Cambodia with a Mekong Cruise

Cambodia with a Mekong Cruise Overview

Some of the prettiest and most interesting stretches of the Mekong River are within Cambodia, so here's a chance to get under the skin of the country from the water. This tour will give you a cultural and historical insight to this fascinating country in Phnom Penh before a 4-night all inclusive cruise as you make your way to Siem Reap.

DAY 1 - WELCOME TO PHNOM PENH!
Your private guide and driver will meet you at the airport in Phnom Penh and take you to your hotel, the White Mansion, which is a smart downtown option. We have not planned anything for you tonight but you can relax and explore as you like with our Fleewinter city guide, which has great tips for restaurants. (Deluxe Room, B&B).

DAY 2 - TAKE A FASCINATING TOUR AROUND PHNOM PENH
Enjoy a cyclo tour through the heart of Phnom Penh, stopping at the holy site of Wat Phnom, the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Stop for lunch at Friends Restaurant, which works with underprivileged street children. This afternoon you will visit Tuol Sleng, a school that was used as a prison by the Khmer Rouge, and Choeung Ek, also known as the “killing fields”, where many were left to perish. This excursion may prove distressing; it is however an important piece of Cambodia’s recent past.

DAY 3 - BOARD YOUR ALL-INCLUSIVE 4-NIGHT CRUISE
Enjoy this morning at your leisure in Phnom Penh before boarding the Pandaw ship for your four-night Mekong cruise. The RV Mekong Pandaw is a smart, traditional style boat with 24 cabins and a spacious sun deck where you can relax and watch the fascinating river life pass you by. Tonight you will enjoy dinner on board. (Cabin on the Main Deck, all-inclusive).

DAY 4 - ENJOY THE PRETTY TONLE RIVER WETLANDS
Today you will explore the wetlands around the Tonle River. You will travel either by coach or boat depending on water levels before boarding a smaller boat to discover the vast wetlands around the mouth of the river. The Tonle River connects the Mekong main channel at Phnom Penh with the great Tonle Sap Lake. This section is the prettiest part of your river journey as you pass through villages, woodland and hills. Return to Pandaw Cruise tonight.

DAY 5 - VISIT KAMPONG CHAM
This morning you can enjoy a walk around the little-known Chong Koh silk-weaving village before returning to the boat for lunch. This afternoon you will stop at the Peam Chi Kang village to visit the Wat, monastery and school and visit Kampong Cham, an important provincial capital with French colonial buildings, busting markets and an attractive setting overlooking the Mekong.

DAY 6 - VISIT A TEMPLE AND HOLY MOUNTAINS
This morning you will have the chance to visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey and in the afternoon, you will travel by bus to visit the Twin Holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey (Man and Woman Hill). and the eco-tourism village of Choeungkok supported by the French-Cambodian NGO Amica. Later you will return to the boat for dinner and can enjoy your evening at leisure.

DAY 7 - DISEMBARK AS YOU REACH SIEM REAP
Bid farewell to your cruise companions today as you should reach Siem Reap by the early afternoon. Here your private driver and guide will meet you at the port and drive you to your hotel, the Navutu Dreams, which is outside the main town, which we think is a bonus. Here you can rest in tropical gardens and laze by the swimming pools – but a tuk-tuk into town only takes 10 minutes. (Explorer Room, B&B).

DAY 8 - EXPLORE THE MIGHTY ANGKOR WAT
This morning you have the opportunity to rise early to see sunrise over the largest temple in the whole complex; Angkor Wat. After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the fortified city of Angkor Thom as well as Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and the Terraces of the Elephants. You will also see Ta Prohm before finishing your day tour with the sunset at Pre Rup Temple – the beautiful rusty-red bricks are accentuated during sunset and stands in brilliant contrast to the lush green of the jungle in the distance.

DAY 9 - CATCH A GLIMPSE OF RURAL CAMBODIA
Today you will explore an area in the remote Cambodian countryside seen by few travellers. We will take you to meet some local children that are supported by a non-profit Cambodian-Dutch organisation. You will visit a primary school and health centre and have the chance to talk to the children and tell them about life in the UK. You can enjoy a traditional lunch here before visiting Beng Mealea, another seldom-visited ruin and a spectacular jungle temple.

DAY 10 - BON VOYAGE!
Bid farewell to the lovely staff at Navutu Dreams this morning as we will be sending a driver to the hotel to pick you up and take you to the international airport in Siem Reap. From here you can catch your flight home. Safe travels!