17 Days Cambodia Discovery & Holiday

Welcome to Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant and bustling capital city. Despite its recent turbulent history, Phnom Penh’s wide tree-lined boulevards and faded colonial mansions hold an undeniable charm. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Enjoy some free time to rest and freshen up before driving to the dock to catch an evening boat cruise along the Mekong River. Savor a welcome dinner onboard as you watch the sunset over the shimmering lights of Phnom Penh.
Meal: Dinner on boat.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh was founded in the 14th century and has long been a vital trading hub at the confluence of three rivers: the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac. Start the day learning about the Khmer Rouge and Cambodia’s recent history on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the notorious Choeung Ek “Killing Fields”. In the afternoon, try out your best bargaining skills on a walk through the city’s expansive “Russian Market”, where you can find anything from motorcycle parts to valuable gems. Our cultural tour continues as we visit the National Museum an excellent introduction into ancient Khmer art and civilization and the Royal Palace, home to the royal family and the opulent silver pagoda.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Today we travel by car to Battambang, Cambodia’s second largest city. Get a taste for Cambodia’s rural life and stop en route at Kompong Chnang to visit the floating village in Kompong Luong. We arrive in Battambang in the afternoon. Check in at your hotel then enjoy an orienting walking tour through the city’s bustling boulevards lined with quaint French colonial buildings. Next visit some of Battambang’s signature hilltop temples as well as the infamous cave, Phnom Sampov, used as an execution field under the Khmer Rouge.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Batambang.

Today we drive from Battambang to Siem Reap, the provincial capital and gateway to the ancient Angkor Temples. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Angkor Archaeological Park encompasses dozens of temple ruins including Bayon, Banteay Srei and the legendary Angkor Wat. Spend 3 hours driving through Cambodia’s charming countryside, past stretches of rice paddies and exotic hamlets. Arrive at Siem Reap and check in at the hotel. In the afternoon, free at leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Reap.

Today is dedicated to exploring Cambodia’s daily life and rich culture with trips to Kampong Khleang and the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. Travel down winding picturesque roads on the way to Tonle Sap, stopping to admire the rice plantations and various season activities of the locals such as roof building and banana harvesting. In the afternoon we drive to Kampong Khleang homestay. Take a cooking class on traditional Khmer cuisine before joining with a local family for a cozy homestay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Accommodation: Homestay in Kampong Khleang.

Say good bye to your host family and travel in the morning to visit the remote and jungle-covered Beng Mealea temple. We continue the trip to Koh Ker. Here we will discover the long abandoned temples in the forests of northern Cambodia. Also known as Chok Gargyar, this region once served as the capital of Jayavarman IV until his son and successor, Harshavarman I moved the capital back to Angkor. There are more than 30 major structures and archeologists believe there may have been as many as 100 minor sacred buildings in the region. In the afternoon, drive straightly to Kampong Thom. Check in your hotel and free at your leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampong Thom.

Today we will visit the ancient temple complex, Sambor Prei Kuk, situated just north of Kampong Thom. The main temples are divided into three complexes, all dedicated to Shiva. Enjoy the serene atmosphere as you wander through these 7th century brick monuments, artfully scattered about the jungle. Then we travel to Kratie, a vibrant riverside town and home to the endangered freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins. On the way, visit the Cham Ka Lour rubber plantation, before crossing the Mekong River by ferry at Stung Trong/Krochmar district of Kampong Cham province. Arrive in Kratie in the afternoon and check-in at your hotel. Then drive north of town and take a local boat to view the freshwater dolphins that inhabit this stretch of the Mekong. Enjoy an hour on the river, before returning to the quaint French colonial town for the evening.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie.

After breakfast, we travel to Cambodia’s eastern province, Mondulkiri. With rolling grassy hills, pine growths and rainforests, this sparsely populated province is like nowhere else in Cambodia. Mondulkiri is also home to the majority of country’s tribal minorities, including the Cham and Phnong peoples. Arrive in Sen Monorom, the region’s capital, in the late afternoon. Check in at the Mondulkiri Hotel and enjoy the evening discovering this small, quirky town – the base from which to explore the surroundings hill tribe villages and cascading waterfalls.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

Wake early and visit the local market frequented by the Phnong people, traveling from the nearby villages to buy and sell their wares. Next we journey to some of the surrounding hill tribe villages. There are hundreds of minority villages around Sen Monorom. One of the largest and easiest to access is the Phlung village inhabited by Phnong chunchiets, where their curious huts have woven, wooden walls and thatched roofs that slope almost to the floor. You will be lucky to see more than a handful of people during daytime, as most are out working in the fields. Later in the afternoon, explore the jungle astride an elephant, guided by the experienced Phnong mahouts, then stop to visit some of the region’s beautiful waterfalls.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

After breakfast at hotel, the guide and driver will transfer you to Mondulkiri Project where you will join in a fun day in the jungle with Mondulkiri elephants in the protected forest. Here you have chance to live with elephant for a day, and do many activities, such as: feeding and following 4 Mondulkiri elephants through the jungle (no elephant riding), swimming with and washing elephants at the waterfall, learning about elephants and Bunong culture and traditions.
Have lunch at the Jungle Lodge and relaxing in hammocks. The Lodge has great views over the jungle and is a good place to view wildlife and many species of birds.
After saying goodbye to the elephants we walk back out of the jungle to our starting point before being driven back to Sen Monorom.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Mondulkiri.

Say good bye to Mondulkiri and continue on the tour to Kampong Cham, where we will stop to visit the Wat Nokor Pagoda. This 11th century Mahayana Buddhist shrine is home to a large reclining Buddha as well as many carved Buddha images. In the afternoon we continue on to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. The journey offers an excellent opportunity to observe rural Cambodia up-close. Stop along the way and visit Skun market, where every assortment of street food is available, including the Khmer favorite: fried spiders! Of course feel free to try one! Upon arrival, check in at the hotel then enjoy the rest of the evening at your leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, meet and drive overland to Sihanouk Ville by our private car (5 hours drive). Arrive at Sihanoukville boat pier for your speed boat to Koh Rong Island, famous for its serene beauty. Often described as an ‘island paradise’ by visiting tourists, the island boasts pristine white sandy beaches, warm crystal-clear ocean waters, and a hot tropical climate.
There are ranges of fun outdoor activities as you wish from trekking in the tropical forest, snorkeling, diving, watching plankton at early night around the resort…..
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel on Koh Rong

Free at your own leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel on Koh Rong

Free at your own leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel on Koh Rong

Free at your own leisure.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel on Koh Rong

Enjoy a free morning to relax on the beach, before traveling to Phnom Penh by private car. Check in at the hotel then enjoy a last night to explore this colorful capital.
Meal: Breakfast.
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh.

Have breakfast at the hotel, our driver will transfer you to Phnom Penh International airport to catch your departure flight home. HOME SWEET HOME!
Meal: Breakfast.