Phnom Penh by Night
Watch the sun set and explore by tuk tuk, dining in hidden restaurants among locals before coffee on the riverfront.
Book this 10 night holiday with Steppes Travel and save upwards of $300 per person, plus $100 onboard credit (per booking) and a cabin upgrade, worth over $500 per person, subject to availability at check in*
Begin in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam before spending seven nights peacefully cruising the majestic Mekong River to the Art Deco sites of Phnom Penh in Cambodia, ending amidst the iconic temples of Angkor.
*Valid for bookings made before 15 March 2024 and travel between June and September 2024.
A cruise on the Mekong is a wonderful way to experience the rich tapestry of life running through Vietnam and Cambodia. Cruising on a small luxury ship takes it to another level. Passionate and knowledgeable guides on board offer a unique insight into river life and comfortable cabins and guest spaces ensure ever changing panoramas of the river. Beginning the holiday in Ho Chi Minh City and ending in Siem Reap also ensures a dose of city life plus the unmissable magic and mystique of Angkor.
Key Highlights of this Itinerary
Small Luxury Ship
Travel aboard a luxury, small ship with expert guides, delicious cuisine and small group sightseeing.
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River Landscapes
Cruise the Mekong soaking up pastoral landscapes, cycling, visiting floating markets and Buddhist Temples.
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Angkor temples
Explore the iconic temples of Angkor, away from the crowds with an expert guide.
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Day 1
Saigon (Board Mekong Cruise)
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Day 2
Tan Phong Island - Binh Thanh Island - Tan Chau (Mekong Cruise)
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Day 3
Tan Chau - Border crossing - Phnom Penh (Mekong Cruise)
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Day 4
Phnom Penh (Mekong Cruise)
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Day 5
Phnom Penh – Koh Chen – Kampong Laeang – Kampong Tralach (Tonle River)
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Day 6
Kampong Tralach (Tonle River) - Prek Bangkong – Angkor Ban (Mekong River)
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Day 7
Angkor Ban - Kampong Cham (Mekong Cruise)
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Day 8
Kampong Cham - Stueng Trang - Siem Reap (Shinta Mani Angkor)
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Days 9 - 10
Siem Reap (Shinta Mani Angkor)
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Day 11
Siem Reap
Day 1
Saigon (Board Mekong Cruise)
From Saigon travel 70 kilometres south over land towards My Tho to board your small ship to cruise the Mekong with expert guides, delicious cuisine and small group sightseeing. Enjoy lunch as you cruise upstream, reaching Tan Phong Island area near Cai Be by dinner to anchor for the night.
Day 2
Tan Phong Island - Binh Thanh Island - Tan Chau (Mekong Cruise)
Wake early to stunning dawn scenery and the pre dawn bustle of the local delta inhabitants. Visit the secluded island of Tan Phong by local boat and spend time with a local families, learning about daily life on the island. Afternoon arrival into Binh Thanh Island, home to several traditional communities before sailing on to Tan Chau.
Day 3
Tan Chau - Border crossing - Phnom Penh (Mekong Cruise)
Explore the vibrant town of Tan Chau by local vehicles called “xelois”. Visit a floating fish market by local boat before sailing towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border and on into the Cambodian countryside towards Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon at leisure onboard – take a spa treatment or join a culinary workshop.
Day 4
Phnom Penh (Mekong Cruise)
Spend the day exploring Phnom Penh including the historic Killing Fields and “S21” prison. Afternoon visits to the Royal Palace and the National Museum. Evening onboard includes a fascinating lecture on modern Cambodian history.
Day 5
Phnom Penh – Koh Chen – Kampong Laeang – Kampong Tralach (Tonle River)
Visit the island of Koh Chen, home to a renowned silversmith village. Onto Kampong Laeang to travel into the heart of rural Cambodia by tuk tuk passing lush rice fields to discover pottery makers and temples.
Day 6
Kampong Tralach (Tonle River) - Prek Bangkong – Angkor Ban (Mekong River)
Before sunrise, cruise towards Kampong Tralach through the jungle like landscape of the Tonle River. Take an ox-powered journey through rice-paddy fields to visit a tiny village school. Continue cruising to the floating village of Kampong Chhnang. At the confluence of the Tonle and Mekong Rivers spend time with the silk weavers of Prek Bangkong village, learning about this intricate process. After poolside sundowners enjoy an evening cinema screening onboard.
Day 7
Angkor Ban - Kampong Cham (Mekong Cruise)
Experience a monks’ blessing ceremony before sailing towards the small Angkor Ban village. Visit the enchanting pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey built to honour the Hindu god, Hirahara, the hilltop complex is now a Buddhist temple. Observe daily life of the young, novice monks who live on the compound. Later visit the tranquil monastery of Wat Nokor.
Day 8
Kampong Cham - Stueng Trang - Siem Reap (Shinta Mani Angkor)
Disembark the boat after breakfast and transfer around four to five hours to Siem Reap, arriving early afternoon. Check into your accommodation.
Days 9 - 10
Siem Reap (Shinta Mani Angkor)
Constructed over a period of 30 years, Angkor Wat is the largest religious complex in the world. Spend time relaxing and exploring the temples away from the crowds with an expert guide. Beyond the temples lies a rural landscape of rice paddies and traditional villages easily explored on foot of by bicycle.
Day 11
Siem Reap
Transfer to the airport for onward travels.
The Mekong Delta
Much of life in Southeast Asia revolves around the mighty Mekong River. Snaking over 2,700 miles through several countries including China, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, it finally empties into the sea at its extreme southern end, in southwestern Vietnam. On the river it is possible to experience whole towns floating on rafts, explore remote stilted villages untouched by the modern world, expansive paddy fields and many local artisans weaving, making paper and silk. Also keep your eyes peeled for birdlife and on some parts of the river, the notoriously shy river dolphin.
Your Floating Accommodation
We have included Heritage Line Jayavarman in this itinerary – brimming with character and Anglo Indian decor, each of the 27 cabins have a private balcony and the sun deck and pool offer space to relax and enjoy the passing scenery. Its sister boat, Heritage Line Jahan is a slightly smaller, equally elegant option. Your cruise will include a number of shore excursions each day, as well as optional experiences including culinary classes and cycling.
Guides and Experiences Onboard your Cruise
The onboard expedition teams include local guides who know every historic and cultural tradition on the Mekong. Onshore excursions include travel by skiff, bicycle, rickshaw and tuk-tuk taking in colourful floating markets, gilded pagodas and rural life among the paddy fields. An insight into the local culture and Khmer history is also ensured with time spent among local village people and Buddhist monks.
Angkor Wat and Country Life with Locals
Disembark your cruise in Siem Reap and spend time exploring the magnificent temple complex of Angkor taking sunset drinks or a light breakfast amidst some of the less known ruins. Beyond Siem Reap and the temples is some beautiful rural countryside of vibrant villages, lush paddy fields and local people working the land, much of which is rarely explored by visitors to the country.
How does this holiday make a positive impact?
- Relevant SDGs
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Heritage Line boats operate eco-friendly waste management systems, have eliminated single-use plastics on-board, and outfitted their boats with state-of-the-art water treatment technology.
This itineraries includes experiences designed to have a positive impact on communities, simultaneously promoting the local culture and traditions while advocating social equality and supporting underprivileged or marginalized groups.
By staying at Shinta Manu Angkor, USD$5 of each night booked goes towards the Shinta Mani Foundation. A registered local NGO (Non-Government Organization), the Shinta Mani Foundation focusses on contributing to three core areas within the local community: education, small business start-ups and healthcare.
Learn more about the UN's 17 sustainability goals
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A note on price
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
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