Jayavarman

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

The Jayavarman is a boutique hotel-style river cruise ship - the first of its kind in Indochina. Designed with both French colonial and Indochina influences, she has 27 spacious staterooms and suites furnished to a high standard of luxury, as well as a generous 800 square metres of public space, making her one of the most comfortable boats for cruising along the waterways of the Mekong Delta.

Info

Embark

Embark in Phnom Penh, Tourist Boat Dock (Pontoon), Phnom Penh International Passenger Pier, Located at Sisowath Quay at Eastern end of Ph 109, at 7am.

Day 1: Phnom Penh

You check in aboard the Jayavarman at 7am in the port of Phnom Penh. You can then take a sightseeing city tour around the historical capital of Cambodia. Don't miss the white and gold architecture of the Royal Palace, and the displays of Khmer crafts in the National Museum. The tour will include a visit to Wat Phnom, a temple on a hill. Lunch is served in a local restaurant. Examine the painful, heart wrenching reminders of Cambodia’s ugly past under the Khmer Rouge regime with an excursion to the infamous “Killing Fields”, the former detention, torture and execution centres during the Cambodian civil war. An introduction and on-site lecture will be given by a local history professor. Thereafter, to ease the nerves, a variety of cocktails will be at your disposal, followed by a traditional Cambodian Apsara dance performance. Experience the brilliance and richness of the culture, the soothing sounds of traditional music, the calming scent of incense sticks and a delicious Khmer food buffet.

Day 2: Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham

The ship leaves Phnom Penh before dawn and takes you to Chong Koh, a charming silk weaving village where you may have a leisurely walk after breakfast. You then cruise through more of the Mekong's river villages where the local fishermen are busy at work. The next stop is the rural village of Angkor Ban where you will feel transported back 100 years in history. Here the housess are all hand-made without any concrete, and the local villagers welcome visitors. Later, the cruise continues to Kampong Cham.

Day 3: Kampong Cham to Wat Hanchey

The next stage of the voyage upriver is to Wat Hanchey, an ancient hill-top temple that pre-dates Angkor Wat. The location, overlooking the river, offers one of the best views of Cambodia. A special travellers' blessing is performed by the local monks. Later, stop for a visit of Wat Nokor, built within the ruins of an ancient temple, and on the way back to the ship, visit an orphanage.

Day 4: Kampong Cham to Kampong Chhnang and Tonle Sap

Another early morning departure. The Jayavarman cruises along the Tonle Sap River, which meanders through leafy jungle to Kampong Chhnang, a busy river port and fishing town. Disembark for a motorboat ride to the landing followed by a short drive to see the Khmer-styled pottery at the Aundaung Russey village. Then, it is back to the river for an adventurous motorboat excursion to the wetlands, floating houses and fish farms in the region. In the evening, a Farewell Dinner is served on the Sun Deck.

Day 5: Tonle Sap to Siem Reap

The ship sets out in the early morning and during the high water season (usually August - December) you cruise across the tranquil Tonle Sap Lake, arriving into Siem Reap at around 9am. In the low water season (usually December - August), the ship will dock at Kampong Cham on Day 4 and on your last day, you will disembark for a transfer back to Siem Reap, arriving in the early afternoon. Please note that the sequence of visits in Cambodia may also vary during the lower water season. Full details are available on request.

Disembark

Drop off point is the Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa, Central Park, Siem Reap. Time and point of disembarkation from the ship depend on the water levels and will therefore be advised two weeks prior to departure.

Includes

4 Nights' accommodation on the Jayavarman
Transfer between the ship and the city centre in Siem Reap
Full board
Mineral water, coffee and tea available all day
Sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
Phnom Penh port taxes (shown separately on the website and charged when you make your booking)