Enchanting Mekong and Siem Reap

Sous Sdei and welcome to Cambodia. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for your included three-night stay in Siem Reap. In the evening, you’ll meet your Cambodian tour director to learn more about the days ahead.

Today, start with a visit to Angkor Thom, not a single temple such as the historic sites it neighbours, but rather one of the most remarkable royal cities of the Angkor Period and an architectural wonder. As the last capital of the Khmer Empire, it was a fortified city, home to priests, officials of the palace, military and buildings for administering the kingdom. Afterwards, visit the sacred Temple of Ta Prohm. In an incredible standoff between human creation and nature, the jungle's root systems have reclaimed this spiritual location now enshrouded in wild vegetation. The backdrop to many Hollywood scenes, the incredible Ta Prohm is both a cinematic and contemplative location. This afternoon is free time to visit the markets or try a DiscoverMORE tour.

This evening as part of your EmeraldPLUS programme, attend Phare, The Cambodian Circus, where a combination of acrobatics, music and dance tell a uniquely Cambodian story. (B/L)

• EmeraldPLUS Phare Cambodian Circus performance.
• Included Excursion Visit to Angkor Thom
• Included Excursion Visit to Ta Prohm Temple
• DiscoverMORE Vespa tour of Siem Reap (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Evening – Sunset Drinks Gondola Boat at Bayon (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Evening - Cambodian Street Food Discovery Tour (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Evening – Local Fare at Phare Circus (extra expense)

Rise early and witness the sunrise over Angkor Wat. Afterwards walk through this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site known for its elaborate decorations and intricate carvings throughout. This afternoon, enjoy free time to explore Siem Reap, or join a DiscoverMORE excursion. Later, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy an immersive evening and highlight dinner at Satcha Handicraft Centre, accompanied by an Apsara dance performance. (B/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Apsara dance performance and dinner show
• Included Excursion Sunrise visit to Angkor Wat
• DiscoverMORE Siem Reap Countryside by Vespa (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Banteay Srei Temple and APOPO (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Tonlé Sap (extra expense, July to February)
• DiscoverMORE Khmer Cooking Class (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Senteurs d’Angkor Workshop (extra expense)

Today, leave Siem Reap and venture to the town of Prek K’Dam to embark your Emerald Cruises award-winning Star-Ship. En route, stop in Kampong Kdei and see the impressive Angkor Bridge, before having lunch at a local restaurant. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your captain and crew. Later, set sail up the Tonle River to Kampong Tralach whilst you enjoy your first dinner on board with your fellow guests. (B/L/D)

Begin the day with an Ox Cart ride in Kampong Tralach to a local temple before driving to Oudong. Oudong was Cambodia’s former royal capital until it relocated to Phnom Penh in 1866. In Oudong Monastery’s main temple, receive a traditional Buddhist blessing from the resident monks, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience.

Return to Emerald Harmony and sail to Phnom Penh. Spend the afternoon at leisure, either experiencing one of our DiscoverMORE excursions, visiting the Central Market, or relaxing on board. After dinner, as part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy Phnom Penh by night on a remork (local Tuk-Tuk) tour. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS A traditional Buddhist Monk blessing
• EmeraldPLUS Phnom Penh by night on a remork (Tuk-Tuk) tour
• DiscoverMORE A silk farm tour at Koh Oknha Tei (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Craft Beer Adventure by remork (extra expense)
• DiscoverMORE Samai Distillery (extra expense)

This morning, learn more about the Khmer Rouge and the darkest days of Cambodia’s history. A short drive will take you to the Killing Fields at Choeung Ek, where you’ll be able to stroll through the fields, visit the memorial and understand more about the country’s sombre chapter. Afterwards, visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (known as ‘S-21’), a former school converted to the Khmer Rouge’s main prison and torture headquarters. Back on board, savour a Cambodian Street Fair lunch, before visiting the majestic Royal Palace, with its French-inspired gardens. This evening, for your EmeraldPLUS experience, enjoy a cultural performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation, before sailing for the border. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Cultural Performance by the Cambodian Student and Children’s Organisation
• Included Excursion Killing Fields at Choeung Ek and Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
• Included Excursion A visit to the Royal Palace

Today, you’ll cross the border into Vietnam and sail on to Tan Chau. Relax on board, or join our DiscoverMORE excursion to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary, before returning for a late lunch on board.

This afternoon, embark on a sampan to Evergreen Island for a stroll through a local village, revealing the lives of the local farming community. Reboard your sampan to travel back to Tan Chau and as part of our EmeraldPLUS, programme, visit the recently renovated Cao Dai temple. The religion of Cao Dai is a syncretic, monotheistic religion established in southern Vietnam in the city of Tây Ninh in 1926. Here, you will learn more about the mix of ideas that form the basis of this fascinating religion. Afterwards ride in a Xe Loi (local form of cyclo) from the temple back to your sampan before returning to Emerald Harmony where, later this evening as part of our EmeraldPLUS, programme, you’ll be delighted by a traditional Lion Dance performance on board. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS A visit to a local Cao Dai Temple and Xe Loi ride
• EmeraldPLUS A Lion Dance performance on board
• Included Excursion A visit to Evergreen Island
• DiscoverMORE A visit to Tra Su Bird Sanctuary (extra expense)

Known as ‘Mango Island,’ Cu Lao Gieng is a small, scenic island that is untouched by tourism located along the upper Mekong River. Travel by local motorcycle rickshaw through the island’s villages to visit families who work in a variety of local industries, including mango farming, boat construction and temple incense sticks.

Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan and sail to My An Hung Island. Recognised as a cultural and historical destination, this small rural village specialises in cultivating red-hot chilli and peppers. As part of your EmeraldPLUS experience, listen to local folk singing, wander through coconut farms and immerse yourself in traditional village life. (B/L/D)

• EmeraldPLUS Listen to some local folk singing in My An Hung
• Included Excursion See the local industries in Gieng Island
• Included Excursion A visit to My An Hung village and its Monkey Bridge

Take a short ride on a sampan to Sa Ðéc, a Mekong Delta hidden gem. Enjoy a walking tour around town with a stop at the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le, who inspired Marguerite Duras’ celebrated novel, L’Amant, and a stroll through Sa Ðéc’s bustling central market. Return to Emerald Harmony by sampan for lunch, while cruising to Cái Bè.

Upon arrival, travel via sampan to Tan Phong, a small island located nearby, rich in alluvial soil suitable for cultivating tropical fruit orchards year-round. At this established ecotourism destination, try a hands-on experience at a workshop specialising in weaving water hyacinth into artistic crafts. Board a motorised buggy for a ride through fruit orchards, stopping to sample tropical fruits. Reboard the sampan and cruise back to Cái Bè, discovering local cottage industries where families produce rice-paper and sweets from pop-corn, pop-rice and coconuts. Return to Emerald Harmony. (B/L/D)

• Included Excursion A visit to the bustling Sa Dec Markets and the home of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le
• Included Excursion An excursion to the local industries of Cai Be

After sailing from My Tho, you’ll leave the Mekong Delta and enter the Cho Gao canal, considered one of Vietnam’s major arterial canals that connects Tien Giang Province with Ho Chi Minh City. Today, you’ll be fascinated watching the heavy commercial traffic navigating this important waterway, where upwards of 1,800 vessels transit each day. Relax on board, taking in the everchanging vistas of mangroves, cargo barges and local fishing boats. Tonight, you’ll dock in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, where you can admire the city lights; due to Vietnamese customs regulations, you'll not be permitted to venture ashore. (B/L/D)

After breakfast this morning, you will be transferred to Ho Chi Minh City airport to catch your onward or homebound flight.

This itinerary is a guide only and may be amended for operational reasons such as high and low water. As such, the cruise may operate altered from that stated above. (B)