Cambodia: From Forests To Forgotten Temples

Welcome to Phnom Penh, our guide and driver will greet and transfer you to the hotel for luggage drop off.

Departure for an orientation tour of the city with a visit to the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom consisting of different structures grouped in an enclosure of remarkable Khmer architecture, the Silver Pagoda (or Emerald Pagoda) located in the enclosure of the Royal Palace bringing together gold masterpieces such as a large Buddha in solid gold weighing 90 kg, an Emerald Buddha and baccarat crystal.

Discover Wat Phnom, a pagoda erected on a small artificial hill topped by a magnificent monastery housing sacred relics and an enormous stupa of the ancient king Ponhea Yat, founder of the capital of Phnom Penh.

End of the day, free time for your own discovery.

Overnight: Phnom Penh

In the morning, depart to discover the For a Child's Smile association, which is experiencing intensive development in helping underprivileged children learn a trade and find work. You will then head to the Tuol Slèng Genocide Museum, a former secondary school that was transformed into a large prison under the Khmer Rouge, bearing the name "S 21," where thousands of prisoners were detained, tortured, and killed.

Then, visit the Choeung Ek killing field, which was used as a burial site for victims of Tuol Sleng prison during the Khmer Rouge regime.

Then, a cyclo ride along the Mekong.

After lunch, you will head to the National Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, a superb example of Khmer architecture that was officially inaugurated in 1920, mainly exhibiting sculptures dating from different periods of Cambodian history. Next, you'll discover Phnom Penh's Russian Market, one of the capital's best shopping destinations, and then the Central Market, one of the city's must-see monuments.

Overnight: Phnom Penh

Breakfast at the hotel.

Head to the northeast, toward the lively city of Kompong Cham, a provincial capital located on the banks of the Mekong. En route, you will stop at Skuon, or Spiderville, where you can sample the local specialty: fried tarantula. 

You will arrive in Kompong Cham in the mid-morning and visit the sacred hills of Phnom Pro and Phnom Srei (Hills of Men and Women). Then you will visit the 'fusion' temple of Wat Nokor, an 11th-century sandstone temple with a modern, very colourful pagoda in its central courtyard. There are intriguing carvings in this temple, and the striking contrast between the Hindu past and the Buddhist present is almost unique in the entire country. 

Lunch at a local restaurant in the city of Kompong Cham. Then continue northeast towards the town of Kratie, a peaceful port located on the banks of the Mekong and a meeting place for the rare Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins. City tour with its good examples of opulent colonial architecture. Return to Kratie. Dinner and overnight homestay on Koh Trung Island.

Overnight: Kratie

Breakfast at the homestay. 

After breakfast, you will embark on a wooden boat and head towards Kampi, just a few kilometres from Kratie, a deep basin in the Mekong where the rare Irrawaddy freshwater dolphins gather to feed. 

Sail on the mythical Mekong River to meet the cetaceans. After more than an hour in the company of the dolphins, you will reach the banks of the river, then drive south to the small town of Snuol, the last stronghold before the wildlands of Mondolkiri. 

A (very) local lunch in Snuol

You will gradually leave the civilization and take the red dirt roads that disappear into the mountains and the thick tropical forest. Once the Khau Si Ma district is passed, the road winds through the hills of a region whose name means 'where the mountains meet'. The locals claim that you can spot tigers at nightfall. You will see Phnong minority villages all along the road, the main minority group of Mondolkiri. Arrive in Sen Monorom late afternoon, and check into your room.

Overnight: Sen Monoroom

Breakfast at the hotel.

Depart from Sen Monorom and head east towards the double cascade of Bou Sra, one of the most famous waterfalls in Cambodia. En route, you will stop in a Phnong minority village, and discover their way of life. 

You will surely be invited to share some local rice wine, as the Phnong villagers are of rare hospitality. Then you will take the road again to finally arrive at Bou Sra, where you will discover two remarkable waterfalls. You can access both pools at the foot of the falls, and of course cool off and swim there. 

Picnic near 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 late afternoon and spend the night there. 

Overnight: Mondulkiri

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Discover the Elephant Valley Project, which, with the support of the Phnong villagers, rescues and cares for injured or mistreated elephants.

Experience 'herding' during your day visit. You will be introduced to the center's elephant herd and learn a lot about their history, personalities, behaviours, and even their body language. You can feed the hippo, begin to tame them as they gradually get used to your presence, and then you will observe them rolling in the mud. 

After lunch, you will go on a trek in the company of the elephants through the thick tropical forest of Mondolkiri, then finally arrive at the foot of a refreshing waterfall where you can have your enormous travelling companions bathe. You will not be on their backs at any time but will walk alongside them. 

Free time at the end of the day. Overnight in a bungalow at the Elephant Valley Project center.

Overnight: Mondulkiri

Breakfast at the center. 

Return to the main road, then head south towards the provincial capital of Kompong Cham, located on the banks of the Mekong. 

En route, you will pass through vast rubber plantations established by the French during the years of the protectorate, and now exploited again, and learn how latex is extracted from the trees.

Continue your journey to the provincial capital of Kompong Thom, which you will reach late afternoon. 

Overnight: Kompong Thom

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Depart to discover the pre-Angkorian capital of Isanapura, now better known as Sambor Prei Kuk, the first true city of temples in Southeast Asia. The brick temples of Sambor Prei Kuk contrast with their famous cousins in the city of Angkor.

Visit the main temples in the area, including Prasat Tao, with its famous lions with superb manes, and Prasat Sambor, with its collapsed sanctuaries. 

Return to Kompong Thom for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will continue northwest on RN6. This ancient road, already used by the Khmers several centuries ago, will lead you to Kompong Kdei, where you will discover a magnificent Angkorian bridge: Spean Praptos, or Praptos Bridge. This bridge has more than twenty arches and an incredible panorama. 

Arrive in Siem Reap in the afternoon and check into the hotel. You will have the rest of the day free to relax at the hotel or explore Siem Reap on your own. 

Overnight: Siem Reap

Breakfast at the hotel. 

The morning begins with the most emblematic of all the temples: Angkor Wat. Construction began during the reign of Suryavarman II in the 12th century. The complex spans 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. 

In the afternoon, visit Banteay Srei, a temple built in the 10th century. Dedicated to Shiva, also called the Citadel of Women, it is renowned for the delicacy of its pink sandstone lintels depicting Aspara dancers or scenes from Hindu mythology. On the way back, visit Sras Srang, the "Ablutions Basin," and the Buddhist temple Ta Prohm, where nature reclaims its rights, and giant roots grip the monuments.

Overnight: Siem Reap

In the morning, transfer through villages and rice fields towards Kbal Spean or the River of a Thousand Lingas, located about 35km north of Angkor.

Upon arrival, take a walk for another 45 minutes through the forest to reach the river that contributes to the irrigation of Angkor. You will first see lingas (phallic symbols) in the form of paving stones that gave the site its name, "the River of a Thousand Lingas." Then on the rocks, you will find figures of deities: Vishnu sleeping on a serpent, the bull, Shiva, and Uma. 

 In the afternoon, departure by car towards the southeast to the largest and least visited of the Tonlé Sap lake's floating villages, Kompong Khleang, located about 50 km from Siem Reap. The approximately 10,000 inhabitants of the village live almost exclusively from fishing. 

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

Then visit a pagoda, built on the site of an ancient temple, and discover beautiful wall paintings. Continue your navigation and make a stop in one of the village houses to learn more about the life of the fishermen on Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake. 

Return to Siem Reap by road at the end of the day

Overnight: Siem Reap

Free time until the private transfer without a guide to Siem Reap airport to take the departure flight. Meals at your leisure.