DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1: Departure from the selected airport
Today you will fly from the airport of your choice to Siem Reap. There are stopovers along the way.
DAY 2: Arrival in Siem Réab
After landing at Siem Réab Airport, you will first be directed to an entry check, where you will present your e-visa. It is worth obtaining an e-visa from home, so that entry formalities are as painless as possible.
You will then pick up your luggage and go to the Arrivals Hall, where your guide is already waiting. The guide will drive you from the airport to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is free time to relax after a long flight.
The charming Siem Réab offers cozy cafés, shops and a lively market that sells everything from clothes to souvenirs. In the shade of the trees lining the Siem Reap River, it is nice to take leisurely walks, and the riverfront also features some of the city’s best restaurants. Pub Street is the city’s nightlife hub, full of cafes, restaurants, bars and casual outings.
DAY 3: Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Today is one of the highlights of the entire trip: a visit to the huge temple complex of Angkor Wat and the impressive ruined city of Angkor Thom, both of which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
You traveled with a guide to Angkor, which was originally built as the capital of the Khmer kingdom. The temple complex is located just 5 km north of Siem Réab, so the long drive is unknown. Because the temple area is quite large, the longest distances are folded by car, from where you get to explore the most interesting sites under the guidance of a guide.
The tour begins at Angkor Thom’s beautiful south gate and moat, which remains lush green even during the dry season. From here we continue to Bayon, one of the main temples, whose countless Buddhas greet the visitor with more enigmatic smiles. The tour continues to the 350-meter-long Elephant Terrace, from where the king once watched his troops, conducted ceremonies, and watched performances. The elephant terrace is named after its many sandstone sculptures depicting elephants. You will also see the king’s private temple, or the pyramid-shaped Phimeanakas, whose name means heavenly palace of the gods. Finally, you will visit the famous Ta Prohm Temple. Ta Prohm is known for the trees that have grown in the middle of the ruins, which are intertwined with the buildings so that
After the lunch break, you will visit Cambodia’s most famous temple, Angkor Wat, which is also the world’s largest religious monument. The fabulous temple is built on three floors, and the whole is crowned by five lotus-flower-shaped towers. The courtyard of the temple with its arched corridors and endless friezes and carvings makes an unforgettable impression, and the top floor of the temple in turn offers a breathtakingly beautiful panoramic view.
At the end of the day, admire the sunset in one of the temples in Angkor.
DAY 4: Tonle Sap Lake
Immediately in the morning, there is an interesting excursion to Lake Tonlé Sap, about 15 km south of Siem Réab. According to Countryaah.com, Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, but its size varies considerably: in the dry season the lake shrinks to 3,000 km 2 and in the rainy season it covers as much as 10,000 km 2 . The lake is of great importance to Cambodian pantries, with more than 300 different species of fish and 100 different species of birds living in and around Tonlé Sap.
The guide will pick you up from your hotel. The first is about a 1-hour drive to Kampong Khleang, one of the many small fishing villages on the lake. Here you will learn about the lives and work of families who make a living from fishing. Most families live in colorful houses built on piles on the shores of the lake, which remain dry even as the narrow streets of the village turn into small canals during the rainy season. In the dry season, high piles are visible.
You will return to Siem Réab at around 2 pm and the rest of the day is free time to relax by the pool or go sightseeing. If you wish, you can also take part in one of our additional paid tours.
DAY 5: Siem Réab
The day is free time. You can relax at the hotel, explore the city on your own or take part in one of our interesting extras.
Siem Réab offers many fascinating experiences. You can stroll around the French Quarter, walk along the riverbank and visit the Psaar Chaan Market. On the small side streets you can see many really beautiful temples, and when you crave a rest break, you can sit in one of the many restaurants and cafes in the city. We also recommend an excursion to the Royal Gardens, a charming little garden opposite the royal residence.
DAY 6: Siem Réab – Kratié
After breakfast, the journey continues to Kratié, located in leafy eastern Cambodia along the Mekong River. Kratié is especially known for the rare and endangered Iravadin dolphins, or Southeast Asian dolphins that live in the Mekong River. Within a 6-7 hour drive, you will get a good idea of both the larger cities and the countryside around the Mekong River. Especially in the last part of the drive, you should lean back and enjoy the beautiful scenery, which is dominated by e.g. fields and crops growing papaya, chili, eggplant and tobacco. Lunch is enjoyed either along the way or upon arrival at Kratiée.
Stay in Kratié on the small island of Koh Trong, just 6 km away, on the Mekong River, a 10-minute boat ride from Kratié. Koh Trong has a relaxed atmosphere. There are no cars at all on the island, so trips are made by bicycles, motorcycles, tuk supports or ox carriages.
During the dry season, when the river level is low, you have to walk about 900 meters from the beach to the bike path, where a waiting tuk tuk will take you to your hotel a couple of kilometers away. Your luggage will be transported to the hotel separately. During the rainy season, when the river level is high, the boat gets right to the end of the bike path, so you avoid walking.
After arrival, the rest of the afternoon is free time to relax by the pool or set out to explore the island.
DAY 7: Bike tour on Koh Trong and dolphin safari in Kratie
After breakfast, you and your guide will leave the hotel for a couple of hours of peaceful cycling to explore picturesque Koh Trong.
There is a quiet and peaceful atmosphere everywhere. The route passes through lush landscapes and past exotic mango, yak and banana trees. Here and there you can see bulls grazing in the meadows. The hike is about 9 km on very flat terrain. Along the way you will see e.g. a small pagoda surrounded by tall bats hiding in tall trees growing around them, thus sleeping during the day hanging from branches. You can take rest breaks just as often as you want. It’s easy to get in touch with the happy and hospitable locals, and the local family can even invite you home for tea or coffee. From time to time on the beach it is possible to see freshwater turtles. The last section takes you through the rice fields, after which you return to the hotel. The hotel has a moment to rest and unwind.
Kratié will visit the local market and enjoy lunch, after which the journey will continue to the village of Sambor, 35 km away. The Sambor is home to Wat Sorsor Moi Roi, Cambodia’s largest pagoda, called the 100-Pillar Pagoda.
In the middle of the afternoon, the program includes an interesting boat trip on the Mekong River in the footsteps of rare iravadin dolphins. Iravadindelfin is easily identified by its dark gray and dark blue color, high forehead, round head and wide fins. The Mekong Kratié region is home to about 70 individuals. A dolphin safari is an exciting experience – it’s surprisingly fun to just sit quietly in a boat, listen to the sounds of dolphins and try to spot them in the water. After about an hour, head to Phnom Sambok Hill, at the top of which you can enjoy great views of the Mekong River. To reach the top, you have to climb 300 steps, which is worth the pain, as a fascinating sight awaits you at the top of the stairs. The stairs are adorned with small Buddha statues, and the small pagoda and monastery at the top of the hill are home to about 10 monks. The scenery from the top is breathtakingly beautiful and the atmosphere is very special. At the end of a long and eventful day, it is finally time to return to the hotel.
DAY 8: Kratié – Sen Monorom, Mondulkiri
Today, the journey continues towards the unspoilt highlands of Mondulkir province, whose landscapes can accommodate lush jungles, rolling hills and bubbling waterfalls. Elephants thrive in the depths of the rainforests, and most of the human population in the area belongs to different ethnic tribes.
The drive to the provincial capital, Sen Monorom, takes about 3 hours, and the route passes through scenic highland landscapes, pepper plantations and pine forests. A lunch break will arrive, after which the journey will continue to the nearby Bou Sraa Waterfall. The waterfall pulps in three levels, of which only the top two are visible, as the lowest level remains at the edge of the rainforest. The waterfall is a popular destination among the locals, and people come here from near and far to spend time, enjoy picnics and swim.
On the way back to Sen Monorom, you will drive past the newly established coffee farm. The hotel is reached in the afternoon.
DAY 9: Jungle trip with elephants in Mondulkir
It’s known to be an unforgettable day during which you visit an NGO-run elephant project and see elephants in their natural habitat on a jungle trek.
The guide will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel. The first stage is the café located in the NGO Sen Monorom, which serves as a meeting place for the trip. When the group is assembled, starting about half an hour by a minivan along bumpy roads elephant center. Arriving, the project leaders talk about the activities of the organization and the Bunong tribe living in the area, which have a long tradition of working with elephants. The protected area in the middle of the jungle covers an area of about 1,500 hectares. It is intended as a refuge for elephants in need of protection, care or rest. The project will also acquire land to protect the jungle from logging and to preserve the elephants ’natural habitat.
After this, the source of about a half-hour walking tour of the green valley and the jungle. The trail runs along uneven paths, so non-slip hiking boots are a must. The destination is a small square in the middle of the jungle, where you have to wait patiently for a while until the elephants start to appear and be heard among the trees. It’s interesting to watch elephants as they move slowly through the jungle greedily greedy to feed on the leaves and plants of the trees. You will also see local mahouts (elephant riders) taking care of the elephants ’daily bathing time in small ponds and a river flowing through the valley.
Later in the afternoon, we move on to the main building of the project and the surrounding camp, which is located on a high hillside and offers great views of the green jungle. There is a couple of hours break during which you can even relax in the hammock while waiting for a delicious buffet lunch to finish. Either before or after the rest break, there is also a visit to an “elephant hospital” where sick and injured elephants are treated.
Next, head to another vantage point in the valley, where you can once again observe the life of elephants in their natural habitat. In the afternoon we will return to Sen Monorom, where your guide will meet you and take you back to your hotel. From the rest, there is free time to take it easy and reminisce about the day’s interesting experiences.
To participate in this excursion, you must be in reasonably good basic condition and be able to walk on your own.
DAY 10: Its Monorom – Phnom Penh
Today is the time to take a course towards the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. During the approximately 7-hour drive, a stop is made in the town of Skuoni, where the famous market boasts Cambodian delicacies such as fried spiders. Cambodians come to the market from all over the country to enjoy their favorite dishes. The locals traditionally use almost everything for their food, and here you get to see an incredible selection of different dishes and delicacies that you can also sample yourself.
Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of three rivers, the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap. The city is literally full of life: there are lively markets, boulevards teeming with people and narrow little streets with countless cafes, restaurants and shops. The cityscape is a charming combination of colonial French villas, modern skyscrapers and narrow-tower pagodas, and everything is crowned by the magnificent Royal Palace. At some point, it’s definitely worth taking a moment and climbing to the top of the skyscraper where you can enjoy some really great views. In particular, the confluence of the three rivers is best seen from a bird’s eye view.
After arriving in Phnom Penh, the rest of the day is free time.
DAY 11: Phnom Penh City Tour
Today you will learn more about Cambodian culture and history, as it is known for an interesting and also touching city tour. A full-day tour of Phnom Penh begins early in the morning with a visit to the Royal Palace and its lush park. The Palace area still houses the Residence of the Royal Family of Cambodia. In addition to the palace and coronation hall, there is also a visit to the famous Silver Pagoda.
From there, the journey continues to the city’s main temple, Wat Phnom Pagoda, located on top of a small wooded hill. The next destination is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum S-21, a museum reminiscent of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Pol Pot established the prison on the premises of a former high school in 1975. The prison was renamed “Security Prison 21”, which becomes the abbreviation S-21.
The last leg of the day is Choeung Ek, about 15 km from the city, perhaps better known as the “Killing Fields”. The Khmer Rouge killed more than 17,000 people and buried the bodies in mass graves in the hilly terrain of Choeung Ek. Late in the afternoon, return to the hotel.
DAY 12: Phnom Penh
Today is a free day that you can use however you want – Relax at a hotel, for example, or go explore Phnom Penh on your own. If you wish, you can also book an additional trip for a fee. There are plenty to do and see: go for a leisurely stroll along the Mekong River, go shopping in the little boutiques, visit the National Museum, shop at the inner market of Phsar Thmey or the “New Market” or just flannel in the city enjoying the atmosphere and cafes.
DAY 13: THE journey home begins
You will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport, from where the journey continues via stopover (s) to your home country.
DAY 14: Return home
You will land at the chosen airport after an unforgettable holiday.