8 days and 7 nights

Upriver Cruising

The classic among the Mekong River Cruises is the 8 day cruise "The Lost Civilization". It combines places rarely visited with opulent world heritage sites on board the luxury boutique cruiser "The Jayavarman" - the unforgettable cruise experience.

Day 1: Siem Reap – Kampong Chhnang*

Register between 11:00 to 12:00 at Le Meridien Angkor. At 12:00, transfer by motor coach or bus to the local jetty and embark RV La Marguerite at 13:00. Iced mineral water and cold towels will be served. At 13:30, enjoy a light lunch as captain moors towards Kampong Chhnang. Along the way, enjoy a scenic view of the wild lives while passing through the sleepy yet inspirational river villages. Cabins are ready at around 15:00 for checking in. Join the hotel manager and purser at Saigon Bar for briefing at 18:30. Dinner will be served at 19:30, just while the boat arrives into Tonle Sap Lake.  Enjoy the first gourmet dinner onboard with fellow travelers. Anchor at Tonle Sap Lake for the night. Pianist entertains from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 2: Kampong Chhnang – Phnom Penh

At 6:00, the boat will sail towards Kampong Chhnang. Breakfast will be served at the Mekong restaurant from 7:00. At 8:30, arrive at Kampong Chhnang. Transfer to Kampong Chhnang onboard local boats. Enjoy a quintessential river excursion through the floating houses to get a glimpse of the local lifestyles in the Tonle Sap River. The boats will moor safely along the banks, go ashore and enjoy a leisurely walk through the city and perhaps find a good bargain at the market.  At 11:30, go back to the boat and cast off towards Kampong Cham. Lunch is served between 12:30 to 14:00. Attend Seminar on Cambodia - The Past & Present from 15:00 to 16:30. At 17:30, arrive at Phnom Penh and continue towards Kampong Cham. Enjoy a wonderful cocktail hour at 18:30 before dinner from 19:30 to 21:00. Pianist entertains from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 3: Kampong Cham – Wat Hanchey

RV La Marguerite will sails towards Wat Hanchey at 6:00. Breakfast from 7:00 to 8:30. At 9:00, explore Wat Hanchey, a hilltop pagoda overlooking the Mekong. At 11:45, return to the boat. At 12:00, the boat cast off for Kampong Cham. Enjoy lunch from 12:30 to 14:00. At 14:00, arrive at Kampong Cham. Go ashore from 15:00 to 17:30. The upland regions near Kampong Cham are rich in timbers, including Ceylon ironwood, rosewood, bean trees, teak, and rubber trees.  We will visit 12th century Angkorian temple of Wat Nokor and Eco village. At 18:15, we depart for Phnom Penh. Daily cocktails will be conducted from 18:30. From 19:30 to 21:00, dinner will be served. At 21:00 to 23:00, pianist entertains onboard.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

Dock midstream near to Phnom Penh Port around 0:30. At 6:30, the boat will continue to sail towards Phnom Penh Port. Breakfast will be served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, visit Phnom Penh city. Transfer on motor coach/bus and visit the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and National Museum. At 12:00, return to the boat for a re-energizing power lunch to prepare for the second part of the excursion today. At 14:30, take motor coach/bus to visit the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng (S21) detention center.  Excursion ends around 17:30. Cocktail hours from 18:30 yo 19:30. Dinner is served from 19:30 to 21:00. After dinner, a special Cambodia performance awaits at the Saigon Lounge. The performance will starts at 21:15 and ends at 22:00. Pianist entertains from 22:00 to 23:00.

Day 5: Phnom Penh – Tan Chau

At 7:00, enjoy a hearty breakfast as the ships departs for border. Lecture on board on "Indochina - The Past & Present" from 9:30 to 11:00. Lunch buffet is being served from 12:30 to 14:00.  Between 15:00 and 16:00, border formalities are being carried out. Movie L'Indochine is played in the Saigon Lounge from 14:30 to 17:00. At 18:30 enjoy cocktail hours before dinner from 19:30 to 21:00. Pianist performs from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 6: Tan Chau - Sadec

Rise and dressed for a wonderful breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30.  At 8:30, transfers to small boats visit a floating fish farm and navigates along the tiny tribunals where stilt houses are haphazardly leaning on one another. Go ashore and make a city tours on Xe Loi. Stop and visit silk making factory, rattan mats and slippers making factory. At 11:00, return to the boat and prepare for lunch. At 12:30, cast off for Sadec. Lunch is served from 12:30 to 14:00.  At 15:00 to 16:30, lecture on-board theme Vietnam - The Past & Present". Cocktail and cultural performance from 18:30 and adjourn to dinner from 19:30 to 21:00. Pianist entertains on-board from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 7: Sadec – Cai Be

Breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. At 8:30, follow guides to the hometown of Marguerite Duras’ lover, quaint little city. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le’s "The Lovers Museum", partake in the banterings of local markets along the paved river banks, pagoda and the Fujian Temple, build and donated to the city by Le’s family. You will pass by the homes of Marguerite Duras from across the river banks and also visit the school where Margeurite's mom taught. Back to the boat at 12:00. Lunch served from 12:30 to 14:00. At 15:00, explore the hidden treasures through the canals on riverboats and partake in afternoon bantering with floating markets vendors before going ashore to visit traditional candies making factory and rice paper mills in Cai Be. Return to the boat for briefing at around 16:30 before adjourning to the restaurant for farewell cocktails at 18:30. Dinner served at 19:30. Pianist performs from 21:00 to 23:00.

Day 8: Saigon

Breakfast served from 7:00 to 8:30. Bid farewells to crew and disembark at My Tho Port at 09:00 Arrive at Sofitel Plaza Saigon around 12:00.

Important Note:

• For low water level, approximately from December to January/February, passengers will disembark RV La Marguerite and transfer onto a 3 hours speedboat at Kampong Chhnang and transfer to Siem Reap Jetty.

• For very very low water level, approximately from January/February to May/June, passengers will disembark RV La Marguerite and transfer onto a 5 hours coach ride at Preak Kdam at 07:00 and transfer to Siem Reap city, stopping en route at Kampong Thom mid morning. Expected time of arrival at Le Meridien Angkor is 12:15.

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