DISCOVER AN UNTOUCHED CORNER OF CAMBODIA - 11 DAYS/ 10 NIGHTS - From: 837$

You will be welcome at Phnom Penh Airport and transferred by our guide to the city for hotel check in. From 1.30pm room is at your disposal. After settling at the hotel, take a visit to Wat Phnom to learn about Phnom Penh’s origins with the story of Madam Penh. The next destination is the central market, a building decorated by pretty art, for shopping upon your wish. Have your own dicovery at the local’s cuisine for meals. Overnight at the hotel. 

Your exciting story of the capital city starts with a visit to the National Museum. Offically inaugurated in 1920, the museum offers an excellent example of Khmer architecture. Explore its development of culture through an fantastic range of sculptures coming forth from all different periods of Cambodian history. This will be an unforgettable introduction to Angkor. The second destination is the Royal Palace, built up by King Norodom  in 1866. So many different structures are grouped together just in the space of the palace, creating an extraordinary collection of Khmer art. One of the highlights is Silver Pagoda, with remarkable works including a 90-kilogram golden Buddha encrusted with 9584 diamonds, Baccarat crystal conceived in the 17th century and a Buddha featuring emeralds.

Begin your afternoon trip by visiting the Killing Fields, locally called ‘Choeng Ek’. Lying 15km away from Phnom Penh, this is where many many victims of Khmer Rouge communist regime were killed and buried when Democratic Kampuchea ruled the country from 1975 to 1979.

Transfer back to the city and visit the Tuol Sleng genocide museum, you will have the closest and most authentic look of the Khmer Rouge regime - the darkest and forgettable period of Cambodia’s history. Then visit a former secondary school, which was transformed into a detention centre under the Khmer Rouge. Behind the gates with the famous name ‘S21’, thousands of residents and soldiers were detained, tortured and wasted their life here. Upon arrival back to Phnom Penh you are free for the evening time. Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Notes:
+ When we visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda our guides are unauthorized to lead, so guides on site will be the ones to do .

+ In case the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda are closed without notice (only sometimes for official ceremonies), we will rearrange the visit with another if possible.

Drive about 6 hours (340km) to Kratie passing by the Kampong Cham town. The small town of Katie, located on the banks of the Mekong, is the home of the old houses dating back to colonial times. Lunch is served at local restaurant. Board a  ferry towards the local island of Koh Trong. Standing isolatedly in the middle of Mekong, amongst white sand of surrounding banks (during the dry season), you will see an area which is totally different from others you’ll see in Cambodia, far away from the modern world currently affecting the land of smiles. Check in at your lodge and check out this true paradise of Cambodia by taking a stroll to the surroundings – not a single ‘beep,beep’ you hear everyday, all around are comfortable sound of peaceful villages and lush orchards, with warmth of hospitable locals and hardworking fishermen,… . An experience of riding an ox cart can be arranged upon your wish. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Notice: As Kratie has not yet been focused to develop, the hotels, restaurants, and general services is at local standard of quality.   

The paradise of Koh Trong is very isolated that only via a ferry from the town of Kratie you can access this island. Let’s take a cycling tour to discover the customs and traditions of the locals here. Riding on the 9-km track circling the island, created by the local residents, you will be able to discover a varied panel of what the beautiful island offers. Detailed intinerary : a Vietnamese floating village, ox working in the rice fields, vegetable gardens, fish farms, orchards, Khmer pagodas, traditional Khmer stilt houses,…

The track is primarily for bikes, if it’s not suitable for you, touring the island on foot or even on an ox/horse cart can be other options. Lunch is served at a local house. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at the lodge.

Back to the pier in Kratie in the morning, disembark and continue to drive northwards to visit Phnom Sambok. Standing on the top of this pagoda, you will see it’s worth climbing 300 steps for having an amazing view of Mekong River and surrounding countryside. The next destination is Kampi where you will take a cruise on small local boat to observe the Irrawaddy dolphins - the famous last freshwater dolphins. Take another drive of 4 hours (255km) to reach the ‘red town’ of Ban Lung, capital of the Ratanakiri province. The laterite appears everywhere  - hence its nickname of ‘red town’. Check into Terre Rouge (‘‘Red Earth’’ in English) Lodge, an elegant house built of precious woods and situated on the lakeside surrounded by a beautiful garden. Lunch is served on the way. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Keep driving about one hour northwards (about 40km) to Veun Sai town via a beautiful dirt road with dense forest bordering one side. Passing through villages, including ones of Tampou minority people, you will have chances to observe typical common houses for single girls and boys. Upon arrival in the town, hop on a wooden boat and cruise upstream the Se San river towards the village of Koah Peak. Enjoy and capture amazing view of natural landscapes and local life with daily activities, such as women washing clothes, fishermen catching fishes with the nets, children playing on the water,  ... Upon arrival, take a stroll along the village of Katcha ethnicity and stop to take a closer look at the local's unique cemetary with many statues, standing for the believe of guardians after their death. This walk offers you the very first time to experience traditions and cultures of ethnic minorities in Rattanakiri. Have a picnic lunch during the visit. Hop on the boat again to return to the town of Vouen Sai and drive back to Ban Lung. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

It will be a long trip today. Departure in the morning and spend 8 hours (470 km) on private vehicle towards Kampong Cham, passing by Kratie once again. Lunch is served on the way. Stop en route at Chup to visit a rubber tree plantation and its factory. Years ago this plantation used to be a property of the French company, Michelin. Upon arrival in Kampong Cham in the late afternoon, check in to your hotel and after a short rest move to a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight at hotel.

Notice: Kampong Cham has not been focused to develope for tourism, so hotels, restaurants and general services naturally are only in quality of standard

Rise up early in the morning to take a 3-hour driving (205km) towards the floating village of Kompong Khleang (approximately an hour away from Siem Reap) completely by passed by mass tourism. Having a large size and very high stilt houses, Kompong Khleang has become most impressive floating community. Meet up with lovely children and hospitable locals while wandering along the village, and stop at one house where crocodiles are raised by the host’s family. Then, hop on a boat and cruise along the canals towards a large lake populated by Vietnamese people. Because of the seasons, those poor but friendly people are displaced from their homes. Have a picnic lunch in a home of a villager with our nice set up, upon arriving back to the village. Back to the mainland and keep driving to Siem Reap for hotel check-in and your relaxation. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, discover the Roluos group of temples – one of the most ancient sites of the region. At the begining, pay visits to the impressive Bakong Temple (by cycling possibly upon your wish), dating back to 9th century. Keep following your guide to Preah Ko and Lolei (today it is a small monastery). This trip provides you adequate knowledges about the structure of the Khmer City.

After lunch (your expense)  and relaxation, continue our trip by visiting the Great City of Angkor Thom.  Your afternoon begins with the south gate and the famous Bayon temple. Dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries, the Bayon is dedicated to Buddhism and composed of 216 smiling faces of Avalokitesvara on 54 gigantic towers. Afterwards, pay visits to the Terrace of the Elephants. In the past, it was served as a base for the king’s grand audience hall and used as a gigantic reviewing stand in occasion of public ceremonies. Then come explore the Terrace of Leper King, dating back the 12th century, on which many beautiful Apsaras was sculptured. All meals of day are on your own. Night at the hotel. 

Our guide will wait for you at your hotel reception to transfer you to the very famous world heritage site of Angkor Wat. Built up in the 12th century in honour of Vishnu, with incredible bas reliefs and soaring towers, Angkor Wat is known as one of the most amazing monuments made by mankind in the world. After lunch, continue our trip towards Banteay Srei – a charming small pink temple. Dating back to 10th century and still known as the Citadel of Women, this temple owns a most impressive jewel of Khmer art. On the way back, finish your day by discovering splendid sculptured Devatas and immerse in the unique atmosphere in the ancient Ta Prohm Monastery. This site has a nickname of "Jungle Temple", because of its immense branches having taken root in the stones. Have your own meals. Night at the hotel.

Take your last time here to relax at hotel's pool or stroll around Old Centre Market for shopping before transferring to airport for your onward flight. Room is at your disposal before noontime only. Meals on your own. Our services end here.