12 Day Saigon To Siem Reap Aboard The Jahan Cruise
Bid farewell to the hustle and bustle of Saigon as we travel 70 kilometers south by land to My Tho to embark your boutique ship RV Heritage Line. We will be served refreshing drinks and light lunch as the Ship steadily glides along the Mekong. We will bathe in the fading sunset on the balcony followed by a briefing at the lounge. Later, a welcome dinner awaits us. When approaching Cai Be, the Ship drops anchor midstream. Tai Chi lesson on the Sundeck. Visit Cai Be’s boisterous and colorful floating market on a traditional sampan (a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat). The cruise will halt intermittently to allow us to observe how rice paste, rice paper, rice cookies, rice pop, rice wine and coconut candies are made, enjoy local life along the canals on the way back to the Ship for lunch. In the afternoon, we cruise to Sa Dec. Upon arrival, we embark a traditional sampan to tour Binh Thanh Island to visit an untouchable village. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. The Ship will moor midstream overnight near Tan Chau. Brace yourself for a short excursion in Tan Chau, a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer community. Firstly, the journey takes you to the “evergreen” islands where you will be thrilled to learn the life of the locals. We stop to visit a fish farm located in the Tan Chau canal. You continue by boat to Tan Chau pier, disembark here and stroll around this colorful local market with lots of regional products. Sightseeing in the morning will include the Killing Field outside town. Visit the Genocide Museum, see the dazzling white and gold edifice of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and witness exceptionally beautiful Khmer craft at the National Museum. We go back to the Ship by “cyclo” – traditional vehicle after our museum visit. The evening starts with a comprehensive lecture on Cambodia’s modern history. BBQ dinner is served right after the lecture. Apsara dance performance. We will depart before the break of dawn from Phnom Penh with a stop at the little known Silk island community. We will then return to the Ship and pass by the Mekong’s tranquil villages, exhilarating river life and sun-hardened fishermen on their shift boats. We will tour the rural Angkor Ban village where time stand still. We are transported back a hundred years into an era unaffected by modernity. The houses here are truly rustic, made by hand and without any concrete. But most of all, we feel overwhelmed by the unbridled warmth of the villagers. Travelers can take part in the daily activities of the villagers to experience village life first hand. Then, we are back to the Ship to cruise towards Kampong Cham. We will wake up in the early morning, truly energized to embark on a land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Travelers either take a motor-taxi or climb 303 steps to the top. We even get to engage in light banter with some of the monks in the area. We will return to the Ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks. Lunch on board. We will then cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a Wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple which holds a timeless story. Visit OBT project of Heritage Line and organization for Basic Training. We approach Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s “Water World” where everything is on stilts balanced on water rich soil– it’s an awesome sight whilst practicing Tai Chi on the deck. Here we take a minivan to see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. Then, it is back to the river for an adventurous motorboat excursion to the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region. The village has no electricity and has around 600 inhabitants. We then return to the Ship for lunch while cruising the narrow and meandering Tonle Sap River. In the evening, a sumptuous spread will be served. And for the big entertainment – bring along your dance shoes and learn to jiggle the Cambodian way with our staff doubling up as dance instructors The Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. Enjoy the stillness of the water and the quiet tranquility on the way to Siem Reap. The water level varies a great deal according to the time of the year and the amount of rainfall recorded. Thus, minor changes to the itinerary may occur during different seasons. Our Heritage Line cruise liner comes to an end as we reach this city of the fabled Angkor temple complex. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to an end. But the memories and the friendships made on board linger on for a lot longer. We will cross the Tonle Lake at dawn and at 09:00am, we will disembark at the Siem Reap Port for onward coach transfer to the drop off at a 5-star hotel in the city. Breakfast at the hotel and you will start early and see Angkor Wat at its best, with your expert guide taking you through the lesser-known routes. Your tour continues to Ta Prohm and Ta Keo. Enjoy lunch before continuing on to the intricate sandstone temple at Banteay Srei. On the return journey you’ll encounter the magnificent lion and naga statues at the Banteay Samre temple. In the afternoon, after lunch travel to the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom, through the parkland behind the Terrace of the Elephants. Walk past Phimeanakas and the Baphuon temple before ending at Bayon. Return to the hotel and tonight you will stay at hotel in Siem Reap. Breakfast at the hotel and at 04:00 pm, we start explore the real Cambodia with our jeep. From the lush countryside to isolated villages, let us take you out for unforgettable memories!! Strikingly beautiful view of the rice fields in the villages and At the end of the day, Enjoy very beautiful sunset over the rice paddies. Back to the hotel and you will enjoy your evening at leisure. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap Your Cambodia tour is coming to the end, enjoy your free day in the swimming pool or do something you want to make your holiday unforgettable. Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap. Breakfast at the hotel and bid farewell to Siem Reap and Cambodia today as you are met by your driver and will be taken to the airport for your onward flight to next destination. End of service.
