"Along The Mekong"
11 Days package price on enquiry.
Day 1 - UK Departure
Depart the UK with international flight to Saigon.
Day 2 - Saigon Arrival
You will be met on arrival and transfer to hotel. Rest of day free to relax.
Day 3 - Saigon – My Tho
In the afternoon transfer from hotel in Saigon to embark the Toum Tiou boat. Settle into your accommodating cabin and unpack for cruise. Departure for My Tho. You will attend a meeting about cruise, crew introduction as well as security briefing before enjoying a welcome drink and dinner. (D)
Day 4 - My Tho – Cai Be – Vinh Long - Sa Dec
Departure early in the morning. Breakfast during navigation on the marvellous canal of Cho Gao. Upon arrival in My Tho, the boat drops anchor on river in the proximity of Thoi Son Island. On the banks of a northern arm of the Mekong, My Tho is where you come to discover the beauty of the delta. Local boats are come alongside Toum Tiou to pick you up and transfer to the mainland. Departure for Vinh Trang Pagoda by car, take a short panoramic tour of My Tho town on the way and stop for a visit of My Tho market. Returning to the pier, you will cruise to Thoi Son Island by local boat to visit the island, explore local people’s daily life and enjoy locally seasonal fruits. Afterwards re-embark on Toum Tiou boat and leave My Tho for Cai Be. Arrive in Cai Be around noon where local boats are ready for your cruise around Cai Be Floating Market. Continue to Vinh Long where life is organized around the water. Houses on stilts, hawkers in boats, hundreds of small craft crisscross in all directions. The hospitality of the locals makes it a tourist destination par excellence. Return to the Toum Tiou and depart for Sa Dec. Meals and overnight on board. (B/L/D)
Day 5 - Sa Dec – Chau Doc
After breakfast, take a short panoramic tour and transfer to Trung Vuong primary school, then continue to Kien An Cung Pagoda. Stroll around Sa Dec market along Sa Dec River bank. It provides a glimpse of the delta where a few colonial houses still remain, including the "Chinaman's house" (from Duras' novel "The Lover", also made into a movie). After visiting, re-embark on Toum Tiou and leave Sa Dec for Chau Doc, with lunch and leisure on board. Arrival after lunch at Victoria Hotel Chau Doc jetty. Departure for fish raising rafts and Cham minority village by local boat. Return to the Victoria hotel. If the time is allows it, watch the sunset on the Sam Mountain which peaks at 237 meters. Its well-known Buddhist sanctuaries offer an unobstructed view over the mosaic of glistening rice paddies below. To the left is Cambodia, where the flow of the Mekong on the horizon breaks into an infinity of silver ribbons. Visit on the way of the Lady Chua Xu temple and Tay An Pagoda. Return to the boat, dinner at the Victoria Hotel’s restaurant. You are free to enjoy the hotel facilities (swimming pool, billiards, bar, Internet) or stroll in Chau Doc. Overnight onboard at the jetty of the hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 6 - Chau Doc - Koh Dek Chau – Phnom Penh
Toum Tiou leaves early in the morning for Vinh Xuong (Vietnamese border). Breakfast during navigation. Arrival at Vinh Xuong check-point – Formalities clearance for Toum Tiou to cross the border. Then leave for Kôh Dek Chau Island with a short break along the way. It allows you to get a fascinating, close-up look at daily life in Cambodia. On the fringes of civilization, the people who live on Kôh Dek Chau will receive your visit with some surprise. School children will escort you along your way. You will go through the village that occupies the full length of the island, walking along a trail shaded by date palms. Depart for Phnom Penh in the late afternoon. Meals and overnight on boat. (B/L/D)
Day 7 - Phnom Penh
After breakfast, departure for the “Killing fields” - Tuol Sleng Museum, the old centre of detention, torture and execution between 1975 and 1979. The visit of this place is essential to understand what could be the fatal madness perpetrated by the Khmer Rouges. Return to Phnom Penh, lunch in a local restaurant. Balance of the day free for exploration on own. Around 19:00 we return to the boat. Local group performs on board traditional “APSARA” show for 45 minutes. Dinner and overnight on board. (B/L/D)
Day 8 - Phnom Penh - Kampong Tralach
After breakfast, take a half day city sightseeing tour including the Royal Palace and the National Museum. Around noon, the Toum Tiou leaves Phnom Penh for Kompong Tralach. Lunch during navigation. Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. You will cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind. The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues unabated due to widespread indifference. Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot. After visiting, re-embark for diner and overnight on board. (B/L/D)
Day 9 - Kampong Tralach - Kampong Chnang – Kompong Luang/ Chnok Tru
Departure early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang. Breakfast during navigation. Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-coloured sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine. Re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Luong. Arrival at Kampong Luong around mid noon. Local boats are coming alongside the Toum Tiou and picking you up for the visit. Almost totally overlooked by tourists because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is completely self-sufficient. You will see everything is on water: a floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station.... Re-embark on the boat. The Toum Tiou stays overnight under the protection of the flooded forest. If the time allows it, the boat navigates to approach Kompong Pluk, a charming village near Siem Reap. Enjoy a farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager as well as the captain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine. Overnight on board. (B/L/D)
Day 10 - Kampong Luang/ Chnok Tru – Siem Reap
Departure early in the morning. Time to pack and relax for half a day by crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake. Eventual visit of Kompong Pluk before the arrival. Arrival at Phnom Krom pier (5 miles from Siem Reap). Transfer to airport in Siem Reap. (B)
Day 11 - London Arrival
Arrival at London Heathrow.
11 Days Package Price on Enquiry.
Price includes:
- Return International flights:
- 4* Hotel accommodation in Saigon (on twin share basis);
- Meals: daily breakfast at hotel and others as mentioned in itinerary;
- Sightseeing excursions with English speaking guides;
- Double cabin on Toum Tiou boat;
- Entrance fees;
- Government tax and service charge;
Price excludes:
- Vietnamese Visa fee;
- Cambodian Visa fee;
- Departure tax;
- Personal expense such as laundry or drink during meals etc.;
- Optional visits;
- Travel insurance (can be arranged, please ask for details);
- Tips to guides and drivers.
Notes:
- Departure only according to the navigation schedule. Guaranteed departure for total minimum 14 passengers (Toum Tiou I) and 20 passengers (Toum Tiou II) on board only.
- The itinerary may be subject to change, depending on water level of Mekong River. At the end of the low water period, (around late March to June) the water level may not allow anymore speedboats to cross the lake. In this case, passengers will be transferred by our convenience from/to Siem Reap by land.
ADDITIONAL EXTENSIONS (before and after cruise)
Saigon
Day 1 - Saigon City Tour
Today we tour the city’s major sights, taking in the American Embassy, the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Saigon Post Office. We ride rickshaws too and stroll the bustling Chinese ethnic quarter of Saigon, Cho Lon, to see a myriad of merchandise and the ornate pagoda of Lady Hau. Enjoy a walk a long the colonial boulevards of Dong Khoi and Nguyen Hue and conclude touring on the rooftop garden restaurant of Rex hotel. (B/D)
Day 2 - Saigon /Cu Chi Tunnels / Cao Dai Holy See
We start the day driving out of the city to the Cu Chi amazing tunnel system built by Communist guerrillas during the Vietnam War. We then head for Tay Ninh to witness the noon services of adherents to Caodai Sect, a most strange religion in a beautiful edifice called Holy See Temple. Return to town and spend the remainder of the day your favourite way. (B/L)
Day 3 - Departure
In the afternoon transfer from hotel in Saigon to embark the Toum Tiou boat...
Siem Reap
Day 1 - Siem Reap
You will be transferred to a hotel in city centre after arrival at Phnom Krom pier. Late afternoon before sunset we climb Phnom Bakheng Hill to the temple of Phnom Bakheng for magnificent sunset views over the temples of Angkor. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner with Khmer traditional music and dance. (D)
Day 2 - Siem Reap
Today we visit the Southern Gate of Angkor Thom, the famous Bayon complex, Phimean Akas temples and Elephants and Leper King Terraces. After lunch in local restaurant we continue our tour to Taprom and Angkor Wat temple. (B/L)
Day 3 - Siem Reap
This morning we wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Angkor Wat temple. After breakfast we then continue to visit Pre Rup, Mebon, Tasom, Neak Pean and Preah Khan temples. In the afternoon we continue to Thommanum, Chaosay Tevoda temple, Spean Thma (Ancient Bridge), Gate of Death, Terrace of Sras Srang and Prasat Kravan. (B/L)
Day 4 - Departure
At leisure until transfer to the airport for departure flight. (B)
