Kratie and the Mekong Beyond
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Kratie and the Mekong Beyond
Into Lost Cambodia - Ten Nights Upstream on the RV Tonle Pandaw
If you would like to know more information about the river stops in this itinerary, please click on the underlined destinations.
31 October 2010: Saigon / My Tho / Cai Be
Transfer from the Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon to the port of My Tho by coach to embark cruise.
1 November 2010: 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'.
2 November 2010: 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.
3 November 2010: 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 (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.
4 November 2010: 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 many fishtraps may be seen.
5 November 2010: 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.
6 November 2010: Wat Hanchey / Kampong Cham Area
Passengers visit the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey in the morning. In the afternoon, passengers will travel by bus to visit the Twin Holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey (Man and Woman Hill). Continuation to the ecotourism village of Choeungkok supported by the Frech-Cambodian NGO Amica and the Pandaw-supported Kampong Cham orphanage.
7 November 2010: Kampong Cham / Kratie
Cruising the day from Kampong Cham to Kratie.
8 November 2010: Kratie and the Dolphin Sanctuary / Pnom Sambok
We will travel by coach and transfer to boat to WWF protected area where we hope to see the rare river dolphins. The river here is rocky and not navigable for larger vessels. On the way back to ship, passengers will visit Pnom Sambok . Here passengers will visit a variety of small wats, monasteries and pagodas at the top of the hill and experience a wonderful view over the mekong and surrounding areas. In the afternoon, there will be free time to explore the town of Kratie, another remnant of French colonialism.
9 November 2010: Chhlong / Kampong Cham
In the morning, passengers will visit the somewhat dilapidated French colonial town of Chhlong, once the centre of the coffee and tea trade. This is a great little place to potter around and enjoy some of the amazing old colonial houses.
10 November 2010: 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 around 12pm.
Cruise Price Includes: Entrance fees, guide services (English language), gratuities to crew, main meals, locally made soft and alcoholic beverages, jugged coffee and selection of teas and tisanes, mineral water. Transfers between the meeting point (In Saigon: Hotel Sofitel Plaza - In Siem Reap: Elephant Bar at the Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor) and the ship at the start and end of a voyage.
Cruise Price Excludes: International flights, port dues, airport transfers, laundry, all visa costs, fuel surcharges (see terms and conditions), imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs, fancy soft drinks like Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos at bar.
River Conditions Warning!
The rivers you will sail on are subject to seasonal rises and falls of water level, in some places as much as 30 metres. Water levels can change dramatically overnight and a sudden rise can impede our progress upstream considerably and even prevent us from passing under certain bridges. A sudden fall can result in our being unable to get into certain places or go as far upstream as we would hope. Groundings on sandbars are not infrequent and are part of the excitement of any Pandaw expedition. Published itineraries are indicational only and subject to sudden change. In such events alternative itineraries will be provided and we do our best to ensure that if a stop is missed we make up for it with another stop. Passengers are thus forewarned and expected to be flexible and patient. River cruising in Asia can be a dramatic and adventurous experience - not like cruising the controlled waterways of Europe or America. Note also that we operate in areas with little or no developed infrastructure and subject to the strictures of local officialdom. Be prepared for this and it is all more the fun!
Registration Details
Registration is at 0830
Hotel Sofitel Plaza Saigon
17 Le Duan Boulevard
District 1
Ph +84 8 38241555
Additional Details
*In Phnom Penh large groups may request a conventional guide and coach if required*