Join the Aqua Mekong on this 8-day luxury Mekong River expedition cruise and discover all the mysteries and wonders between the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Enjoy the diverse cultures thriving in your midst. Experience the full history of Mekong life, meeting Khmer farmers, Buddhist monks, and entrepreneurs in Vietnam’s kaleidoscopic wet markets along the way. Enjoy more time on the Cambodia stretch of the Mekong and along the Tonle Sap River.
Highlights
Experience vibrant and bustling local Vietnamese markets
Enjoy the historical attractions of Cambodia's capital by motorized tuk-tuk
Visit Long Son Pagoda and interact with the local monks
Skiff into one of Asia's largest bodies of fresh water, Prek Toal Core
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
Meet at the Saigon meeting point and transfer by air-conditioned coach to My Tho dock where you board the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, with its window wall conferring an endlessly-captivating panorama. Enjoy these private Mekong moments.
Begin the day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village or opt to visit Sa Dec where you can peruse the vibrant market and see the famous house of Marguerite Duras' legendary lover, Mr. Huynh Thuy Le.
In the afternoon, visit a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung where you can walk through verdant plantations. You are invited to a local's home to taste local fruits while hearing traditional folk songs performed by villagers followed by a unique unicorn dance. A 17-kilometer biking option is also available.
Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to Chau Doc floating market then head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market.
Join an optional 18-kilometer bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with the chef. After lunch, relax by the pool, try traditional Khmer massage, or learn to cook Mekong-inspired dishes while you sail across the border into Cambodia.
On this river, admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish and pass by Buddhist temples and thatch houses perched on spindly wooden stilts while white oxen wade just offshore.
After lunch, board your marine-grade aluminum skiffs and head towards the tamarind trees of Preah Prosop, a remote village little changed over several lifetimes.
Enjoy the Cambodian capital by motorized tuk-tuk, the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. Visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shop at the Russian Market.
This evening, celebrate the onward journey towards the heart of this mighty river with a Khmer Apsara performance, an indigenous tradition memorialized on the temple walls at Angkor Wat.
This morning, visit Koh Chen, a silversmith village known for its fine craftsmanship. Keep an eye out for their famous silver bowls, regularly chosen by Cambodia's king as gifts for visiting dignitaries.
In the afternoon, continue learning about Khmer riverside life in Kampong Chhnang, the 'Port of Pottery' so-called because archaeological findings here date to the 6th century. A bike option is available.
Day 7: Mouth of the Tonle Sap Lake | Chhnok Tru | Moat Khla
Explore the remote communities around the Tonle Sap Lake, designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1997. In Chhnok Tru, “slide” into an ice factory and learn from locals what it’s like to live in a town where schools, churches, pagodas, and even the karaoke bar and police station all float.
After lunch, visit the floating village of Moat Khla, accessible only by water, and attend a Buddhist blessing ceremony.
Day 8: Tonle Sap Lake | Prek Toal | Siem Reap | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Set off by skiff into the 22,000-hectare Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve, one of the largest freshwater bodies in Asia and the last refuge in Southeast Asia for large waterbirds like the spot-billed pelicans, milky stork, black-headed ibis, and the elusive masked finfoot. This afternoon disembark.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$10,2902-3 travelers
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First Deck Mekong Suite
Averaging 322 sq. ft. 10 luxurious suites, 4 with balcony and 6 without balcony. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, California King beds convertible into two twin beds, air conditioned, and en-suite sleek bathrooms.
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Second Deck Mekong Suite
Averaging 322 sq. ft. 10 luxurious suites, 4 with balcony and 6 without balcony. Floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, California King beds convertible into two twin beds, air conditioned, and en-suite sleek bathrooms.
Notes
Single Supplement: 25% in addition to the double rate as posted.
Child Policy: 7 year age minimum on all departures, children under 12 years old will receive a 20% discount.
Third person sleeping on sofa bed will receive a 20% discount
Third person being a child under 12 years old sleeping on sofa bed pays US $500 per night
Initial deposit is $1000, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
I could not be happier with my Adventure Life experience, from beginning to end. I travel a lot, and I think your company and personnel do an outstanding job. I truly appreciate your professionalism, attentiveness, and flexibility. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and would be happy to serve as a reference.
