Home > Phnom Penh > Mekong River Half-Day Small-Group Tour
USD $65.00
Mekong River Half-Day Small-Group Tour
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Take a trip into the Cambodian countryside and along the Mekong River on this half-day, small-group tour from Phnom Penh. Travel out of the city by tuk-tuk, and then cross the river to Koh Dach, an island also known as Silk Island. You’ll travel back to Phnom Penh on a sunset cruise along the Mekong, where the setting sun provides a stunning backdrop to the city.
Leave the hustle and bustle of Phnom Penh behind as you jump in a tuk-tuk (a type of auto rickshaw) and travel over the Japanese Bridge and into the countryside. Pass through rural settings and by roadside stalls selling everything from paper-mache animals to steamed corn. Then board a barge that will take you across the river and onto the island of Koh Dach, also known as Silk Island.
The village on Silk Island is typical of many rural Cambodian villages, with houses built up high on stilts. You will see people underneath the houses, weaving silk on hand looms and dying it vibrant colors. See how the silk is transformed from a cotton wool-like texture into thread on homemade spinning wheels made from bicycle parts. Try using the looms to weave the silk into distinct Ikat patterns, or wander the village and meet the locals.
Later, board a boat for a sunset cruise down the Mekong River and back to Phnom Penh. Admire the city from the water as the setting sun provides a stunning backdrop to the skyline.
Sadly I was taken on a different tour, probably because they had more bookings for the silk factory and walking tour, this was not Da the guide's fault, I guess she just follows instructions. I did go on the Mekong River but it wasn't for the Half-Day Small Group Tour that I booked, so yes a little disappointed. The area that we had to walk through to get to the boat was disgusting, muddy and full of all-sorts I dread to think. We also had to walk down a steep rocky area, so if you are not too good on your feet, I would not suggest this trip.
Review by: Valerie E, January 2017
We were the only people in the group. The tour guide was friendly and informative. It was good to see the ladies weaving the silk and the fruit offered as refreshment. We felt obliged to buy from them as we were the only ones there. This helps their economy but does rather intimidate the tourist. The river trip was very basic, again we were the _br/_ only ones on the boat and were offered a tinned beer of drink. Overall rather disappointing.
Review by: James D, August 2016
This tour represents great value-for-money. The sunset return cruise at the end of the tour was a real highlight we had a giant boat all to ourselves!. Worth doing but the tour can drag a little in places. Great to have a chance to visit Silk Island though and I am glad I chose this package to do so.
Review by: Andre W, May 2016
Really enjoyable, particularly meeting and talking to locals about their way of life , politics etc. they have a wonderful sense of humour
Review by: Lee H, April 2016
Well organised._br/_ Lovely guide. Very approachable and knowledgable._br/_ Lady at silk farm was amazing. Made us feel really welcome and the fruit she gave us was great. It was really nice to chat with her for a while to learn more about her and her lifestyle.
Review by: Graham R, December 2015
Excellent tour and guide
Review by: Phillip C, June 2015
Enjoyed this tour,it was very cosy being transported by tuk tuk.The guide was very informative and the sights were a joy to behold.Eating some local delicases was an eye opener.Overall a very good tour.
Review by: footballfeast, June 2015
Really enjoyed the tour - was nice to visit the Silk Weaving family business on Silk Island. _br/_
Our tour guide was very friendly and full of knowledge.
Review by: kevin m, March 2015
a fantastic tour , are guide( daro) picked me up on time and was one off the most friendly guides i have _br/_
had , we first went by public boat across the mekong, ( which was a great experience) _br/_
then by tuk tuk through the countryside to a silk farm where they show you how the silk is produced and made , you even get a chance to weave some silk yourself , the people who own the silk farm are friendly and make you feel most welcome, at the farm wewere given refreshments off fresh fruit and drinks_br/_
after the silk farm we were taken to see the reclining Buddha, and the monkeys !!!_br/_
and to finish the trip we were taken back to phonm pehn by boat to see the sun set._br/_
this trip is well worth doing while in phonm pehn ,
Review by: Patrick, February 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Kevin F, December 2014
This half day tour is a nice break from the city and a good way to see some of the countryside. I was picked up from the hotel right at the time that the local tour operator had told me. The guide (Daro) was excellent and very informative and offered different local snacks. The village and silk weaving were interesting and travelling by ferry and then a boat cruise were also great experiences.
Review by: NELLIE D, December 2014
This was the way to see to see Phnom Penh and the guide was excellent
Review by: LOIS B, December 2014
This was the way to see to see Phnom Penh and the guide was excellent
Review by: Jone Sigvart Ei M, May 2014
A nice trip outside Phnom Penh. It was interesting to see how they live in the country side. It was very dirty but interesting. Visiting the silk factory was also educating.
Review by: Ellen M, May 2014
Overall, the trip was a nice glimpse of life over on Silk Island. I'm an expat living here and went with a visitor on my first trip to the island. The guide was professional, the drivers were safe and the silk farm and temple were interesting. The real disappointment in the trip was the boat ride. I was under the impression that this would be a "sunset" cruise (one of my personal favorite things to do in PP and one of reasons why I was willing to pay so much to book the trip. In fact the boat operator merely sped across the Mekong far from the settlement of fishing villages and very, very close to the noisy sand mining operators-- close enough that the dog on the mining platform barked at the boat! She (female operator was a nice touch and unusual for Cambodia) went so fast that I was unable to point out some significant sights on the riverside. As a result we were delivered to the final boat doc about an hour before the scheduled arrival time- no sunset and an hour to kill before we could muster an appetite for dinner. Of course our tuk tuks had not arrived yet because we were so early, so the guide was kind enough to pay our fare back since we didn't want to wait. Overall a fun time, but the last part was a real downer for the price of the tour.
Review by: Sarah M, April 2014
What a waste of $45.00.
Review by: tricia t, April 2014
Awesome Thank you
Review by: Subha D, April 2014
This is not a very exciting tour although it depends on what you are after. You visit a rural house who are in silk weaving near the city Phnom Penh traveling for an hour through the dusty roads. Please carry masks which are easily purchased in the city. The hosts were quite nice in explaining the silk weaving process starting from the worm! And you can even try your hand at weaving. The sunset cruise back to the city was nothing mention worthy and we were unlucky too as it was cloudy so no sunset for us.
Review by: Louis S, March 2014
Interesting tour, great guide, not enough time on the river
Review by: HARAPRASAD DASH, January 2014
Tour was relaxing.We enjoyed the trip to the village,the silk manufacturing unit and the hospitality.Must see.
Review by: Tracey H, January 2014
Loved this tour, and had a great guide, Daro.
Review by: meggs888, July 2013
After taking the ferry over to Silk Isand and really quite enjoying that experience, we were taken by tuk tuk to another river crossing on a smaller boat. The area we were expected to embark was disgusting! I admit it had rained and this left the ground vey muddy but it was absolutely filthy. There was rubbish everywhere and we had to walk down a steep muddy hill, not even a path, to get to the boat, 2 members of our party slipped and fell over in this filth. We then had to walk across a narrow plank with only a piece of bamboo held by a young girl and the boat captain as a rail, disembarking we had to walk down the same wet plank with the same ridiculous rail but this time on a very steep slope, not an easy task for anyone but particularly hard after all the rain and with 2 of us already caked with mud! Not a good way to promote Cambodia
Review by: William L, June 2013
The tour started out a little rough. The contact numbers I was supposed to call when I arrived at my hotel did not work. I finally called the emergency number and made contact. He told me to be waiting at 2pm. Finally called him back at 3pm . He told me there was a problem and they would pick me up shortly. Finally started the tour almost a hour and a half late. The tour wasn't too bad but the silk worm farm is not that good. We killed way too much time learning about silk worms and watching the weaving. Then I was pressured to buy their products. I bought a couple of silk articles and the lady started telling me how she really needed money as her Papa had took off and there was no one but her to support her sister and her mother. I resisted and did not buy anything else. On to the Mekong cruise part. It was me, the tour guide, and the boat captain being the only people on the boat. And the boat wasn't that small. Enjoyed the river cruise but nothing great.
Review by: William B, April 2013
Interesting insight to the lifestyle of the country people around Phnom Penh. Silk island shop a neat place.
Review by: Robert B, February 2013
Excellent, fun and informative tour. Travelling by tuk tuk on a dirt road was certainly an experience but a great way to see the local countryside. Silk weaving was very interesting and you can actually have a go at it yourself. Lovely sunset coming back by boat. Our tour guide Tien was delightful with a great sense of humour so all in all a lovely day.
Review by: Linda H, January 2013
My husband an I enjoyed this 1/2 day trip very much. We had a good guide who met us at the hotel and spoke good English. We were the only ones with the guide so we got to stay as long or as short as we wished at the various places he took us. Being a teacher, I particulary liked the visit to the school on the island where I went into the classroom and did a few English lessons with the local children. On the cruise back once again we were on the boat on our own. It was really peaceful and relaxing. Very enjoyable
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