Highlights
| Price Price in USD per cabin
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Upstream: Phnom Penh- Siem Reap
Day | Departure | Arrival |
Day 1 | Phnom Penh | Koh Chen - Oudong |
Koh Chen - Oudong | Kampong Tralach | |
Day 2 | Kampong Tralach | Kampong Chhnang |
Kampong Chhnang | Chnok Tru | |
Day 3 | Chnok Tru | Siem Reap (Angkor) |
Downstream: Siem Reap- Phnom Penh
Day | Departure | Arrival |
Day 1 | Siem Reap (Angkor) | Chnok Tru |
Day 2 | Chnok Tru | Kampong Chhnang |
Kampong Chhnang | Kampong Tralach | |
Day 3 | Kampong Tralach | Koh Chen - Oudong |
Koh Chen - Oudong | Phnom Penh |
Phnom Penh
According to Khmer legend, the capital of Cambodia originated
with a woman named Penh. In about 1370 when a terrible flood occurred
Penh discovered a statue with four representations of the Buddha caught
in a tree floating downstream. She had a small pagoda built on top of
the hill, or phnom, in which to keep the statue. Pilgrims poured in, a
settlement began to form, grew and came to be called Phnom Penh or "Hill
of Lady Penh".
The city is located at the confluence of
four river arms, the Lower and Upper Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the
Bassac Rivers. It sprawls out along the southern shore of the Tonle Sap
river. The sometimes suffocating tropical heat is conducive to a rather
slow pace of life. Near the riverfront is the spectacular, brightly
colored yellow, orange and green Royal Palace, home to King Father
Norodom Sihanouk.
Large groups of saffron-robed monks can be seen walking or stopping to
meditate along the gracious palm tree lined riverfront. Families also
enjoy a relaxing outing along the river, while all kinds of hawkers
offer exotic fruit, refreshments, lotus seed pods, deep-fried locusts or
a chance to release birds for good luck. Scores of raggedy children can
be seen, often barefoot, wandering about, begging for riels, kicking
around a ball, selling cigarettes or offering shoe-shine services. There
is something quite touching about them. They are beautiful, although
not always very clean and often timid. Out of their poverty come the
most enchanting smiles, something no money in the world can buy.
Everywhere in Phnom Penh, signs of the thirty years of war can be
discerned; people's looks, their bodies and souls, betray evidence of
the horrifying genocide committed by the Khmers Rouges, followed by the
Vietnamese occupation, coups d'etat and bloody gangland killings. Now,
after the chaos and the ensuing night of blood, like Cambodia as a
whole, Phnom Penh is struggling to come alive again.
The former "Pearl of Asia", despite rampant corruption, assaults by
developers and the onslaught of motor vehicles, hasn't lost the
exquisite charm of the past.
At dawn, down on the riverfront, crowds of people come to contemplate
the harmonious river of alternating flow, a people once crushed but now
hopeful of better days to come.
Koh Chen - Oudong
At the Nek Luong ferry on the opposite
side of the river from National Road No. 5 is the small village of Koh
Chen (Chinese Island) whose inhabitants specialize in silver and copper
smithing. They make ornamental items, including delicately engraved
tropical fruits, used in traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for
marriages.
The distant hills of Cambodia's old capital, Oudong, and its royal stupas can be seen a few kilometers away from the ferry.
Kilometer after kilometer of rice fields interspersed with sugar palm
trees - a national symbol - stretch out from the foot of the hill.
At the top, the ruins of Anthareu temple. The legend behind them has a
strongly political flavor: a lampoon of the kings who gave protection to
the Chinese without thinking of the interests of Cambodians.
The temple was built by the Chinese (the
main entrance facing north), a reminder of an old legend: when one of
their emperors fell very sick his astrologers told him that the cause of
his sickness was in Anthareu, Cambodia, and that the spell had to be
broken. This was done and the emperor recovered.
The Cambodians tell it another way: there used to be a cave on this
site, home to a genie that protected Cambodia. The Chinese decided to
fill in the cave and build the temple. Whatever the case, it was bombed
during the Lon Nol regime, as was the whole Oudong region, considered to
be a haven of the Khmer Rouge.
The temple fell into disrepair, which caused His Majesty King Norodom,
august personage that he was, to take money from the royal treasury and
collect money from the citizens of the kingdom to rebuild it. Clerical
leader Tieng personally directed the work. This new temple was completed
and the ritual land marking was done in 1911, during the reign of King
Sisowath.
Kampong Chhnang
The largest fishing port on the Tonle Sap river
Located some 90 kilometers from Phnom Penh, the town of Kompong
Chhnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. Fish
farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its
pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in
sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be
overlooked are the products of the thnot (sugar palm) tree that abounds
in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes
and palm wine.
A visit to Kompong Chhnang town would really be incomplete without a trip out to the gorgeous countryside. Villages made up entirely of pottery makers can be found anywhere just outside of the town: Phum Kedey Thnot, about a kilometer from the Governor's palace (a very beautiful specimen of colonial architecture), Andong Russey, a little further Phum Bagn Chnob, and Chrey Ba, about 8 kilometers down the road to Phnom Penh, all selling good examples of their craft.
Chnok Tru
Remote floating village
Almost totally overlooked by tourists
because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is
completely self-sufficient...
Floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church,
pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair
shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station... everything is on the
water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to
grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this
little town.
Siem Reap
At the foot of Phnom Krom, not far from Angkor Wat, the river vessel lies at anchor in the inundated forest.
In the floating village of Chong Kneas, poverty is the by-word. But the
pungent odors and atrocious road don't stop the children from smiling.
A bit behind the times, with its endless dike leading to stable terrain, is Siem Reap, a small city of 130,000 inhabitants.
The city is surprisingly active and business oriented. Along both sides
of the dirty little river that flows through it are stately walkways,
empty lots, miscellaneous hotels, buildings under construction, colonial
style streets, the old market and even a small post office where, as a
precaution, you can even post stamp your own mail.
Siem Reap has but one objective: bring in
the tourists! Guesthouses, colonial bars, top-of-the line restaurants,
cheap eating places, souvenir or silk shops, art galleries and massage
parlors are flourishing more or less.
In the downtown area, the old market has kept a measure of authenticity; to the east, the big modern market.
Depending on your trip, the promise... or the souvenir of Angkor Wat
Contact us for discounts
info@mekongriverboats.com | |
Web | Mekong River Boats |
Mobile | +84 912217448 |
Working Hour | Mon- Fri: 8:00- 17:30 GMT+ 7 |
Includes
- Accommodation in double cabin, Full board (water, tea, coffee included)
- Mentioned visits, French or English speaking guide on board
- Transfer in Siem Reap from/to FCC Angkor Hotel ONLY
Excludes
- Transfers at departure/arrival port
- Bar fees, Visas, Personal expenses and personal insurance
** Confirmed departures all year long (please refer to the navigation schedule)
*** Departures only accordingly to the navigation schedule. Confirmed for min. 32 passengers
Booking terms and conditions
Tour-leader conditions
One additional passenger (or tour-leader) is granted a free
berth in a half-twin cabin for groups with a minimum of 15 full paying
guests.
Child policy
Infants below 4 years may sleep in their parents' cabin at no extra charge but parents are to provide their own baby food.
Children under 4 years: no charge
Children aged 4-12 years: 30%
Reservation policy
Option terms can be offered as follows:
More than 120 days prior to departure date: 30 days option
Between 120 days and 60 days: 15 days option
Between 59 days and 30 days: 7 days option
Between 29 days and 11 days: 1 day option
These options expire if down payment is not received by us by the stated date.
FIT Payment and Cancellation Terms
30% down payment is required to confirm reservation.
Payment of the balance shall be made 30 days prior to departure.
Cancellation fees
More than 60 days prior to departure: 0%
Between 60 and 31 days prior to departure: 30% of price
Between 30 and 21 days prior to departure: 50% of price
20 days to departure date or no show: 100% of price
Charter Payment and Cancellation Terms
Charter conditions apply when booking 6 cabins or more.
30% deposit is required upon confirmation of charter booking
30% (second) payment by 120 days prior to departure
Balance 60 days prior to departure
Cancellation fees
Between 120 and 60 days prior to departure: 60% of price
60 days prior to departure date or no show: 100% of price
Heralded as the finest boat on the Mekong River, the Jahan provides a luxurious looking glass into the beauty of Cambodia and Vietnam. The Jahan was built in 2011 and ushered in an era of opulent cruising. Aboard, guests are treated to grand staterooms, elegant public areas and all the five-star services of the finest hotel.