16 DAYS,ULTIMATE CAMBODIA

Itinerary

Itinerary in details:

 

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN PHNOM PENH (D)
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh airport, you’ll be met and transferred to hotel for check-in and tour briefing. Time allowing after your resting, we’ll go out for an orientation tour and a chance to acclimatize ourselves. Welcome dinner at a fine restaurant. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

 

DAY 2: PHNOM PENH (B)
A full day tour to see the best and the worst of the city. Russian Market. Morning visit to the Royal Palace, Silver Pagoda, National Museum, and Central Market. Afternoon time is for the Genocide Toul Sleng Museum, the infamous Cheoung Ek Killing Fields. Continue to the Wat Phnom, the Independence Monument and conclude the day with a leisure walk along the Sisowath boulevard. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

 

DAY 3: PHNOM PENH-TAKEO-KAMPOT (B)
Depart PhnomPenh and journey southwards to Phnom Chisor Temple . Walk up the 500 step stairway to the top of the hill carrying the temple from the 11th century and enjoy fabulous views over the surrounding countryside. Continue to the quiet town of Takeo and take short cruise to Angkor Borei town, just a few nautical miles away from Vietnam, then to the pre-Angkorian temple Phnom Da. We also visit the temple of Asram Maharosei that’s accessible over a steep rocky path. Overnight in Kampot.

 

DAY 4: KAMPOT –BOKOR –PHNOM PENH (B, L)
This morning we drive uphill to Bokor National Park. At an elevation of approximately 1,000 meters ASL, Bokor is endowed with cool climate that ever attracted many French expats to. A short trek through the forest to the Popokvil Waterfalls to cool off. Visit the long abandoned hill station of Bokor mountain, discover the ruins of the former Royal Residence, the church, the casino hotel and enjoy an amazing view of the southern coast. After lunch we drive back to Phnom Penh withsome time along the coast. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

 

DAY 5: PHNOM PENH – KAMPHONG CHNANG-BATTAMBANG (B, L)
Depart Phnom Penh and journey overland to Battambang via Kompong Chhnang. We’ll make stops en route to visit the silver villages at Kompong Luong, Phnom Oudong former capital, Kompong Chhnang city, a the floating village, a pottery village and the beautiful Kompong Tralach Leu Pagoda. Overnight in Battambang.

 

DAY 6: BATTAMBANG (B, L)
This morning we travel to Odam Bang village, some 3km from the town, to experience take the narrow gauge Bamboo Train through the rice fields to Osroy Lov, and then back.Pay a visit to the Angkorian temple of Wat Ek Phnom, dating from the 11th century. Afternoon we take a cooking course in a family house at Ch’Ngainh! Ch’Ngainh (Delicious). After shopping at the local market, we go to a familial house to learn how to cook some delicious Khmer dishes. You’ll have a cooking lesson, marvelous time with a charming couple, a cooking book, a very good dinner and maybe some snake wine to drink.

 

DAY 7: BATTAMBANG – SIEM REAP (B)
This morning we transfer overland to Siem Reap. The five hour drive affords a great opportunity to see local life along the way around the Tonle Lake. This afternoon we continue with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, Giant faces of Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, Elephant Terrace, and Terrace of Leper King. Hike up and view the sun set into the western baray of Angkor temples from the top of Bakheng Hill. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

DAY 8: SIEM REAP (B)
We continue exploring Siem Reap’s Angkorian relics, from Ta Prohm to Banteay Kdei to Sras Srang, to Takeo, to Thommanon and Chau Say Thevoda. We’ll spend the afternoon studying Angkor Wat. A vast rambling complex of diverse temple structures adorned with exquisite carvings and bas-reliefs, the temple has been long the spiritual symbol of Cambodia. Hike up PhnomBakheng and view the sun set into the western baray of Angkor temples. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

DAY 9: SIEM REAP (B, L)

Option 1: Kbal Spean-Banteay Srei-Banteay Samre
Morning drive to Kbal Spean then a walk for about 45 minutes through the forest to the top of the hill to reach Kbal Spean, the “Thousand Linga River.” Discover the meaning of the sculptures chiseled into the rocky riverbed during the 10th-12th centuries, the Royal Bath and the waterfall. Continue to the beloved temple of the Banteay Srei. The temple is compact size but remarkably well-preserved, very rich in carvings. After lunch we continue to Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor according to the anastomosis. Return Siem Reap for overnight.

 

Option 2: Koulen –Beng Mealea – Koh Ker
Drive to Phnom Koulen to tour the River of One Thousand Lingas and Koulen waterfall. Continue to Beng Mealea to see a complex of temples so large as Angkor Wat but utterly swallowed by the jungle. Afterwards we visit Koh Ker, a capital city in the 10th century that’s left to the ravages of nature in the remote north of Cambodia for over many hundred years. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

Option 3: The countryside and Tonle Sap Lake
Transfer to Pour Krom and walk through the village to see local life. Experience an ox-cart ride before a cruise taking us to floating life on Tonle Sap Lake. Return to town and visit the Les Artisans d’Angkor, the rebirth of Khmer Arts. Rest of the day at rest. Overnight in Siem Reap.

 

DAY 10: SIEM REAP – KAMPONG THOM (B)
Free in the morning to rest. Afternoon we transfer along the NH 6 to the Chenla capital of Sambor Prei Kuk, the most important pre-Angkorian site in Cambodia and the first major temple city in South-East Asia. Continue to Kompong Thom for the evening.

 

DAY 11: KAMPONG THOM-KAMPONG CHAM-KRATIE (B)
Transfer to Kratie and visit Sambok Mountain pagoda to see the Buddhist monasteries and enjoy the magnificent views of the surrounding countryside from the hilltop. Memorable lunch with bamboo-baked sticky rice. Continue to the Kampi, some 20 km north of Kratie along the river road, the whereabouts of the famous Irrawaddy River dolphins for our lucks. Overnight in Kratie.

 

DAY 12: KRATIE – STRUNG TRENG –BANLUNG IN RATTANAKIRI (B)
Depart Kratie for Stung Treng with a stop at Chlong village to admire one of the oldest wooden houses of Cambodia. After lunch we continue to Banlung municipality in Rattanakiri. Overnight in Banglung.

 

DAY 13: BANLUNG –TAMPOUN TOTEMS – BANLUNG (B)
Heading out of the town, we make our arduous way to Voeune Say village by the Se San River. Be prepared to be amazed by your attractivity since this part of the country receives very few tourists. After a short walk through this village, we will embark a traditional wooden long boat navigating on the scenic Se San River to villages of the ethnic minoritiesTampoun, Kroeng and Brou. A wonderful chance to get to know about their daily life and age-old cultures. Ovenight in Banlung.

 

DAY 14: AROUND BANLUNG (B)
We transfer to Cha Oug Waterfalls and Yeak Laom Lake. Yeak Laom Lake is a volcanic crater lake believed to be created about 700,000 years ago. Fringed by jungle, the lake is a spectacular oasis and a great place for a refreshing swim! Tour the visitor center which exhibits different tools from the various tribes then visit Boung Khanseng with floating island. Return to Banlung for overnight.

 

DAY 15: BANLUNG –STUNG TRENG – PHNOM PENH (B)
An enjoyable visit to the morning market for tribal people in the center of Banlung before the long drive back to Phnom Penh. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

 

DAY 16: DEPARTURE FROM PHNOM PENH (B)
Free at your own leisure until transfer to Phnom Penh airport for departure flight