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The floating village of Tonle Sap, Cambodia

Mekong Expedition- Upriver

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Aqua Mekong
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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.

Day-by-Day Summary

Day 1 : My Tho | Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam | Embark
Day 2 : Binh Thanh / Sadec | My An Hung
Day 3 : Chau Doc | Vinh Xuong
Day 4 : Koh Oknha Tey | Preah Prosop, Cambodia
Day 5 : Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Day 6 : Tonle Sap River | Kampong Chhnang
Day 7 : Mouth of the Tonle Sap Lake | Chhnok Tru | Moat Khla
Day 8 : Tonle Sap Lake | Prek Toal | Siem Reap | Disembark

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

Ship

Aqua Mekong

Places Visited

Activities

Trip Type

  • Small Ship

Activity Level

Relaxed

Trip Snapshots

The floating village of Tonle Sap, Cambodia Chau Doc Vietnam's bird sanctuary The beautiful Angkor Wat Monks above the water in Tonle Sap
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Day 1 My Tho | Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam | Embark

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.

Day 2 Binh Thanh / Sadec | My An Hung

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 3 Chau Doc | Vinh Xuong

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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 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.

Day 4 Koh Oknha Tey | Preah Prosop, Cambodia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 5 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 6 Tonle Sap River | Kampong Chhnang

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.
 
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Aqua Mekong

Aqua Mekong sailing up the Mekong River
Aqua Mekong
The luxurious Aqua Mekong was designed to embody the aesthetic of a sophisticated five star hotel. Spacious and indulgent, yet intimate enough to feel entirely exclusive, the Aqua Mekong incorporates relaxed yet refined lounging and sailing.
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Deals

Flexible New Booking Policy
For new bookings made until December 31, 2020, the reservation may be postponed without administration fees. Some restrictions may apply. Contact us for more details. 
Click for departure dates
Save 20%
Early Bird Savings - Book until June 30, 2021 and save 20% per person. Limited availability only. For new bookings after August 5, 2020. Contact us for details.
Valid on all 2021 departures
Per person starting at
$9,625
Interconnecting suite on board the Aqua Mekong
Select a Date
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.
Design suite on board the Aqua Mekong
Select a Date
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

* Join Jean-Michel Cousteau on the September 14, 2018 special-edition departure. Travel with a world-renewed explorer, filmmaker, educator, and champion of ocean conservation.​ Enjoy unique opportunities for interaction and inspiration. A limited number of spaces are available.

Included:
*All meals while onboard the Aqua Mekong
*All excursions
*Biking
*All beverages (non-alcoholic, house wine and beer)
*Laundry Service
*Group transfers
*Internet wireless

Excluded:
*Air tickets
*Guide and crew gratuities
*Boutique purchases
*Spa treatments
*Visa fees
*Private transfers

Please note:
The above itinerary is subject to weather conditions and water levels of the Mekong River and its tributaries. During low water season December - Mid August the above itinerary may deviate slightly to optimize wildlife viewing and explorations.
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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
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