Welcome to Siem Reap, Cambodia’s second largest city and the gateway to one of South East Asia’s greatest ancient wonders; the incredible Temples of Angkor.

You will be met at the airport and transferred to your chosen Siem Reap hotel for a two night stay. You have the rest of the day at leisure, to relax by the pool after your flight, or explore the local area, perhaps visiting the impressive Wat Damnak temple, or picking up anything you forgot to pack at the Old Market.

Your chosen Siem Reap hotel

Breakfast

Ensure to have a hearty breakfast this morning, as you have a busy day ahead! You’ll be collected at your hotel around 08:00 for the short drive to Angkor Thom, where you’ll start your tour of the wonderous Temples of Angkor.

Angkor Thom translates into English as the ‘Great City’. Built in the late 12th Century, it was centre of Jayavarman VII’s empire. You’ll see the Elephant Terrace, the pyramid temple Bayon and 54 stone figures from Hindu mythology that line the causeway to the South Gate.

Next you’ll visit the temples of Ta Phrom, now interwound by the roots of tropical trees, before enjoying a whole afternoon exploring the famed Angkor Wat.

On the temples, towers and terraces of the Khmer empire’s most important religious site are carved over 1,700 apsaras and devatas (celestial dancers and guardians). You’ll have no doubt seen photos, but to witness the sunset at Angkor Wat tonight will be a moment you’ll never forget.

Your chosen Siem Reap hotel

Breakfast

Check out of your hotel and transfer by coach from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham where your luxury riverboat, the Jayavarman, will be waiting for the beginning of your seven night Mekong River cruise.

Upon boarding, the crew will guide you to your stateroom providing a short briefing on the cabin’s facilities. After spending some time to settle in, lunch awaits in the ship’s restaurant, followed by a welcome and safety briefing in the lobby by the cruise director.

As the afternoon unfolds, sailing with the flow of the Mekong River, you can enjoy time on the deck. In the evening the cruise director invites you to a sunset event with canapés and prosecco, where you can socialise with fellow passengers. After officially kicking off your journey, dinner is served. Later that evening why not join the cinema in the climatised indoor lounge for some movie magic.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Early risers may like to try some Tai Chi on the sun deck as the ship sails towards the village of Angkor Ban.

This enchanting locall village features a monastery where you will have the chance to meet monks during their morning class and engage in friendly conversation with the villagers.

Today’s optional culinary excursion involves preparing a century-old soup recipe called ‘Samlor Korko’. This fish soup dish is made with vegetables, spices, herbs and roasted rice and is accompanied by a duck egg omelette.

Back on board, enjoy the views as you sail downstream towards Phnom Penh. Before you arrive at Cambodia’s capital, a stop is made at a small silk weaving community, Prek Bangkong. You will have the opportunity to closely observe and learn about this intricate process.

The rest of the day is free for you to spend as you wish.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Today the tour begins with a visit to Kampong Laeang. Once ashore, travel by tuk-tuk to discover this pottery making village, including a visit to a charming pre-Angkorian temple.

Today’s optional culinary themed excursion is a cooking demonstration on the famous snack called ‘Nom Kruak’ which is a kind of cake made from white or brown rice.

Back on the ship, lunch can be enjoyed along with the spectacular views of the Tonle River, as the ship sails south to Kampong Tralach. An afternoon tea is served at the bar before you continue with another excursion.

Later embark on an exciting journey to a small village by ox-cart, where you will travel through winding back roads, flanked by picturesque rice paddies. Here, you will have the opportunity to learn about a local NGO school and library project.

That evening the ship sets sail again down the Tonle River before reaching Phnom Penh.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Welcome to Phnom Penh, a city once renowned as the ‘Paris of the East’. Today’s full sightseeing tour begins right after breakfast, allowing you to explore the city’s highlights. Enjoy a cyclo ride to the Royal Palace and the silver pagoda. followed by a visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum where you will learn about the poignant and dark chapter in Cambodia’s history during the Khmer Rouge regime.

To cap off this eventful day, you’ll indulge in a delightful open-air barbecue and gala dinner accompanied by a classic Apsara dance performance. Afterward, feel free to explore the city at night, savouring Phnom Penh’s vibrant nightlife or taking in the lively river promenade.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After breakfast, join a captivating talk held by a former prisoner at Tuol Sleng prison, who will recount their harrowing time during the Khmer Rouge period, giving guests the opportunity to ask questions.

Once the ship departs, the rest of the day is at leisure, where you might choose to enjoy a spa treatment, relax on the terrace deck or your own private balcony. Whilst you enjoy afternoon tea, the ship approaches the border to arrive in Vietnam. From here you continue sailing into the heart of the bustling Mekong delta mooring near Gieng Island.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

After an optional morning Tai Chi session and a delightful breakfast a visit will be made to Gieng Island, also known locally as Mango Island. Here you will explore a small incense workshop and traditional boat-building workshop to experience what local life is like on the Mekong. Before departing, taste some of the delicious mangoes with a local tea in the courtyard of a century-old local home.

Conclude your mornings excursion with another optional culinary twist. Prepare with a local family an authentic ‘Banh In’, a sweet treat made from rice flour and sugar, served with jasmine tea.

After lunch the ship continues to My An Hung Village, a wonderful example of a Mekong Delta village. Enjoy tea tasting at a local family’s house, where you will also learn about a variety of fruits that are grown locally.

Back on board, as the ship sails onwards, a complimentary cocktail hour is served before dinner accompanied by music.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wake early to embrace the stunning dawn scenery, a time when the Delta’s inhabitants have already been active for hours. After breakfast head by local boat to one of the larger islands on the Mekong known as Binh Thanh, where several communities sustain themselves by cultivating water hyacinths.

During a visit to a workshop in the town of Cai Be, you’ll have the opportunity to observe the production of rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine and coconut candies. After the workshop, you’ll head to Tan Phong Island where you’ll ride by buggy through the island to a family house where they specialize in weaving water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts by hand.

Continue by buggy to another local family who will demonstrate the art of making traditional Jackfruit Leaf Cakes; all the way from picking fresh leaves and extracting their juice, to shaping and steaming the cakes in their casings.

Once everyone is back on board, the ship makes its final journey to My Tho.

Your chosen cabin

Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Bid your fellow passengers and the crew of your Mekong River cruise farewell as your boat moors at My Tho, where your transfer to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) will be waiting.

Check in to your chosen Ho Chi Minh City hotel then enjoy an afternoon at leisure. A stroll through Ben Thanh Market is always fun. It’s great for souvenirs, as well as traditional Vietnamese clothing, sweats, herbs and spices. There are a number of food stalls and eateries for a delicious local dinner.

Your chosen Ho Chi Minh hotel

Breakfast

On today’s guided tour of Ho Chi Minh City you’ll visit the underground war bunker at the Reunification Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, iconic Saigon Central Post Office, and the grand Ho Chi Minh City Hall.

You’ll then have time at the impactful War Remnants Museum, which recounts the devastation of the American/Vietnam War from a Vietnamese perspective.

Lastly, you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city from the Saigon Skydeck on the 49th floor of the Bitexco Financial Tower.

If you would also like to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels please let your Travel Consultant know. This can be incorporated into your tour.

Your chosen Ho Chi Minh City hotel

Breakfast

It’s beach time! After breakfast, you’ll be met at your hotel for around a 3 hour drive to your chosen beach resort in Mui Ne, on Vietnam’s sun-kissed southern coast.

The next few days are yours to do as much or as little as you please. You can slip between the swimming pool and the sea, or explore the Sahara-esque sand dunes just north of the town.

In the evenings, there are a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from. Make sure to try the local seafood, it’ll probably have been caught that afternoon!

Your chosen Mui Ne hotel

Breakfast

Gaze out over the sea once more this morning before your transfer to the airport in Ho Chi Minh City for your flight home, on which you can scroll through the thousands of photos you’ve taken on your Mekong cruise holiday!

Breakfast