 8th century, these ancient brick
structures characterise the architecture of the Chenla Empire which
predated the glories of Angkor. Sail back downstream over lunch for an
exploration of the Kampong Cham Area.
We travel by bus to the 12th century Angkorian temple
of Wat Nokor. This colourful temple is unique in Cambodia as a modern wat
is set within the ruins of an ancient temple. We continue to the twin holy
mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, or Man and Woman Hill. Legends
abound about the origins of these hills and there are many pagodas and
shrines on the hilltops.
DAY 7: KAMPONG
CHNANG
We touch the capital Phnom Penh in the early morning
to change pilots and then sail the Tonle River which connects the Tonle
Lake with the Mekong and Bassac Rivers that merge at Phnom Penh.
This river journey is a highlight of the trip. It
winds its way through jungle and as the river narrows you feel you can
reach out and touch the houses and people who ecstatically cheer our ship
on. Temples abound along the river banks
At Kampong Chhaanan the river narrows and one can
view the rich tapestry of Cambodian rural life. This is a busy rural port
town with bustling markets. Mooring midstream we make a truly wonderful
motor boat excursion into the lake side wetlands that form the mouth of
the river.
Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen and
of considerable interest are the great fish traps, some half a km long,
that net a huge tonnage of fish after each monsoon as the fish migrate
from the falling lake into the Tonle river.
DAY 8: TONLE SAP
LAKE
The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150km
in length. Here bird life is profuse and in the midst of the lake one
cannot even see the shores. There is a great stillness and tranquillity on
the Tonle Lake and we pass floating fishing villages.
Due to seasonal high winds and water levels we
transfer passengers by speed boat from the mouth of the lake to Siem Reap
from November to March. Even doing this navigation on the lake can be very
tricky and in the event the waters are too
low for the speed boats it may be necessary to
transfer passengers by coach via Angkor Thom on the new Phnom Penh – Siem
Reap highway. We arrive at Siem Reap by lunchtime for transfer to your
hotels.
Prices:
Upon request
Accommodation:
Tour includes
- Cruise with full board on the RV Mekong Pandaw
or RV Tonle Pandaw
- Transfer with English speaking guide
- Excursion with English speaking guide (German
and French on request)
- Entrance fees, transfers and meals as indicated
in the program
- Service charge, room tax and handling fee
- Tour excludes
Tour excludes
- All international air ticket to Ho Chi Minh and
from Siem Reap
- Personal insurance and expenditure
- Vietnamese / Cambodian visas stamp fee
- International airport tax in Siem Reap of USD
25.nett per person and in
- Ho Chi Minh of USD 15.
- nett per person
- Tip’s to Cruise members guide, driver
Booking...
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