Day
1: Tonle Sap
The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 Km
in length. Here bird life is profuse, and from the
middle of the lake one cannot even see the shores. There
is a great stillness and tranquility as we pass floating
fishing villages. Because of seasonal high winds and
varying water levels, we will start our journey one of
the following ways:
1. High water, approximately August to
November.
At 11:00 o’clock register at Koulen II restaurant in
Siem Reap (1 Street Sivatha Svay Dangkum Commune) to
transfer to the ship at Siem Reap Port. Passengers
staying at the Victoria Resort and Spa will be collected
at 1115 from the hotel. On the way to the ship excursion
by motor boat to the floating villages of Tonle Sap.
Embark the ship at 1300 and lunch onboard. Cross the
great lake in the afternoon and drop the anchor after
sunset. Moor overnight at the edge of the Tonle Lake.
2. Low water, approximately November
to August.
At 1200 Register at Koulen II Restaurant in Siem Reap (1
Street Sivatha Svay Dangkum Commune) to transfer
by coach to Prek Dom on the Tonle River, enjoying a
snacks and cold drinks on the way with a stop at Kampong
Thom. Passengers staying at our partner hotel Victoria
Resort and Spa will be collected from the hotel at 1215.
Arrive by 1700 and cruise to Kampong Chhnang for
overnight mooring.
Day
2: 2009: Kampong Chhnang
High Water: Early morning sailing with a brief stop
at Kampong Chhnang after breakfast. Cruise all day
passing Phnom Penh to enter the Mekong River. Proceed
upstream and stop for an afternoon walk at a rural
village.
Low Water: Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town
with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a
truly wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside
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. We touch
the capital Phnom Penh in the afternoon to change pilots
and enter the Upper Mekong bound for Kampong Cham and
stop for an afternoon walk at a rural village.
Day
3: Kampong Cham
Morning journey upriver to the hilltop pre-Angkorian
temple of Wat Hanchey. Dating from the 8th century,
these ancient brick structures characterize 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.
We continue to the eco village of Cheungkok supported by
the French-Cambodian NGO AMICA and the Kampong Cham
orphanage, supported by the Pandaw ProBono programme. We
make a late afternoon departure from Kampong Cham
heading for Phnom Penh. Overnight mid-stream.
Day
4: Phnom Penh
The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The
city has several impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom,
Wat Phnom and the newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of
place goes to the Royal Palace and 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 Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol
Sleng or S21 detention centre situated in the suburbs of
the city then shopping at the Russian market or Central
market.
More happily, 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 favorites being the
Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
Day
5: Cruising the Mekong / Border Crossing
We cast off for a day cruising in the main Mekong
channel, an international shipping route. Today we stop
at Prek Touch, a jungle village, to visit fruit
orchards, and then set off for the Vietnamese border for
the usual formalities.
Day
6: Chau Doc
We travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau
down the canals and backwaters by local ferry boat. At
Chau Doc we visit a Cham tribal village and a cat fish
farm. We make a trishaw ride round this fascinating town
of fine French-colonial buildings and bustling market.
We return to the ship for lunch and cast off for Cai Be.
Day
7: Cai Be
We take a morning junk trip to Dong Hoa Hiep Island to
Cai Be to see a floating market, and go ashore to visit
the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area, with
its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens and
local rice paper manufacturers. We explore evergreen
islands and visit the former Imperial residence the An
Kiet House. In the afternoon we continue our sightseeing
by boat to Vinh Long to visit the Bonsai Gardens and see
brick works.
Day
8: My Tho - Saigon
Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where we
disembark at 0830 for coach transfer to Renaissance
Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City (8-15 Ton Duc Thang Street,
District 1) arriving approximately at 10:30.
