Experience the full history of Mekong life, meeting Khmer farmers, Buddhist monks and our entrepreneurial friends in Vietnam’s kaleidoscopic wet markets along the way. 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. Enjoy an optional 18 kilometers bike ride on Long Khanh Island or take a rickshaw ride to visit Tan Chau Market with chef. Admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. All of this and more on this 8-day cruise across Cambodia and Vietnam.
Highlights
Discover a typical Mekong Delta village called My An Hung
Enjoy a traditional folk songs performed by villagers & a unique dance
Learn to cook Mekong inspired dishes while you cross the border
Visit the National Museum of Cambodia, home to the world’s largest collection of Khmer art.
Past by historic Buddhist temples and thatch classic local houses
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.
You will be picked up at the Ho Chi Minh meeting point and transported by air-conditioned van to Marina My Tho dock. There, you will be greeted and welcomed aboard the Aqua Mekong. Settle into your floating retreat, featuring a window wall with captivating views. Relish these private Mekong moments from your California King bed, terrace, or daybed.
Day 2: Mekong River | Binh Thanh | Sa Dec | My An Hung
Start your day at Binh Thanh mat weaving village, biking through local markets, fruit plantations, and fish farms. Alternatively, choose a leisurely visit to Sa Dec, where you can explore vibrant markets with the chef, and see the Lover House and Kien An Cung.
In the afternoon, head to My An Hung, a typical Mekong Delta village. Walk through lush plantations, enjoy local fruits at a resident's home, listen to traditional folk songs performed by villagers, and watch a unique Unicorn dance. For those seeking more adventure, a 17-kilometer biking option through the countryside is also available.
Day 3: Mekong River | Chau Doc | Vinh Xuong | Ka’om Samnor Border
Travel by skiff along Bassac Canal to the vibrant border town of Chau Doc where you'll take a rickshaw called xe loi for a ride around the local town and market. Head off by van to Long Son Pagoda atop Sam Mountain. Ask the monks about their age-old Mahayana Buddhist practices. Return via the bustling morning market. Optional 18-kilometer bike ride on Long Khanh Island to see paddy fields and get a snippet of local life. After lunch, relax by the pool, try a traditional Khmer massage, or learn to cook Mekong-inspired dishes while we cross the border.
Day 4: Mekong River | Koh Oknha Tey | Preah Prosop
On this river of time admire dexterous Khmer artisans dyeing and weaving kroma, the ubiquitous item no Khmer lives without. Explore the riverbank on two wheels if you wish, past 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.
Explore 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. For those who wish, visit the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide and the Killing Field or shop at Russian Market. Bid farewell to 4-night guests who are disembarking in Phnom Penh.
Return to welcome the 3-night passengers over custom sundowners like the Salted Watermelon Crush with Thai basil.
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.
Day 6: Tonle Sap River | Koh Chen | Kampong Prasat
In the silversmith village of Koh Chen, watch artisans producing the magnificent silverware favored by Khmer royalty. Continue to Udong, the royal capital from the 17-19th centuries, where you learn about a uniquely challenging Buddhist practice at the Vipassana Dhura Mandala, a meditation center. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Kampong Prasat offers a close up perspective on local lives and their riverside environment.
Day 7: Tonle Sap River | Kampong Chhnang | Kampong Tralach
In the cooler hours of the morning, head out on skiffs to visit traditional potters and palm sugar producers in the village of Andong Russei. There’ll be a chance to explore while riding mountain bikes or chauffeured by tuk-tuks. Pedal through the rice paddies to watch climbers scale the sky-piercing palms towering over you.
After lunch, there’ll be more opportunities to bike through the countryside, go fishing, and discover the floating village of Kampong Tralach on board skiffs. Finally, end the day with kayaking along the Tonle Sap and sundowners by the riverbank.
Day 8: Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Customized exploration of Phnom Penh and disembarkation. If you like to continue your Cambodian adventure to Siem Reap and its ancient lost city of Angkor Wat, guests will be fully escorted by the guides in a private luxury car transfer to Phnom Penh Airport.
Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.
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
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.
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
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 254 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 254 reviews on
1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.
