Cruise Down the Mekong River in Phnom Penh

The surrounding countryside of Phnom Penh offers stellar opportunities for the perfect half-day or full-day cruise down the Mekong River giving a feel like you escaped the hustle and bustle. On the way, observe the lifestyle of the local people as you pass some local villages nestled on the banks of the river with traditional floating houses and markets. You can also see the locals fishing along the riverside, and the different crops are grown on the shore.

Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River
1.5 Hours (5.00 pm – 6.30 pm)

Wrap up your day with a memorable sunset cruise. A trip not to be missed! relax on a wooden slow boat cruising along the mighty Mekong River and see a quaint floating Village and local fishermen at work. Enjoy some soft drinks/local beer while watching a spectacular sunset over the Phnom Penh skyline and Royal Palace and witnessing this charming capital’s beauty at dusk.

Half day: Mekong Silk Island Cruise
4 Hours (8.00 am – 12.30 pm)

Across the Mekong, Koh Dach, or Silk Island offers an enjoyable half-day excursion by a traditional wooden boat out of the busy city of Phnom Penh. The boat trip to the island will take one hour. On the Island, take a Remork/Tuktuk around the village to explore the carved Buddhist monastery and a Silk Farm to see the silkworms (or caterpillars), and watch locals harvest them. You will also have an opportunity to witness an entire silk thread process starting from the silkworm to the final silk craft at the Heng Naysim’s Traditional Silk Weaving Studio. Watch as the silk is transformed from a cotton-like texture into thread, and try your hand at weaving if you’d like.

Full day: The Sacred Oudong Hill and Koh Chen Island Cruise
8 Hours (7.30 am – 4.00 pm)

After a scenic 2-hour journey, we stop at the infamous Koh Chen Island, home to generations of silversmiths. When approaching this island by boat, the first notable image you’ll get is the big sitting Buddha statue put peacefully near the river bank, and beyond it is the roof covered with yellow tiles of a temple built in Khmer style. The lush green trees make the view of the island more beautiful and fresher.

It can be said that the soul of Koh Chen Village is clay and silver craft items. No one can remember the source of this handicraft since it was passed from generation to generation. The villagers do not go to any art schools, they learn from people around them, for example, from family members. They all have the thought that men and women have different responsibilities in the working process. Men will forge and women will engrave. The main materials used to make these items are the clay, copper or bronze, and silver.

When you pay a visit to this village, you will be welcomed by the locals to their houses which are also their small workshops. You’ll see the process of straightening and shaping the bronze or silver done by men and the process of engraving done by women. The men will shape this material into bowls, boxes, or trays. Then women will engrave the picture of flowers, trees, animals, or even pictures of Angkor Wat or Ramayana. They also follow the demand of clients and engrave on the demanded items.

After that set off on Remork/Tuktuk to visit the sacred Oudong Mountain, which once was Cambodia’s ancient capital called Oudong Meanchey, and literally means “noble victory” for around 200 years until it was moved to Phnom Penh. Located around 40 km from Phnom Penh, Oudong remains a sacred place where the construction of a huge stupa has recently been built to store and conserve the relic of Preah Serei Roek Theat (Ash of the Buddha). Climb the stairs to the top of Oudong Mountain and enjoy magnificent views over the plains below. Your tour guide will explain the history of the area and its buildings as well as the religious culture of the Cambodian people.

*Remark: the pick-up time is 30 minutes prior to the tour.