Included
All meals while on board; non-alcoholic beverages, house wines and beer; all shore excursions & bike use; laundry service; access to high-speed Starlink WiFi; group transfers; complimentary flight extension from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, aboard Cambodia Airways or Cambodia Angkor Air.
Exclusions
All air tickets not indicated above; visas (printed tourist e-visas are needed at airport & river border; guidelines will be provided upon booking); private transfers; spa services, boutique purchases and items of a personal nature; guide and crew gratuities; insurance of any kind.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $1,000 is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 121 days – full refund except for $500 service charge
120 to 91 days – 100% of deposit
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
Terms & Conditions
This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.
Arrival & Departure
The 8-day Low-Water Up-River Aqua Mekong River Cruise begins in Ho Chi Minh (Saigon), Vietnam (SGN), and ends in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (PNH) or Siem Reap (SAI). Plan to arrive at the meeting point, The Reverie Saigon Hotel, between 12:30 and 1:30pm on Day 1; a 2-hour group transfer departs at 1:30pm and embarkation is 3:30pm. On Day 8, disembarkation at the Phnom Penh Passenger Terminal is at 11:30am, followed by a complimentary flight to Siem Reap. We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.
Internal Flights
During low-water season, cruise vessels are not able to travel up Tonle Sap Lake due to the water level. Airplane transfers to Siem Reap via Cambodia Airways or Cambodian Angkor Air are included in your up-river cruise fare. Upon landing, you may make your own arrangements to explore the ancient city of Angkor Wat and other local attractions. Requests for flight changes and/or upgrades are not available. Please kindly inform us should you choose to remain in Phnom Penh after disembarkation.
Activities
Whether it’s by bicycle, in a kayak or on foot, the Aqua offers active ways to explore life along the amazing Mekong & Tonle Sap Rivers. Experienced river guides lead walks into the sultry jungle, or by bicycle on the riverbanks, in search of enigmatic vestiges of Indochine. Adventure activities may include skiff rides, kayaking, cycling, hikes/walks, wildlife viewing from the ship, swimming and visiting local communities. The ship’s crew can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level.
Skiff Rides
Two or three daily excursions in customized aluminum motorized launch boats with four-stroke low emission engines, or skiffs, which carry up to ten passengers each, showcase the unique wildlife and customs of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Pass by flooded emerald forests and bamboo stilt villages accessible only by boat and remote Buddhist monasteries still home to noble saffron-robed monks.
All-Terrain Biking
Complimentary all-terrain touring bikes, available for both adults and children, are a unique way to observe the exotic rituals of daily life along the mighty Mekong. Enjoy 5- to 10-mile biking routes, stopping to photograph catfish sellers, the planting of rice paddies or local children playing with the family’s domesticated water buffalo.
Kayaking
Take advantage of eight double-kayaks throughout various locations in Cambodia. For example, kayaking in Oknha Tey to see local silk-weavers at work, kayaking the Moat Khla region by Tonle Sap Lake and/or in the waterways in the Kampong Chnnang Province.
Room Configuration
Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at a 25% supplement of the per-person listed rate in select cabins upon availability. Third person sleeping on sofa bed will receive a 20% discount. To book one of four interconnecting suites, please contact your Adventure Specialist.
Families & Children
Kids 5 years and older are welcomed aboard all departure dates. Save 20% per child under the age of 12 years old. A child under 12 years old sleeping as the third person on a sofa bed pays $500 per night (2024); $550 per night (2025); $570 per night (2026).
Travel Insurance
Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.
Itinerary Notes
Use the itinerary as a guide only. Note that the Aqua Mekong’s itinerary varies according to up- and down-river routes, as well as high- and low-water seasons. Additionally, itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.
