Elegance of Cambodia 17 Days

Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you’ll meet and be greeted by your guide. You’ll then be transferred to your hotel for check-in. You’ll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at 08:30 by Lemoc-Moto “TUKTUK” and start your tour with the following:

Choeung Ek Memorial – You’ll visit Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of around 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 nearly 9,000 corpses have been exhumed from the area.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – You’ll confront Cambodia’s tragic past on a guided tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school that served as a Khmer Rouge torture center. It’s estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here.

National Museum – You’ll visit the National Museum, which exhibits 5,000 objects, including Angkorian-era statues, lingas, and artifacts, most notably the legendary statue of the “Leper King” and a good collection of pieces from later periods. You’ll also visit the Royal Palace and the nearby Silver Pagoda.

Afterward, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel to relax before enjoying the Cyclo City Tour (2 hours).

Cyclo City Tour – You’ll be picked up from your hotel and ride slowly through the modern city, stopping at the Independence Monument, which commemorates the end of French rule in Cambodia in 1953. You’ll visit Wat Phnom, an ancient pagoda on a hill that marks the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh, and explore the evening life along Sisowath Boulevard before heading back to your hotel in the late evening. You’ll spend the night in Phnom Penh.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at 08:30 by TUKTUK and transferred to the bus station for the adjoining bus to Kampong Cham Province, which is 120 km away and takes about 2.5 hours to drive. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred by TUKTUK to your hotel, where you can relax before the afternoon tour.

In the afternoon, you’ll explore the local downtown area to view samples of colonial architecture. You’ll then visit the Koh Pen Bamboo Bridge, a man-made bridge crossing a sandy field, and observe the local life of people living along the Mekong River. You’ll spend the night in Kampong Cham.

Kampong Cham is the third largest city in Cambodia, but has yet to be heavily tourist like Phnom Penh or Siem Reap. It carries with it plenty of colonial French charm, and has a genuine “wild west” feel to it. Most travelers who do find themselves in Kampong Cham are in transit to elsewhere in the country, but those that choose to spend at least a couple of days in the provincial capital will enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and quaint charm. Most people in Kampong Cham are of course ethnic Khmer, but there is a sizeable Cham minority in the province’s towns, including a disproportionately high number of Muslims and Christians. 

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and transferred to Han Chey Mountain, officially named Chey Kiri Mountain, located to the east of Kampong Cham Province, on the northern part of the Mekong River. This site is situated in Han Chey Village, Han Chey Commune, Kampong Siem District, approximately 18 kilometers by water and 20 kilometers by land.

You’ll climb the 295 beautiful stair steps to reach the top of the mountain, where you’ll find a pagoda and the Kuk Temple, made of ancient solid bricks, each measuring seven square meters. Additionally, there’s another square-shaped sandstone temple located to the north of the pagoda. In the valley of the mountain, you’ll find the Pra Sat Neang Khmao Temple, also made of stones, with each structure measuring seven square meters. You’ll spend the night in Kampong Cham.

The mountain of Han Chey has beautiful scenary and also has many visitors; the international visitors who go there as group by boat. Recently, there are many tourist sites have been found in the province Kampong Cham, but not yet operated for tourists to visit. Along the Mekong River, there are a beautiful bank and island of Pen, which have been needed by the provincial visitors who visit there during the Khmer New Year festival.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at 08:30 by TUKTUK and transferred to the bus station for the adjoining bus to Kratie Province, which is 130 km away and takes about 2.5 hours to drive. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred by TUKTUK to your hotel, where you can relax before your afternoon tour to Koh Trong Island.

Koh Trong Island – You’ll prepare to cross the Mekong River with your bike by ferry to Koh Trong Island, which faces Kratie Province. Once there, you’ll ride your bike along the riverbank and enjoy the beautiful scenery. You’ll stop by a local café and greet the local children, who are not often used to seeing foreigners, especially those with long noses and blue eyes. In the late evening, you’ll return to Kratie downtown, where you’ll walk to a local market not far from the riverbank before being dropped back at your hotel. You’ll spend the night in Kratie.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and transferred to visit the highlights of the province:

Wat Sor Sor-100 – You’ll visit this unique and beautiful wooden house supported by 100 columns, dating back to the 19th century. You’ll then continue to Wat Phom Sambok to see the Buddhist monastery and enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding countryside from the hilltop.

Irrawaddy Dolphin – You’ll head to the village of Kampi, where you’ll board a boat and venture onto the Mekong River in search of the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin. These endangered mammals are rare and shy, so sightings are not guaranteed, but your boat driver will know the best local spots. Afterward, you’ll return to Kratie, where the remainder of your day will be at leisure. Your overnight stay will be in Kratie.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up at 8:30 AM by TUKTUK and transferred to the bus station for the adjoining bus to Mondulkiri (Sen Monorom) Province, which is 195 km away and takes about 3 hours to drive. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred by TUKTUK to your hotel, where you can relax before your afternoon tour.

In the afternoon, you’ll visit the local market and Phnom Dos Kromom (Lady Breast). You’ll return to your hotel in the late afternoon. You’ll spend the night in Sen Monorom.

Mondolkiri is a hilly area close to the border with Vietnam. It’s the least populated province in Cambodia (two people per km²) of which half is the Pnong ethnic minority communities: the other 35,000 mostly of other minorities. The grassland and pines are pristine, the wildlife is extensive and the roads are atrocious. 

Although it’s a provincial capital, Sen Monorom is remarkably small, approximately 7,000 souls altogether. The centre of town has two lakes, but most attractions are further away: a multitude of different ethnic minority villages, abundant wildlife, and elephant trekking and so on. Good accommodation is sparse.

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred out of town to the village of Lao Ka, where you’ll be joined by a local Bunong guide for the morning trek. You’ll walk in the shadow of Chrey Yos Hill and through a protected woodland of giant trees. It’s an extremely picturesque walk; throughout the morning, you’ll travel among rolling hills and down through pastures and valleys. You’re likely to pass a few minority hillside farms that grow a mixture of crops, including rice, corn, and vegetables. You may also see the footprints of wild boar and deer on the trails.

As hunger begins to set in, you’ll arrive at The Coffee Plantation. Besides the coffee trees that form the farm’s primary crop, you’ll find many other plantations growing durian, mangosteen, sapodilla, avocado, strawberries, and other tasty produce. You’ll then stop by a waterfall where lunch is being prepared, and you’ll enjoy the experience of cooking in bamboo, a method used by the minority for their daily life.

Afterward, you’ll return to Pu Long Village, where you can visit a minority home and chat with the villagers. If you have any school stationery to contribute, it would be appreciated by the children. You’ll then head back to downtown and, if you wish, visit Busra Waterfall. Your overnight stay will be in Mondulkiri.

You’ll spend a full day with the elephants, shadowing two families of elephants in the jungle throughout the morning and afternoon. You’ll learn about the elephants, the local mahouts, the forest, and conservation.

The Elephant Valley Project offers an experience like no other. You’ll trek into the elephants’ natural jungle habitat and observe these amazing animals in their natural behavior. It’s a simple and organic experience with no riding, tricks, shows, or stress. You’ll spend hours walking with them, learning about their trials, tribulations, and incredible stories. If you love elephants and truly care about their welfare and future, this is the place for you. Moreover, this is a highly unique experience and the first of its kind in Cambodia.

Your program will run from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, including a half-day and half-jungle trek with the elephants. You’ll overnight in Sen Monorom.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Mondulkiri and travel to Ratanakkiri Province, located on the northern side of the country. You’ll see the differences in minority cultures and the way of life of those who live by the Sesan River. You’ll travel a distance of 190 km, taking about 3 hours by car. The capital of Ratanakkiri, nicknamed the “Red City” because of the omnipresent laterite dust, awaits you.

Upon arrival, you’ll head directly to your hotel for check-in and relax before visiting some highlights of the province, such as the local market and Yak Lom Volcano Lake. You’ll overnight in Ban Lung.

After breakfast, you’ll head northwest, crossing Kroeung villages and bamboo forests before reaching the village of Kachon, located on the left bank of the Sé San River. Upstream, you’ll find several Tampoun and Katcha villages known for their funeral statuary. You’ll board a boat to visit the village of Koh Peak, which displays superb totems.

After the visit, you’ll head towards Voeune Saï, located 45 minutes downstream on the left bank of the Sé San River. This village is divided into two parts: a Chinese village and a Lao village. Due to trade, the Chinese part is quite prosperous with some beautiful traditional shophouses, while the Lao part is less developed. The main languages spoken are Chinese and Lao.

You’ll return to the province in the late afternoon and relax at the hotel. You’ll overnight in Ban Lung.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Ratanakkiri for Stung Treng Province, a distance of 140 km that will take about 2 hours on smooth roads. Upon arrival in Stung Treng, you’ll be welcomed by our TUKTUK and transferred to your local hotel for check-in. After checking in, you’ll have some time to relax before your afternoon tour to explore the local way of life. You’ll visit Wat Leur and the local market, and then enjoy the sunset on the Sekong and Mekong Rivers, complemented by sugarcane juice.You’ll overnight in Stung Treng.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up by our guide and transferred to the boat pier. You’ll take a boat through the RAMSAR flooded forests and conservation area to Phamit Waterfall, where you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy and relax with swimming and kayaking downstream while observing Mekong bird life. You’ll also have a chance to taste the community’s famous rice wine and walk through the village, which remains untouched by tourists.

Stung Treng is the capital of the province of the same name, located 485 km north of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia, and 210 km south of Pakse in Laos. It’s only 40 km from the Lao border. The town is perched on the banks of the Sekong River, Sesan River, and Mekong River. You’ll overnight in Stung Treng.

After breakfast, you’ll leave Stung Treng for Siem Reap Province, a distance of 300 km that will take around 5 hours on smooth roads. Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you’ll be welcomed by our TUKTUK and transferred to your local hotel for check-in. You’ll then have time to relax, and you’ll overnight at the hotel in Siem Reap.

At 16:00, you’ll head out to get your first impression of the mystical Angkor temples in the jungles surrounding Siem Reap. You’ll drive along the small circuit at dusk to enjoy the special atmosphere as other tourists leave and silence takes over. You’ll stop at an ancient water reservoir and visit some of the lesser-known temples to experience an exclusive sunset.

Afterward, you’ll enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, accompanied by a Khmer traditional dance performance. You’ll overnight in Siem Reap.

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.

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

Tonle Sap Great Lake: Today, you’ll experience an authentic look at the lifestyles of the Tonle Sap’s residents, the Great Lake, and local fishing life. On this Siem Reap day trip, you’ll embark on an interesting boat trip on the Tonlé Sap Lake, where you’ll have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. The Tonlé Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and is officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, covering an area of around 250,000 hectares in the dry season. Due to a unique phenomenon, when the monsoon begins, the swollen waters of the Mekong River force the Tonle Sap River to reverse its flow northwards, feeding the Great Lake and spreading over the surrounding floodplain. During the dry season, it is roughly 2,500 km², swelling to about four times its size during the wet season to around 10,000 km²!

Beng Melea Temple (“Indiana Jones” Temple): In the afternoon, you’ll visit Beng Mealea Temple, built by Jayavarman VII in the style of Angkor Wat. The temple’s scale is enormous, extending well over one square kilometer within its moat. Approached by four causeways, Beng Mealea appears as a massive pile of rubble partially hidden in the trees. As you get closer, the high walls and ancient Khmer architecture reveal themselves. Cloaked in vegetation with few concessions to tourism, this temple resembles how it would have looked when the early French explorers discovered it.

You’ll be transferred by air-conditioned vehicle to Siem Reap airport to board your flight for your onward journey.