The Lost Civilization (8days/7nights) (route: Saigon – My Tho – Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau – Phnom Penh – Siem Riep)

• Duration: 8 days
• Departure date: Contact

Day 1: Saigon - My Tho - Cai Be

Gather at our welcome lounge in Saigon before noontime. Take a sip of a drink while our staff collects your details for boarding. Travel to My Tho and embark for your coming journey along the Mighty Mekong.

On boarding, you will check in to your prepared staterooms. The junk sets sail, and your trip of discovering the Mekong starts. Enjoy lunch buffet in a restaurant whilst the ship moves upstream of the river to hit the overnight spot.

In the afternoon, you are at your private balcony for leisure or savor a cup of tea at the open air bar.

Have dinner while the ship hits Cai Be – an alluring small town, renowned for its Catholic French church and traditional handicrafts. Cai Be Floating Market is smaller and smaller year by year as the modern central markets have gradually replaced exchanging on water. The ship drops anchor in the mid-stream in the proximity of Cai Be for dinner and night rest. After dinner, watch movies from a wide selection (every night)

Day 2: Cai Be – Sa Dec – Tan Chau

In the morning, do Tai Chi exercise on the sundeck. A sumptuous buffet breakfast is served on board. The morning tour is for exploring Cai Be. See the locals trading on their boats. The guide will explain in more detail this long-lasting culture to you.

Cai Be is an idyllic place crisscrossed by plenty of water canals. Visit a workshop to know how the locals make rice paste, rice cookies, rice paper, and rice wine. Cai Be and its nearby areas are the home of palm trees, so you will have an opportunity to see the production of coconut candies here. Cruise by boat through the lush canal network and see farmers working in fields.  

Lunch is served on board, and you spend some time at leisure: watching the daily life of the locals on the riverbanks or sipping Vietnamese coffee at the bar  

In the afternoon, travel to the area of Sa Dec. Get onto a traditional ship and head towards Binh Thanh Island, well-known as among the larger ones in the Mekong, inhabited by several communities. They earn their daily bread by growing water hyacinths. Roam around the village to have a deep understanding of the local life. Know about the mat-making process and give it a try. Meet an elderly local couple and they will tell you the story about the island.  

Go back to the ship, pamper yourself with a spa treatment or get dipped into the pool on the sundeck. You will listen to a presentation on “Life in the Mekong Delta” from our expert guide. Meanwhile, the ship keeps the journey to Tan Chau, sharing its border with Cambodia. We moor off the mid-stream in the proximity of Tan Chau. Enjoy dinner and then relax while watching movies from a wide selection.

Day 3: Tan Chau – Border Crossing – Phnom Penh

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in your balcony at the dining hall. Go on an excursion around Tan Chau Town in close proximity to the Cambodia border. Hop on “xelois” – a local vehicle to discover Tan Chau. Move slowly along village paths to witness local houses, workshops and domiciles. Immerse into the laid-back vibes of the region. Then, make a stop at the local market next to one of the mighty ancient temples. The market is the best place to practice your bargaining skill. Get onto a local boat, cruise through floating houses, and then hit a floating farm where the source of fish production is sold in the world.

Embark back and head towards the Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Cruise through the deep Cambodia countryside towards Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon at leisure. It is also time for sun bed relaxation, massages, or a stay in your private balcony to admire surrounding landscapes and perceive the clam river. Take a culinary class during the afternoon. Pay a visit to the bridge and listen to the story about “his” river. Join our afternoon high tea.

Enjoy a dinner before we reach the capital of Cambodia at about 7:00PM. The boat anchors off the pier of Phnom Penh. Go for a stroll along the river promenade and watch the locals talking and selling odds. Savor a drink in one of the bars (please notify our crew before you leave the ship by yourself).

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is labeled as Paris of the East. Although the city has experienced rapid development, we still find rustic charms and elegance inside it. This wonderful town shows centuries of fascinating cultures and incredible history.

Enjoy breakfast, and then bid farewell to crew of the Pearl of the Orient Cruise (3-nights). At the same time, you are welcome to Serenity Cruise (4-nights).

After breakfast, get started with a full sight-seeing tour. Pay a visit to Killing Fields at the outskirts; here is a centrally situated prison “S21”. Both historic sites present the cruel and sad chapter of Khmer history when the country was ruled with terror and suppression by the Khmer Rouge. An alternative is you will discover the city by your own during the morning before re-joining the group.

Lunch is served at a nice restaurant. The itinerary to Phnom Penh focuses on exciting cultural heritage of Phnom Penh. The highlights include exceptional Khmer crafts at National Museum and the golden edifice of Royal Palace with its Silver Pagoda. End with a “cyclo” ride along the hustling streets of downtown Phnom Penh back to the ship. 

Take a rest in your cabin and then sip some refreshing drinks at the bar before evening activities begin.

Move to the lounge where a lecture about Cambodian modern history is set up; especially, a professor from the Royal University of Phnom Penh will present this topic. One of the highlights during the cruise is to receive exciting knowledge about this country.

After that, there will be a barbecue dinner feast on the sun deck, followed by an Apsara dance performance. While pampering yourself with brilliant dances, perceive soothing sounds of the traditional music.

Unwind while savoring your supper and sipping a glass of wine. By that time, you will be amazed at the skyline of Phnom Penh and calming charms of the Tonle River.

Day 5: High-water itinerary: Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham (Mekong)

Depart for Angkor Ban Village on the Mekong River before the dawn. Wake up and have breakfast in the dining hall.

Angkor Ban Village is renowned for its traditional houses and rural community.

Embark back and you will take a chance to watch a variety of traditional Khmer fashion. Savor lunch after this performance. Make a visit to a local school where you can understand more the education of the young Cambodian generation (NGO project). The children are always eager to show their talent for music and art. Keep traveling to ravishing pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey (7th century).  You will see another temple on the way; it is Wat Nokor Monastery. It is very interesting to engage in conversations with monks in the region. Chill out onboard and enjoy dinner. The ship moors off near Kampong Cham.

Low-water itinerary: Phnom Penh – Kampong Chhnang (Tonle)

The ship sets sail towards Kampong Tralach on the Tonle River – a mighty river. Just go through leafy swaths of the jungle-like place, you will hit Kampong Tralach. Enjoy breakfast before mooring and starting our Tonle discovery. Stop at Green School whose part is supported by Heritage Line. Embark back and you will take a chance to see traditional Khmer fashion. Savor lunch after this show.

The ship gently moves on the narrow Tonle River to Kampong Chhnang, called Cambodia’s “water world”, where you will see sticks balanced on water-rich soil. It is possible to say that here is the most exciting cruise locale in Cambodia.

Back in Kampong Chhnang, and we take mini buses to an idyllic village and go for a stroll there. Have an opportunity to know about some specialties, such as Khmer style pottery and palm sugar. Before coming back to the boat, explore the local wetlands and floating villages.

Relax and savor a delicious dinner onboard. The ship moors off the Tonle region.

Day 6: High-water itinerary: Kampong Cham (Mekong) - Kampong Chhnang (Tonle)

While savoring breakfast, sail downstream along the Mekong River. Stop at the island of Koh Oknha Tey. This place is famous for manufacturing high class silk products. Discover the island by tuk tuk, learn how silk is made, and see top quality products made of original Cambodian silk. The guide gives you a presentation on “Geography of the Mekong and Tonle Sap”, and then you will enjoy lunch. After that, a Monks’ blessing ceremony is an occasion to have wishes for your prosperity and health. Then, continue the cruise and pass the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Rivers towards Kampong Tralach. Stroll through leafy swaths of the jungle-like spot and hit Kampong Tralach. Stop at “Green School” whose part is supported by Heritage Line. Take a sightseeing trip around the region by a local ox cart. The ship anchors off the Tonle River next to Kampong Chhnang, letting you witness the locals’ daily life on shore. Savor dinner in the dining hall. 

Low-water itinerary: Tonle River - Kampong Cham (Mekong)

Enjoy early breakfast, cruise towards the Mekong, and pass the confluence at Phnom Penh. Arrive at the island of Koh Oknha Tey. The place is famous for manufacturing high class silk products. Explore the island, workshops, and know how silk is processed. The guide makes a presentation on “Geography of the Mekong and Tonle Sap”. Attend a Monks’ blessing ceremony onboard. The ship sails towards Angkor Ban Village in the Mekong River, renowned for its untouched community and traditional houses. Then, take time to join a cocktail party on a flat riverbank. Keep cruising until dinner is served. Stay overnight onboard.

Day 7 High-water itinerary: Kampong Chhnang - Tonle Lake:

After waking up early, you will be amazed at spectacular surroundings at the break of dawn. Do morning Tai Chi exercise. Breakfast is served in the dining hall. Arrive at Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia’s “water world”, where you can observe sticks balanced on water-rich soil. Here is the most stimulating cruise locale in Cambodia. Take a local boat to the shore and then get onto mini buses to a rural village. Go for a leisurely stroll there. The guide shows you some specialties, such as palm sugar and Khmer style pottery. Come back to the boat and explore the local wetlands and floating villages.    

Embark back for lunch while cruising along the narrow Tonle towards the Great Tonle Lake. The river opens up to a vast “sea”, the largest fresh water lake in Asia. You can cross this lake in the high water season (from the end of July to mid-November). It is wonderful to kick back and let your imagination fly away while the boat heads towards Siem Reap. The afternoon is time for high tea at the bar, and with the coming of night, you will take part in the farewell event in which you will enjoy some dancing and music with the crew. The boat anchors off the mid-lake near Siem Reap.

Low-water itinerary: Kampong Cham (Mekong)

Go to visit the alluring pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey by bus after breakfast. This complex, erected in the 7th century, is perched on a hill top on the shore. Come back to the ship for lunch and the rest.

We go on another outing to the monastery of Wat Nokor. Take a chance to be involved in the light banter with the local monks. In the low water season, you can witness a bamboo bridge connecting the mainland and the island. The locals must rebuilt this bridge evert year after water level decreases.

Keep the journey to a local school where you can gain more understanding of the education under the young Cambodian generation (NGO project). More excitingly, the local children are always eager to show their talent for music and art. When the dark covers the sky, you will join a farewell event with the crew. Enjoy some dancing and music with them. The ship moors off the riverbank of Kampong Cham.

Day 8:  High-water itinerary: Tonle Lake - Siem Reap

It is known that the Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is something very special of Cambodia, bringing life to millions of people. It is the lake where there are more fish than any other lake in the world. Also, it is the habitat of a wide variety of birds, consisting of some rare and endangered species.

The cruise comes to an end. Disembark and take a small local boat to the shore. Arrive at the Siem Reap pier at about 9 o’clock and then be driven to the drop-off point in the center.

Low-water itinerary: Kampong Cham (Mekong) - Siem Reap

Savor breakfast on board in the floating sanctuary. Disembark after checking out. Take the bus to the drop-off point in Siem Reap. It is an approximately 4.5 hour drive to the destination. Arrive in Siem Reap in the early afternoon.

Times given above are just approximate. Despite the fact that it is our intention to operate the itinerary we have outlined, we shall not be responsible for any last minute changes caused by weather conditions, alterations in cruise schedules or other operational factors. All detailed information about embarkation and disembarkation is available on our website.