Mekong River Cruise

Morning pickup at hotel at 9:30 (be in lobby of our hotel at 9:15) for transfer to Sofitel Plaza Hotel to meet our fellow passengers and transfer to My Tho, located around 44 miles away. The transfer includes a stop at the Cholon Market to visit a lacquer factory. On arrival in My Tho, welcome aboard the M/V Prestige II. Lunch on board. Set sail in the afternoon. Welcome Dinner on board followed by a traditional music show.

Arrival at Cai Be in the morning. After breakfast take a morning junk trip around Cai Be to visit a floating market and go ashore to see the French Gothic Cathedral. Take a stroll along the river bank and visit a local manufacturer producing rice paper and coconut sweets. Return to the ship for lunch. Cruise past Vinh Long Province to arrive at Sa Dec for an afternoon walk. The Famous French writer Marguerite Duras spent part of her childhood in Sa Dec, a sprawling busy town on the Mekong Delta. Both the school where Duras’ mother taught, the small house behind it where the family lived and the ‘Chinaman’s House’ featured in her famous novel “The Lover” ‐ also made into a movie, still stand. Visit a Caodaist Temple and stroll through the colorful local market.

Arrival at Tan Chau in the morning, a remote town on the main Mekong River. After breakfast, transfer on small boats to visit a fishing farm. We go ashore to visit a local workshop producing woven mats and take a short walk in the village to visit a silk weaving workshop. A rickshaw ride around this fascinating town takes us back to the pier for lunch. Depart for the Cambodian border. Evening cruise up the broad Mekong River to Phnom Penh.

Full day of sightseeing in Phnom Penh. The capital city of Cambodia still retains its old French colonial architecture in riverside streets. Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. The National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. Lunch on board. The afternoon excursion to the former High School ‘S21’, converted to a detention center under the Red Khmer’s rule between 1975 and 1979, is followed by a visit to Wat Phnom after which the city was named. Dinner on board will be followed by a traditional Khmer Apsara Dancing Show on board!

Early morning sailing from Phnom Penh to Chong Koh or Oknathey (both located on Silk Island). Visit this silk weaving village for a morning walk at leisure and a visit to the local workshop. The excursion includes a visit to a Pagoda and a meeting in a primary school. We cruise past the Mekong timeless villages and River life with extensive fishing activities. Return to Phnom Penh and afternoon at leisure. Dinner on board.

In the morning, sail upriver heading towards Oudong. Arrival at Prek Dam in the early afternoon, 40 kilometers away from Phnom Penh. Excursion by coach to reach Oudong, the former capital city of Cambodia, between 1618 and 1866. Visit of the Vipassana Dhura Pagoda, located at the foot of a hill on top of which were erected numerous Stupas dating from the last Khmer Kings, also a place of meditation for Buddhist Monks. Then, continue by bus to Kampong Tralach to visit the charming Vihara of the Wat Kampong Leu Pagoda dating back to the last century to see beautiful wall paintings. Return to the ship by popular ‘local taxi’ ‐ ox‐drawn carriages!. Dinner back on board.

Morning sailing on the Tonle Sap River which connects the Mekong River to the Tonle Lake. Arrival at Kampong Chhnang, one of Cambodia’s largest fishing ports and the center of fish farming. It is also famous for its archaic pottery making which supplies the whole country. After the tour of this bustling town, board local boats and sail through the “Floating Village” of Chnok Tru, a unique town completely set on water! See the people living on boats, including a local ‘floating’ school and church! The smiles of the local children are priceless! We go ashore to stroll through the scenic market. Lunch & Dinner on board.

Cruise across Tonle Sap Lake early in the morning.* The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km in length, with interesting and varied bird life resulting from the varied water levels in the lake and river depending on the time of year and rainfall. After breakfast bid farewell to crew and disembark at Phnom Krom pier for our transfer to our hotel in Siem Reap. ***Check‐in to the Prince d’Angkor Hotel and enjoy a light lunch and some rest time.
*Important notice: it may not be wasn’t possible to cross Lake Tonle Lake since if the water is low. Alternative arrangements will be made to cross the lake either by speedboat or by bus, arriving at the hotel at 1:30 pm.

The day is devoted to an in‐depth exploration of the fascinating “Lost City of Angkor”. Once the capital of the ancient Khmer empire, which ruled the area from the 9th to the 13th century, the city and its fascinating temples were slowly covered by jungle until the city was lost to civilization. The temples were rediscovered at the end of the 19th century, the jungle was cleared over the next 70 years to reveal the “8th Wonder of the World” – the ancient Temples of Angkor Wat – today a UNESCO Heritage site. After breakfast at our hotel, our morning tour will take us to explore the south gates of Angkor Thom, Bayan Temple, Elephant Terrace, the Royal enclosure and the Terrace of the Leper King. A break for lunch will be held al fresco at the popular FCC club nearby. The afternoon is reserved for a visit to Ta Phrom (Jungle Temple) and the magnificent main Temples of Angkor Wat! End the day with a stop for a drink at the famous Red Piano (own expense) followed by a nice dinner at a local restaurant.

Note: During the visit of the temples of Angkor Wat, visitors are required to wear proper attire, covering shoulders and knees as this temple is still considered a sacred site (no shorts, miniskirts or short trousers).

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel prior to departing on a tour which will include a stop at the famous Artists D’ Angkor where we will see local artists at work (a great place to purchase those last minute souvenirs)! Rest of the day at leisure, until dinner at a local restaurant.