3-Days Cruise between Phnom Penh and Battambang
A wonderful cruise linking Phnom Penh to Battambang passing through Udong, the former capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Kampong Chhnang and its pottery villages.
This cruise is a real expedition on the Tonle Sap, a river unique in the world, the course of which reverses every 6 months, which feeds the immense lake of the same name. This lake is classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
Expedition, but comfortable and safe on the Sat Toung, traditional wooden boat, built in Phnom Penh on the banks of the Mekong. It takes only 4 cabins and 8 passengers maximum, for a warm and intimate cruise to discover the inhabitants of the Tonle Sap.
Please read the practical information at the bottom of this page.
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Departures possible from 2 reserved cabins. Cambodian cruises will inform the passengers 1 month before the date of departure if the cruise has to be canceled.
The Tonle Sap, a unique lake and river in the world.
To cruise on the Tonle Sap river, it is to join Battambang and Phnom Penh by living an extraordinary adventure in contact with the populations of the river and their very amazing floating villages.
Permeate this unique and fragile ecosystem can be conceived only through a responsible and respectful tourism. That is the reason why the Sat Toung, traditional boat decorated in an “ethnic chic” style, only takes 4 cabins and 8 passengers maximum, and propels you in this exceptional, exciting and very exclusive adventure, far from mass tourism while enjoying comfortable cabins. The on-board power supply is of solar origin, thus avoiding exhaust emissions and noise pollution caused by the operation of a generator 24 hours a day, especially during the night. It will allow you to let you carry by the rhythm of its nonchalant navigation to the discovery of a fully preserved nature. This kind of cruise nevertheless knows constraints, please fully understand the “Practical informations“.
You will board the Sat Toung (the pelican in Khmer) for an unforgettable adventure of 3 days and 2 nights, where you will discover the ancient and charming city of Udong, ancient and mysterious capital of Cambodia. At night, the Sat Toung anchor on a small arm of the river in front of a typical farm of the banks of the river.
The next day, you will pass the city Kampong Chhnang to go up the river again for 2.5 hours.
You will stop in front of a school in the village of Damnak Reach which you will visit as well as his school.
After walking in the village, lunch will be served on board and will set sail to navigate another of the countless arms of the river, at the foot of a very green hill.
You will anchor for the night in a small village from which you can go on a tuk-tuk at the top of the hill to overlook the rice fields and the many arms of the river. You can also visit a beautiful pagoda there.
The next morning, while having breakfast, you head to Kampomg Chhnang to disembark there about 1 hour later.
You will visit in a tuk-tuk a village composed of traditional pottery workshops sold throughout Cambodia. You can follow all the stages of their manufacture until their cooking.
Back on board, a hearty breakfast will be served.
Then the taxi will pick you up to take you to the city of Battambang which you will reach about 3.5 hours later.
The routes are of course opposite but identical in both directions from Battambang to Phnom Penh or vice versa.
Our partners at the start or finish of our cruises:
In Battambang, we often work with the Maisons Wat Kor hotel managed by a couple of French and English speaking Cambodians: http://www.maisonswatkor.com/. It is a charming and quiet hotel. If you wish to book, log on to their website and report that you are sailing with Cambodian cruises, you will benefit from preferential rates.
In Phnom Penh, Hotel Saravoan unfortunately did not survive the Covid crisis, we are currently looking for new partners.The Saravoan Royal Palace Hotel (Fr, En, Kh), ideally located in the heart of the capital, which will organize, if you book by contacting them through the establishment’s website, your transfer between the boat and the hotel (http://www.saravoanroyalpalace.com) as well as a preferential rate by signaling that you are cruising with us.
| Phnom Penh – Siem Reap cruise | Front cabin-Twin sharing | Front cabin-Single use | Back cabin-Twin sharing | Back cabin-Single use |
| Price per cabin 3 days and 2 nights | $670.00 | $585.00 | $730.00 | $636.00 |
Departures possible from 2 rented cabins. Phocea Mekong cruises will inform the passengers 1 month before the date of departure if the cruise has to be canceled.
Our prices include:
• Full board accommodation, including meals mentioned in the program, coffee, tea & drinking water
• One french bottle wine par cabin per day
• English speaking Khmer native on board manager
• Pick up at hotel in Battambang (Only for hotels in city center)
• Pick-up only at the Saravoan Royal Palace hotel in Phnom Penh (possibility of pick-up at the airport by this hotel)
• Excursions in our program (entrance fees, tuk-tuk, community boats, etc.) in Udong, Kampong Chhnang
• Boarding and disembarking – port taxe
• Passenger liability insurance included with “FORTE insurance”
Our prices do not include:
• Personal travel insurance
• Tours and meals other than those mentioned in the program
• Personal expenses & Gratuities for the crew/guides
For more informations on the course of our cruises, please read our FAQ.
Please read our terms and conditions.
Our commitment to authentic and safe cruises.
We ensure the refund of the entire deposit (except the costs of exchange or bank) if you decide to cancel the cruise more than one month before the scheduled departure.
Phnom Penh departure : From 07:00 am. Departure on tuesday. Boarding at Titanic tourism port, Sisowath quay in front of n°104 street, Phnom Penh. Arrival in Siem Reap on thursday around 03:30 pm (06:30 during low water season).
Battambang departure : From 07:30 am. Departure on friday. Taxi will pick you up at your hotel. Arrival in Phnom Penh on sunday around 03:30 pm
The Saravoan Royal Palace Hotel is unfortunately a victim of Covid 19 and has had to close its doors. We are currently looking for a new partner in Phnom Penh.We frequently work in Phnom Penh with the Saravoan Royal Palace Hotel (Fr, En, Kh), ideally located in the heart of the capital, which will organize, if you book by contacting them through the establishment’s website, your transfer between the boat and the hotel (http://www.saravoanroyalpalace.com) as well as a preferential rate by signaling that you are cruising with us.
In Battambang, we often work with the Maisons Wat Kor hotel managed by a couple of French and English speaking Cambodians: http://www.maisonswatkor.com/. It is a charming and quiet hotel. If you wish to book, log on to their website and report that you are sailing with Cambodian cruises, you will benefit from preferential rates.
Important informations
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.
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, water is only 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.
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 or driftnets 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.
Ra, 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 cabins with TV 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 Cambodian 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.