Bridge over the
With Denise Dodd,
Bridge Grand Master
Fourteen days fully escorted
22 Sept – 6 October 2010
From $4,312
pp Twin Share
There can be no tapestry of river life as fascinating
and as varied as the River Mekong, the longest river in South East Asia. From
the Tibetan Plateau, this river runs through China’s Yunnan province, Burma,
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
From start to finish, the River is approximately 4,350 kms long and
eventually drains into the South China Sea.
In English the river is called “the Mekong River”, but
in the Thai languages it is essentially the “Mae Nam Khong”, “Mae” translating
to “Mother” and “Nam” which means “water”.
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company was established by
Scottish merchants in 1865. By the
1920’s the company ran over 650 vessels on the river. It became the largest
privately owned fleet of ships in the world.
Royalty and Viceroys, writers and poets all travelled on the “Old
Flotilla” immortalized by Rudyard Kipling in his poem, “Road to Mandalay”.
In 1942 the fleet was scuppered in its entirety when
the Japanese invaded. The Irrawaddy
Flotilla was revived in 1995 by the
Pandaw is the largest luxury river cruise company in
Asia. They offer a real adventure
experience; although travellers are cushioned with amazing comfort, air
conditioned cabins, fine dining, and choice wines, not to mention extraordinary
levels of service. All meals and local
drinks (beer and spirits) are included.
Pandaw’s ships were built new and designed and
finished as replicas of the Colonial River Steamers. These small ships have the highest passenger to space ratio of any
ships afloat – staterooms are 170 square feet and finished in teak and
brass.
So many passengers return to a Pandaw cruise on a
regular basis. Pandaw’s success is not
just in the beauty of the ships, the comfort and service, or even the
fascinating lands and journeys. Much of
Pandaw’s success is the attitude of the inhabitants of this incredible River
and their ability to rise above the devastation and trauma that recent wars and
dictatorships have inflicted on them.
Visit www.pandaw.com
Day 1/2: Fly
Brisbane/Saigon with
On arrival at
Hotel: Hotel Majestic (4.5 Stars) breakfast daily
Day 3: Cu Chi Tunnels + City Tour (B/L/-)
We will visit an extensive labyrinth of tunnels known
as Cu Chi, built by the Viet Cong guerrillas during the war. This is where they
lived and hid during bombing raids. Afterwards, lunch at a local restaurant,
followed by a tour of the Reunification Palace, (formerly Presidential Palace)
Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office, War Museum, Chinatown and Binh Tay
Markets.
Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho (B/L/D)
Transfer to the Sofitel Plaza Saigon for registration
and boarding of your Pandaw Cruise.
Day 5: My Tho Cai Bei – Vinh Long –
Chau Doc (B/L/D) Half day cruise excursion
on traditional sampans. Cast off after lunch for Chau Doc. On route visit Cu Lao Gien Island and
Catholic monastery built in 1875 which now serves as a retreat for 180 retired
nuns. Accommodation RV Mekong Pandaw
(B/L/D)
Day 6: Chau
Doc to Border crossing (B/L/D)
From the main Mekong channel we travel down to the
Chau Doc jetty to visit a Cham Tribal village and fish farm. Return to Pandaw
and cast off for the Cambodian border.
Day 7:
The capital of Cambodia, we will visit the Royal
Palace – Siler Pagoda – National Museum – Killing Fields (optional) OR Russian and Central Markets.
Day 8: Phnom
Penh to Tonle River (B/L/D)
Proceed by coach to Kampong Cham to view a rich
tapestry of Cambodian rural life. Moor
at
Day 9: Kampong
Cham (B/L/D)
Kampong Cham (from Tonle River to Mekong) View the
silk weaving village at Chong Koh.
Afterwards visit the Prem Chi Kang village to see an ancient monastery
and a modern school.
Day 10: Kampong
Cham (B/L/D)
This morning visit the pre
Day 11: Arrive
Siem Riep (B/-/-)
Arrive at this amazing city for three nights and
discover the ancient Angkorian sites. We will be met on arrival and transferred
to The Hotel de la Paix. Afternoon free.
Hotel de la Paix, (5 stars)
breakfast daily
Day 12: Siem Reap (B/L/-)
Depart
Depart hotel
Day 13: Siem Reap (B/-/D)
Depart
In the afternoon, visit Angkor Thom. Next stop Baphuon, Elehpant Terrance and
Terrace of the Leper King. Time
permitting, we will visit Artisan D’Angkor and
Day 14/15: Siem Reap to Singapore/Brisbane (B/-/-)
Depart hotel
Price Includes:
- International
economy class return airfares and taxes (except Siem Reap)
- Twin
share hotel accommodation
- Meals
as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- On
Pandaw cruise, 7 nights, all meals, local beverages, sightseeing and
gratuities, see www.pandaw.com
- Chartered
air-conditioned vehicles
- Professional
English speaking local guides
- Australian
Tour Manager
- Transfers,
sightseeing, entrance fees as specified
- Bridge
sessions whilst on Pandaw
- www.pandaw.com/passenger-information-c-51/html
Price does not include
- Vietnamese
and Cambodian visas (approximately $160)
- Departure
tax, Siem Reap (US $25)
- Tipping
to local guides (approximately $5 pp per day)
- Increase
in taxes and charges
- Foreign
exchange rate fluctuations
- Travel
insurance (essential)
- Fuel
surcharge increases
For more information
contact:
Denise Dodd (07) 3359 1285 Mob: 0409
591285
denise@seriouslysocialbridge.com.au
www.seriouslysocialbridge.com.au
ALMA Travel
Centre
Call Lili – (03) 9650
6655
Freecall 1800 622 661