Family Escape: Cambodia Adventures

Arrival at Phnom Penh airport. Welcome by our guide and driver. Then transfer to the city to drop off your luggage at the hotel.

Free time for your personal discovery or relaxation.

Overnight: Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel

Start with a cyclo ride along the Mekong before discovering the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, where the royal family's home is also a symbol of the kingdom.

Reach the Silver Pagoda, whose name comes from the 5000 silver tiles that cover its floor

Next, visit the National Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh showcases the Khmer architecture that was officially inaugurated in 1920.

In the afternoon, discover the Russian Market in Phnom Penh, one of the best places for shopping in the capital, then the Central Market, which is also one of the city’s must-see attractions

In the late afternoon, discover Wat Phnom, a pagoda erected on an artificial hill topped by a magnificent monastery housing sacred relics and an enormous stupa of the ancient king Ponhea Yat.

Overnight: Phnom Penh

Leave Phnom Penh in the morning and head northeast to the bustling city of Kompong Cham, the provincial capital located on the banks of the Mekong River.

Along the way, you'll stop at Skuon, or Spiderville, where you can try the local specialty: fried tarantula. 

Arrive in Kompong Cham mid-morning and visit the sacred hills of Phnom Pro and Phnom Srei (Hills of Men and Women).

Next, visit the fusion temple of Wat Nokor, an 11th-century sandstone temple with a colourful, modern pagoda in its central courtyard. There are some intriguing carvings in this temple, and the striking contrast between the Hindu past and the Buddhist present is almost unique in the entire country.

Continue northeast toward the town of Kratie, a peaceful, sleepy port located on the banks of the Mekong River. At the end of the day, stroll along the quays of this town with its well-preserved colonial architecture.

Overnight: Kratie (Hotel)

Note: Option to plan a night with a local on the island of Koh Trong for a better immersion in local life.

Depart from the pier to take the local ferry to reach the island of Koh Trong. You will have the opportunity to take a bike ride around the island to discover the local life. Meet the locals and learn about their local products (charcoal, cassava, and wooden boat building).

Lunch with a local on the island.

Return to the town of Kratie by local ferry and then meet the rare Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins.

You'll board a wooden boat and set off for Kampi, just a few kilometres from Kratie, a deep pool in the Mekong River where rare freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins gather to feed. You'll sail down the legendary Mekong River to meet the cetaceans. After more than an hour in the company of the dolphins, you'll reach the river's banks.

End of the day, free time for your relaxation or personal discovery.

Overnight: Kratie

Discover the local market of Kratie.

Then you will drive south to the small town of Snuol, the last bastion before the wild lands of Mondulkiri.

Gradually leave civilization and take the red trails that disappear into the mountains and the thick tropical forest. Once past the district of Khau Si Ma, the road winds through the hills of a region whose name means “where the mountains meet”.

Lush jungle laps the road, and locals claim you can spot tigers after dark. Along the road, you'll see villages belonging to the Phnong minority group, the main minority group in Mondulkiri.

Arrive in Sen Monorom in the late afternoon, and check into the hotel.

Walking tour for an orientation and discovery of the city. 

Overnight: Sen Monorom (hotel)

Leave Sen Monorom after breakfast and head east towards the double waterfall of Bou Sra, one of the most famous waterfalls in Cambodia.

Along the way, you'll stop at a Phnong minority village and learn about their way of life. You'll likely be invited to share some local rice wine, as the Phnong villagers are exceptionally hospitable.

Then you'll hit the road again, eventually arriving at Bou Sra, where you'll discover two remarkable waterfalls. You'll be able to access the two pools at the foot of the falls, and of course, cool off and swim there. You can be close to these gigantic walls of water, then head east to the village of Pichenda, on the other side of the river.

You will return to Sen Monorom in the late afternoon and spend the night there. 

Overnight: Mondulkiri

Breakfast at the hotel 

Leave the city to discover an elephant community which, with the support of Phnong villagers, collects and cares for injured or mistreated elephants.

You'll have the opportunity to experience "herd walking" during your day trip. You'll be introduced to the center's elephant herd and learn about their history, personalities, behaviours, and body language. 

Feed the elephants, begin to tame them as they gradually get used to your presence, and then watch them roll in the mud.

After lunch, you'll set off on a trek with the elephants through the dense Mondulkiri rainforest, eventually arriving at a refreshing waterfall where you can take your enormous companions for a swim. 

You won't be on their backs at any point, but will be walking alongside them.

Free time for the rest of the day. 

Overnight: Mondulkiri

In the morning, you'll leave the wilds of Mondulkiri and the jungle-covered mountains behind you for the plains of Cambodia. 

Head south toward the provincial capital of Kompong Cham, located on the banks of the Mekong River.

Along the way, you will pass through vast rubber plantations established by the French during the protectorate years, and now once again in use, and learn how the latex is extracted from the tree.

Then you will continue your journey to Kompong Thom, a small provincial capital located 150km south of Siem Reap. This will be your base for the night.

Overnight: Kompong Thom

In the morning, continue northwest along the RN6. This ancient road, already used by the Khmer centuries ago, will take you to Kompong Kdei, where you'll discover a magnificent Angkorian bridge: Spean Praptos, or Praptos Bridge.

Along the way, we pass through the largest and least visited floating village on Tonlé Sap Lake, Kompong Khleang, located about 50 km from Siem Reap. 

Explore the canals (in the rainy season, by boat) and the streets (in the dry season) of this incredible floating city. During the wet season from August to February, the houses seem to rest on the lake, the water lapping the doors of the dwellings, but in the dry season, the immense stilts appear and reveal a unique landscape of wooden skyscrapers.

Continue your navigation and stop at one of the village houses to learn more about the life of the fishermen of the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, a true inland sea.

Arrive in Siem Reap mid-afternoon and check into your hotel. 

The rest of the day is free to relax at your hotel or explore Siem Reap on your own.

Overnight: Siem Reap

In the morning, transfer by tuk tuk to the isolated temple of Bantey Samre, visit this temple and walk on the dike of the Eastern Baray to discover the villages, Benteay Kdei. Arrival at the royal basin of Srah Srang.

Lunch at a local's home, where you'll enjoy local specialties. 

Join the painting class, where young and old alike can express their artistic souls!

In the afternoon, discover the most emblematic of all temples: Angkor Wat. Construction began during the reign of Suryavarman in the 12th century. The complex covers nearly 210 hectares and reveals to visitors all the majesty and beauty of its impressive architecture, its sandstone bas-reliefs, and its representations of Vishnu and other Buddhist deities.

Discover Angkor from the sky. A short hot air balloon ride (captive balloon, this excursion is possible if weather conditions permit) to admire Angkor Wat and the Western Baray.

Overnight: Siem Reap

In the morning, you will leave the hotel for the Angkor Reach restaurant. This is where we begin the bike ride through the Angkor ruins and the dense forest. 

Upon arrival at the city of Angkor Thom, continue exploring the wall that offers a beautiful view of the moat.

Walk to reach the temple of the four-faced towers, the Bayon. Visit Angkor Thom, "the great royal city."

Then depart for Preah Khan. Walk through the forest along small paths to the small, isolated temple of Ta Nei.

Continue to Takeo to go to Ta Prohm, the famous temple invaded by immense cheese trees – giant trees with sprawling roots.

Overnight: Siem Reap

Depart early in the morning to the temple of Beng Mealea along Mount Koulèn before reaching the isolated temple of Boeng Mealea, invaded by the jungle similar to Angkor Wat. 

Return to the site of Kbal Spean for lunch

Kbal Spean, or the river of a thousand lingas, whose bed is carved with several bas-reliefs with a multitude of lingas. Access is on foot for about 45 minutes through the forest. You reach the site where the riverbed is covered with large sculpted sandstone slabs on which flows the clear, fresh water of a small waterfall.

Return to the famous temple of Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women), a temple built during the reign of King Jayavarman V, dedicated to Shiva, whose architecture and its pink sandstone sculptures present a masterpiece of Khmer art.

End the day with an unforgettable Phare circus show featuring incredibly talented artists!

Overnight: Siem Reap

After breakfast, you will depart for the starting point of your cycling day.

Begin your journey through the small rural villages on the outskirts of Siem Reap, heading towards Bakong Temple. During the rainy season, the rice paddies stretch as far as the eye can see, offering sublime views of the lush Khmer countryside.

Arriving at Bakong, you will explore the temple before continuing your excursion to the temple of Prasat Preah Ko (Sacred Cow temple).

After crossing the RN6 national road, you will finally visit the Lolei Temple. From the main entrance of Bakong, the road continues towards Psar Bakong in the commune of Meanchey.

Lunch with locals

Then, transfer back to Siem Reap by road a little later in the day. Visit Wat Inkosei, built on the ruins of an ancient temple.

Continue to Wat Bo Pagoda with its well-preserved paintings, and the opportunity to observe the monks making various mouldings to adorn the pagodas.

Stop at a traditional puppet workshop followed by a shadow theatre show.

Overnight: Siem Reap

Free time until transfer to Siem Reap airport for the return flight