Itinerary

Show all

1. DAY 1: ARRIVE IN SIEM REAP

   Upon arrival at Siem Reap Airport, your private guide and driver are waiting to meet you with a beaming smile, holding up a welcome signboard with your names on it and take you directly to your hotel.
   After checking-in, you will have time to relax and adjust to the pace of Siem Reap. If time permits, head out to visit the excellent Angkor National Museum. The visit serves as an excellent primer to the gems of Angkor before visiting the temples. The museum provides a potentially large collection of relics, texts and audiovisual presentations relating to the Angkorian era. With even a basic knowledge of the history and symbolism of the architecture, you will have a much richer and engaging experience visiting the temples.
   In evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at one of fine dining restaurant.
   Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
   Meals included: Welcome dinner.

2. DAY 2: SIEM REAP – ANGKOR TOURS

   A very early start today for one of the highlights of our tour. Get up in early morning & travel by tuktuk before dawn to visit sunrise in front of Angkor Wat temple. Wait until after sunrise to explore the temple, as there’s no artificial lighting inside and there are plenty of sharp corners and sudden drops. Angkor Wat is a huge temple that deserves an hour of exploring to visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins. One of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns fine Apsara carvings in Angkorian era art.
   Return to the hotel for breakfast & relax.
   Afternoon, you will continue your explorations by visiting the ancient capital city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire that once ruled much of Southeast Asia. This city is surrounded by an 8 m high wall drawing a perfect square. You will enter the city from the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and four giant faces. On each side of the entrance path, a row of 54 gods or demons is holding the sacred Naga snake. From here, move onto the Bayon Temple in the exact centre of the ancient city. This 12th-century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its 54 towers with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire. Next, visit picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever. 
   ***Option Experience:
   Your guide and driver will take you out to watch Phare – the Cambodian Circus, an amazing blend of traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatic, juggling and contortion beautifully choreographed and performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society.
   Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
   Meals included: Breakfast.

3. DAY 3: SIEAM REAP - KULEN MOUNTAIN

   After breakfast at hotel, driving up north to Kbal Spean, one of the earliest Hindu pilgrimage sites in Cambodia. Upon arrival, you will take a short trek up the hill through dense jungle with excellent views over the plains and the Kulen hills. At the top, be surprised about the “River of 1000 Lingas” with some remarkable stone carvings of Hindu gods, animals, and other symbols in the river bed.
   After enjoying a picnic lunch you can take a refreshing bath in the nearby waterfall, which is extremely popular with the local families.
   On the way back to Siem Reap, make a quick stop at the Land Mine Museum which promotes mine awareness. Mr. Aki Ra, the museum founder, was trained as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime and is working today as a de-miner. The museum serves also as a rescue center for a number of land mine amputee children that Aki Ra has brought off Phnom Penh’s streets or from impoverished rural communities.
   End of this tour, you'll have a chance to explore the Psar Chas, also known as the “Old Market”.
   Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch.

4. DAY 4: SIEM REAP – EMBARKATION - KAMPONG CHAM (On Thursday)

   In the morning, you will be picked up & transferred to Sokha Angkor Resort hotel where you will join the RV Mekong Prestige in coach (5h). A packed lunch will be offered during the trip. Stop at the Kampong Kdei Bridge dating from the Angkorian period, built during the reign of Jayavarman VII. Arrival on board in the middle of the afternoon. Welcome buffet and installation in the cabins. Beginning of navigation towards Wat Hanchey. Welcome dinner on board.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

5. DAY 5: ON CRUISE: WAT HANCHEY - KAMPONG CHAM

   Stop at Wat Hanchey in the morning and after breakfast, visit the pre-Angkorian temple located on top of a hill overlooking the Mekong. Dating back to the 8th century, its ancient brick structures characterize the architecture of the Chenla Empire, which preceded the glory of Angkor. Back on board for lunch.
   Continued navigation and arrival at Kampong Cham during lunch. In the afternoon, departure by bus to discover the temple of Wat Nokor. This twelfth century Buddhist temple built on the ruins of an ancient temple, is unique in Cambodia.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

6. DAY 6: ON CRUISE: ANGKOR BAN – SILK ISLAND – PHNOM PENH

   Morning navigation on the Upper Mekong. Arrival at Angkor Ban in the morning. Overlooking the River Mekong, Angkor Ban offers a peaceful and majestic image of the river bathed in morning light in this still pristine area. Angkor Ban is one of the very few villages that has not been burned or destroyed during the Khmer Rouge period. It is a dive in intimate Cambodia, to the rhythm of its inhabitants. Visit of the village on stilts, discovery of traditional houses some of which are more than a century old. Back on board for further navigation to Silk Island and visit of a silk weaving village. Navigation and late arrival in Phnom Penh.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

7. DAY 7: ON CRUISE: PHNOM PENH

   The capital city of Cambodia still retains its old French colonial architecture in riverside streets. Morning bus tour including the Royal Palace & the Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Lunch on board. An afternoon excursion is arranged to the former High School « S21 » (now the Tuol Sleng Museum), which was converted to a detention center under the Red Khmer’s rule between 1975 and 1979. Leisure time and shopping at the “Central Market”. Dinner on board.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

8. DAY 8: ON CRUISE: PHNOM PENH - NAVIGATION - BORDER CROSSING

   The ship departs towards the border with Vietnam in the morning. We cruise past the Mekong’s timeless villages and river life with extensive fishing activities. Crossing of the border and completion of the required formalities.
   Overnight on cruise. 
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

9. DAY 9: ON CRUISE: TAN CHAU

   Arrival at Tan Chau in the morning, a remote town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, transfer on small boats to visit this charming locality. This small town is very representative of this part of Asia, divided between rurality and a lively economic activity.
   Overnight on cruise.
   Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

10. DAY 10: ON CRUISE: SA DEC - CAI BE

    Arrival at Sa Dec. The French writer Marguerite Duras spent parts of her childhood in Sa Dec, a sprawling busy town on the Mekong Delta. We see the house of Marguerite’s Chinese Lover. The house is a small museum of « The Lover » in Sadec. Visit to a Caodaist Temple and a stroll through the colorful local market. Lunch on board. We cruise past Vinh Long Province, located in the middle of the Delta region, between the two tributaries of the Mekong. Arrival at Cai Be, tour on local boats to see the French Gothic Cathedral. Walk along the river bank and visit to a manufacturer of rice paper and coconut sweets. Dinner on board & traditional Music Show.
    Overnight on cruise.
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

11. DAY 11: MY THO – DISEMBARKATION - HO CHI MINH CITY (SAIGON)

    Arrival at My Tho. Disembarkation after breakfast and bus transfer to Ho Chi Minh city center. The transfer includes a stop at the Cholon Market and the visit to a lacquer factory. Drop off at Sofitel Plaza around 12.00pm.
    Then your local guide and driver will meet up and take you to your hotel. Check in & the rest of day is free at leisure.
    Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
    Meals included: Breakfast.

12. DAY 12: HO CHI MINH - CITY TOUR

    Start your day with visiting the wholesale flower market. Make your way through zigzag narrow alleys and passages filled with flower stalls and learn more about the business of local people here. Every flower you can imagine spills out onto the street like roses, lilies, orchids, daisies, in every color. 
    Next, you'll visit Thien Hau, the oldest temple before transferring to Cao Dai Temple @ 891 Tran Hung Dao Street for an interesting noon service. Cao Dai is a new religious movement found only in Vietnam. It combines Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Confucianism and Islam. There is a ceremonial service taken every 6 hours, known as the most colorful ceremony of Vietnam.
    In the afternoon, you'll stop at the site where the famous Buddhist Thich Quang Duc self- immolated in June 11th, 1963. After his funeral, where his remains were finally reduced to ashes, Quang Duc's heart had not burned, was instead retrieved, enshrined, and treated as a sacred relic. His self- immolation triggered the uprising, which later led to the fall of President Diem regime. Another tour inclusion is the Reunification Palace, the former headquarters of the South Vietnamese Government and Presidential residence. The historical building reminisces the fall of Saigon regime in April 30th 1975. Subsequently, the next worth visiting building is the former US embassy where the last American helicopters fled.
    Then, head out to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral where you could clearly feel the French colonial presence. It took nearly 2 decades (from 1863 to 1880) to finish the construction of The Neo-Romanesque Catholic Basilica. The Cathedral was modeled on Notre-Dame de Paris and built totally with materials shipped over from France. Continue walking across the street to the Central Post Office - an architectural wonder with rich Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. 
    Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
    Meals included: Breakfast.

13. DAY 13: HO CHI MINH – JOIN A COOKING CLASS & VISIT CU CHI TUNNEL

    This tour today is an amazing program for people who would love discover and understand clearly about Vietnamese agriculture and history with great Vietnamese cuisine.
    Explore the organic farm and learn about different vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, spices, fruits and how to use them for cooking and medicines.
    The highlight of tour is to challenge yourself to become a real vietnamese farmer on local traditional hat. By picking your own ingredients from the garden for your cooking lesson; bring to the kitchen and transform them into a fantastically tasty meal. Your next mission is to made your lunch include three dishes and one dessert. The chef will provide you with great healthy recipes, cooking tips and therefore the best ways to make healthy, simple and delicious Vietnamese meals.
    In afternoon, moving on Cu Chi Tunnels and your guide will show you the structure of tunnels system with 200 km-long network that was built over 2 decades and used as an army base during the Vietnamese-American War. You will be surely amazed at the tunnels with their underground story including trap-door, living areas, storage, weapon factories, clinics, kitchen, command centre, etc. Cu Chi is definitely worthy of what has been named the “heroic village” of Vietnam.
    Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh.
    Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.

14. DAY 14: HO CHI MINH – DEPARTURE

    Your guide and driver greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Tan Son Nhat International Aiport, to catch your departure flight home!
    Meals included: Breakfast.