HIGH WATER CRUISE ITINERARY from July to November

Day 1: Embarkation - Siem Reap - Kampong Chhnang

Register between 11:00 - 12:00 at Le Meridien Angkor. Transfer by coach to the jetty and take a 30-minute motorboat to Indochina Sails’ ship, passing floating fishing villages from Siem Reap through Tonle Sap Lake. Embark the ship 13:00. Welcome drink served in Saigon Lounge. Attend a short briefing followed by a lunch served in Mekong restaurant at 13:30. Captain raises the anchor and cruises towards Kampong Chhnang.  The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 km in length. Along the way, enjoy a scenic view of the wild lives while passing through inspirational floating villages. Join the Cruise Director at Saigon Lounge for safety demonstration and briefing at 18:00. Enjoy Captain’s Cocktails afterwards and adjourn to the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers. The boat moors overnight on Tonle Sap Lake.

Day 2: Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Tralach – Oudong

Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets. Mooring mid-stream, take a truly wonderful motorboat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife may be seen, and of considerable interest are local life and floating village. Return to the boat and cast off towards Kampong Tralach. Attend lecture on “Cambodia - The Past & Present” in Saigon Lounge. The boat moors at Kampong Tralach. Today’s afternoon tour starts with a 20-minute ox-cart ride from the riverbanks. Traveling through countryside and a small village on a dusty road, past rice fields and bemused locals. End the ox-cart ride at the beautiful Vihara belonging to Wat Kapong Tralach Pleu. Visit pagodas. Embark coach and travel 45-minute to Oudong. Between 1618 and 1866, Oudong was the capital of Cambodia, built on the top of Phnom Oudong. This hill is made up of a series of Stupas and shrines in a variety of conditions. Join the tour guides to the Buddhist monastery at the foothill. After the visit, take bus ride back to the ship at Prek K’dam, 10 km from Oudong. The ship sails towards little known village Chong Koh passing by Phnom Penh and dock midstream near Chong Koh. After dinner, catch movie “The Killing Fields” at Saigon Lounge.

Day 3: Chong Koh - Phnom Penh

After breakfast spend time in Chong Koh Silk Weaving village for a leisurely morning walk. Return to boat 10:30 and the ship sets sail toward the capital Phnom Penh. The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The city has several impressive Wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the newly painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the Royal Palace and to the spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where Khmer Rouge preserved historic Cambodian artifact. At 15:00, walking tour to Wat Phnom give an orientation of Phnom Penh’s downtown. Cocktails and briefing hour is followed by dinner. After dinner, a special Khmer folk performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

A busy day with many interesting sightseeing and activities. In the morning, sightsee Phnom Penh by bus. Visit Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum where outstanding Khmer crafts are exhibited. Afternoon excursion facilitates understanding of a crucial part of the Cambodia’s history: the Khmer Rouge’s grim Toul Sleng (S21 detention center) and the Killing Fields. (For a free and easy afternoon, please inform Ship Purser). Cocktail hours from 18:30 to 19:30. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, join the Khmer folk dances and songs at the Saigon Lounge. Before midnight, opt to chill in one the bars located across the road from the pier.

Day 5: Phnom Penh - Border Crossing - Tan Chau

Enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ship departs for border. Cast off for a day cruising the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Join the lecture on board on “Indochina - The Past & Present”. In the afternoon Fruits carving and Vietnamese fresh spring rolls demonstration by our Executive Chef at Saigon Lounge, while the border formalities are carried out. Arrive in Tan Chau - the first Vietnamese town on the Mekong River. Enjoy folk performance of the Mekong Delta songs and music in Saigon Lounge. The boat moors safely at the riverbanks.  Optional: Take shuttle boat ashore and enjoy a pleasant walk in peaceful town Tan Chau.

Day 6: Tan Chau - Sadec

Today’s highlight is a visit of Tan Chau - a small town untouched by tourism. Morning excursion start with sightseeing by local boats, navigating narrow channels to visit an evergreen island. Chance to visit floating fish farm and travel along the tiny tributaries where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on each other. Afterwards, go ashore and tour the town on rickshaw (Xe Loi). Visit rattan mats and slippers making factories. In the afternoon, cruise downstream to Sa Dec. Join the lecture on-board theme “Vietnam - The Past & Present”. The ship arrives in Sadec during dinner time and moors midstream overnight. Cocktails and briefing at Saigon Lounge. After dinner, watch in-house movie “The Lover” in the cabin or join the crew show at the lounge.

Day 7: Sadec - Cai Be

After the breakfast follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, Sadec, a quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s, partake in the bantering of local markets along the paved river banks, pagoda and the Fujian Temple, build and donated to the city by Le’s family. Pass by the homes of Marguerite Duras from across the riverbanks. In the afternoon, take a local boat for the afternoon excursion to Cai Be. Go ashore to visit the French Gothic Cathedral and colorful port area, with its colonial buildings, delightful flower gardens. Explore the island, visit Mr. Kiet’s house and aquaint with the life in the Mekong delta. Return to the boat for preparation for farewell cocktails.

Day 8: Disembarkation - My Tho - Saigon

After breakfast bid farewell to crew and disembark at My Tho Port at 08:30. Take 2 hours bus drive to Saigon. Arrive at Sofitel Plaza Saigon around 10:30.

LOW WATER CRUISE ITINERARY in December, January, February and June

From approximately December to June, water level in Tonle Sap Lake is shallow restricting the boat’s access through Kampong Chhnang, the only waterway to the Tonle Sap Lake. Hence, alternative route from Prek K’dam to Siem Reap is arranged. Stop enroute for lunch. The program changes for DAY 1 only. DAY 2 to DAY 8 remains unchanged.

Day 1: Embarkation - Siem Reap - Prek K’dam

Embark the ship at Prek Kdam. Register between 11:00 - 12:00 at Le Meridien Angkor. At 12:00, transfer by coach to Prek K’dam with a stop en route at Kampong Thom mid afternoon. The coach rides take approximately about 4½  hour. Scheduled time of embarkation is 17:00. Embark the ship at 17:30. Short briefing and welcome drink served in Saigon Lounge. Cabins are ready for check-in after road trip. Captain raises the anchor and cruises towards Kampong Tralach. Join the Welcome Cocktails at Saigon Lounge and briefing at 19:00. Enjoy the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers at 19:30. Pianist entertains from 21:00 to 23:00 in Saigon Lounge. Moor midstream overnight.

 
LOW WATER CRUISE ITINERARY in March and April

In March and April, due to extreme high heat index and extremely shallow water levels in Cambodia, visits to Kampong Chhnang is replaced by a visit to historic site of Xeo Quyt, a Viet Cong stronghold during Vietnam War. The changes means increasing one day in Vietnam and corresponding reduces the cruise program in Cambodia by one day.

Day 1: Embarkation - Siem Reap - Prek K’dam

Embark the ship at Prek Kdam. Register between 11:00 - 12:00 at Le Meridien Angkor. At 12:00, transfer by coach to Prek K’dam with a stop en route at Kampong Thom mid afternoon. The coach rides take approximately about 4 ½  hours. Scheduled time of embarkation is 17:00. Embark the ship at 17:30. Short briefing and welcome drink served in Saigon Lounge. Cabins are ready for check-in after road trip. Captain raises the anchor and cruises towards Kampong Tralach. Join the Welcome Cocktails at Saigon Lounge and briefing at 19:00. Enjoy the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers at 19:30. Pianist entertains from 21:00 to 23:00 in Saigon Lounge. Moor midstream overnight.

Day 2: Kampong Tralach - Oudong - Phnom Penh

The ship moors at Kampong Tralach. Breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30 tour starts with a 20-minute ox-cart ride from the riverbanks. Traveling through countryside and a small village on a dusty road, pass rice fields and bemused locals. End the ox-cart ride at the beautiful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu. Visit to pagodas. The buses awaits and travel about 45 minutes to Oudong. Between 1618 and 1866 Oudong was the capital of Cambodia, built on the top of Phnom Oudong. This hill is made up of a series of stupas and shrines in a variety of conditions. Join the tour guides to the Buddhist monastery at the foothill. After the visit take a bus ride back to our ship at Prek K’dam, 10 km from Oudong. The ship sets sails to Phnom Penh while lunch is served. At 15:00 a walking tour to Wat Phnom gives an orientation of Phnom Penh’s city center. Cocktails hour followed by a dinner. After dinner, a special Khmer folk performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge. The performance will starts at 21:15 and ends at 22:00.

Day 3: Phnom Penh

A busy day with many interesting sightseeing and activities. In the morning, sightsee Phnom Penh by bus. Visit Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum where outstanding Khmer crafts are exhibited. Afternoon excursion facilitates understanding of a crucial part of the Cambodia’s history: the Khmer Rouge’s grim Toul Sleng (S21 detention center) and the Killing Fields. (For a free and easy afternoon, please inform Ship Purser). Cocktail hours from 18:30 to 19:30. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, join the Khmer folk dances and songs at the Saigon Lounge. Before midnight, opt to chill in one the bars located across the road from the pier.

Day 4: Phnom Penh - Border Crossing - Tan Chau

Enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ship departs for border. Cast off for a day cruising the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. Join the lecture on board on “Indochina - The Past & Present”. In the afternoon Fruits carving and Vietnamese fresh spring rolls demonstration by the Executive Chef at Saigon Lounge, while the usual border formalities are going on. Arrive in Tan Chau - the first Vietnamese town on the Mekong River. Join the Crew Show in Saigon Lounge. The ship moors safely at the riverbanks. Optional: Take a shuttle boat ashore and have a pleasant walk in peaceful town Tan Chau.

Day 5: Tan Chau - Sadec

Today will truly be a highlight with a visit of Tan Chau - a small town untouched by tourism. Morning excursion will be really interesting, start with a sightseeing by local boats, navigating narrow channels to visit an evergreen island. Chance to visit floating fish farm and travel along the tiny tributaries where slit houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Then go ashore and have a tour around the town on rickshaw (Xe Loi). Then visit a rattan mats and slippers making factories. In the afternoon, cruise downstream to Sa Dec. Join the lecture on-board theme “Vietnam - The Past & Present”. The ship arrives in Sadec during dinner time and moors midstream for overnight. After dinner watch in-house movie “The Lover” at the cabin or enjoy piano play at the lounge.

Day 6: Sadec – Vinh Long

After the breakfast follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, Sadec, a quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s, partake in the bantering of local markets along the paved river banks, pagoda and the Fujian Temple, build and donated to the city by Le’s family. Pass by the homes of Marguerite Duras from across the riverbanks. Back to the boat at 12:00. Lunch served from 12:30 to 14:00 while the ship sails toward Vinh Long - Vietnam second biggest city by the Mekong river. Visit the bustling afternoon market. Again, a visually stunning boat ride and walking through the market, where all manner of aquatic life were being sold, as well as a lot of everything else edible and imaginable. Cocktails and briefing from 18:30. After dinner folk performance of the Mekong Delta from 21:00 to 21:45 in Saigon Lounge.

Day 7: Cai Be - Xeo Quyt

The first destination for today’s excursions is Xeo Quyt - a Vietnamese historic relic zone. Before getting ashore, chance to explore the hidden treasures through the canals, banter with floating markets vendors by local boats. Then, take a 1 hour trip by air-conditioned coach to get to this site. This was formerly a base during the anti-French and US resistance wars. The 20ha cajuput forest of present-day Xeo Quyt has been reclaimed and become an attractive historical and ecological tourist site in the southern delta. Afternoon excursion will be a sight-seeing in Cai Be, visit a traditional candy making factory, rice paper mills and Mr Kiet’s ancient house. The evening is not to be missed. Please join us for the Captain farewell cocktail!

Day 8: Disembarkation - My Tho - Saigon

After breakfast bid farewells to crew and disembark at My Tho Port at 08:30. Take 2 hours bus drive to Saigon. Arrive at Sofitel Plaza Saigon around 11:00.

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  Cruise Schedule from Jun 2012 to May 2013