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Solo Sister Sought For Mekong Expedition
2013 was when Julie last managed to travel the waters of the Mekong, and in doing so discovered the dichotomy of the lifestyles where Ancient Worlds and Modern Times clash on a daily basis. Spellbound and enchanted Julie has been waiting to get back, and now having chartered a vessel unlike any other, is doing just that in the best way possible, and invited you to join her!
With just 5 cabins left on the voyage travelling from the ancient stone ruins of Angkor Wat at Siem Reap to the busting modern hub of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly known as Saigon), this is your chance to not only visit some incredible destinations and experience a way of life totally different to that here in Australia, but to journey one of the worlds longest rivers.
$6666 Per Person Share Twin
20th August – 2nd September 2018, Sydney to Sydney
VISITING: Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Kampong Tralach, Kampong Louang, Phomn Penh, Wat Hanchey, Angkor Ban, Long Khong A, Chau Doc, Cu Lao Gieng, Ben Tre,
and Ho Chi Minh City
Includes: Sightseeing throughout with inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable. Airport transfers; private, deluxe, air-conditioned coach while touring; internal flights. 4 star hotels as stated or similar. Fully Guided with Escort ex-Sydney based on 30 Travellers. International Air with Thai Airways including taxes , surcharges and fees.
EXTEND TO HANOI: Extend your discovery of Vietnam with an extension to the North to take in the beautiful Hanoi and the iconic Halong Bay aboard a traditional Junk Cruise
Not Sure About River Cruising?
If you enjoy ocean cruising or even touring and are wondering how you would find a river cruise this is the perfect opportunity. With free flights, time in Siem Rep and Saigon and a 7 day cruise this is the best way to experience river cruising for the first time.
Solo Sister Sought: We also have a solo traveller ready to sign aboard if we can find her a “bunkmate” for the voyage. If you are willing to travel please let us know and we can see if you are a match for this voyage!
For More information or to book aboard our Mekong Voyage call us today on (02) 4421 5577 or email us at nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au
Itinerary:
20th August, Day 1: DEPART AUSTRALIA, ARRIVE SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA. We depart Australia this morning aboard Thai Airlines, transiting Bangkok enroute to Siem Reap. Welcome to Siem Reap, your base during your visit to Angkor, considered by many to be the most spectacular architectural ruins on Earth! Hotel rooms are available for mid-afternoon check-in.
21st August, Day 2 : SIEM REAP. This morning, start your sightseeing of the TEMPLES OF ANGKOR. Constructed between the 9th and 13th centuries, the temples were built around the Khmer interpretations of Indian religious and political beliefs that ultimately evolved from Hinduism to Buddhism. The complex architectural grandeur of the Angkor temples is arguably unmatched among ancient ruins anywhere in the world. First, visit the best preserved and most famous of all the temples: ANGKOR WAT, honouring the Hindu god Vishnu. Featuring five trademark towers and stunning bas reliefs, it has become a symbol of Cambodia. Then, visit BANTEAY SREI, a unique temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. Unlike other temples, it is built on a small scale from red sandstone, which can be carved like wood. This evening, enjoy a PRIVATE APSARA DANCE PERFORMANCE, where the ancient Khmer culture is brought to life by talented dancers, singers, and musicians. (B,L,D
22nd August, Day 3: SIEM REAP. Today, continue your sightseeing of the Angkor temples by tuk-tuk. Start at ANGKOR THOM where you will explore BAYON TEMPLE. One of the few Buddhist temples in Angkor, it features some 200 striking faces carved in 54 towers and impressive bas reliefs. Next stop is TA PROHM, which, unlike the other temples, has been left relatively untouched. Tree roots grow over and through the ruin walls, allowing you to experience the temple with the same wonder as the early explorers who discovered it. Lastly, stop at LES ARTISANS D’ANGKOR, a development project teaching young adults traditional handicraft techniques. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure to explore this charming town. (B)
23rd August, Day 4: SIEM REAP (EMBARKATION). This morning, transfer to the port and board your river cruise vessel for your CRUISE down the Mekong through Cambodia and Vietnam. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as you cruise through Tonle Sap (Great Lake). After the rainy season, this massive body of water can cover around 26,000 square kilometres (10,000 square miles) and provides the perfect breeding ground for fish, which provide food for people living on the lake. This evening, enjoy a welcome reception. (B,L,D) NOTE: During low water conditions, generally mid-December to August, we will not be able to cruise on Tonle Sap. In these cases, we will fly from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh for embarkation. No included sightseeing will be missed. Low water conditions vary from year to year, so this will be evaluated on a cruise-by-cruise basis.
24th August, Day 5 : CRUISING: KAMPONG TRALACH-KONPONG LOUANG-PHNOM PENH. Today, visit Kampong Tralach for an OX CART RIDE past rice paddy fields and the beautiful Cambodian countryside. Along the way, stop to MEET WITH A LOCAL FARMER and learn more about his daily life. Lastly, visit the SILVERSMITH VILLAGE of Konpong Louang. Here you will see talented craftsmen use age-old techniques to turn pure silver into works of art. Then sail to the capital city of Phnom Penh. After lunch, your sightseeing tour by private cyclo includes visits to the ROYAL PALACE with the spectacular SILVER PAGODA and the NATIONAL MUSEUM, featuring an outstanding display of Khmer artifacts. (B,L,D)
25th August, Day 6: CRUISING: PHNOM PENH. Sightseeing this morning provides a glimpse of the atrocities inflicted on the Cambodian people by the Khmer Rouge regime. Visit the TUOL SLENG GENOCIDE MUSEUM, a former high school that housed over 17,000 prisoners. Of this number, it is believed that less than 15 survived the torture and avoided being sent to the Killing Fields. You will also visit one of the KILLING FIELDS, where over 200,000 people were killed by the Khmer Rouge. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city. Just before dinner, children from a local orphanage will put on a SHOW featuring local song and dance. (B,L,D)
26th August, Day 7: CRUISING: WAT HANCHEY-ANGKOR BAN. This morning, visit WAT HANCHEY, a temple dating back to the 8th century and the Chenla Empire. Located on a hilltop, enjoy stunning views of the surrounding area and partake in a TRADITIONAL WATER BLESSING given by local monks. After lunch, enjoy a WALKING TOUR through the rural village of Angkor Ban. Here you will see traditional Khmer houses and visit a LOCAL SCHOOL. (B,L,D)
27th August, Day 8: CRUISING: BORDER CROSSING-LONG KHONG A, VIETNAM-CHAU DOC. Cross the border this morning into Vietnam. A sampan brings you to the village of LONG KHONG A, where cotton weaving is a well-preserved tradition. Spend time at one house for a COTTON-WEAVING DEMONSTRATION and a chance to talk with the family. After lunch, join a sampan excursion down the backwaters of the river to the religious sites at the base of SAM MOUNTAIN. Along the way, see traditional floating homes, speedboat merchants, a market selling dried goods, and more. Before returning to the ship, walk through the LOCAL MARKET and absorb the atmosphere as locals are busy buying and selling fish, meat, and produce. (B,L,D)
28th August, Day 9: CRUISING: CU LAO GIENG. This morning, enjoy time at leisure on board the ship as we sail to Cu Lao Gieng. In the afternoon, board a sampan and enjoy scenes of daily life along the river. Stop at a LOCAL HOME, where a skilled family works together to hand-craft sampans for a living. Then, ride a specially designed MOTOR CART to one of Vietnam’s oldest churches for a special INTERACTION WITH A CATHOLIC PRIEST. (B,L,D)
29th August, Day 10: CRUISING: BEN TRE. This morning, board a sampan for a scenic cruise to Ben Tre. Visit a LOCAL WORKSHOP to see how rice wine and traditional coconut candy is made. Then, continue on to a LOCAL GARDEN where several types of fruit indigenous to the area are grown. This afternoon, enjoy time on board the ship as we sail to exciting Ho Chi Minh City. (B,L,D)
30th August, Day 11: HO CHI MINH CITY (DISEMBARKATION). Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to many. This morning, enjoy a WALKING TOUR of the city’s famous and historic landmarks as you stroll through the heart of the city along Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat) past Ho Chi Minh Square, the Municipal Theatre, the Central Post Office, and Notre Dame Cathedral. Stop at the Rex Hotel for a refreshing DRINK at the popular ROOFTOP BAR where the U.S. Military held the infamous “Five O’Clock Follies” during the war. Next, visit the WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM followed by BEN THANH MARKET, the largest and oldest in the city. For lunch, participate in a hands-on VIETNAMESE COOKING CLASS. Head into the classroom and learn how to prepare different local dishes and the techniques necessary to recreate them once you return home. Last but not least, sample your delicious creations! The afternoon is at your leisure to explore this lively city. (B,L)
31st August, Day 12: HO CHI MINH CITY. EXCURSION TO CU CHI TUNNELS. This morning, leave the city and drive through vast expanses of rice paddies to visit the CU CHI TUNNELS, an extraordinary network of tunnels more than 193 kilometres (120 miles) in length that was used by the Viet Cong as a hideout and secret village during the war. Here you will learn about how the tunnels were constructed and have a chance to walk through a section to experience what life would have been like underground. Return to Ho Chi Minh City and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at your leisure. This evening, join your travelling companions for a special farewell dinner hosted by your Cruise Director. (B,D)
1st September, Day 13: HO CHI MINH CITY Departure. This morning, transfer to the airport for your homeward bound or extension Flight.
2nd September, Day 14: ARRIVE SYDNEY: Transferring via Bangkok we arrive in Sydney late this evening where our tour programme ends.
My Mekong Morning Tea
My Travel Expert & The Shoalhaven Solo Sisters
(02) 4421 5577 or nowra@mytravelexpert.coma.au
Mekong Charter – Singles Match Up’s
As many of you have no doubt heard, in August 2018 we are chartering the Avalon Siem Reap from Avalon Waterways for a private cruise from Siem Reap to Saigon. This has allowed us to package together a Mekong River Cruise with all its highlights with airfare and time and touring in both Siem Reap and Saigon for over a thousand dollars less per person in share twin, then what the programme usually operates for with all those inclusions.
While this is fantastic news for those couples signing aboard, those single travellers though are still left with a huge single supplement – nearly double in cost from the base fare! Having said that, thanks to the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters we can look at doing a “singles match up”, where by pairing you with other single travellers you can the share a cabin and save having to pay any single supplement.
This is the perfect style of trip for such a Match Up. As a chartered vessel all travellers will be from the local region (Shoalhaven) or nearby and as a single group you won’t find yourself feeling the need to spend all of your time with your Cabin-mate, in fact between dining, touring and enjoying watching the world float by from the bar, lounge or Topdeck there is very little cabin time involved for many doing river cruising – so the amount of time you spend with your cabin-mate would be entirely your call on such a voyage!
So if you want to join our Mekong Departure and would like to look at a Singles Match Up, what do you do to get the ball rolling?
Step 1: Call My Travel Expert and the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters on (02) 4421 5577, and let us know that you want to join our Mekong Charter and that you are looking for a singles match up.
My Travel Expert and the Shoalhaven Solo Sisters will then attempt to find another single traveller for you to share with on this cruise departure. If we find someone we move onto step 2 …
Step 2: Catch up with the possible Cabin-Mate, then let My Travel Expert & The Shoalhaven Solo Sisters know whether the match up is acceptable.
Step 3: Pay cruise deposit and proceed down the standard booking path.
What prices would you be looking at to join this Voyage?
Should we be able to match you up with another traveller you would be looking at the standard share twin costing, which is AU$6666.00 per person.
If you decide that despite everything you want a cabin/room all to yourself the single supplement payable in addition to the standard share twin costing is AU$4346.00
This covers your airfare to Siem Reap from Sydney and back from Saigon/Hanoi with all pre-payable taxes, the nights accommodation and touring in Siem Reap, the Cruise from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City (inclusive of all meals and activities) and then the accommodation and touring in Ho Chi Minh City.
If you want to join the Extension to Hanoi and Halong Bay you are looking at a cost of AU$1500.00 per person in share twin if you are matched with another traveller. Should you desire a room/cabin on your own the single supplement cost payable in additional to the share twin rate is AU$571.00
The Extension Cost covers the flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Hanoi, the accommodation in Hanoi, the Cruise on Halong and all the touring in both Locations.
When is this Charter Programme Running?
This is a one off Cruise Charter, for those that do the standard package the Trip will depart Sydney on the 19th August 2018 and arrive back into Sydney on the 2nd September 2018. For those taking the Extension to Hanoi & Halong Bay you will arrive back into Sydney on the 6th September 2018.
If you want to look into a “Singles Match Up”
then call us on (02) 4421 5577 as soon as possible,
as finding a travelling companion may take some time!
You can review the entire voyage here, to see what will be seen, covered and experienced during the entire period of travel including the Extension! Just Click on “read more”!
No Single Supplement with Avalon
If you are interested in cruising the waterways of Europe and you are a single traveller then now is the time to go!
Avalon is offering a waiver of the single supplement on 2017 European River Cruises (subject to availability, cruise and T&C’s), which in some cases – such as the Danube Delta to Prague Cruise, could see you saving as much as AU$7301
With a range of Cruise duration’s from 7 nights to 14 nights, and covering sailings on the Maine, the Upper & Lower Danube, the Moselle, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Saone and the Seine there are plenty of options to choose from.
This offer ends on the 4th August 2018, so if a river cruise in 2017 sounds like something you would like do not hesitate to call us today at My Travel Expert & Shoalhaven Solo Sisters on (02) 4421 5577 to discuss options!
2018 Tour Launch, Spaces Still Available
Good Morning Ladies and Gents,
Just a quick reminder that we still have a few spaces available on our 2018 Tour Launch evening on the 29th March 2018. This is being held at the Ex-Servicemans Club in Nowra and we would love to have you there as we unveil the fantastic destinations we will have on offer for 2018, as well as a very very brief look at what is planned beyond.
If you would like to join us for what promises to be a great evening please give us a call on (02) 4421 5577 or register your place directly here
While we are on the subject of reminders, there are still spaces available for our Vivid Departures (on the 31st May or 7th June – $139 per person), Joadja Ghost Town Tour (2nd September for AU$110 per person) and our Floriade Getaway (30th September – 1st October AU$390 per person share twin).
If you would like to register a place on any of these quick trips please give us a call on (02) 4421 5577
Exhibitor Intro: Cruise Traveller & Avalon Waterways
Today I would like to talk about two of our Exhibitors that will offer you not just the classic river cruises you know and love, but a selection of truly unique cruising opportunities. So lets start with one of what you may call our “Cruise Consolidators”a single company representing many cruise lines
Cruise Traveller has a variety of cruises with ships run by companies like Adventure Canada, American Cruise Lines, Aqua Cruises, Atmosphere, Azamara, Celestyal, Hebridean, Island Escape Cruises, Kararina Line, Locaboat Holidays, Natural Habitat Adventures, One Ocean Expeditions, Pearl Seas Cruises, Ponant, Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer, Sea Cloud Cruises, Star Clippers, True North, Variety Cruises, Voyages of Discovery, Amazon Nature Tours, Antarctica XXI, Assam Bengal Navigation, Australis, Back-Roads Barging, European Waterwaysm Hapag-Lloyd, Jayavarman & Jahan, Linbald-National Geographic, Mahanaahu, Noble Caledonia, Pandaw, Polar Latitudes, Sanctuary Nile Adventurer, Seabourn, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, Uncruise, Voyages to Antiquity and Zegrahm Expeditions.
I would love to talk about all of these incredible cruising options but alas space is limited – so if you really want the information then I suggest coming along to the expo and speaking with the expert in person! I will though talk about one of the cruising options because it is a little different to anything we have previewed before today, or will preview before the expo. So let us talk about Locaboat.
Lakes, rivers, canals, beautiful landscapes, small villages and magnificent but often unknown monuments… Boating holidays with Locaboat provides the opportunity to discover the most beautiful regions of France and Europe during enchanting excursions along the waterways. These are not your typical European River Cruise though as you board and conduct our own voyage on one of Locaboats amazing river boats and barges that journey along not just the major but the minor waterways of France and Europe. Locaboaty offers you a cruising option that lets you travel exactly at your own pace and discover a lot of off the beaten track destinations.
Our other Supplier for today is a stark change, a single operator, who like Locaboat does specialise in Europe but in an entirely different manner …
Avalon Waterways is an incredible, affordable cruising option for Europe and Asia. While it might not include the signature experiences of some of the five star lines, or all your drinks, the cruises operated by Avalon truly cover what most people desire of a river cruise – a fantastic comfortable well appointed ship that people can enjoy the amenities of, a delicious on-board menu of meals for the duration of your travel, incredible sightseeing options for every port of call, and great on-board entertainment options. So if you have had the urge to cruise the Danube, Moselle, Rhine, Rhone, Saone, Seine, Irrawaddy & the Mekong then Avalon gives you a fantastic and affordable alternative.
The upside of travelling with Avalon Waterways is that it is part of the Globus family which means that the river cruises are combinable with pre and post city stays with Monograms, a fantastic provider of short stay independent programmes, or longer tours with Globus or Cosmos who can help you get around to see some of the sights you may have missed while cruising
Also by combining multiple tours and cruises with the Globus family you can also get the added benefit of multiple programme discounts which means should (for example) you wish to combine a Danube Cruise with a Rhine/Rhone Cruise then you can do so and receive a generous discount off the second programme.
So if a cruise that is markedly different or a fantastic affordable river cruise, if either sound appealing why not come and speak with the experts from the Cruise Traveller and Avalon Waterways at My Cruise Expo on the 17th March at Worrigee Ex-Servicemans Club from 5pm!
Register Your Attendance Today!
Cruise Week Specials 7th – 14th September 2015
The 7th to the 14th September 2015 is the annual CLIA Cruise Week, here in Australia and My Travel Expert is a proud CLIA Member. As such we have specials and deals with over 20 cruise lines covering river cruises and ocean cruises, Large Resort Ships to Small Sail Ships – something for everybody. If you are looking to cruise the time to book is almost upon us! You can review a whole booklet of specials coming next week simply by CLICKING HERE (be wanted it may take a while to load).
One special above all the others we do want to bring to your attention is with Avalon Waterways. They have a fantastic offer where is you book on any of their 2016 European River Cruises in category D or E and they will waive their single supplement. Thus effectively saving a single traveller 50% of what it would cost you to do these cruises solo – so a fantastic offer. So if you want to Cruise the European Waterways, next week is definitely the time to book!
For More details contact My Travel Expert & Shoalhaven Solo Sister on (02) 4421 5577, nowra@mytravelexpert.com.au or visit us in store today !
2014 CLIA Cruise Week Specials
Good Morning to our dedicated readers! Just a quick post to start off this week for you all.. the CLIA Cruise week for 2014 has kicked off with specials from a number of fantastic cruise lines ranging from APT to Windstar Cruises. The basics can be seen below, but for more details give us a call on (02) 4421 5577
My Travel Expert and Shoalhaven Solo Sisters 