Mekong Cruise Saigon to Siem Reap

Day 1: Saigon - Pandaw Cruise

In the morning you will gather at the meeting point - InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel at 39 Le Duan. A shuttle bus will collect you from the meeting point and transfer you to My Tho port by coach to embark on your luxury cruise. Registration in InterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotel is at 10.30am at Purple Jade Bar (Level One).  Lunch and dinner included.

Day 2: Cai Be

After breakfast on board, you’ll visit the tiny village of Cai Be and its vibrant floating market, before returning to the boat for lunch and time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, you can enjoy an exciting Sampan boat trip to Vinh Long and Sa Dec through the charming backwaters and canals.

And there’s the options of taking an exciting Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along canals and backwaters and see the local market and the ancient house of Mr Huynh Thuy Le, the lover of the famous French novelist, Marguerite Duras.

You then return to the boat to enjoy happy hour drinks and dinner. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 3: Chau Doc

We’ll stop at Chau Doc, which is a quaint town on the banks of the Mekong River. The town has retained a lot of its French charm and style, and you can enjoy its colonial architecture and wander through its fantastic indoor market.

Later, you’ll visit a Cham tribal village, as well as a catfish farm and enjoy an exciting ride around town in a trishaw. We then return to the boat for a leisurely lunch as we make our way towards the Cambodian border. Sit back, relax and take in the scenery en route. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

The highlight of the day is arriving in Phnom Penh. As you cruise in, you’ll be spoiled with stunning views of the colourful city stretched down the Mekong, before we dock immediately in front of the stunning Royal Palace.

Passengers can explore Phnom Penh, and will each be given their own cyclo to do so. The cyclos are provided by a local NPO, the Cyclo Centre, which provides aid and medical services to cyclo drivers, which are amongst the poorest in the city.

In the afternoon, you can take an optional trip by coach to the Killing Fields, where over 1 million people were killed and buried by the former communist regime. You can also visit the grim, but educational Tuol Sleng, the regime’s former detention centre. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 5: Tonle River 

Phnom Penh is at the grear lake of Tonle Sap, where the Tonle and Mekong rivers connect. You’ll enjoy this exceptionally picturesque piece of scenery, as it narrows and we pass Kampong Chhnang, quaint villages and beautiful hills and woodland areas on the banks.

Today, we’ll tour Kampong Chhnang. Depending on the water levels at the time, we will either cruise there, or go by coach. Beyond Kampong Chhnang, our cruise will pass by the extensive wetlands around the river mouth. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 6: Kamphong Cham 

We’ll visit Kampong Cham, one of Cambodia’s largest cities. The city is a vibrant mix of colonial French buildings, traditional bamboo water bridges, and bustling activity, surrounded by the beautiful Mekong River.

You’ll then visit the small village of Cong Koh, where villagers hand-weave beautiful silk textiles. Later in the day, we’ll stop at Peam Chi Kang, where you can visit the local monastery (wat), where you’ll see the stunning river racing boats. You’ll also be able to visit the school. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 7: Kamphong Cham

In the morning, we’ll take a trip to the picturesque hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey. The elaborate pagoda was once an important place of worship, and offers unparalleled views of the Mekong River from its hilltop perch.

In the afternoon, you will travel by bus to the Twin Holy Mountains called Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey, or Man and Woman Hill. From here, you will visit Choeungkok; an ecotourism village, which is supported by Amica, a French-Cambodian NGO. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 8: Siem Reap

Your day begins early, as you’re transferred to Siem Reap. En route, we’ll stop at Kampong Thom; a stunning town with a variety of attractions. We will arrive in Siem Reap by mid-afternoon.

Vibrant Siem Reap sits in the shadow of the breath-taking Angkor ruins. The city is lively and filled with markets, shops, interesting restaurants and bars. The neighbouring temples of Angkor Wat provide a stark contrast to the modern, busy life of the city. The temples, which are one of the most significant archaeological sites on the planet, provide a magical other-worldly experience, with the vast buildings and sculptures largely reclaimed by nature in the midst of the vast jungle.

Please note that the coach transfer to Siem Reap from Kampong takes approximately 5 hours.

• Accommodation on Pandaw Cruise Boat.
• Meals as listed in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• English speaking local guides (one guide per location)
• Tours as specified
• Entrance fees for all visits as specified in the itinerary
• Drinks are inclusive and available throughout the day

Please note: Prices are based on Main Deck.

Services not mentioned in the itinerary

• International and domestic flights not mentioned
• Laundry, phone calls, tips and any expenditure of a personal nature
• Travel insurance