A classic one-week cruise only on the mighty Mekong River with the option of adding stays in Saigon & Siem Reap for the temples of Angkor
(limited dates/availability)
For all bookings made by 31 October 2021, deduct £200 per person
Day 1 - Flight
Day 2 - Ho Chi Minh City/My Tho/Ben Tre
Day 3 - Gao Giong
Day 4 - Chau Doc & Border Crossing
Day 5 - Phnom Penh
Day 6 - Silk Island
Day 7 - Prek Kdam/ Oudong
Day 8 - Kampong Chhnang / Tonle Sap River
Day 9 - Kampong Chhnang /Siem Reap/Return Flight
Rising in the Tibetan Plateau and cutting across six countries, the Mekong is the world’s 12th longest river, sustaining all manner of life along its way through its food, water, transport and commerce, and supports one of the most diverse fisheries, second only to the Amazon.
The cruise provides an excellent means of travelling in great comfort to places unreachable by road and makes possible exploration of the vast but little known region between the former French colonial city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor.
Less well known is the association with Saigon (once known as the ‘Cambodian City’ or ‘Downstream Cambodia’) and the trading relationship between the Champa kingdom in Vietnam and the then flourishing Angkor empire; the common thread being the mighty Mekong River linking inland rivers to the delta & beyond.
Saigon’s Chinese, Cambodian and French influence is leavened further by a cross section of Asia’s merchant diaspora – Indian, Malay, Thai and Arab.
Excursions Included
Full Board
Most Drinks Included
Local Expert Guides
Group Size: 2 –27
Day 1 Fly overnight from London Heathrow to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) via Hanoi or Bangkok.
Day 2 Transfer to My Tho to embark on the RV Indochina Pandaw for your seven-night cruise. Take sampan boats through the backwaters to see the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. Travel by local rowboat through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in coconut candy and rice wine. Evening entertainment by a Vietnamese Cultural Group on Vietnamese life on the Mekong Delta. (L, D)
Day 3 Morning sailing through the delta with an insight into life along this mighty waterway. By road and sampan boat to Gao Giong bird sanctuary. Lecture on the Life and History around the Mekong Delta. (B, L, D)
Day 4 At Chau Doc, visit the famous floating markets and fish farms by Sampan. Visit local Chham Village. Short drive to Sam Mountain, location of Phuoc Dien Tu or the Hang Pagoda and climb the 400 steps to the top to visit the pagoda. Continue cruising crossing the border in to Cambodia. (B, L, D)
Day 5 Visit Phnom Penh by private cyclo visiting the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda and the National Museum. Excursion to the Killing Fields and the infamous Tuol Sleng prison. (B, L, D)
Day 6 Cruise upstream along the Mekong River. Visit Silk Island and learn about the process of silk making from worms to weavers. See a demonstration of L’bokator, an ancient Khmer martial art. Lecture on Cambodian Geography and Life along the Mekong. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Morning cruise along the Tonle Sap River. Disembark at Prek Kdam and travel by coach to the Ancient Capital of Cambodia, Oudong. Visit the Vipassana Dhura Meditation Centre. By Ox-Carts along the Tonle Sap River visiting the local villages, markets and temples. Cocktail by the fire in one of the local Khmer Villages where you will join the villagers dancing and learning about the local culture. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Cruise the very narrow canals of the Tonle Sap River to get closer with the local riverside villagers. At Kampong Chhnang, board Pandaw Tender Boat “Pandaw Explorer” to visit the famous Tonle Sap Floating Villages and Markets, observing locals fishing and tending their floating vegetable gardens. Cruise back to Kampong Chhnang City. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Transfer to Siem Reap (5 hrs – day room at Tara Angkor Hotel). Return overnight flight. (B)
Day 10 Arrive London Heathrow.
Notes
Whilst the vessel carries up to 56 guests, our maximum group size for transfers/excursions is 27.
The programme may be altered due to navigational factors, water levels or congestion at certain sites.
Operated by Pandaw River Expeditions, with a mainly Burmese crew. A series of cultural performances, educational talks and cooking classes are offered on board.
Asian and Western cuisine is served either as a buffet or à la carte with the occasional themed dinners and tea, coffee, water and locally made soft drinks and alcoholic beverages are included on board.
Bottled drinking water is distributed before excursions and shoe cleaning, cold towels and a refreshing drink is offered post excursion.
Hand finished in brass and teakwood, air-conditioned dining room and bar, fair-trade shop, lecture room with TV, art gallery, library, sundeck and WiFi (free/limited).
30 air-conditioned, outside cabins (16 sq. metres) with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, luggage storage, nightly turndown service, evening canapés and Panoramic French windows leading to personal deck space. 10 twin cabins on the Main Deck and 20 twin cabins on the Upper Deck.
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) - Pre-tour Extension
Extend for two nights in central Saigon at the 4-star Novotel Saigon Centre or the 5-star Caravelle Hotel to explore the former French colonial city of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Orientation tour and a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels plus a Saigon River dinner cruise.
Day 1 Fly from London Heathrow direct to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Day 2 Transfer to the Novotel Saigon Centre for two nights (early check-in). Option to upgrade to the 5-star Caravelle Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing including the Reunification Palace, Opera House and General Post Office.
Day 3 Visit the Cu Chi Tunnels. Saigon River dinner cruise. (B, D)
Day 4 Transfer to My Tho to embark on the RV Mekong Pandaw for your seven-night cruise (RV Tonle Pandaw for Nov). Take sampan boats through the backwaters to see the fruit orchards of Ben Tre. Travel by local rowboat through the bamboo covered canals before arriving at a village specialising in coconut candy and rice wine. Evening entertainment by a Vietnamese Cultural Group on Vietnamese life on the Mekong Delta. (L, D)
A 4-star hotel located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Restaurant, bar, pool, gym, spa and WiFi (free). 247 comfortable air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer, safe, mini-bar, satellite TV and tea/coffee making facilities with contemporary design and stunning city view.
Ho Chi Minh City’s leading 5-star hotel opened in 1959 with a combination of French and Vietnamese architecture. Restaurant, bars, pool, spa and WiFi (free). 335 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, mini-bar, tea/coffee making facilities, safe and satellite TV.
Angkor Temples - Post-tour Extension
Explore the ancient Khmer capital of Angkor staying three nights at the 4-star Tara Angkor Hotel or 5-star Victoria Angkor. Visit a selection of the temples including the famous Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm and enjoy an Apsara dance show and dinner.
Day 1 Transfer to the 4-star Tara Angkor Hotel (option to upgrade to the 5-star Victoria Angkor) for three nights. Visit the Roluos group of temples. Apsara dance theatre and dinner. (B, D)
Day 2 Visit the temples including Angkor Thom, Royal Enclosure, Bayon, Terrace of Elephants and jungle temple of Ta Prohm. (B)
Day 3 Visit Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre temples, then Angkor Wat, one of the world’s largest religious monuments. (B)
Day 4 Free day before transfer to the airport for return flight via Hanoi. (B)
Day 5 Arrive London Heathrow.
Stylish 4-star with a distinctively feel that blends Khmer culture and modern elegance, ideally located between downtown and the Angkor Temples. Restaurant, bar outdoor pool, spa and WiFi (free). 206 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer, mini-bar, safe and satellite TV.
Located in the heart of Siem Reap opposite the Royal Park, this colonial style hotel has a sense of peaceful tranquillity. Restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, spa, WiFi (free) and 129 air-conditioned rooms with private facilities, hairdryer and satellite TV.
2022
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
| September 30 | £3695 |
| October 14 | £750 |
| November 11 | £3695 |
| November 25 | £3795 |
| December 9 | £3895 |
2023
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
| January 20 | £3895 |
| February 17 | £3895 |
| March 3 | £3895 |
| March 17 | £3795 |
| October 6 | £3795 |
| October 20 | £3795 |
| November 3 | £3895 |
| November 17 | £3895 |
| December 15 | £3895 |
| December 29 | £3895 |
2024
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
Friday
per person in a Main Deck twin/double cabin
Vietnam Airlines from Heathrow
(limited dates/availability)
For all bookings made by 31 October 2021, deduct £200 per person
Supplements per person
Single Supplement
NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
(limited dates/availability)
2022: Sep 30
2023: Mar 3 & 17, Oct 6, Dec 15 & 29
2024: Mar 22
Main Deck double for sole use £645
(2023 £725)
Cabin Upgrades
Upper Deck £595
Upper Deck double for sole use £1225
(2023 £1325)
Suite £3095
Suite double for sole use £3795
Flight Options
London/Ho Chi Minh City/London
Vietnam Airlines Premium Economy from £595
Vietnam Airlines Business Class from £1795
Thai Airways £200
Thai Airways Royal Silk Class from £1995
Extension Options
Pre-tour Extension - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Novotel Saigon Centre £295
Single supplement £115
Caravelle Hotel £445
Single supplement £245
Post-tour Extension – Angkor Temples
Tara Angkor £345
Single supplement £95
Victoria Angkor £475
Single supplement £215
Independent Arrival
Save £750
Transfers to/from airport with group included
Price Includes
Air travel and taxes, port charges, transfers, 7-night cruise, full board and most drinks on cruise, local guides and representatives. If our specially negotiated airfares are unavailable at the time of booking, a supplement may apply.
Not Included
Travel insurance, visa procurement, optional excursions, tipping, any government taxes or compulsory charges introduced after publication.
© 2021 Jules Verne - 96 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BE
VAT No. 805146159
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