Luxury & Mystique on the Mekong

Saigon - Mekong / My Tho - Cai Be (L,D)

Meet at your hotel in Saigon before noon, at the reception area.
Transfer to the pier, where you will enjoy a welcome drink before boarding the luxury cruise ship.

We leave behind the bustling city of Saigon and head towards My Tho to embark on our luxurious floating home.

A buffet lunch is served in the onboard restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy some time on your private balcony while the banks of the Mekong glow beautifully in the evening light.

While enjoying dinner, the ship reaches Cai Be, a charming small town known for its French Catholic churches, traditional handicraft workshops and local food production. The floating market is becoming smaller each year due to the development of modern central markets. After dinner, head to the cinema lounge, where a selection of classic films is screened every evening.

Overnight on board near Cai Be.

Cai Be / Sa Dec and Chau Doc (B,L,D)

We begin the day as many people in Asia do when the sun rises peacefully: with a Tai Chi session. A generous buffet breakfast awaits you — a perfect way to begin this first day exploring the Mekong Delta.

The morning excursion takes us to Cai Be. Here, you can see boats moored side by side, trading local products such as fruit and vegetables. Our guide explains the unique characteristics of this long-established trading culture.

Cai Be is a rustic town located at the junction of numerous canals. We go ashore to visit a workshop where we learn how rice paste, rice paper, rice cakes and rice wine are made. Cai Be and its surroundings are covered with palm trees, and the region is also known for producing coconut candy. We continue exploring through the lush green canal network while observing farmers working in the fields.

Back on board, lunch is served. During your free time, enjoy an authentic Vietnamese coffee at the bar or simply watch daily life unfold along the riverbanks as we cruise.

We reach the Sa Dec area in the afternoon. We then take a traditional local boat towards Binh Thanh Island, one of the largest islands in the Mekong. Local communities have settled here and make a living from cultivating water hyacinths. We visit one of these preserved communities. While walking through the village, you will gain an insight into everyday life here. We meet an elderly village couple who share stories about their island and are happy to chat with us.

Back on board, you can relax at the spa, while others may prefer the swimming pool on deck. We cruise peacefully towards Chau Doc, a quiet and pleasant small town near the Cambodian border, home to Cham, Khmer and Kinh communities.

After dinner, enjoy a movie night.

Chau Doc – Phnom Penh (B,L,D)

We begin the day with a hearty breakfast.

For early risers, there is also the option of a lively boat excursion along the river to visit the floating market.

We then leave for an excursion around Chau Doc.

We take a local “xelois”, a traditional vehicle still used as a taxi in the region, to explore Chau Doc. We travel through the streets to see local workshops and houses. We stop at the colorful local market near one of the old temples, where you will have the opportunity to bargain with the friendly vendors.

Back on the local boat, we pass by the floating houses before reaching a floating fish farm. This region produces fish that is sold all over the world, and you will see how the fish are raised.

Back on our “floating home,” we cruise towards the Cambodian border.

The afternoon is dedicated simply to enjoying the cruise. A massage or some sunbathing offers the perfect opportunity to relax.

Dinner is served before arriving in the Cambodian capital at around 7:00 p.m. The ship docks along the Phnom Penh waterfront. You are free to stroll along the riverfront, watch locals chatting and selling various goods, or enjoy a beer at a nearby bar.

Overnight on board.

Phnom Penh / Cruise through the Kingdom of Cambodia (B,L,D)

We are now in Phnom Penh, once known as the “Paris of the East.” Despite its rapid development, the city has preserved much of its rustic charm and elegance. It is a fascinating city shaped by centuries of remarkable history and a culture that can be felt on every street corner.

After breakfast, we begin a comprehensive city tour. We travel by bus to visit the Killing Fields on the outskirts of the city and S21 Prison. These sites recall a tragic and brutal chapter in Khmer history, when the Khmer Rouge ruled the country through terror and force. These places have changed little since those terrible years of the 1970s, and the experience can be emotionally difficult for sensitive visitors.

Lunch is served at a pleasant restaurant in the city.

We then continue exploring Phnom Penh, focusing particularly on its cultural heritage. Highlights of the afternoon include the golden buildings of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda, and the magnificent Khmer sculptures of the National Museum.

The day ends with a bicycle ride back to the ship through the lively streets of Phnom Penh.

We then gather in the lounge for an interesting talk on Cambodia’s modern history, given by a professor from the Royal University of Phnom Penh who specializes in the subject.

After the talk, enjoy a BBQ dinner on deck. The meal is accompanied by an Apsara dance performance to the sounds of traditional music.

Overnight on board.

Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham (B,L,D)

We leave Phnom Penh before dawn and cruise upstream along the Mekong towards the small village of Angkor Ban.

Breakfast is served in the dining room.

Angkor Ban Village is famous for its well-preserved community and beautiful traditional houses. It feels as though you have been transported one hundred years back in time to an era untouched by modern development. The friendliness of the villagers is legendary.

Back on board, the crew presents a demonstration showcasing the variety of traditional Khmer clothing. Lunch is served after the presentation.

We continue cruising upstream along the Mekong to visit a local school and gain a better understanding of education for Cambodia’s younger generation. The project is funded by an NGO.

We continue by road towards the enchanting pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey dating from the 7th century. This small complex stands on top of a hill overlooking the river and offers breathtaking views of the Mekong.

Another temple along the way is the small and colorful Wat Nokor Monastery.

Relax on board until dinner is served while the ship glides along the river near Kampong Cham.

Overnight on board.

Kampong Cham (Mekong) – Kampong Chhnang / Tonle River (B,L,D)

We cruise downstream along the Mekong during breakfast and stop at Koh Oknha Tey Island, renowned for producing high-quality silk products.

By tuk-tuk, we explore the island and its workshops while learning how silk is produced.

Before lunch, our expert guides give a presentation on the “Geography of the Mekong and Tonle Sap.”

After lunch, a traditional monk blessing ceremony is held on board, offering blessings and wishes for good health and prosperity to everyone.

We continue our journey past the confluence of the Mekong River and the Tonle River, heading towards Kampong Tralach. Cruising past the lush green riverbanks of this jungle landscape, we arrive at Kampong Tralach.

Later, the ship anchors on the Tonle River near Kampong Chhnang, allowing us to observe everyday life along the nearby riverbanks until dinner is served in the onboard restaurant.

Overnight on board.

Kampong Chnang – Tonle Sap River / Floating Village (B,L,D)

It is worth waking up early to enjoy the spectacular aquatic scenery at dawn before joining the morning Tai Chi session.

A buffet breakfast is served in the restaurant.

We are now in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s “water world,” where everything seems to rest on stilts above water-rich land. This is one of the most fascinating parts of the cruise through Cambodia.

By minibus, we head towards a nearby rural village for a walking tour. Our guides introduce the village’s specialties: traditional Khmer-style pottery and palm sugar production.

Before returning to the ship, we explore the local floating villages and the surrounding wetlands.

Back on board, lunch is served while we gently cruise along the narrow and winding Tonle River, heading towards the Great Tonle Lake. The river gradually opens into a vast “sea,” considered the largest freshwater lake in Asia.

The lake can only be crossed during the high-water season, from late July to mid-November.

At sunset, our team invites us to a farewell drink.

We enjoy dinner, followed by music and dancing with the crew.

The ship continues towards a midway point near Siem Reap.

Overnight on board.

Arrival in Siem Reap - Disembarkation and Visits to the Angkor Temples (B,L)

The Tonle Sap (Great Lake) is Cambodia’s flowing heart, bringing life and livelihood to millions of people. It contains more fish than any other lake in the world and is home to an incredible variety of bird species, including rare and endangered species.

Our cruise comes to an end.

We prepare to disembark from the ship and take a local boat to the shore, passing through a vast floating community.

At around 09:00, we arrive at the Siem Reap pier, followed by a short transfer to the drop-off point in the city center.

Transfer to the hotel and check in.

Dinner at your own expense and overnight at the hotel.

Siemreap / Angkor Thom & Angkor Wat Temples (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Meet at 08:30 and depart from the hotel by tuk-tuk to explore Angkor Thom (the Great City).

Upon arrival at the South Gate of Angkor Thom, enjoy time for photographs at the entrance, featuring the famous Churning of the Sea of Milk scene.

Visit the famous Bayon Temple, with its 54 towers featuring four gigantic and enigmatic faces representing universal love, unlimited compassion, sympathy and equanimity.

Continue to Baphuon, a three-level pyramid temple that was once a major restoration project of the EFEO, followed by the Royal Palace and the Terrace of the Leper King, a platform featuring numerous remarkable carvings of apsaras.

Your visit continues along the Terrace of the Elephants, once used for royal audiences and public ceremonies.

You will also visit Ta Prohm, the famous jungle-covered temple discovered in 1860 by French explorer Henri Mouhot.

In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat Temple, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its soaring towers and unique bas-reliefs, it is one of the most extraordinary monuments ever conceived by the human mind, built in the 12th century in honor of Vishnu.

Among all the temples, Angkor Wat remains the most famous and majestic.

Dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by an Apsara dance performance.

Overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

Siemreap / Free Time - Departure (B)

Free time to prepare your luggage.

Check out and meet your driver without a guide for the direct transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your return flight.