Compare Mekong Discovery – Cruise Only Southbound by Avalon Waterways vs Best of Cambodia: Siem Reap & Phnom Penh by Odynovo
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 3,889 | $ 968 |
| Price Per Day | $ 486 | $ 161 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | River cruise | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | N/A | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
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| 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 6-day itinerary will take you to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, allowing you to see the magnificent old culture and rural way of life that can be found in Cambodia. Your first stop is Siem Reap, where you may learn about the history of Angkor Wat from the perspective of a private guide, marvel at the Ta Prohm Temple, which is encircled by the tangled roots of mighty trees, and take a boat tour of the Tonle Sap Lake. Following that, you will head to Phnom Penh, where you will go to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and see the traditional Khmer architecture that can be found in the Royal Palace. |
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 Arrival, Siem Reap
Overnight: Siem Reap
Welcome to Siem Reap, Cambodia! Upon arrival at the airport, your guide will greet you with a warm welcoming smile and then transfer you to the hotel for check-in. The rest of today is free to relax or explore at your own leisure.
Day 2 Siem Reap
Overnight: Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, you will have an eye-opening adventure in Angkor Thom. Passing through the south gate, you will arrive at Bayon Temple, renowned for the smiling Buddha faces at the top of the towers. Close by is Elephant Terrace, highlighted by exquisite bas-reliefs showing a parade of elephants and other beasts. Continue on to Angkor Wat Temple, the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture. Finally, go on to Bakheng Temple for the fantastic sunset view of the distant Angkor Wat in the jungle.
Day 3 Siem Reap
Overnight: Siem Reap
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Wake up early for a stunning sunrise view of Angkor Wat. You can have breakfast at the hotel or takeout is available. Then, set off to visit Banteay Srei Temple, which is praised as the "jewel of Khmer art" for its miniature scale, elaborate bas-reliefs and built of red sandstone. En route, you will stop at some local villages to get close to the local daily life of villagers. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue your visit to Ta Prohm Temple, where stone pillars and carvings intertwine with massive tree roots and jungle. Before retiring to your hotel, make a final stop at Ta Keo Temple.
Day 4 Siem Reap - Phnom Penh
Overnight: Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, you will enjoy a countryside tour at Khmer Village with picturesque rice fields and palm trees. After that, hop aboard a boat for a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Take in natural beauty and get close to the local life of floating villages. After lunch, if time allows, you will have a chance to visit Artisans D' Angkor and Old Market before your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
Day 5 Phnom Penh
Overnight: Phnom Penh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, you will explore the famous Royal Palace, followed by a stroll around Silver Pagoda, the best part of the Palace. Next, walk into the nearby National Museum. The day continues with a visit to Wat Phnom, admiring stunning views from the top. Later, learn about the memories of the infamous Khmer Rouge at Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields of Choeung EK.
Day 6 Phnom Penh, Departure
Meal: Breakfast
This morning is at leisure before your guide transfers you to the airport for your flight back home.
