16 DAYS, CAMBODIA WONDER AND EXOTIC BEACH

Itinerary

ITINERARY IN DETAILS:

DAY 01: ARRIVAL PHNOMPENH
Meets & greets from the airport, transfer to
the hotel in town. Overnight at hotel in Phnompenh

DAY 02: PHNOMPENH (B)
Visit the Victory Monument, and the National Museum, also called Musee des Beaux-Arts. A French archaeologist and painter, Georges Groslier, designed it in Khmer style in 1917. The museum contains a collection of Khmer art - notably sculptures – from throughout the ages. Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. End your afternoon with the visit of the Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake.

DAY03: PHNOMPENH - RATANAKIRI(B,L)
After breakfast, we head out for journey to Ratanakiri,
Stop for lunch on the way.
Arrives Ratanakiri this late afternoon.

DAY 04: RATANAKIRI(B,L)
Excursion in the surroundings of Banlung, with visits to Teuk Cha Ong waterfall, Yeak Laom lake, a zircon mine and a pepper plantation.
• Teuk Cha Ong: a spectacular waterfall in a jungle gorge. The other attractions in this area are the isolated ethnic minority villages and a zircon mine.
• Yeak Laom: a volcanic lake which forms a near perfect circle and is surrounded by tropical forest. A lovely spot for swimming, if desired.
• Elephant Ride: Take a 3 hour elephant ride to a scenic waterfall and back through the Cambodian bush.

DAY 05: RATANAKIRI - THE TAMPOUN TOTEMS(B,L)
Direction northwest today, we cross bamboo forests before reaching the village of Voeune Saï located on the left bank of the Sé San river ; the view on the Chinese village on the other side of the river is quite pretty. Besides, this place is nearly a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory, most villagers, who are there the thirties, don't even speak Khmer. Upstream of the Se San are a certain number of Tampoun villages that practice funeral statuary ; if it is possible, we will rent a boat to go to the village of Ka Choan that has superb totems, if not we will reach it by jeep.  
Dinner & night at the Lodge. 

DAY 06: RATANAKIRI- KRATIE(B,L)
Breakfast at the Lodge.
Early morning, departure by road to Stung Treng.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Then, continuation by road to Kratie. Stop in Sambo to observe the river dolphins until sunset. Then, continue to Kratie, a small colonial-style town.

DAY 07: KRATIE- SIEMREAP(B,L)
Overland to Siemreap through Kompong Cham, Kompong Thom, visit Wat Nokor, Sambor Preikuk complex
Arrive Siemreap, check in yoru hotel in town.

DAY 08: ANGKOR WAT(B)
In the morning, drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of "anastylosis". The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers.  No inscriptions have been found for this temple, but the style of most of the architecture is of the classic art of the middle period similar to Angkor Wat. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple.
In the afternoon, you will continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool (representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake), and Ta Som. Dinner at local restaurant and accommodation at hotel.

DAY 09: ANGKOR WAT(B)
Morning, drive to the remote Beng Mealea temple through the typical Khmer countryside (60Kms from Siem Reap).
There is a lot to see in the approximately 2½ hours drive as it takes you through many lively villages and along kilometers of rice paddies. Explore the long abandoned temple (11th C), strangled by the jungle.
Lunch box will be provided at the site.
A further 1 hr drive brings you to Koh Ker, situated in the northeast of Siem Reap. Discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia.  Also known as Chok Gargyar, it served as the capital of Jayavarman IV (reigned 928-42). His son and successor Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor in 944. There are a remarkable number of religious buildings in the Koh Ker region, considering the short space of time that it was the capital of the empire. There are more than 30 major structures and experts believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. It was also a prolific period for gigantic sculpture and several of the most impressive pieces in the National Museum in Phnom Penh come from Koh.

DAY 10: SIMEREAP AT LEISURE(B)
At leisure.
Overnight at hotel in Siemreap

DAY 11: SIEMREAP - SIHANOUKVILLE(B)
Overland to Shihanoukville by car, arrives this late afternoon.

DAY 12: SIHANOUKVILLE(B)
Free leisure time to the enjoy the beach

DAY 13: SIHANOUKVILLE(B)
Free leisure time to the enjoy the beach

DAY 14: SIHANOUKVILLE(B)
Free leisure time

DAY 15: SIHANOUKVILLE - PHNOMPENH(B)
Free leisure time.
This afternoon drive back to Phnompenh. Overnight at
hotel in Phnompenh.

DAY 16: DEPARTURE(B)
Transfer to airport for your flight back home.