Jahan

Serenity Cruise Downstream - Siem Reap to Phnom Penh (5 Days)

Launched in 2011 the luxury cruise ship, the Jahan, brings river cruising into a new realm. The Jahan offers the service and amenities of a deluxe boutique hotel as she cruises through Cambodia and Vietnam along the mighty Mekong. The Jahan has been designed in a distinctive British Indian colonial style and boasts a range of accommodation, amenities and activities which is unmatched in the region. The 26 carefully designed staterooms and suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto private balconies and signature activities during the Jahan’s fascinating cruises include a programme of educational lectures, transportation by ox cart, sampan, cyclo, bicycle and dinghy, Tai Chi classes, Khmer cookery classes, a pool deck barbecue and private dinners in the Observatory.

Info

Embark

Meeting Point for the cruise is the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa, Central Park, Siem Reap. Timings depend on the water level so will be advised when your cruise is confirmed.

Day 1: Siem Reap to Tonle Sap Lake

In the high water season (usually Aug - Dec), the cruise begins in Siem Reap. Welcome cocktails and lunch are served on board as the Jahan sets sail. In the low water season (usually Dec - Aug) your adventure begins with a coach ride from Siem Reap to Kampong Cham where you join the ship. Stop briefly at Skon, known as Spiderville for its fried spiders, a delicacy in this country. You arrive at the ship in the early afternoon and enjoy a welcome cocktail on board. Please note that the sequence of visits in Cambodia may vary during the low water season. Full details are available on request.

Day 2: Tonle Sap to Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham

Today’s programme will start with an invigorating Tai Chi lesson on deck as the sun rises. The itinerary for the rest of the day will depend on the water levels. In high water, the ship sets sail across Tonle Sap Lake before dawn and as you exit on the other side, you will see spectacular marshlands along the river banks of Kampong Chhnang Province. In the afternoon, the ship meanders along the Tonle Sap, which narrows through the leafy jungle. Visit Aundaung Russey village to see the Khmer-styled pottery and then take a motorboat excursion from Kampong Chhnang to see the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms. In low water, visit Aundaung Russey village and Kampong Chnnang in the morning, then continue the cruise on the Tonle Sap in the afternoon. Further down the river, take part in an ox cart rally before being introduced to a local literacy project. In the evening, the cruise continues to Kampong Cham.

Day 3: Kampong Cham - Wat Hanchey

The day begins with a journey upriver to the ancient hill-top temple of Wat Hanchey, which pre-dates even Angkor Wat. The view overlooking the river is one of the best in Cambodia. A special travellers' blessing is performed by the local monks. Lunch is served on board and after a short cruise in the afternoon the ship drops anchor at Kampong Cham. You can visit Wat Nokor, a temple built within the ruins of an even older one. In the evening, dinner is served on board as the ship cruises towards the capital Phnom Penh.

Day 4: Phnom Penh

You reach Phnom Penh in the early morning. It is worth being up early to see the approach to the river promenade. After breakfast, there is a city tour of the historical capital of Cambodia. Don't miss the dazzling white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace, the displays of Khmer crafts at the National Museum and Wat Phnom, a hill-top temple. Lunch is served in a local restaurant and then there is an excursion to the infamous 'Killing Fields', the site of the Khmer Rouge detention centre in Cambodia's dark days of violent civil war. The scene is described by a local history lecturer. Afterwards you can relax with a cocktail and watch a dance show with soothing traditional music and a delicious Khmer food buffet.

Day 5: Phnom Penh

Your journey on the Jahan comes to an end today. Disembark in Phnom Penh after a final breakfast on board.

Disembark

Disembark at the Tourist Boat Dock, Phnom Penh International Passenger Pier, Sisowath Quay at 8am.

Includes

4 Nights' accommodation on the Jahan
Transfer between the ship and the city centre in Siem Reap
Full board during the cruise
Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
Phnom Penh port taxes (these are shown separately on the website and charged when you make your booking)