DETAILED PROGRAMME

 

Into Lost Cambodia - Ten Nights Upstream on the RV Tonle Pandaw

Day 1: Siem Reap - Kampong Cham
Passengers will transfer by coach from the Raffles Grand Hotel D'Angkor to Kampong Cham, stopping at Kampong Thom along the way. Passengers will visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey in the afternoon.

Day 2: Chhlong
Spend the morning cruising. In the afternoon, passengers will visit the somewhat dilapidated French colonial town of Chhlong, once the centre of the coffee and tea trade. The town boasts a pleasant hotel called 'Relais de Chhlong' where we can have afternoon tea. This is a great little place to just potter around and enjoy some of the amazing colonial houses.

Day 3: Kratie and the Doplhin Sanctuary
Travel by our expediton boat to the WWF protected area where we hope to see the rare river dolphins. The river here is rocky and not navigable by larger vessels. In the afternoon, there will be some free time to explore the town of Kratie, another remnant of French colonialism.

Day 4: Sam Bor
Morning excursion by local bus to visit these important pre-Angkorian temples situated about 40km north of Kratie. Afternoon cruising downstream.

Day 5: Kampong Cham Area
In the afternoon, travel by bus to visit a 12th century Angkorian temple called Wat Nokor, the eco village of Chenungkok and the Pandaw supported Kampong Cham orphanage.

Excursion up the Tonle River to Kampong Chhnang by either coach or the ship depending on water levels. In Kampong Chhnang passengers will take a wonderful motor boat excursion into the lakeside wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Here a stunning variety of birdlife and many fishtraps may be seen.

Passengers will visit Phnom Penh and will be provided with their own private cyclo*. The Cyclo Centre Phnom Penh which provides the cyclos is a charity that provides basic welfare and medical services to cyclo drivers

In the afternoon, optional excursion (by coach) to the Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge's grim Tuol Sleng or S21 detention centre. This tour is included in the cost of your cruise but must be requested at the time of booking in the comments box.

Day 8: Cruising the Mekong - Border Crossing
We spend the day cruising in the main Mekong channel, an international shipping route. We stop at Prek Touch, a jungle village, to visit fruit orchards, and then set off for the Vietnamese border for the usual formalities.

Day 9: Chau Doc - Cu Lao Gien
Visit a Cham tribal village, a cat fish farm, and enjoy a trishaw ride round Chau Doc. In the afternoon, visit Cu Lao Gien island and a Catholic monastery called “La Providence” built in 1875 by the French nuns of “Saint Paul de Chartres”.

Day 10: Sa Dec - Cai Be
In the morning passengers will take an exciting Sampan boat excursion to Cai Be via Vinh Long along canals and backwaters. Passengers will visit Sa Dec and see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous french novelist. At Cai Be, we will cruise through its colorful floating market which takes place daily in front of the catholic church.

Day 11: My Tho - Saigon
Early morning sail from Cai Be for My Tho, where passengers disembark in the early morning for a coach transfer to Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon. Arrive at the hotel late morning.