DETAILED PROGRAMME

 

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

Day 1: Saigon - My Tho - Cai Be
Transfer from the Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon to the port of My Tho by coach to embark cruise.

Day 2: Cai Be - Sa Dec - Cu Lao Gien
In the morning passengers will take an exciting Sampan boat excursion to Sa Dec via Vinh Long, along canals and backwaters. Passengers will visit Cai Be and its colorful floating market and Sa De to see the local market and the ancient house of Mr, Huyn Thuy Le, the 'lover' of Marguerite Duras, a famous french novelist. In the afternoon, we visit Cu Lao Gien island and a Catholic monastery called 'La Providence'.

Day 3: Chau Doc - Border Crossing
Visit a Cham tribal village, a cat fish farm, and enjoy a trishaw ride round Chau Doc. Return to the ship by boat for lunch and cast off for the Cambodian border for the usual formalities.

Day 4: Phnom Penh
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 (http://www.cyclo.org.uk/).
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 5: Tonle River - Kampong Chhnang
Excursion up the Tonle River to Kampong Chhnang either by ship or by coach depending on the 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.

Day 6: Cruising the Mekong River
We stop at the little-known Chong Koh silk-weaving village for a morning walk at leisure. In the afternoon we stop at Peam Chi Kang village to visit the wat or monastery and school. In the wat the splendid village racing boats are stored.

Day 7: Wat Hanchey - Chhlong
Passengers visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey in the morning. In the afternoon, you 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 potter around and enjoy some of the amazing old colonial houses.

Day 8: Kratie and the Dolphin Sanctuary
We travel by our expedition boat to this WWF protected area where we hope to see the rare river dolphins. The river here is rocky and not navigable for larger vessels. In the afternoon, there will be free time to explore the town of Kratie, another remnant of French colonialism.

Day 9: Sam Bor
Morning excursion by local bus to visit these important pre-Angkorian temples situated about 40km north of Kratie. Afternoon cruising downstream.

Day 10: Kampong Cham Area

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.

Day 11: Transfer to Siem Reap
Early morning coach transfer to the Raffles Hotel D'Angkor in Siem Reap, stopping at Kampong Thom for a picnic lunch. Arrive at Siem Reap mid afternoon.