Mekong River - Upstream - Low water

Arrive at the Heritage Line welcome lounge in Saigon, where you are greeted and offered a second coffee before departing for My Tho. Transfer to the pier and board the vessel. The crew guides you to your stateroom and gives a short introduction to the cabin facilities. After settling in, have lunch in the restaurant, followed by a welcome and safety briefing from the cruise director in the lobby.

In the afternoon, the ship begins sailing on the Mekong River. Spend time on the deck before joining a sunset event with canapés and prosecco, arranged by the cruise director. Dinner is then served. By evening, the ship anchors near Tan Phong Island close to Cai Be, where you start your land exploration the next day. You may join an evening cinema session in the indoor lounge if you wish.

Start the day early and watch the Mekong Delta come alive. Join the morning Tai Chi session to refresh your body, then enjoy the breakfast buffet. Board a local boat to visit Cai Be, then continue to Tan Phong Island in the heart of the Mekong River.

Default Morning Excursion:
During the visit to a workshop in the town of Cai Be, guests have the opportunity to observe the production of distinct products of the Mekong Delta such as rice paper, rice cookies, rice wine and coconut candies. Get to know the very interesting manual processes involving manual labor and special production techniques. After the workshop, you reach Tan Phong Island to visit a local family and their fruit garden. The island showcases many kinds of tropical fruits to taste. A funny buggy ride through the island let you have a glimpse of the local day to day life as it unfolds. You stop at another family’s house. They specialize in the weaving of water hyacinth plants into artistic crafts – all by hand.

Optional Morning Excursion:
Culinary: After a short buggy ride through lush fruit orchards, a local family welcomes you as a cooking apprentice to master the art of traditional Jackfruit Leaf Cakes. From picking fresh leaves and extracting their juice to shaping and steaming the cakes in their natural casings, you’ll experience every step of the process. And since the secret to great cuisine often lies in the sauce, you’ll also learn to prepare a perfect coconut dipping cream before savoring your creation with hot ginger tea.

Relax and enjoy some time on your private balcony or at the bar as you continue your voyage upstream. In the afternoon, you arrive at the Sa Dec region and anchor near one of the larger islands in the Mekong known as Binh Thanh.

Default Afternoon Excursion:
This island is home to several communities that sustain themselves by cultivating water hyacinths. Strolling through the village, you'll gain profound insights into local life and witness the complete traditional mat-making process. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to meet a local elderly couple who have spent their entire lives on this island. They enjoy engaging in conversations with foreign visitors.

Before dinner, witness a presentation about life on the Mekong Delta as the ship sails toward the mooring spot for the night near Gieng Island.
 

After the morning Tai Chi session and a delightful breakfast, you embark on an exploration revealing a vibrant kaleidoscope of the diverse activities bringing the Mekong Delta to life.

Default Morning Excursion:
Gieng Island, also known locally as Mango Island, is perfect to stroll through under the shade of flourishing mango groves that shape the island’s landscape. A visit to a small incense workshop introduces you to the careful process of crafting these fragrance incense sticks by hand. Another local highlight is a traditional boat-building workshop, where generations of families assemble wooden vessels that are essential to life along the river. Before departing, you surely are going to taste some of these delicious and freshly picked mangoes with a local tea in the courtyard of a century-old local home. This is the moment when you all understand the rhythms and resilience of life on the Mekong - so simple, so joyful.

Optional Morning Excursion:
Culinary: Conclude your morning excursion with a culinary twist: Prepare with a local family an authentic “Banh In”, a soft, sweet treat made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. Always served with jasmine tea, the ‘Banh In’ is popular during Vietnamese national festivals such as Tet.

Default Afternoon Excursion:
After lunch, board a traditional sampan toward Evergreen Island, a fertile pocket of the delta known for its small-scale farms and seasonal crops. Upon arrival, spend time with a local farming family and gain insight into their daily routine. You’re invited to step into the shoes of your hosts and share in their daily work. Depending on the season, you can help prepare seedlings, plant new crops, or assist with the harvest; a rare opportunity to share the delta daily life from the inside. Much of what’s grown here is later used by the onboard chef, tying your culinary experience onboard directly to the land.

After having discovered Mekong delta’s bustling rhythm, you head towards the border. Once in Cambodia, an overnight sail takes you to the country’s capital.

Welcome to Phnom Penh, a city once renowned as the "Paris of the East." Despite its rapid development, it has retained much of its rustic charm and elegance. Phnom Penh is a remarkable city with a history and culture that spans centuries, still palpable at every street corner.

The full-day sightseeing tour begins right after breakfast, allowing you to explore the city's highlights. Start with a cyclo ride, meandering through the town, and then visit historic places such as the palace and the silver pagoda. This journey takes you to the "S21" prison, a poignant and dark chapter in Cambodia's history during the Khmer Rouge regime of the 1970s. Afterward, you pause for a delightful lunch in town before continuing to immerse within the Khmer culture. This afternoon starts with a visit of a famous academy of arts and a school dedicated to preserve traditional arts. Observe young dancers training in the intricate Apsara dance and take the opportunity to learn some basic techniques on your own under guidance. Conclude the day with a leisurely stroll through the city’s French Quarter, including the iconic Wat Phnom temple.

Back on board, join a captivating testimony held in the lounge of the ship. Having endured the S21 imprisonment and later taking an active part in the Khmer Rouge tribunal, Mr. Sum Rithy continues to bear witness to a difficult chapter of Cambodia’s history. Guests have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to talk, question and discuss a living witness of this dark Cambodian era. To cap off this eventful day, guests can indulge in a delightful open-air barbecue and gala dinner accompanied by a classic Apsara dance performance. Afterward, feel free to explore the city and its nightlife on your own, with its lively river promenade and colorful bars and cafes.

Before the sun peeks over the horizon, the cruiser sets sail, entering the Tonle River. The Tonle River is a natural wonder of Cambodia, and the scenery on both sides of the river is a true gem.

Default Morning Excursion: Discover the rural Cambodian countryside of Kampong Tralach. Journey along picturesque rice paddies aboard an ox-pulled cart, reaching a small village where you can learn about a local NGO school and library project or visit the ancient 300-year-old temple and Buddha shrine.

As you sail upstream, lunch is served, and the crew showcases afterwards various traditional Khmer fashions worn by locals during special occasions.

Default Afternoon Excursion:
In the midst of the expansive Tonle region, one of Cambodia’s amazing ecosystems. The tour this morning leads to Kampong Laeang, an unknown hamlet situated just across from the famous pottery town of Kampong Chhnang. Once ashore, you embark on tuk-tuks to travel the heart of rural Cambodian life. During this excursion, you can explore various locals, discover the art of pottery making, and visit a charming pre-Angkorian temple. From a vantage point, amazing panoramic views of the vast floodplains and lush rice fields (seasonal) can be enjoyed.

Optional Afternoon Excursion:
Culinary: The culinary-themed excursion offers the possibility to participate in a cooking demonstration at a local household in the village. Together with the locals, guests prepare the quite famous snack called “Nom Kruak” which is a kind of cake made from white or brown rice. Originally cooked only on one side, the Khmer invented Nom Kruak and cooked it on both sides. This dish is a tasty pre-dinner snack often consumed by locals.

Once back onboard, you sail toward Kampong Luong, where the ship anchors for the night.
 

Default Morning Excursion:
Your first stop is Kampong Luong, a renowned Silver Smith Village. Here, 400 families breathe life into silver, copper, and brass, crafting art pieces and jewelry. A short stroll on the island reveals their hard labor. Continue with a visit to Wat Prang, the Royal Buddhist Temple. This sacred site offers a moment of reflection on the king’s legacy, intertwining both history and spirituality. Engage with the monks and laymen, learning about their daily lives, rituals, and personal stories.

With everyone back on board, enjoy a funny but also interesting fashion show for guests about local Cambodian attire.

Default Afternoon Excursion:
At the confluence of the Tonle and Mekong Rivers lies the small village of Prek Bangkong, known for its silk weaving community. This village was also the former residence of the Royal family before they moved to the Royal Palace. However, the real stars in this area today are the silk weavers, artisans who craft silk from the very beginning. You have the opportunity to closely observe and learn about this intricate silk production process. You conclude this excursion by visiting the heritage house of H.E. Sam-El, once a famous architect for the royal family.

The rest of the day is spent sailing up the Mekong to your overnight location. Enjoy a relaxing poolside sundowner cocktail hour with dance tunes before dinner and an evening cinema.

Early risers may like to join the daily offered Tai Chi session on the sun deck before breakfast. Today’s morning excursion let you explore the village of Angkor Ban.

Default Morning Excursion:
Angkor Ban features a monastery with an adjacent, enchanting local village. You'll have the chance to meet monks during their morning class and engage in friendly conversations with the villagers. As you stroll through the village, you can understand the local way of life in various aspects, collecting wonderful memories of Cambodia's rustic lifestyle. The village offers great photographic moments whilst interacting with the local community.

Optional Morning Excursion:
Culinary: In addition to a shorter visit to the Angkor Ban village, the culinary excursion group extends their excursion to pass by the house of Mr B, who used to work as a young chef aboard the ship ‘Jayavarman’. After he got married, he moved to his wife’s home village. Together with his “mom-in-law” and the “chef” in the household (his wife), you prepare and cook a century-old soup recipe called “Samlor Korko”. The soup is kind of a fish soup made with many vegetables, spices, herbs, and roasted rice, accompanied by a duck egg omelette.

While you sail to Kampong Cham during lunchtime, the whole afternoon is at your own disposal. It is time to switch into cruise mode for your last full day onboard. Experiences the relaxing cadence this mighty river emanates. The afternoon is perfect for massages, relaxation on a terrace deck sunbed or private balcony kick-backs. Conjure up a spell to merge with the river and float into a state of mild bliss. You also may like to visit the bridge, as the captain always has a little story to share about “his” river. Or, if you are curious to learn more about Khmer gastronomy, join a culinary workshop to sharpen your knowledge about local cuisine.

Afterward, the ship makes its final journey, mooring mid-river near Kampong Cham with some farewell and party vibes along the way.

Enjoy your final breakfast aboard your floating sanctuary. You disembark the ship and transfer by bus to Siem Reap, which takes approximately 4 hours. To keep you entertained during your journey, the guides share interesting insights about Cambodia and the region you pass through.

The team hopes you've enjoyed this captivating river cruise as much as the crew does every single time. Take the enchanting memories and friendships with you and share the stories of this amazing river - the Mighty Mekong.

You arrive in Siem Reap in the early afternoon.