• Everyone rises early this morning to watch the sun rise over the Mekong while we eat a hearty breakfast.

• At 6:45am we will be picked up by a launch and escorted across the river to a waiting vehicle that will transport us to view the spectacular Phapeng Falls. These cataracts have been called “the Niagara of Asia” as it is the largest volume of cascading water in Asia.

• Lessons in geology and the erosive power of water can be clearly illustrated at this site, as the escarpment was not caused by earth movements, but rather by weathering. With two very different densities in rock converging at this point, the Mekong simply eroded the softer rock downstream much faster than the harder rock upstream.

• It’s just a short drive from Phapeng Falls to the Laos/Cambodian border where we will clear immigration and “officially” enter the country.

• After border formalities, we continue by vehicle to Ou Sway, a small village on the Mekong, and begin kayaking down river through the “flooded forest” of Cambodia’s remote Ramsar Wetlands.

• Soft-shelled turtles, herons, egrets, storks, cormorants, oriental darters, kingfishers and otters are all resident in this sanctuary so we will keep an eye out for any wildlife movement as we negotiate the waters flowing through the trees.

• At mid-day we will stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic location and have a chance to stretch our legs and enjoy a refreshing swim from a beautiful sandy beach. Throughout the day, a safety boat will provide back up for any weary paddling team that feels they need transport, but most paddlers should be strong enough to go the full way.

• Our destination for the day will be a Nature Lodge on an island in the Mekong near the Cambodian town of Stung Treng. Here in a beautiful riverside setting we will wash up, devour a delicious dinner and tell tales around the campfire before retiring to our rooms and tents for a well-deserved sleep.

Overnight: Nature Lodge (rooms & tents) – Stung Treng, Cambodia