Day 1 Depart UK.
Day 2 Bangkok. Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to the InterContinental Bangkok for one night. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Bangkok - Siem Reap. Fly to Siem Reap and transfer to your hotel, Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa. This evening, enjoy an Apsara dance performance, where ancient Khmer culture is brought to life by dancers, singers, and musicians. (B, D)
Day 4 Siem Reap. This afternoon, visit the majestic Temples of Angkor. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the architectural grandeur of this Khmer temple complex is arguably unmatched among ancient ruins anywhere in the world. First, visit Angkor Thom to see the Bayon Temple, adorned with over 200 carved faces. Next, see the 'symbol of Cambodia' Angkor Wat and its five trademark towers. Here you will be joined by an archaeologist from the Apsara Authority for a special guided tour of the ruins. This evening is at leisure to explore charming Siem Reap - or stay to witness sunset at Angkor Wat. (B, L)
Day 5 Siem Reap. Continue your exploration of the Angkor temple complex today. Visit Ta Prohm, which unlike the other temples has been left relatively untouched. Tree roots grow over and through the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as the early explorers who discovered it. Next, visit beautiful Banteay Srei, a small unique temple built from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. Later, head to Les Artisans d’Angkor, a development project teaching young adults traditional handicraft techniques. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (B, D)
Day 6 Siem Reap (Embarkation). This morning, transfer to the port and board Avalon Angkor to begin your cruise. Set sail and cross the Tonle Sap (Great Lake). After the rainy season, this massive body of water can cover around 10,000 square miles and is the perfect breeding ground for fish, which play a vital role in providing food for people living on the lake. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception. (B, L, D)
Day 7 Cruising: Kampong Tralach - Udong - Prek Dam. Today, visit Kampong Tralach for an ox-cart ride alongside shimmering rice paddies and through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Continue to Udong, former capital of Cambodia, for a visit to a monastery and a lecture on Buddhism. Later, drive to Prek Dam to rejoin your ship for lunch and an afternoon relaxing on board. (B, L, D)
Day 8 Cruising: Wat Hanchey - Kampong Cham. Visit Wat Hanchey, an 8th century temple dating back to the Chenla Empire. Perched on a hilltop, the temple offers lovely views of the surrounding area. Visitors are welcome to partake in a Traditional Water Blessing given by local monks. After lunch, travel by coach to the twin holy mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey (man and woman hill), where you will see the beautiful stupa as well as two huge Buddha statues before visiting Nokorbachey, an Angkorian temple complex featuring several original statues of Buddha.
Note: The climb to Wat Hanchey features a steep incline. If you feel you are unable to make the climb you will be driven to the top by car. (B, L, D)
Day 9 Cruising: Angkor Ban - Prek Bang Kong. Enjoy a walking tour through the rural village of Angkor Ban and take in traditional Khmer Houses, a Local School, and a Buddhist Monastery, where you can meet the local monks. After lunch, explore the village of Prek Bang Kong, where silk weaving is a well-preserved tradition, and see silk weaving in local houses and how the silk is produced. (B, L, D)
Day 10 Cruising: Phnom Penh. Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh, is steeped in French colonial charm. This morning's trip offers a sobering glimpse at the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime. Visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and later, one of the Killing Fields, where over 200,000 people died under orders of the Khmer Rouge. After lunch on the ship, join a sightseeing tour by private cyclo to take in city highlights such as the Royal Palace with the spectacular Silver Pagoda, and the National Museum. (B, L, D)
Day 11 Cruising: Cambodia – Vietnam Border Crossing, Chau Doc, Vietnam. Today, cruise across the Cambodia-Vietnam border. Reaching Chau Doc, visit a local fish farm to learn about the different species in the Mekong and take a stroll in the cheerful outdoor market before ending the morning with a visit to the pretty pagodas at the base of Sam Mountain. (B, L, D)
Day 12 Cruising: Sa Dec – Cai Be. Sail by sampan to the quaint riverfront town of Sa Dec, enjoying rural river scenes en route. Visit a Brick Factory and the adjacent Rice Factory for an insight into their production and the importance of the rice husk in fuelling the brick kilns. Later, explore the bustling waterfront market before visiting the delicately ornate House of Hyunh Thuy Le. After lunch back on board Avalon Angkor, cruise by sampan across Cai Be Harbour to tour An Kiet House and gardens, which feature several types of indigenous fruit. Visit a local establishment to see how rice paper, rice wine, and traditional candy are made before viewing the beautiful French Gothic Cathedral on the waterfront. (B, L, D)
Day 13 Cruising: Ho Chi Minh City (Disembarkation). Reaching Ho Chi Minh City today, enjoy a walking tour of the city’s highlights and famous landmarks. Stroll along the former Rue Catinat, past the Rex Hotel, to Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Visit the Reunification Palace (the former Presidential Palace) and the War Remnants Museum. At lunchtime, explore Ben Thanh Market with a local chef to learn how different fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood are used in Vietnamese cuisine. Afterwards, head into the classroom for a Vietnamese cooking class and learn how to prepare different dishes and how to recreate them once you return home. (B, L)
Day 14 Ho Chi Minh City. Excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Head out of the city and drive amongst glistening rice paddies to the Cu Chi Tunnels, an extraordinary network of tunnels used as everything from a hideout to a secret village by the Viet Cong during the war. An expert Local Guide will explain how the tunnels were constructed and you'll have the opportunity to walk through a section to experience what life would have been like underground. On the way back to Ho Chi Minh City for lunch, enjoy a brief stop at a rubber plantation to learn more about the industry. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B, L, D)
Day 15 Ho Chi Minh City – UK. After breakfast, you are free to make the most of Ho Chi Minh City at leisure before transferring to the airport for your evening flight back to the UK. (B)
Day 16 Land UK.
Note: During low water conditions we may not be able to cruise up river to Tonle Sap. Low water levels vary each year, depending on rainfall, but are generally between mid-January and June. Our ability to cruise to Tonle Sap will be evaluated on a cruise-by-cruise basis.
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