Compare Mekong Discovery – Cruise Only Southbound by Avalon Waterways vs Cambodia Treasured Time: Follow The Heritage Line Laos by Exotic Voyages
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 3,889 | $ 2,500 |
| Price Per Day | $ 486 | $ 250 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Luxury |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | On this unique and inspiring Southeast Asia river cruise through Cambodia and Vietnam, you’ll be immersed in the cultures and ancient traditions as you sightsee and spend time with locals in interesting places along the mighty Mekong River.In the enchanting Cambodian countryside, go on an ox cart ride amongst rice paddy fields and witness the daily lives of farmers. In a Silversmith Village, see craftsmen making silver artwork using ancient techniques. French influences are still apparent in the lovely capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. Here you’ll tour the National Museum and Royal Palace with its striking Silver Pagoda and enjoy a song and dance performance by children at a local orphanage. On a hilltop at the site of the 8th-century temple of Wat Hanchey, take in the stunning views before walking through the rural village of Angkor Ban to visit with welcoming schoolchildren. Continue your river cruise into Vietnam where you’ll walk through a colorful market as the locals are busy with their daily routine of buying and selling produce. See firsthand how handcrafted sampans are built at the home of a family in Cu Lao Gieng. Via sampan, cruise into Ben Tre and experience Vietnamese culture with a visit to a workshop to learn how rice wine and traditional candies are made. This once-in-a-lifetime Southeast Asia river cruise vacation is sure to create lasting memories! |
This tour will take you to some key cultural areas of Cambodia. Phnom Penh is one of Asia’s most authentic capital cities. Kompong Thom and Preah Vihear with UNESCO-protected temples. Siem Reap with the ruins of Angkor Wat. See a spider market, cycle the countryside, take a Jeep tour to the lesser-known, walk the jungle with a ranger, see a river of thousands of lingas caved on the riverbed, and do many more activities to explore the heritage and entrancing sites of the Kingdom. Discover the beautiful and the ugly of Cambodia's past, and immerse yourself in the bewitching lasting remnants of the current. |
Day 1
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA (EMBARKATION) Welcome to Cambodia. Your intimate Suite Ship® Awaits!Get acquainted with the ship and relax before your welcome reception this evening. AFTERNOON/EVENING CRUISE TO WAT HANCHEY(L,D)
Day 2
WAT HANCHEY–ANGKOR BAN Water Blessings and Back-to-School Adventures DISCOVERY Visit Wat Hanchey, a hilltop temple dating back to the 8th century. Climb or be driven to the top where you will enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a traditional water blessing given by local monks. DISCOVERY After lunch, enjoy a Walking Tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here, you will visit a traditional Khmer house and interact with children at a local school. EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO KONPONG LOUANG(B,L,D)
Day 3
KAMPONG TRALACH–KONPONG LOUANG–PHNOM PENH Calm in the Cambodian CountrysideDISCOVERY Your Guided Sightseeing starts in Kampong Tralach with an Ox-Cart Ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to meet a local farmer and learn about his daily life. At the silversmith village in Konpong Louang see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh this afternoon. PHNOM PENHShining a Light on a Dark HistoryCLASSIC After lunch, join a Guided a Visit to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and one of the Killing Fields for a glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime. This evening, spend some free time to explore the city on your own. Perhaps follow the riverfront promenade to the historic Foreign Correspondents Club (FCC).OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN PHNOM PENH(B,L,D)
Day 4
PHNOM PENH Bonjour! French Charm Lives in CambodiaCLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the city by private cyclo with visits to the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at your leisure, Consider a Guided Optional Tour of a local brewery with free flowing local beer! Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will perform a show, featuring local song and dance.EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO VIETNAM/CAMBODIA BORDER (B,L,D)
Day 5
BORDER CROSSING–CHAU DOC, VIETNAM Good Morning Vietnam! DISCOVERY Take a Village Walk through the Chau Doc market, and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. After lunch, embark on a Guided Excursion down the backwaters of the Mekong. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, religious sites, a market selling dried goods, and more. EVENING CRUISE TO LONG KHANH A(B,L,D)
Day 6
LONG KHANH A–CU LAO GIENG Cotton Weavers & Sampan MakersDISCOVERY This morning, a sampan brings you to the village of Long Khanh A, for a Cotton-Weaving Demonstration of this well-preserved tradition. DISCOVERY This afternoon, enjoy scenes of daily life on Cu Lao Gieng Island via sampan and local motor cart. Your Guided Excursion starts with a stop at one of Vietnam’s oldest Catholic churches. Then, visit the home of a local family that makes Vietnamese conical hats, or “Non la,” from materials available to them such as palm leaves and bamboo. These iconic hats are primarily used as protection from the sun and rain but you may also see them used as a basket to carry home goods from the market. Lastly, visit a local workshop where a skilled family hand-crafts sampan boats.EVENING CRUISE TO BEN TRE(B,L,D)
Day 7
BEN TRE Sweets and Sampans DISCOVERY Board a sampan this morning to Visit a Local Workshop in Ben Tre to see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candies are made. Continue on to a local garden, where several types of fruit indigenous to the area are grown. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City.AFTERNOON CRUISE TO HO CHI MINH CITY(B,L,D)
Day 8
HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION) Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Day 1 Phnom Penh
Arrive and welcome at Phnom Penh Airport. Check in at the hotel. The balance of day is at your leisure. Phnom Penh awaits you with a rich history, bustling markets, and stunning architecture.
Hotel: Palace Gate Hotel & Resort
Day 2 Phnom Penh
Today's highlights Visit Tuol Sleng - one the most tragic places in the history of Cambodia
Today start your journey with a trip to the Royal Palace. After that, travel to the countryside of Takeo to see ancient temples. Visit Ta Prohm and Yeay Peou, both built in the 12th century. Tuol Sleng, your last stop, houses a place that was once a torture center under the Khmer Rouge where thousands were imprisoned and then executed. This will be a sad but unforgettable visit.
Hotel: Palace Gate Hotel & Resort
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Phnom Penh
Today's highlights Visiting Silk Island by bicycle
Be ready for a day of activities. Take a ferry across the Mekong River to Diamond Island, pedaling through the peaceful islands with stops to visit Buddhist pagodas, local villages, and plantations. Ride your bike to Koh Dach or Silk Island. Enjoy a Cambodian lunch before cycling through the farmlands and visiting a weaving house. Here, learn how to make silk in traditional ways and about the Cambodian Krama scarf.
Hotel: Palace Gate Hotel & Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 4 Kompong Thom
Today's highlights Spider market and UNESCO heritage site of Sambor Prei Kuk
Leaving Phnom Penh for Kampong Thom, a town near the Stung Saen River. En route, stop at the notorious Skuon market, aka “Spiderville.” Buy or check out fried insects - popular snacks for all Cambodians. Tarantulas are the most common. The Sambor Prei Kuk will be your next stop. Take a walk in the serene atmosphere between more than 100 brick temples. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before being transferred to the hotel.
Hotel: Sambor Village Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Preah Vihear
Today's highlights The famous Preah Vihear temple at the border of 3 countries
Drive to Preah Vihear today to visit Prasat Preah Vihear Temple. Dating back to the 11th century, this magnificent structure is one of the best-preserved examples of Khmer architecture from the Angkor civilization. Lunch en route at a local restaurant.
Around early afternoon, you'll arrive at the temple. Climbing a series of steps to reach the very top of the beautiful, crumbling ruin, and look out across the mesmerizing land of Cambodia and Thailand. Later, get transferred to Preah Vihear Jaya Hotel and spend the night.
Hotel: Preah Vihear Jaya
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Siem Reap
Today, you’ll drive to Siem Reap. Along the way, you’ll explore ruins that are shrouded in mystery. The first one is Koh Ker, followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then, continue to Beng Mealea Temple. Many parts of Beng Mealea are consumed by jungles but hidden among the foliage are impressive carvings with scenes from Hindu mythology.
Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Siem Reap
Today's highlights Riding your bike through the small roads of Angkor complex
Hop on your bicycle and ride on roads shaded by century-old trees until you see the majestic stone gate of Angkor Thom. See Bayon Temple with its four giant stone faces, the Baphuon - a mountain temple and the Terrace of Elephant. See also the ancient Terrace of Leper King. After lunch, visit the world-famous Angkor Wat for its breathtaking architecture and stone carvings. Finish your temple visit at Ta Prohm.
Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Siem Reap
Today's highlights Explore the lesser known villages of Siem Reap by Jeep
Enjoy your morning at leisure. This afternoon, bring your curiosity as your guide will take you to the lesser-known Siem Reap on a Jeep tour. Travel the places that not many visitors know and enjoy a unique mix of local culture, village life, and lush landscapes. Your tour will end at a perfect spot in the middle of a rice field where you enjoy a cold drink as the sun sets over the paddy.
Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Siem Reap
This morning, drive to Phnom Kulen National Park. Your curious soul will be in awe with the 'River of a 1000 Lingas' carved out of the river bed as a tribute to Lord Shiva. Next, visit a Buddha monastery that houses a large reclining sandstone Buddha and a beautiful 65.6-feet waterfall. Continue your hike on a jungle trail where and learn about the rich flora and fauna of the area. After lunch, take your time to enjoy the surrounding nature.
Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Siem Reap
Today is free until the right time, your guide will escort you to the airport for your departure flight back home.
Hotel: Anantara Angkor Resort
Meals: Breakfast
