“You will be surprised how some areas are quite similar to the Amazon,” says Francesco Galli Zugaro soon after we boarded his new ship, the Aqua Mekong, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, following tours of the magnificent ruins at Angkor. Galli Zugaro, who operates two small luxury ships in the Peruvian Amazon, exported his exclusive and unprecedented cruise concept to Southeast Asia with three-, four-, and seven-night itineraries that sail the Mekong River and Cambodia’s Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the region. For example, the four-night downriver Explorer Cruise (starting at $4,000 per person double occupancy) sails from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh with visits to the Prek Toal Core Bird Reserve and numerous floating villages and craft centers known for pottery, silversmithing, and weaving before reaching the Cambodian capital.
With only 20 chic and spacious (320 square feet) cabins, the ambience is intimate and sophisticated. Architect David Hodkinson of Vietnam’s Noor Design conceived interiors that channel a refined Indochine spirit while utilizing an abundance of local wood and stone and natural materials in muted colors that complement rather than compete with the ever-changing natural surroundings showcased through floor-to-ceiling windows. Four cabins connect for family groups, and eight suites have outdoor balconies where you can lounge on a day bed and watch the landscape pass by.
Though it measures only 205 feet in length, the squat, black-hulled Aqua Mekong is equipped with unexpected amenities including a spa, fitness room, screening room, game room, and a swimming pool on the top deck, which also houses an airy bar/lounge that serves as a gathering spot. The rear top deck is dotted with chaises for sunbathing and relaxing between off-ship “soft adventures.”