CAMBODIA EXPLORER 16D/15NT

Chom reab suor! Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. You are greeted by your guide and driver at the airport for your transfer to the hotel. Relax and aclimatise for rest of the day.
Enjoy delicious Khmer dinner at Romdeng. A charity restaurant housed in a restored colonial building where former street children are taught the principles of hospitality

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Today you first visit Wat Phnom Temple, the birthplace of Phnom Penh. Then explore the rich history of Phnom Penh including the National Museum, a treasure chest of Angkorian and pre-Angkorian artifacts. Just cross the road, you explore the famous Royal Palace, built in 1866 under the French protectorate and King Norodom. The adjoining Silver Pagoda, built in 1962, is famous for its lavish decorations, silver paved floor and several Buddha statues made from precious metals & stones.

This afternoon, you will gain insight into Cambodia’s recent history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, housed in a former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture centre, named ‘S-21’. A grim but important visit that will help you to understand Cambodia better.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Note: To see the Royal palace and silver pagoda in Phnom Penh, visitors are required to wear appropriated clothes. Guests wearing short pants (above knee level) and sleeveless tops are not permitted.

Morning pick up at hotel and drive to Mondulkiri. You will drive to untouched countryside and partially on dirt roads towards one of the remotest areas of Cambodia. Explore the Sen Monorum a bit further. Some 40km through wild area outside of Sen Monorom, you will visit Cambodia’s largest waterfall, Boo Sra. Ride to a hilltop to admire the scene of forest-clad rolling hills, resembling ocean waves and commonly known as “sea forest”. Close out the day from the top of Phnom Dak Reimon with an excellent sunset view of Sen Monorom before returning to your hotel.

Overnight in Sen Monorom

Today you will visit a special project, a sanctuary for Elephants, the Elephant Valley Project near Sen Monorum. Jack Highwood, a passionate animal lover and vegan, set up a camp in the jungle to give old and mistreated elephants a dignified life, after they were abandoned by their owners or saved from their misery. Unlike other camps, elephants are not tourist attractions here and you are not allowed to ride the animals, but rather can get to know them by spending time alongside the gracious animals. Explore the jungle home of two families of elephants and learn about these pachyderms, the local mahouts and the forest.

Overnight in Sen Monorum

Breakfast at hotel and head out to Kratie. Upon arrival in Kratie you make the short trip by local boat to Koh Trong Island and experience typical Cambodian village life. Upon arrival, you can take a local horse cart or pedal yourself around the island on a bicycle. You can visit the island’s temple and take part in a tree planting project, initiated by a local farmer to rebuild tree cover on the once densely forested island.

Overnight on Koh Trong Island (Kratie)

Breakfast on the island before you depart for Ban Lung. On the way take a small boat trip to see the remarkable Kratie Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. You also make a stop at O Russey Kandal. A small community based ecotourism site with rapids, and the opportunity to have a swim. Wrap up our visit and transfer to Ban Lung. Head out to Yaklom Lake. Located about 5 km southeast of central Ban Lung, this beautiful lake is what remains of a 4,000 year old volcano. The circular lake holds up to 50 m depths of clear water. A park surrounds the lake, providing a leisurely track for hiking.

Overnight in Ban Lung

Captured between Voensai in the north and Ban Lung in the south you find a small settlement called Kalai Village. Kalai villlage is the home of Kreung people. Influences of the modern world have already reached this area. Big parts of the jungle have been deforested for the need of local farming while in other parts illegal logging takes its toll. Despite these facts there is still untouched jungle that is certainly worth visiting. In this area we organize this trek. With your visit we hope that the local people recognize the economic value of ecotourism as a sustainable source of income. The Kalai jungle trek is a relative easy trek. Therefore no extraordinary skills are required. Just before entering, we can experience the remote view over the jungle. Soon after that we will submerge into the green world.

Overnight in Ban Lung

After breakfast, you transfer towards to Preah Rumkel, a Community-Based Tourism Site located in the flooded forest, near the home of the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins, truly an exotic location. Lunch is served before you start your afternoon activities. Board a boat for a 1-hour-cruise, enjoying Mekong river views. To reach the Sopheak Mitt Waterfalls you will dock and hike 3.3km sometime in the forest, some in the road between. In the dry season from December to May, the level of the Mekong River is low and the water is very clear. On your way back to Preah Rumkel take your chance to observe the endangered fresh water Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.

Overnight at your Homestay.

Note: Homestay with very basic condition and simple amenities. Kindly note that the village currently doesn’t have electric, not many homestay has generator. Toilet is squat style.

Wake up early and admire the breathtaking sunrise over the horizon, or assist the host to prepare the breakfast. This morning you discover the local wetlands, which are listed by the international organization Ramsar as one of the world most important wetlands. During high water season you can take a local boat to discover the unique biodiversity. Lunch is arranged at the village before you leave for Preah Vihear. Enjoy the beautiful countryside of Cambodia and some stops along the way will give you the opportunity to get to know this country and the Cambodians a bit better, while relaxing from the ride.

Overnight in Preah Vihear

Today you will take in one of the most stunning views from a place undoubtedly among the most stunning on the planet. Preah Vihear Temple is situated atop a 525 meter cliff along the Dangrek Mountain Range, which forms a natural border between Thailand and Cambodia. The view from here extends over the plains of Thailand to the north and Cambodia to the south for up to 100 km in both directions. The temple itself is equally remarkable, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.

Drive towards Siem Reap via Anlong Veng, a now sleepy town which was the last stronghold of the infamous Khmer Rouge leaders Pol Pot and Ta Mok. You will visit Ta Mok’s house, witness to the cruelties he continued committing into the early 90’s. Time permitting, you will also visit Pol Pot’s grave and Ta Mok’s cliff house on the Dangrek Mountains. You will reach Siem Reap in late afternoon.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Wake up early, have breakfast at the hotel and head out with your cameras for a day filled with amazing sights and experiences.

Explore the amazing temple complex and spend most of the day in what this UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the ancient city of Angkor Thom, surrounded by an 8m high wall. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. Continue to Bayon Temple in the exact centre of the city. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur, its exterior gallery walls featuring extensive, superb bas-reliefs, particularly the East and South Galleries.

You also visit the Ta Prohm Temple, unlike most other Angkor temples, has been left just it was when rediscovered: a photogenic and atmospheric maze of trees growing out of temple ruins amidst jungle surroundings, making it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.

In the afternoon you further explore Angkor Wat, easily the most famous and best-preserved of all temples within the Angkor complex. It is a massive three-tiered structure crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from ground level. The centrepiece of any visit to the temples around Siem Reap, Angkor offers many iconic sights for amazing pictures.

This evening enjoy a special treat with a performance from PHARE. The Cambodian Circus has long been famous for their performances, and this NGO teaching streetkids to become circus artists is a regular at international circus conventions worldwide. Enjoy their interpretations of modern life and issues in Cambodian society.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Today you will take a motorbike (or on the back of a motorbike) to Kulen Moutain. Rich in history, Phnom Kulen is where the “Age of Angkor” began, and is one of only two places in Cambodia where Buddha is reputed to have set his foot. Visit a scenic waterfall, and a giant reclining Buddha. While beautiful, these are part of a standard trip here. In addition, you push on further, exploring kilometers of complex back trails, deep jungle tracks, and hidden temples, including the stunning and sought-after stone elephant and lion statues.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Transfer to Kbal Spean, literally meaning the head of the river, you can visit both the waterfall and the river carvings. This is one of the ‘rivers of 1,000 lingas’, with lingas and linga stands chiselled into the riverbed. Banteay SreI, the citadel of the women, displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art. Banteay Srei is built largely of red sandstone, an ideal medium for the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves, unusual among Angkor era structures, are miniature in scale.

Head out to quiet Beng Mealea, around 65 km from Siem Reap. After a short walk through dense jungle, you’ll feel like an explorer when entering the completely overgrown temple. Undiscovered for centuries, BengMealea has only recently been made accessible and remains unrestored. It is one of the very few temples that actually give the opportunity to climb through it, giving a very ‘Indian Jones’ feel to the experience.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Leaving Siem Reap after breakfast, you will head to Battambang by boat trip via Preak Toal (in dry season take the boat Chong Kneas – May Chrey and continue with vehicle)

Overnight in Siem Reap

After breakfast you will transfer to Battambang Market. The largest rice producing province in Cambodia, Battambang’s local market is full of fresh fish, meat, vegetables and fruit. Take a ride on the famous bamboo train, consisting of 2.5m x 4m raft-like platforms of bamboo fixed on trolleys fitted to the derelict rail line, first used by local villagers to transport their goods. A unique and fun outing, this is a ride you must experience while in Battambang!

Continue your visit to Wat Ek Temple, built in 1027 during the reign of King SorayakVarman I (1002-1050). It is located at PiemEk commune, some 14 km from Battambang in a beautiful area of many small scenic villages and ancient Wats (temples). Explore the surrounding villages and hilltop temples; the local people are very welcoming and friendly, making this a highlight of any journey to Cambodia. Next is Phnom Banan, an 11th century mountaintop Angkorian ruin consisting of five temples, and features dramatic views of the area. On the way back, visit Phnom Sambov Mountain, a place steeped in legend, you will visit Wat Sampeou at the peak, and a group of caves used as “killing caves”by the Khmer Rouge.

Overnight in Battambang

After breakfast at the hotel, we take a scenic drive to Phnom Penh.

IF you would prefer to continue to Thailand overland. We can transfer you to land border and arrange car and driver to Bangkok. 

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