Cambodia Reveal 12 Days

Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport, you’ll be greeted by our driver and transferred to your hotel for a formal check-in. You’ll have some time to relax before starting the afternoon tour.

At 16:00, you’ll get your first impression of the mystical Angkor temples in the jungles surrounding Siem Reap. You’ll drive along the small circuit during dusk to soak in the special atmosphere as other tourists say goodbye and the silence takes over. You’ll stop at an ancient water reservoir and visit some of the lesser-known temples for an exclusive sundown experience. Afterward, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, accompanied by a Khmer Traditional Dance Performance.

4:45 AM: You’ll wake up before sunrise and make the 15-minute journey to Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat Temple: You’ll visit the famous Angkor Wat temple, built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. It is designed following the model of the temple mountain, symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Angkor Wat is also renowned for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple.

Angkor Thom City: Continue to the ancient city of Angkor Thom. Angkor Thom was the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under King Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8-meter-high wall, forming a perfect square. Enter the city through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with elephants and four giant faces.

Bayon Temple: Next, you’ll visit Bayon Temple, located in the exact center of the city. This 12th-century masterpiece is known for its grandeur and its 54 towers adorned with enigmatic faces representing the 54 provinces of the Great Khmer Empire.

Ta Prohm Temple: Your final visit today will be to Ta Prohm Temple, built in the mid-12th to early 13th centuries. Ta Prohm is unique because it has been left largely as it was found: overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. You’ll spend the night in Siem Reap.

You’ll be picked up by our guide and driver at 08:30 and then transferred to visit:

Banteay Srei Temple: Head out to the countryside to see the “gem” of the Angkor area, the beautiful temple of Banteay Srei. Known as the “Citadel of the Women,” it remains the best-preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art, with its small size and truly remarkable bas-reliefs. Banteay Srei is unique because it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is not seen elsewhere in Angkor.

Preah Khan Temple: You’ll visit Preah Khan Temple, a ruined but highly atmospheric site of tree roots and crumbling stone structures. Construction of this site was commissioned by the great ‘temple builder’ Jayavarman VII in honor of his father. This smaller site provides an interesting contrast with the more imposing Angkor Wat. Preah Khan is currently being restored by the World Monument Fund and is in remarkably good condition in places.

Neak Pean Temple: You’ll see Neak Pean Temple, an artificial island with a Hindu temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, associated with Preah Khan Temple and built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII.

East Mebon Temple: Next, you’ll visit East Mebon, a temple-mountain.

Pre Rup Temple: You’ll also visit Pre Rup Temple, built as the state temple of Khmer King Rajendravarman and dedicated in 961 or early 962. It is a temple mountain of combined brick, laterite, and sandstone construction. The temple’s name means “turn the body” in modern terms.

Bakheng Temple: Finally, you’ll head to Bakheng Temple, which is a symbolic representation of Mount Meru, the home of the Hindu gods. This status is emphasized by the temple’s location atop a steep hill 65 meters above the surrounding plain. The temple is built in a pyramid form with seven levels, representing the seven heavens. It’s the best place to enjoy the sunset view before heading back to Siem Reap to end the day tour. You’ll spend the night in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the boat pier. You’ll embark on a wooden boat (adjoining speedboat – schedule to be advised). You’ll cross the wonderful Tonle Sap Lake and reach the Sangker River, leading up to Battambang. It’s a relaxing trip with wildlife scenery, floating, and flooded village views. You’ll enjoy reading and sipping some beer while applying sunscreen and lotion for skin protection. It’s a soft adventure that connects you to the way people lived along these rivers before smooth roads were built. Lunch will be served as a picnic lunch box or in a traditional house in one of the floating villages along the river. You’ll continue up the river to Battambang, arriving in the afternoon. After check-in at your hotel, you’ll have time to rest, and your overnight accommodation will be at a hotel in Battambang.

Note: The transfer from Siem Reap to Battambang by our wooden boat takes about 5 to 6 hours from August to March. During the dry season, from April to July, the transfer can take 8 hours due to the low water levels in the Tonle Sap and Sangker River. This option is recommended for those who enjoy soft adventure. You’ll spend the night in Battambang.

Overland Option to Replace Boat Cruise (April to July): Visit Banteay Chhmar Temple.

After breakfast, you’ll have free leisure time until your transfer to Battambang town along National Roads No. 5 and No. 6, covering a distance of 160 km, which takes about 3 hours. National Road No. 5 is in good condition, while National Road No. 6 is under construction. You’ll head northwest of Siem Reap, stopping for a break in the town of Sisophon, also known as Svay or Mango to Khmers. You’ll continue north to the huge complex of Banteay Chhmar, meaning “narrow fortress,” an important city in the Khmer Empire during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. Our team will set up camp while you explore this vast temple, including its famous bas-reliefs with elaborate Lokeshvaras with 32 arms. After the tour, you’ll continue to Battambang. Upon arrival, you’ll head directly to your hotel for check-in and relaxation.

You’ll explore the highlights of Battambang, a charming colonial town, and discover the original lifestyle of its residents. You’ll experience the surrounding countryside, which harbors picturesque old pagodas, Angkorian-era ruins, caves, mountains, waterfalls, and the famous ‘bamboo train.’

Battambang Livelihood – You’ll spend your day exploring the countryside around Battambang by visiting Cambodian families who produce traditional products such as rice paper, dried bananas, bamboo sticky rice, and rice wine, all made in the same way they have been for generations. You’ll learn firsthand about everyday life in rural communities, which make up over 70% of Cambodia’s population.

Bamboo Train – You’ll then head off to the Bamboo Train station. The Bamboo Train was set up by villagers to facilitate the transportation of goods and people, as there are no regular trains running anymore. Sitting on the platform, you’ll travel the 8 km to the next station through beautiful landscapes and rice paddies—a true rollercoaster ride without loops!

Sampeau Mountain – You’ll visit Phnom Sampeau, meaning “Ship Hill” in Khmer, due to its distinctive shape. It’s one of the few hills standing out in this otherwise flat plain. From the small temple at the top, you’ll have a fantastic view over the typical landscape of paddy fields and sugar palm trees. Your visit to Phnom Sampeau will last until dusk, a time when millions of bats emerge from a cave and create patterns as they fly in tandem across the sky—a nightly spectacular show of nature!

You’ll return to downtown after sunset and be dropped off at your hotel to relax. You’ll spend the night in Battambang.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and taken to the place where our chef will be waiting to discuss the food menu you’ll be cooking today.

Culinary Experience – You’ll spend half a day discovering the secrets of authentic Khmer cuisine with a cooking class. You’ll begin with a guided trip to the local market, where you’ll learn about Cambodian vegetables, herbs, spices, and other ingredients and their uses in Khmer cuisine. You’ll return to the school or home where you’ll be shown how to prepare these delicious dishes by our experienced Cambodian chef. This hands-on experience is a great way to learn about Khmer cuisine, which is similar to Thai cuisine but less spicy. At the end of your course, you’ll indulge in a lunch of the meals you’ve prepared yourself. After lunch, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel.

In the afternoon, you’ll meet our guide and driver and be transferred to Phnom Penh, the capital city. The journey from Battambang covers a distance of 291 km, crossing three provinces—Kandal, Kompong Chnnang, and Pursat—and will take around 4 hours on National Road No. 5. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken directly to your hotel to relax. You’ll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up to visit  Killing Field – Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was the execution ground for the torture victims of Tuol Sleng and standing in this peaceful setting it’s almost unthinkable to imagine that to date nearly 9000 corpses have been exhumed from the area. You’ll then visit  theTuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Confront Cambodia’s tragic past on a guided tour of the place to show a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. It’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here. Next, you’ll visit National Museum where exhibits 5000 objects including Angkorian era statues, lingas, artefacts – most notably the legendary statue of the ‘Leper King” and a good collection of pieces from later periods. You’ll then call in at the Royal Palace and the nearby Silver Pagoda. In the afternoon, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel to relax. Your overnight accommodation will be in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at 8:00 AM and leave the city for Chi Phat Community, located in Sre Ambil, Koh Kong Province. You’ll travel to Phum Andong, which is 195 km away and takes around 2 hours from Phnom Penh. From there, you’ll connect by boat to Chi Phat Village, spending around 40 minutes on the river, enjoying the fresh scenery as it connects to the sea. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by villagers and transferred to the Chi Phat community office for check-in. You’ll then relax and have lunch at a local restaurant or enjoy community home cooking.

In the afternoon, you’ll walk to the nearby Chhay Chrey rapids with a local guide (about 2 km), where you’ll have the opportunity to swim and relax. You’ll return to the community office in the late afternoon, and later, you’ll enjoy a dinner cruise, where you’ll witness lobster fishing activities and beautiful fireflies. The tour will take around 3 hours before you return to the village. Overnight at Homestay/Bungalow.

CHI PHAT COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM aims to support the protection of natural and cultural resources of the area and create job and income opportunities for villagers through the development of Community Based Ecotourism products and activities, providing alternative livelihoods in CBET to hunters, loggers and NTFP collectors, provide livelihoods in CBET to the poor and improve commune infrastructure and public facilities. We, the people of Chi Phat commune, want a Community Based Ecotourism project that is developed by our community and partners and will empower our community, attract tourists and contribute to protect natural and cultural resources and better livelihoods as well as improvement of infrastructure and the commune environment…”

After Breakfast at community office, you’ll start tour start biking from the office through the raining forest and along the river to visiting Bat Cave where enjoy the beautiful nature and bird singing…then you’ll stop by the waterfall where you can relax, swimming with natural therapy massage, come back to community a bit late lunch, relax at Bungalow and enjoy the community living where you can see the life of community people with story… diner at community Chi Phat…

After breakfast, you’ll leaving Chi Phat community then heading back to KEP Beach town… you’ll drive from Chi Phat via Kampot and Kep which will take about 3hrs on distant 220km. Upon arrival direct to your hotel for check in. You’ll have time to relax, swim or sunbathe as you wish.

In the late afternoon, you’ll visit to KEP West’s Café where you can catch beautiful sunset which reflexion from the sea… take a deep breath and return back to hotel after sunset. Your overnight accommodation will be in KEP.

Set with picture perfection near the base of the Elephant Mountains on the Kampong Bay River, the provincial capital of Kampot City is of quite a different character than the much more heavily tourist beach town of Sihanouk Ville. Quiet lanes, classic French colonial and Chinese architecture and very few tourists all serve to lend Kampot a quaint, welcoming, small-town ambiance. Visitors come to Kampot for a taste of provincial Cambodia, the relaxed atmosphere, and to use Kampot as a base or a stepping stone to the Bokor Hill Station, the beaches and islands of Kep and the rest of south-eastern Cambodia.

After breakfast, you’ll begin at 8:30 AM and explore Kep beach town on your own. You’ll visit the crab market, which is bustling in the morning, before enjoying the beautiful scenery of the countryside surrounding Kep. This area is full of traditional Khmer villages and seasonal rice paddies, which form the heart of rural Cambodia. You’ll relax and walk along the seaside of Kep, savoring the charm of this provincial town. Next, you’ll visit the Pepper Plantation market, which is busy in the morning, and then continue traveling along the coastal roads. Your guide will lead you to a local pepper farm, where you’ll find the best black, white, or red pepper from the region. You’ll also visit the salt fields and make a stop at the vibrant and colorful Keo Krosang Pagoda.

Additionally, you’ll visit the colonial town of Kampot, where you’ll sit along the Kampot River, enjoy a seafood lunch at a local restaurant with a river view, and visit the Salt Fields, which are close to the ocean. You’ll see how water is let in from the ocean to the fields and then blocked off. You’ll return to your hotel in the late afternoon. You’ll spend the night in KEP.

After breakfast, you will depart from Kep and head back to Phnom Penh, the capital city. Upon your arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be transferred directly to Phnom Penh International Airport for your departing flight. End of tour.