DURATION
7 Nights
PRICE FROM
$ 9625
WHEN
Dec – Aug
Aug – Nov
DESTINATION
Vietnam & Cambodia
TYPE
SMALL SHIP CRUISE
Mekong River Cruise
You can learn about all the mysteries and wonders we have uncovered while exploring the Mekong River, Tonle Sap Lake, and the various civilizations coexisting nearby by joining our full 7-night Mekong Expedition Cruise.
From December through August, our itinerary spends a lot more time on the Mekong River in Cambodia and along the Tonle Sap River, two less-visited rural and gorgeous regions of the country. You will have many opportunities to explore, including daily bike alternatives (10 to 15 km), kayaking, and leisurely excursions on covered tuk-tuks where you may get a real sense of the locals’ everyday lives.
From August to November, passengers who travel with us experience the complete history of Mekong life while also meeting Khmer farmers, Buddhist monks, and our business partners in Vietnam’s wet marketplaces. Visit the Tonle Sap Lake, a stunning freshwater lake home to more than three million people who live on its shore, as you leisurely journey through this fabled environment.
WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY
- Tonle Sap: Home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Wat temple complex at Siem Reap, Cambodia is a treasure trove of cultural relics from the Khmer empire.
- Culture: Peace and prosperity in the life-giving cradle of the Mekong basin has led to a distinctive culture and many art forms that continue to flourish today.
- Active Excursions: The Aqua Mekong offers excursion and activity options that run concurrently, so guests get to choose between an active outing or a more laid-back option according to their preferences.
- Expert Guides and Crew: Our full-time, English-speaking guides grew up along the Mekong river and know its stories by heart. They’ve also built a solid rapport with local communities, which makes excursions pleasant, seamless and immensely insightful.
- Luxury: As the premier river cruise line sailing the Mekong river, Aqua Expeditions is committed to delivering best-in-class personalized luxury hospitality on the 20-suite Aqua Mekong.
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, it’s lethal” ~ Paul Coelho
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please let us know. We are here to help you!
Itinerary in Brief
Day 1
Mekong River – My Tho – Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam
We will collect you at the Ho Chi Minh meeting point and transfer you by air-conditioned coach to My Tho dock where we will welcome you aboard the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall unveiling an endlessly captivating panorama.
Day 2
Mekong River – Binh Thanh/ Sa Dec – My An Hung – Vietnam
Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where we will peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras’ legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where we will walk through verdant plantations. We will be invited to a local’s home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer biking option is also available.
Day 3
Mekong River – Chau Doc – Vinh Xuong – Ka’Om Samnor Border
Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18-kilometers bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with our chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try a traditional Khmer massage or learn to cook Mekong-inspired dishes while we cross the border.
Day 4
Mekong River – Koh Okhna Tey – Preah Prosop – Cambodia
On this river of time we admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous fabric no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore. After lunch, we board our marine- grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.
Day 5
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
We show off the Cambodian capital to our passengers by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. For those who wish, we visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shopping at Russian Market. We bid farewell to 4-night guests who are disembarking in Phnom Penh.
Return to welcome our 3-night passengers over custom sundowners like the Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil. Together we celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.
Day 6
Tonle Sap River – Koh Chen – Kampong Chhnang – Cambodia
We travel to Koh Chen this morning, a silversmithing community renowned for its skillful work. Watch out for their renowned silver bowls, which the monarch of Cambodia frequently chooses to present to visiting dignitaries. In the late afternoon, we resume our study of Khmer river life in Kampong Chhnang, also known as the “Port of Pottery” because of its 6th-century archaeological discoveries. There is the option of a bike.
Day 7
Mouth of the Tonle Sap Lake–Chhnok Tru–Moat Khla Cambodia
Keep exploring the isolated settlements near Tonle Sap Lake, named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997.
In Chhnok Tru, we “slide” into an ice factory and talk to locals about what it’s like to live in a place where the police station, the karaoke bar, and even the churches and pagodas float.
After lunch, we travel by boat to the floating town of Moat Khla, where we see a Buddhist blessing ceremony.
Day 8
Tonle Sap Lake – Prek Toal – Siem Reap – Cambodia
Get on a boat and travel to the 22,000-hectare Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve, one of Asia’s largest freshwater areas and the last remaining haven for giant waterbirds like the spot-billed pelican, milky stork, black-headed ibis, and the enigmatic masked finfoot. Disembarkation
The Ship
Aqua Mekong
Embark on a cultural odyssey through Cambodia and Vietnam aboard the finest of river cruise ships in Asia
Aqua Mekong guarantees utmost safety, comfort, and exclusivity for off-shore excursions, as Aqua Expeditions owns and operates the only private fleet of launch boats on the Mekong river. The four ergonomically designed launch boats bring guests on highly personalized day trips to explore the Mekong delta. Cruise your Mekong riverboat to landmarks, temples, and villages where tradition, spirituality, and craftsmanship reside.
Departure Dates & Rates
DEPARTURE
Dec – Aug
Aug – Nov
PRICE FROM
$9625
Single Supplement
Request a quote
STATUS
OPEN
MORE INFO
RESERVATION
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