Additional dates available
Additional dates available on the reverse itinerary Charms of the Mekong
Overview
Cruise along the Mekong as you are transported back in time to another era, where the rhythms of the countryside move at a slower pace and allow for fascinating glimpses into a traditional way of life. Experience the lively hustle and bustle of open-air and floating markets offering exotic produce. Delve into the peaks and valleys of Cambodia’s history in the museums of its beautiful capital, Phnom Penh. Browse the local workshops throughout Vietnam, where exquisite handmade silks, rattan mats, and other crafts make memorable souvenirs. On this transformative journey, the Mekong truly reveals a vibrant world along its shores.
I have been travelling overseas every year for the past 35 years and this trip is one of the best and most memorable I have ever taken.
— David M., Glen Iris, Australia
Note: This cruise is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as agent in booking your reservation with the ship operator. The itinerary, lecturers, and all other arrangements are subject to change at the discretion of the cruise line.
Itinerary
CRUISE PROGRAM
Siem Reap, Cambodia, to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Day 1
Kampong Chhnang / Embarkation
Transfer via motorcoach to the AmaDara in Kampong Cham for your seven-night cruise. Board a motorcoach to the Twin Mountains, known as Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (male and female mountains). In the annals of Khmer legend, the twin mountains were formed as the result of a competition between the men and women of an ancient Cambodian kingdom to resolve which gender would be responsible for wedding proposals. Later, join fellow guests for an evening Welcome Dinner.
Note: All cruise only guests must meet at the designated hotel in Siem Reap on Embarkation day to join the transfer to the ship in Kampong Cham. We recommend that you fly into Siem Reap at least one day prior to embarkation; please inquire about important arrival arrangements prior to your cruise.
Day 2
Ankgor Ban / Oknhatey Village / Phnom Penh
During the morning, go on a walking tour to Angkor Ban, one of the few villages in Cambodia that was not destroyed under the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s. Here people still live in their traditional wooden abodes and keep their old cultural traditions alive. Hundreds of wooden houses stand intact on stilts, shaded with banana trees, among the hustle and bustle of the daily agricultural on-going of the local villagers. After visiting here, the ship sails to Oknhatey or “Silk Island,” located on the lush banks of the Mekong River. This island is known for its rich tradition of silk weaving. While here, you’ll visit a local elementary school and observe the traditional silk weaving of handicrafts. Your cruise continues to sail to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
Day 3
Oudong / Kampong-Tralach / Phnom Penh
Your morning excursion takes you to Oudong, Cambodia’s former royal capital from the early 17th century until 1866. Today, Oudong is a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians. While here, be treated to a memorable Buddhist Blessing Ceremony at a monastery. After visiting Oudong, be treated to a truly authentic excursion, an oxcart ride through a local village Kampong Tralach. Later in the day, experience Phnom Penh via a tuk tuk ride and be enchanted by the city's French Colonial architecture and tree-lined boulevards set amidst monumental Angkorian architecture. After returning to the ship, enjoy Khmer folk dancing performed by local children in the Saigon Lounge.
Day 4
Phnom Penh
This morning’s excursion takes you to Cambodia’s infamous Killing Fields and the Khmer Rouge’s grim Tuol Sleng S21 detention center (Genocide Museum). Alternatively, you may wish to shop for unique treasures at the bustling yellow-colored Central Market. After lunch on board, you’ll explore the highlights of the city, followed by a visit to the Royal Palace, the spectacular Silver Pagoda and the National Museum, which has an outstanding collection of Khmer crafts.
Day 5
Phnom Penh / Border Crossing / Tan Chau, Vietnam
Spend the day cruising the Mekong River as your ship crosses the border into Vietnam.
Day 6
Tan Chau / Sa Dec
Enjoy a visit to Tan Chau, a small Mekong River town unspoiled by tourism. You will have the opportunity to take a traditional “xe-loi” (trishaw) ride around the town, with stops at silk-making and rattan mat workshops, followed by a boat ride through the narrow channels of the Mekong River to “Evergreen Island.” Alternatively, simply take the boat ride to Evergreen Island and return to Tan Chau, where you will visit a rattan mat workshop. Later in the day, cruise to Sa Dec.
Day 7
Sa Dec / Xeo Quyt / Cai Be
Once ashore in Sa Dec, tour the town where French writer Marguerite Duras spent many years in her youth. Visit a colorful local market and the 19th century house of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, Duras’ Chinese paramour. Later, board a motor coach for Xeo Quyt, once used as a base during the French and U.S. wars and now an important ecological site. You will have an opportunity to visit candy and rice paper making workshops and the historic Kiet Old House. Cap the day off with a festive Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 8
Ho Chi Minh City / Disembarkation
Your cruise comes to an end as the ship docks at My Tho Port.
ADD ON A PRE-CRUISE AND POST-CRUISE LAND PROGRAM
PRE-CRUISE
Day 1
Hanoi, Vietnam
Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city, known for its graceful colonial architecture, frenetic streets, verdant parks, and temples. After checking into your hotel mid-afternoon, the remainder of the day is yours to explore on your own.
Day 2
Hanoi
A morning sightseeing tour will take you to some of Hanoi’s most famous historical and cultural sites, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square, One-pillar Pagoda and The Temple of Literature. You will also visit the infamous prison that American POWs sarcastically dubbed the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War. In the afternoon, experience an authentic rickshaw ride (known as “cyclo”) in the Old Quarter, followed by a traditional water puppet show.
Day 3
Hanoi / Halong Bay Overnight Junk
After breakfast, leave Hanoi behind and take a scenic ride to one of Vietnam’s most renowned locations, Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Board a traditional wooden Junk, where you will spend the night—an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience and an AmaWaterways exclusive. After visiting a floating village, enjoy an onboard dinner set against the bay’s magnificent scenery and dramatic limestone cliffs and rock formations.
Day 4
Halong Bay / Hanoi / Siem Reap, Cambodia
This morning, your Halong Bay junk continues its scenic cruising during breakfast onboard. Late morning, disembark the ship and transfer to Hanoi Airport, stopping for lunch en route. A short flight will take you to Siem Reap in Cambodia, the gateway to Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer empire and one of the most renowned archeological sites in all of Southeast Asia.
Day 5
Siem Reap / Angkor
After breakfast, you will have a guided sightseeing tour of the Angkor Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include Angkor Thom, the newly restored Baphuon Temple, Terrace of the Elephants, and the Terrace of the Leper King. You will also see the Bayon Temple, best known for its gigantic smiling stone faces. Visit nearby Ta Prohm, known as the “Kingdom of Trees” for the way in which the temple stones have become intertwined with thick forest vegetation over the centuries. This afternoon, travel through the rural countryside to visit the pink sandstone temple of Banteay Srei, the "jewel of Khmer art." Afterwards, you will visit an English-language school (capacity controlled) sponsored by AmaWaterways in the village of Ta Toum. Tonight, you will enjoy a special “Apsara Dancing Show” at your hotel, featuring local Cambodian/Khmer folk dancers.
Day 6
Siem Reap / Angkor
This morning you will visit the most iconic of all Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat. This intricate and massive temple complex was built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century to honor the Hindu god, Vishnu. The temple stands as a masterpiece of Khmer architecture. The afternoon is yours to spend as you wish.
Day 7-14
Cruise-Only Program
The Cruise-Only Program begins with embarkation on Day 7 in Prek Kdam, Cambodia, and disembarks in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, on Day 14.
POST-CRUISE
Day 14
Ho Chi Minh City /Disembark / City Tour
Disembark the AmaDara in My Tho Port and transfer to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam’s former capital of Indochina was once known as “Paris of the Orient,” and today, it is an industrial, cultural, and educational hub. Explore such famous landmarks as the former Presidential Palace, the Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the War Remnants Museum before visiting the Ben Thanh Market—one of the oldest and most iconic structures in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 15
Ho Chi Minh City / Cu Chi Tunnels
Spend a day at leisure exploring more of Ho Chi Minh City. Visit Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense underground network built during the Vietnam War.
Day 16
Ho Chi Minh City / Depart
Bid farewell to Ho Chi Minh City and prepare for your homeward flight.
Riches of the Mekong
