Day 1: Siem Reap - Kampong Luong - Kampong Chhnang
07:00 Meeting in front of FCC hotel in Siem Reap. Transfer by local tour agent for Phnom Krom boat-pier.
Transfer form the pier by local boat to the Toum Tiou.
08:00 Check-in at the boat docked near Phnom Krom in Siem Reap. Passengers embark, security briefing.
Departure for a relaxing half day by crossing the Tonlé Sap Lake. Lunch onboard.
15:30 Arrival at Kampong Luong. Local boats are coming along the Toum Tiou and picking passengers for the visit. Almost totally overlooked by tourists because of its remoteness and difficult access, the village is completely self-sufficient. A floating school, factories to make ice for fish preservation, church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty, stores, boat or television repair shops, video club, karaoke bar, police station... everything is on the water. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this little town.
18:00 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou stays overnight under the protection of the flooded forest.
19:00 Welcome drink and info meeting about cruise, crew introduction. Welcome dinner. Overnight onboard.
Day 2: Kampong Chhnang - Kampong Tralach - Phnompenh
07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kampong Chnang by passing near Chnok Tru, the first
big village after the River meets the Great Lake of Tonlé Sap. Breakfast during navigation.
09:00 Arrival to Kampong Chnang.
Located some 56 miles from Phnom Penh, the town of Kampong Chnang is one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonlé Sap. Fish farming is also widely practiced in the area. The area is famous for its pottery ware, unchanged in style for centuries, which is produced in sufficient quantities to supply the entire country. And not to be overlooked are the products of the Thnot tree (sugar palm – a real national symbol) that abounds in the area: a mellow tasting, caramel-colored sugar sold in large cakes and palm wine.
11:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Kampong Tralach
15:30 Arrival at Kampong Tralach to visit its wonderful Vihara belonging to Wat Kampong Tralach Leu pagoda. To get to it, we cross Kampong Tralach Krom village along a small road perpendicular to the river, crossing some gorgeous stretches of emerald rice paddy as we leave the river behind.
The Vihara dates back to early last century. It was probably built on an older site, as indicated by the latérite foundations, and is home to some outstanding mural paintings. These, however, are starting to suffer from weathering. They remain one of the last survivors of cultural destruction that continues unabated due to widespread indifference.
Standing by itself in the middle of rice fields, it is a modest pagoda that receives very few visitors. Its isolation may well be its undoing, as was the case last May for Wat Tani Pagoda in the province of Kampot.
17:30 Passengers re-embark. The Toum Tiou drops anchor few miles away.
19:00 Farewell cocktail (1 glass of local liquor or juice) with Master of Ship & Cruise Manager.
Captain’s farewell dinner (Enriched menu + 1 glass of wine). Overnight on board.
Day 3: Phnompenh
07:00 Departure of the Toum Tiou early in the morning. Sail to Kôh Chen (Chinese Island)
08:30 Arrival to Kôh Chen, small village of whose inhabitants specialize in silver and copper smiting. They make ornamental items, including delicately engraved tropical fruits, used in traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for marriages.
The distant hills of Cambodia's old capital, Oudong, and its royal stupas can be seen a few kilometers away from the ferry. At the top of the hill, the ruins of Anthareu temple.
11:30 Passengers re-embark the Toum Tiou. Lunch on board on the way to Phnom Penh.
13:00 Arrival in Phnom Penh.
Note: Due to the low level of the water in the lake from March to July, the boat may not be able to cross the lake to reach Siem Reap. During this period, the visit of the floating village of Chnol Tru will be done, instead of the floating village of Kompong Luong and the passenger will cross the lake by small speed boats, the timing remains unchanged. |
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Prices quoted in US$ nett per person in 2010
| Cabin |
Single |
Double/ Twin |
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| Sharing cabin |
532 |
884 |
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Inclusions of the trip
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English / French speaking guide
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Deluxe double / twin cabin of Toum Tiou
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Full board (Tea, water, coffee included)
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Admission fees and permits where applicable
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Transfer in Siem Reap from/ to FCC Angkor hotel only
Exclusions of the trip
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Airfares & airport taxes
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Transfer from hotel to dock / from dock to hotel
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Pre/post trip arrangement
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Visa and visa arrangement; Travel insurance | |
RV Toum Tiou Cruise Information |
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Built in the traditional style, the Toum Tiou was christened in 2002 on the river at Phnom Penh, the first Cambodian cruise boat with international standard accommodation.
Fully-paneled in wood, with charm and comfort in mind, we designed it in keeping with the local style. Modestly sized and with the safety of a steel hull, its low draught makes it possible for the boat to access the smallest of villages. With the tasteful decoration of a bygone era, it has 10 cozy double cabins with private shower, a large lounge area, a panoramic viewing space to the front, a half-covered bar-restaurant to the rear and a roof patio. Air conditioning, hi-fi system and library are provided. The captain, boat hands, hostesses, cooks and boat master are quiet and insonspicuous in the performance of their duties.
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The legend of Toum and Tiou
The Toum Tiou derives its name from a traditional Khmer tale of star-crossed lovers, the Cambodian equivalent of Romeo and Juliet, Toum being the boy and Tiou, the girl. This beautiful love story turned tragedy features Tiou's mother, an ambitious woman who wants to marry her daughter off to the king and Toum as the awkward lover. The king, good-hearted and understanding, eventually gives up on the marriage to make Tiou happy. It ends tragically when a frame-up involving the mother and the governor leads to the death of one of the two lovers, the other committing suicide to follow suit. This story is taught from primary to high school. Many songs and pieces of traditional music allude to the pair of ill-fated lovers.
Construction
This traditional locally built boat started out as a freighter with a metal hull and a capacity of 150 tons, with two large but low-ceiling decks in order to maximize storage space. Like all boats of this type, it went up and down the Tonle Sap and Mekong, stopping at Siem Reap, Kompong Cham, Kratie and Stung Treng. We stayed as close as we could to the original line of the boat, because we wanted to retain its slightly curved and elegant lines.
The Toum Tiou is 38 meters long and 6.5 meters wide in the middle. It has 10 rooms in all (3.3 m x 2.5 m), 4 on the first deck and 6 on the second, each air-conditioned and with a bathroom (2.5 m x 1.4 m) including toilet, shower and sink. The water on board is taken from the river, passed through a powerful filtration system and chlorinated in the final step of the treatment.
In order to make the best possible use of the common areas from the standpoint of both size and variety we have installed a library-reading room on the lower deck. There is also a covered space at the front of the middle deck, a restaurant to the rear anda half-covered sundeck on top.
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