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Day
3: Tonle Sap
(L,D)
The great lake dominates Cambodia and is over 150 Km in length.
Here bird life is profuse, and from the middle of the lake one
cannot even see the shores. There is a great stillness and
tranquillity as we pass floating fishing villages. Because of
seasonal high winds and varying water levels, we will start our
journey one of the following ways:
1.
High water, approximately July - November. At 1200 REGISTER at
ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL to transfer to the ship at Siem Reap Port.
lunch at 1330. At 1500 we take a motor boat excursion to the
floating villages of Tonle Sap. Moor overnight on the lake.
2.
Low water, approximately November -March. At 1200 REGISTER at
ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL to transfer by coach to Siem Reap Port,
enjoying a picnic lunch on board a speed boat while crossing the
great Tonle Lake. Mid-afternoon board the ship at mouth of Tonle
River and cruise to Kampong Chhnang for overnight mooring.
3.
No water, possibly late-March to July. At 1200 REGISTER ANGKOR
CENTURY HOTEL in Siem Reap by coach stopping for sight seeing at
Angkor Thom and Prem Srei Kuk temples. Packed lunch provided with
refreshments and embark the ship at Phumi Prek Chik Village in
early evening on the Tonle River, cruising to Kampong Chhnang for
overnight.
IN ALL SITUATIONS
THE SERVICE COMMENCES AT ANGKOR CENTURY HOTEL 1200
Day
2 : Kampong Chhnang
(B,L,D)
Low and No Water: This is a busy rural port town with bustling
markets. Mooring mid-stream, we make a truly wonderful motor boat
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 the great fish traps, some half a
kilometre long, which net a huge tonnage of fish after each
monsoon as the fish migrate from the falling lake into the Tonle
River. We touch the capital Phnom Penh in the afternoon to change
pilots and enter the Upper Mekong bound for Kampong Cham and stop
for an afternoon walk at the village of Peam Chikang.
High Water: we cruise from 0400 across the great Tonle Lake with a
brief morning stop at Kampong Chhanang and then cruise all day
passing Phnom Penh to enter the Mekong River and proceed upstream.
Day
3 : Kampong Cham
(B,L,D)
We continue upstream past Kampong Cham for a morning walk up the
Wat Hanchai hill with its ancient Cham shrines. Cruise through
lunch and in afternoon travel by minivan (not always
airconditioned) to the 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor
and the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, or Man
and Woman Hills. Late afternoon departure from Kampong Cham
heading for Phnom Penh. Overnight mid-steam.
Day
4 : Phnom Penh
(B,L,D)
The capital of Cambodia retains its French charm. The old colonial
architecture makes an attractive backdrop to busy cafes, and the
renovated river "corniche" is full of life. The city has several
impressive wats, including Wat Ounalom, Wat Phnom and the
newly-painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the spectacular
Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where artefacts
embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were
preserved by the Khmer Rouge. The National Museum is another
highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer crafts. An afternoon
excursion is arranged to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s
grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre situated in the suburbs of
the city. More happily, Phnom Penh has a lively night life, and
some passengers choose to dine ashore or try one of the capital’s
many watering holes; a favourite being the Foreign Correspondents’
Club.
Day
5 : Cruising the Mekong / Border crossing
(B,L,D)
We cast off for a day cruising the main Mekong channel, an
international shipping route. Today we will stop for a jungle
village walk to visit fruit orchards, and then set off for the
Vietnamese border for the usual formalities, which in this part of
the world, take time. Overnight mid-stream.
Day
6 : Chau Doc
(B,L,D)
We travel from the main Mekong channel at Tan Chau down the canals
and backwaters by local ferry boat. At Chau Doc we visit a Cham
tribal village and a cat fish farm. We make a trishaw ride round
this fascinating town of fine French-colonial buildings and
bustling market. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off
for Cai Bei.
Day
7 : Cai Be
(B,L,D)
We take a morning junk trip to Dong Hoa Hiep Island to Cai Be to
see a floating market, and go ashore to visit the French Gothic
Cathedral and colourful port area, with its colonial buildings,
delightful flower gardens and local coconut candy and rice paper
manufacturers. We explore evergreen islands and visit the former
Imperial residence the An Kiet House, where surviving members of
the Kiet family will welcome us with tea, and we can wander in the
fruit orchards around the house. In the afternoon we continue our
sightseeing by traditional junk to Vinh Long to visit the Bonsai
Gardens and see boat yards, brick works and traditional roofers.
We rejoin the Pandaw and cruise past Vinh Long City and the
Evergreen Islands. Overnight moor mid-stream Cai Be.
Day
8 : My Tho / Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
(B)
Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where we disembark for
coach transportation to the Renaissance Riverside Hotel, Ho Chi
Minh City |
