Sunset Cruise Phnom Penh: Mekong River with beer & fruit

Watch the sun drop behind Phnom Penh from the water, beer in hand

A 90-minute sunset cruise on the Mekong and Tonlé Sap rivers in Phnom Penh with an English-speaking guide, passing the Royal Palace, Diamond Island and fishing villages. You'll see how people live on the water (stilted houses, houseboats and riverside crops), while the city lights come on. Beer, soft drinks and a fresh fruit platter are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset river cruise and sightseeing

• Start 90-minute cruise on Tonlé Sap and Mekong
• View Royal Palace from the river
• See 1961 building in front of Royal Palace
• See Phnom Penh's first five-star hotel
• Observe new development area in Phnom Penh
• View Mekong River and riverbank lifestyle

The experience

The boat leaves from the dock and heads out onto the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers for one and a half hours. As you move downriver, the Royal Palace comes into view from the water, along with the building erected in front of it in 1961 and the city's first five-star hotel, built in 1969. The guide points out the new development areas rising along the banks.

The real draw is the life on the water itself. You'll pass stilted houses where families live year-round, houseboats where fishermen have made their homes, and the crops people grow along the riverbank. The Mekong is the world's twelfth longest river, and from the boat you see the everyday reality of the people who depend on it. As the sun sets, the city skyline lights up behind you.

Throughout the cruise, beer and soft drinks flow freely, and a fresh fruit platter arrives as the light fades. The guide speaks English and can answer questions about what you're seeing. Hotel pickup is included in the standard option, though a cruise-only ticket is available if you're already near the river.

What’s included

• An English-speaking guide leads the entire cruise.
• unlimited beer and soft drinks flow throughout.
• a fresh fruit platter arrives as you cruise.
• hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the standard option.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cruise only, pickup not includedGuide in English · 17:00Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Drinks and fruit are not included

Cruise with beer served without limitGuide in English · 17:00Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes. Includes pickup

Private cruise (small boat)Guide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 16:00, the last at 19:30Duration: 2 hours. Unlimited beer and soft drinks; pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs every day, 8 start times, from US$ 8.99 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00 and 19:30

GroupUp to 701 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Amazing Cambodia Cruise & Tours

Is this one for you?Book the standard option with pickup if you're staying in a Phnom Penh hotel and want the full experience without arranging transport. Choose the cruise-only ticket if you're already near the river and want to skip the pickup. The private small-boat option works for groups who prefer their own boat and guide instead of joining others.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Mekong Delta, and why does it matter to Phnom Penh?

The Mekong Delta is the vast network of waterways where the Mekong River, the world's twelfth longest, spreads across the landscape. In Phnom Penh, the delta is where thousands of people live on the water in stilted houses and houseboats, farming fish and growing crops along the banks. It is the economic and cultural heart of how the city connects to the river.

Can I see the Royal Palace clearly from the boat?

The Royal Palace is visible from the river, though you view it from the water rather than entering the grounds. The cruise also passes the building constructed in front of the palace in 1961 and other landmarks along the riverbank, so the palace is part of the wider scene rather than the sole focus.

How long does the cruise actually take?

The cruise runs for one and a half hours on the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers, timed to catch the sunset as it happens. The timing means you're on the water as the light changes and the city lights come on.

Is the beer and fruit platter included, or do I pay extra?

Beer, soft drinks and a fresh fruit platter are included in the standard Cruise with Unlimited Beer option. A cruise-only ticket is available without these extras if you prefer a simpler package.

Do I need to arrange my own way to the dock, or does the tour pick me up?

Hotel pickup is included in the standard option, so the tour collects you from your accommodation. If you book the cruise-only ticket, you'll need to get to the dock yourself, though public transportation options are available nearby.