3 days

About this activity

You will board the Sat Toung (the pelican in Khmer) for an unforgettable adventure of 3 days and 2 nights, where after a breakfast during which you can enjoy the specialties of Khmer organic farming, you will pass in the middle of the floating village of Chong Khneas, crocodile farms, houses, schools, all the aquatic life in this village, marking our departure from Siem Reap. Then you will sail on Lake Tonle Sap to the village of Kampong Khleang. There, we will embark in a small boat of the community to visit the village built on very huge pilings on the edge of the flooded forest. After lunch, you will head to a small floating fishing village, very far from civilization, lost in the midst of this flooded forest ecosystem that characterizes Lake Tonle Sap. In the evening, dinner will be served with only fellow travelers, cries of birds nesting around the boat.

During low water season - From February to June +/- 2 weeks. Pick up at the hotel at 6:30am to transfert by minibus to Chhong Neas pier. Then departure to Chnok Tru by speed community boat. Arrived there, round tour of the floating villages of Khum Phat Sanday, Prak Chhork and Prak Ksarch.

After a good night in your comfortable cabin, you will sail to find our way in the middle of a labyrinth of small river arms to get out of the lake and enter the Tonle Sap River to arrive at Chnok Tru. There, you will embark again in a small boat of the community to visit the floating village of Chnok Tru. Here again, you will find an aquatic lifestyle very different from ours, outside of time.

Low water season - Early February to end of June +/- 2 weeks. You will visit the floating villages of Chhnok Tru and Kompong Preas on community boat. In this last village, pass by the school supporting by Ptea Clara (NGO supported by Phocea Mekong cruises), then visit an very old temple (11 century old).

After a hearty lunch, you will arrive at Kampong Chhnang, which will plunge you into the peaceful life of Cambodian provincial cities, where time seems to be suspended. Then, you will visit by tuk-tuk about 5 km from the port a village composed of traditional pottery workshops sold throughout Cambodia. Back on the Sat Toung, and after your dinner, you will spend your 2nd night at the anchorage a little after Kompong Chhnang, away from any noise.

The next day, after having once again crossed a labyrinth of small arms of the river, while taking your breakfast, you will join the main arm of the Tonle Sap. After lunch, you will discover the old and charming city of Udong, the ancient and mysterious capital of Cambodia. You will visit a silver object making workshop. The departure of Udong will mark your gradual return to civilization when you arrive in Phnom Penh, the end of your cruise.

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Included

Indicate prices are for one cabin for up to 2 passengers per cabin
3 Days and 2 nights accommodation
Full board accommodation, including meals mentioned in the program, coffee, tea & drinking water
English speaking khmer native on board manager
Boarding and disembarking – port fees
Passenger liability insurance included with "FORTE insurance"
Hotel pickup in Siem Reap (selected hotels only)
Drop off only at the Saravoan Royal Palace hotel in Phnom Penh (possibility of pick-up at the airport by this hotel)
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Bottled water
Coffee and/or Tea

Not included

Personal travel insurance
Tours and meals not mentioned in the program
Transfer from / to airport / to hotel in Phnom Penh (except Saravoan Royal Palace hotel)
Personal expenses & Gratuities for the crew

Additional

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Not wheelchair accessible
Sat Tung is a ship launched in December 2012 completely refurbished in may 2017, from a ancestral knowledge of Khmer carpenters, yet has modern and comfortable furnishings.
Owners may be on board. Lovers of Cambodia since 1992, they will be happy to help you discover the country through its rivers and its inhabitants. However, we draw the attention of our passengers on some very specific points of our cruises. Sat Tung is a boat owner of traditional construction, which implies certain constraints.
Refunds will not be issued if tour/activity is missed due to late or non-arrival of cruise ship
No air conditioning. The boat is naturally ventilated and wooden cabins are covered by a white protective order to limit the temperature. These however are softer because we are on the river. The cabins are equipped with fans.
We can not provide hot water in the bathrooms. The shower water is lukewarm. Due to the high temperatures almost all year round, the hot water did not seem necessary.
Water used for the bathroom is clean and has embarked before each cruise. We have 4500 liters, which is enough for grooming, showers and kitchen. It must however be careful not to use it improperly. The water in the toilet is pumped into the river, giving this land of color to toilet bowls.
Smoking is not permitted in cabins and toilets. We ask smokers to smoke only on the deck, while taking care of the cigarette butts. We are on a wooden boat.
In order not to damage the bridge, ladies please do not walk with needle heels.
We determine the menus before departure and we source fresh produce along our cruises. It is possible that our cook changes its menu based on availability on the market met or for an encounter with a fisherman.
Outside the ships and large vessels built in other Asian countries, the sailing boats in Cambodia are equipped with thrusters trucks adapted to the hulls of ships. We tried to minimize engine noise by soundproofing of the engine room, but they remain.
We sail on wild rivers, which makes the charm of these cruises, but they are also accompanied by uncertainties. So we often land on undeveloped shoreline, it is necessary to provide shoes accordingly. The water level varies over 8 meters depending on the season, changing the riverbed, the intensity of the currents forcing us to change course, or sometimes even looking our way. This may have an impact on our schedules.
Likewise, we must continuously focus on objects floating in the river (tree trunks often) and jachintes water (on the Tonle Sap above), which can also change our schedule if we should stop the engine to change a propeller or release stems jachintes water that would wound it.
Ya, our captain is very experienced. It is part of a minority called ‘Cham’ majority on the rivers of Cambodia. This water people are very peaceful community, where mutual aid is essential. Thus, we may need to ship a few people for a few hours if a request is made to Ya, for example to drive them to a dispensary. Similarly, if difficulties or changes occur on the river, one or two men can board to help our captain.
If there are few insects in the day in the river, moorings at night can attract many, especially if we are the only lights visible for several kilometers. We are equipped with mosquito nets in the cabins and the main deck level to be able to dine comfortably. However, it is strongly recommended that repulsive and dark clothing (light colored clothes attract insects).
The Sat Toung is equipped with solar equipment and a high-performance battery system. The cabins are all equipped with electric lights, 220 volt outlets, fans. We are equipped with a refrigerator, a freezer, WIFI, water pumps for running water, extractors in the bathrooms etc … All this equipment is fed by day by the Solar panels, by high performance batteries at night. They can not, however, withstand excessive power like a hair dryer.
The Sat Tung is equipped with WiFi. This can however not be operational throughout the cruise, certain areas are not covered.
By conviction, we have not equipped our TV cabins or minibar. The trip on board must be the opportunity to share in contact with the Sat Toung crew and the inhabitants of the river.
The company PhoceaMekong cruises is intimately involved in the NGO Ptea Clara, which sponsors children along the river. We may need to meet some of these cruise ongoing sponsorships to control their education and provide them with school equipment.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers