Mekong River Cruise - Siem Reap to Saigon

Day 1: Siem Reap

Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. You meet your guide and the rest of the group. After a pre-trip briefing, we adjourn for a group dinner in town (cost not included).

Day 2: Siem Reap - Chnok Tru

We board the boat in the afternoon . You will be escorted to the front of the Foreign Correspondents Club in Siem Reap where you will be transferred to Phnom Krom boat pier. It is here you board the boat. After settling into your cabin. You can meet the crew and enjoy your first dinner on the boat. At the end of low water period ( around late March to June) the water level may not allow anymore speedboats to cross the lake. In this case, passenegers will be transferred by our conveniance from Siem Reap by land ( 5-6 hours). Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 3: Chnok Tru - Kompong Chnang

We commence our river cruise along the Mekong by departing Siem Reap and traveling towards the remote floating village of Chok Tru. This gem of a village is often overlooked by tourists but is a truly self sufficient floating city and one of the largest on the Mekong - with schools , factories , a church , pagoda, police station, repair shops and even a karaoke bar . Everyone who inhabits this village from children to great grand parents navigate this little village via boat. It is a great introduction to how the Mekong is the whole world to some locals. We continue through Tonle Sap (Lake) towards the town of Kompong Chhang. This is the biggest fishing port n Tonle Sap and is also famous for its pottery, which has not changed in style for centuries. We have an opportunity to make our way on local boats into the countryside where we can witness these pottery makers working their craft. A craft that is so respected it supplies the whole country. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 4: Kompong Tralach - Phnom Penh

Today we make our way to the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh but before we reach this exciting capital we travel to Kampong Tralach where we experience one of the last standing Viharas ( Buddhist Monastery) in Cambodia as under the evil reign on Pol Pot this is one of the last survivors of the cultural destruction. This Monastery is attached to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu Pagoda. The Vihara dates back to last century. To get to this pagoda and monastery we cross Kompong Tralach Krom village and walk another couple of kilometres along a small road crossing some gorgeous stretches on emerald rice paddies. After the visit we continue along the Mekong to the small village of Koh Chen (Chinese Island) whose inhabitants specialise in silver and copper smithing. Surrounding this area are temples and pagodas built by the Chinese and forged in legend and myth. From here we make our way to Phnom Penh and arrive in the late afternoon. it is at leisure in Phnom Penh, where there is much to see and do, including the celebrated FCC (Foreign Correspondents Club), the Russian Market and numerous boutiques. In the evening there's a traditional Apsara dance show on board. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 5: Phnom Penh

Today we spend a full day in the capital of Cambodia. The name originated from a woman named Penh. In about 1370, Lady Penh discovered a statue with four representations of the Buddha and she had a small pagoda built on top of the hill, or phnom, in which to keep the statue. A morning tour introduces the highlights of this charming city with its strong reminants of a french colony. The morning takes us to Tuol Sleng Museum which gives us a sober reminder of past atrocities. In the afternoon we visit the National Museum and Royal Palace. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 6: Koh Dek Chau - Chau Doc

We depart "The Pearl of Asia" with all of its charm and cruise down towards Chau Doc. This is a fishing village near the Vietnam border which straddles both banks of the Mekong River and is surrounded by an immense mosaic of rice paddies. The market place is where the heart beats of this city as we explore it by local boats. Fish is the business and business is good for this village as your senses are overloaded. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 7: Chau Doc - Vinh Long

We depart Chau Doc and make our way towards Vinh Long. By early afternoon we arrive at the little know town of Sa Dec. This small city is fascinating in it unspoiled authenticity and undisturbed by tourists. It provides a glimpse of the Mekong delta where few colonial houses still remain. We visit the local primary school for girls before returning to the boat and continuing along the Mekong to anchor a few miles from Vinh Long. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 8: Vinh Long - Cai Be - My Tho

We arrive early at Vinh Long , which translates into "Majestic Dragon". This town sits right in the middle of the delta between two arms of the Mekong. The soil is rich so it makes it ideal for growing citrus fruits. Local boats pick us up so we can explore these orchards as we make our way to the Cai Be floating market. As life is organised around the water these markets are a tourist mecca with houses on stilts, hawkers on boats and hundreds of small craft crisscrossing in all directions. We leave Cai Be and make our way to My Tho where we arrive mid afternoon after a leisurely lunch on board the boat. My Tho translates into "fragrant herb" where tourist come to discover the beauty of the delta. We are transferred by local boats to the mainland where we can soak in the sites of the prosperous town famous for its fruits and gardens. In the late afternoon we re embark the boat and navigate through the marvelous canal of Cho Gao. This is our final night on the boat and we enjoy a farewell cocktail before joining the Captain on a farewell dinner. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 9: My Tho - Saigon

We arrive at Saigon port mid morning where we proceed to go through custom formalities, once compete we disembark the boat and the cruise is complete. Meals included: 1 breakfast