MK16: Jayavarman Cruise from Siem Reap - Saigon - 8 days / 7 nights |
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"The Jayavarman" - a floating sanctuary of style and space
Inspired by the golden age cruise liner Normandie, "The Jayavarman" is a 20th century boutique style marvel marries avant-garde French colonial design with enchanting Indochine architecture to perfection. "The Jayavarman" is Indochina's first of its kind boutique style river cruise liner and offers uncompromising luxury on 800 m² public space including 4 decks. The guest accommodation consists of 27 expansive and carefully designed staterooms with floor to ceiling panoramic sliding glass doors onto a private French balcony offer privacy and matchless luxury.
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Highlights :
Detailed Itinerary: Day 1: Siem Reap - Kampong Chhnang "Waterworld" (L/D)
The Tonle Sap (The Great Lake) is the flowing heart of Cambodia, giving love and life to this nation. The Tonle Sap has more fish than any other lake in the world and is home to an incredible variety of birds, including rare - and endangered - feathered life. The water level rises and drops considerably throughout the year. Thus, our journey begins in high or low water.
High water program (approx. between August and December) (B/L/D) At 12:30 pm, we gather at the meeting point followed by a quick transfer to the boutique ship. The ever-smiling crew welcomes us with unbridled warmth. A refreshing welcome drink awaits us followed by a sumptuous lunch on the ship. Then, it is a lazy afternoon as the ship glides along the water. Dinner is at Indochine Dining Hall. Enjoy a spectacular experience on the sun-deck as we bathe in the glow of the moon and the radiance of the stars. The ship then moors overnight on The Great Lake.
Low water program (approx. between December and August) (B/L/D) At 8:00 am, we gather at the meeting point and join a transfer to Prek K'Dam on the Tonle Sap River. We get to munch on snacks and enjoy cold drinks along the journey. We stop briefly at Skon, known as Spiderville for its fried spiders, a delicacy in this country. We will embark the Ship in Prek K'Dam followed by a welcome drink. The Ship then sets sail upstream towards Kampong Chhnang. We wind our way through the river, you feel at one with nature, a measured peace with the environment and the community. Later that evening, we meet and greet our fellow passengers, our brothers-in-arms in our soon-to-be matchless experience at a briefing at the Henry Mouhot Lounge. This is followed by a welcome dinner at the Indochine Dining Hall.
Day 2: Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Cham "Cambodia's province and the wetlands" High water program (B/L/D)
The day - in fact everyday - starts with an invigorating Tai Chi lesson on the sundeck, just as the sun begins its slow rise. Coffee and tea awaits the early bird. Before dawn, the Ship sets sail across the Tonle Sap Lake. As the ship is about to exit the lake, we see spectacular marshlands floating along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang province. The afternoon cruise continues with a languid meander along the Tonle Sap, which narrows through leafy swaths of the Southeast Asian jungle. Here, the river is very narrow and we are greeted by kids waving enthusiastically at us from the banks. Follow a short bus trip to the see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. We then embark on a truly marvelous motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region before reaching Kampong Cham in the evening. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to the Heritage Line pro bono 'literacy project'. (www.cambodialiteracyproject.com)
Low water program Kampong Chhnang is a busy rural port town with bustling markets and boisterous children who wave and greet us as we arrive on ship. We will take a short bus trip to see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. Followed by a rugged motor boat excursion into the wetlands that form the mouth of the river. Of considerable interest are the great fish traps, some half a kilometer long, which net a gargantuan amount of fish after each monsoon rain as the trawl migrate from the falling lake to the Tonle Sap. The afternoon cruise continue with a languid meander along the Tonle Sap, which narrows through leafy swaths of the Southeast Asian jungle. Here, the river is very narrow and we are greeted by kids waving enthusiastically at us from the banks. Further down the river we take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to the Heritage Line pro bono 'literacy project'. (www.cambodialiteracyproject.com) Dinner awaits at Indochine Dining Hall while the Ship cruises through Phnom Penh to reach Kampong Cham late in the evening.
Day 3: Kampong Cham - Wat Hanchey "Monks and hilltops" (B/L/D)
We will wake up in the small hours of the morning, truly energized to embark on a land journey to the pre-Angkorian temple of Wat Hanchey. Travelers either take a motor-taxi or climb the 291 steps to the top. Located at the top of a hill overlooking the river, it offers one of the most breath-taking views in Cambodia. Built in the 8th century, this ancient structure, together with a bigger and newer addition underscores the superb architecture of the Chenla Empire which predates the mighty Angkor temple complex. We even get to engage in light banter with some of the monks in the area. We will return to the ship to witness a blessing ceremony performed by orange-clad local monks. When the tide allows, we will enjoy a surprise sojourn in our zodiacs (inflatable boats) to the nearby bank to swim in the tea-coloured Mekong river, an experience that will, no doubt, dominate dinner conversations in the weeks to come. We will then cruise towards Kampong Cham to visit Wat Nokor, a wat built within the ruins of an ancient temple which holds a timeless story. On the way back to the ship, we will visit an orphanage. Along the way, we will have to maneuver a 2-kilometer rickety bamboo bridge. Our sense of balance lies in the balance!
Day 4: Phnom Penh "Pearl of the East" (B/L/D)
Phnom Penh was once the Paris of the East. Despite its rapid development, it has retained a lot of its rustic charm and elegance. After breakfast, we will be captivated by a comprehensive lecture on Cambodia's modern history. This will be followed by a city tour of this dynamic, historical capital city of Cambodia which has managed to preserve huge slices of its French colonial allure. Sightseeing in the morning will include visiting the dazzling white and gold edifice of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, and witnessing exceptionally beautiful Khmer craft at the National Museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit the Genocide museum and the Killing Field in town. Be prepared to be heart wrenched by this stark reminder of the genocide that transpired during Cambodia's Khmer Rouge regime. We go back to the ship after our museum visit. A variety of cocktails will be served followed by a traditional Apsara dance performance onboard. Experience the brilliance and richness of this culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a barbeque on the sundeck. It is indeed a truly marvelous experience, dining in the open with the stars and the moon as our companions.
Day 5: Phnom Penh - border crossing The Highway Blues (B/L/D)
The cruise liner then sets sail for a lazy day of cruising along the main Mekong Channel. As this is an international shipping route, you will witness large commercial ships plying this route. Later, in the afternoon, we set off to the Vietnamese border for the requisite cross border paperwork. As the process tends to take some time, we bask in the glow of the afternoon sun on the Sun Deck, pamper ourselves silly at the Spa, or sharpen our culinary skills with the Heritage Line's Cambodian and Vietnamese cuisine cooking class. The ship moors midstream overnight
Day 6: Chau Doc - Sa Dec "Circus of fish" (B/L/D)
Welcome to the fish sanctuary of Vietnam. We begin our day with a hearty breakfast at the Indochine Dining Hall or in the quiet sanctuary of your balcony. We will brace ourselves for a short excursion in Chau Doc, a pleasant town near the Cambodian border with sizeable Chinese, Kinh and Khmer communities. We will also visit the colorful local market near an ancient temple. This is followed by a trip to the quay, where we will be feted to a boat excursion to the floating villages and rustic catfish farms. We will certainly enjoy watching schools of basa fish being fed by hand followed by a shore excursion to the local Cham Muslim community village. Then, it is back to the ship for a lunch. In the late afternoon, we will set off for Sa Dec.
Day 7: Cai Be - My Tho "Vietnamese inventiveness" (B/L/D)
In the morning we embark a traditional sampan* to tour Binh Thanh Island and its man-made canals. Here, every villager is involved in the process of growing and processing water hyacinths into natural fibre floor mats and rattan baskets. After lunch onboard, the ship arrives in Cai Be. The tour starts with a visit to Cai Be's boisterous and colorful floating market where traders gather in a cacophonous congregation. During the languid ride, we discover breathtaking landscapes along the river and quaff the rustic life on the Mekong Delta. The evergreen islands along the Mekong River remains unknown to many people. The cruise will halt intermittenly to allow us to observe how rice paste, rice cookies and coconut candies are made, along with the Longan fruit drying process. After touring the canals, we head to an ancient house surrounded by fruit orchards before heading to the ship for lunch. We then board the Ship for a tranquil evening cruise towards My Tho. A wonderful farewell party awaits us on the cruise. *sampan - a flat bottomed traditional Vietnamese wooden boat
Day 8: My Tho - Ho Chi Minh City "Good morning Saigon" (B)
Our cruise on the magnificent cruiser comes to an end as the ship winds its way to My Tho, approximately 70km south of Saigon on the upper Mekong river in Vietnam. We bid farewell to the cruise as our journey comes to a close. But the memories - and the friendships made on board - linger on for a lot longer. We disembark at around 9:00 am and we join the transfer to madding crowd of Saigon.
Although it is our intention to operate the itinerary as detailed proposal, we will do our utmost to stick to the set itinerary, however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might occur. It may be necessary to make some changes as a result of climatic conditions, alterations to cruise schedules or other operational factors.
Inclusions - All excursions incl. entrance fees, transportation, tour guide services (English speaking), taxes, fuel, pilots, port dues, full board, welcome and farewell diner, mineral water, coffee and tea during breakfast. Transfers in Siem Reap from or to the meeting point are included
Exclusions - Phnom Penh port taxes per passenger of US$ 65 levied by the Cambodian Port Authority Gratuities, Visa and fuel surcharges if any
Children policy - Free of charge for children below 5 years old, in parents' room and using existing bedding. Children below 12 years - 80% off the cruise price. Children above 5 years must solely occupy a berth (extra bed supplement)
Group Concession policy - GIT rates available upon request and subject to availability - First Choice refers as a group a booking of 5 cabins and more per cruise - Free non English speaking guides are available FOC for groups occupying 10 cabins and more (subject to availability)
- All guide services are in the English language. Guides in other languages my be supplied by special arrangement at addtional cost which may include using guest accommodation or tour guide cabin if available. Guides can also be arranged by Travel Agents and can also use guest accommodation or tour guide cabin if available - Tour guide fee (non English speaking), US$ 75 per day - Accommodation in tour guide cabin, US$ 50 per night, (subject to availability) to cover food, accommodation and transportation. - Accommodation in guest rooms, US$ 100 per night (subject to availability) to cover food, accommodation and transportation. - Free non English speaking guides provided by First choice are subject to 10 cabins per booking per cruise - Phnom Penh port taxes of US$ 65 levied by the Cambodian Port Authority apply for all guides
- FOC's for tour leader, leading a group occupying 10 cabins or more cabins is available Accommodatin in officer or tour guide cabins and subject to availability - Phnom Penh port taxes of US$ 65 levied by the Cambodian Port Authority apply for all tour leaders
Departure dates (2011- 2012)
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