4 Nights Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Mekong Cruise
From Phnom Penh to Siem Reap on the majestic Mekong, this cruise combine the ancient temples of Angkor in Siem…
There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating and varied as the River Mekong. Indeed there can be no more striking a cultural contrast as that between the bustling Vietnam delta and the tranquility of Cambodia. We pass from the vibrant French colonial port of Saigon, through the vast delta so rich in human life and endeavour, to travel along the main channel into the rich countryside of Cambodia. With a full day in charming Phnom Penh we then explore remoter waterways as we progress to the great monuments of Angkor.
Transfer from Saigon to the river port for embarkation. After lunch, we journey by sampans through mangroves and bamboo forests to the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. This is an area rich in birdlife which we will explore via local transport before transferring to a local rowboat. We will journey slowly through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in making local products. In the evening you will be entertained by a Vietnamese dance troupe on deck.
Sailing through the delta offers a real insight into life along this vast waterway. After lunch, a short coach journey through the lush countryside to Gao Giong ‘green oasis’, a 1,000-acre eucalyptus forest and listed wildlife sanctuary. Here a diverse selection of water birds and egrets gather in their tens of thousands across the Duong Tharp Muoi or ‘Plain of Reeds’. Rowboats traverse the canals to take us to view the principal nesting areas where photo opportunities abound.
We go alongside at the picturesque border town of Chau Doc where we visit the floating markets & fish farms by sampan. We make a stop at a Chham Village and observe the lives of Vietnamese Muslims before taking minivans for a short drive to Sam Mountain, location of Phuoc Dien Tu or the Hang Pagoda. We climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda. Upon return to ship, we navigate a web of canals before dropping anchor on the Vietnam/Cambodia border to undergo Immigration formalities.
Morning orientation of Phnom Penh by cyclo visiting the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda followed by the National Museum with its marvelous collection of Angkorian statuary. In the afternoon we visit the Killing Fields and Genocide museum to learn more about the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. Overnight in Phnom Penh city port with its lively bars, restaurants and night life.
Morning at leisure in Phnom Penh with its café life and many smart boutiques. After lunch, we sail up the winding channels of the Tonle Sap river to Kampong Tralach. We travel by ox-cart around the river-side villages, markets and temples to get a sense of life along the river. In the evening cocktails are round a village fire pit where we will be joined by village folk keen to show us their traditional dancing show us more of the delightful Khmer culture.
In the morning, travel by coach to the ancient capital of Cambodia, Oudong. On the way we stop to visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre before taking a drive around the old capital. We re-join our ship at Prek Kdam before returning to the Mekong. After lunch we sail to Koh Nghe Tei (Silk Island) to study the entire silk-making process from worms to weavers. We visit silk makers and can buy from them their lovely silk scarves and other fabrics. This village is a centre of the ancient martial art of L’bokator which roughly translates as ‘pounding a lion’. It includes weapons techniques and is one of the oldest combat techniques in Cambodia and believed to date back to the Angkor empire.
Sunrise cruise to Angkor Ban village to see how local villagers live and visit the library which was donated by Pandaw to Angkor Ban secondary school.
NOTE: if you want to donate books, please bring along some Children’s books in English language (suitable for age 8 to 15 yrs) which you can personally gift to the library.
In the afternoon we sail north to Wat Hanchey, an important centre of worship during the Chenla period located on top of a hill above the mighty Mekong River with some of the best Mekong views in Cambodia. Visit 8th century structures some destroyed by American bombings during the Vietnam War.
Disembark and travel by coach from Kampong Cham through stunningly lovely countryside to reach Siem Reap, adjacent to Angkor Wat.
The third of these rather grand Vietnamese sisters, along with the Orient and Indochina. She is a good looker, and turns many a head as she ploughs in state across the Delta or into the bustling hub of the Phnom Penh port.
Accommodation
Built in Rangoon in 2002 she was sailed round to Saigon under her own power and many a drama described in Paul Strachan’s Pandaw Story. This ship was designed specially for the Mekong and unlike our other P class ships does not have a flying bridge. The reason was so she could get under a road bridge. She did actually scrape under on her maiden but it was so scary that Paul Strachan, then standing on the bridge, never dared attempt it again. As a result, we ended up with this incredible 750 square meter teak deck that even has a full size billiard table.
The MP as she is affectionately known is our most spacious ship with wider promenades, a larger dining hall and more public space per passenger than any known ship afloat. Seriously!
In 2012 she was refitted and lower deck cabins removed in favour of a professional spa, gym, library lounge and office. She is quite justifiably the most splendid ship on the Mekong and the envy of anything that floats by.
The ship has quality mountain bikes for your independent exploration.
Accommodation
| Available Dates |
Upstream/Downstream
|
| 12 Nov 22 – 19 Nov 22 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 19 Nov 22 – 26 Nov 22 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 26 Nov 22 – 03 Dec 22 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 17 Dec 22 – 24 Dec 22 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 24 Dec 22 – 31 Dec 22 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 31 Dec 22 – 07 Jan 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 07 Jan 23 – 14 Jan 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 14 Jan 23 – 21 Jan 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 14 Jan 23 – 21 Jan 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 21 Jan 23 – 28 Jan 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 28 Jan 23 – 04 Feb 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 04 Feb 23 – 11 Feb 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 11 Feb 23 – 18 Feb 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 18 Feb 23 – 25 Feb 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 25 Feb 23 – 04 Mar 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 04 Mar 23 – 11 Mar 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 11 Mar 23 – 18 Mar 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 18 Mar 23 – 25 Mar 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 25 Mar 23 – 01 Apr 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 07 Oct 23 – 14 Oct 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 14 Oct 23 – 21 Oct 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 21 Oct 23 – 28 Oct 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 28 Oct 23 – 04 Nov 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 04 Nov 23 – 11 Nov 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 11 Nov 23 – 18 Nov 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 18 Nov 23 – 25 Nov 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 25 Nov 23 – 02 Dec 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 16 Dec 23 – 23 Dec 23 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 23 Dec 23 – 30 Dec 23 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 30 Dec 23 – 06 Jan 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 06 Jan 24 – 13 Jan 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 13 Jan 24 – 20 Jan 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 20 Jan 24 – 27 Jan 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 27 Jan 24 – 03 Feb 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 03 Feb 24 – 10 Feb 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 10 Feb 24 – 17 Feb 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 17 Feb 24 – 24 Feb 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 24 Feb 24 – 02 Mar 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 02 Mar 24 – 09 Mar 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 09 Mar 24 – 16 Mar 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 16 Mar 24 – 23 Mar 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
| 23 Mar 24 – 30 Mar 24 |
From Saigon to Siem Reap 7 nights
|
| 30 Mar 24 – 06 Apr 24 |
From Siem Reap to Saigon 7 nights
|
PAYMENT TERMS
A 20% deposit of your total booking value with Pandaw Cruises is required upon confirmation and is non refundable.
Final balance must be paid 61 days before departure or the booking will be cancelled and the deposit forfeited.
Certain special offers may require higher non-refunable deposits. These will be advised to you at the time of booking.
Please note that the remitting party must cover their own bank charges.
Note: Above payment terms do not apply for charter bookings. Please refer to your charter contract.
Cruise Cancellation and Refund
Cancellations for all or any part of the trip will not be effective until received in writing. Should you have to cancel, the following terms will apply:
From time of booking until 61 day prior to departure non-refundable deposit
From 60 days and less till departure, no show, late arrival or early return 100% cancellation fee
Note: We strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase a trip cancellation insurance.
Note: Above cancellation terms do not apply for charter bookings. Please refer to your charter contract.
