Deep Insightful Cambodia Adventure Tour 16 Days

Program Detail

Day 1 | Phnom Penh – Arrival & Drive to Kratie Province

Meal: None
Upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be greeted by our friendly guide and driver then we drive with 5 hours to Kratie – a sleepy town and the great home for freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins. On the way, we will have a few stops to enjoy the highlights of Cambodia and sample Cambodian snacks as well as deep fried crispy insects (spiders…).

Once we arrived in Kratie, we will stroll at the main local market of the province then catch a local boat to Koh Trong Island and check in at a booked hotel

Overnight in Koh Trong, Kratie

Day 2 | Kratie – Koh Trong Exploration & Mekong Irrawaddy Dolphin

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
We explore Koh Trong Island by push bike for the highlights of Koh Trong, interact local people as well as seeing rural life. Learn from your tour guide about their way of living, routine, culture especially the en-rooted superstitions. Passing traditional stilt houses and hear kids welcoming you by saying “Hello”, you’ll have a lot of chance to take interesting photos. Continue to see Vietnamese floating houses, make a friendly visit to grape farm (seasonal) and enjoy the taste of famous Koh Trong pomelo and fresh coconut juice before making our way back to the hotel.

Afternoon, embark a local boat to the mainland then heading to visit Wat Sasar Mouyrouy (100 column pagoda) with interesting history & legend, continue to Kampi pool where you take a small boat to capture the special glimpses of rare endangered freshwater Irrawaddy Dolphins and watch beautiful sunset over the Mekong River. Return and back to hotel in Koh Trong.

Overnight in Koh Trong, Kratie

Day 3 | Kratie to Ratanakiri, Waterfalls & Yeak Lom Crater Lake

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
Check out then take a local boat to the mainland, we’ll then go for the highlight of Kratie’s city included visiting local market. Continue driving (Approx. 4 hours) to Ratanakiri and spend the afternoon to visit natural Kachang waterfalls, the market in Banlung town of Ranakairi and see beautiful nature, and enjoy swimming (if you want) in the popular Yeak Lom crater lake before heading to Terres Rouges Lodge for check in.

Simply enjoy free time in the evening after check in.

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 4 | Adventure to Ethnic Minority Villages

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
We leave a bit early at 7.45am for a wonderful journey to get the best insight into the diversity of cultures that Ratanakiri has offered to hundreds of visitors to experience its remarkable uniqueness and ethnic daily life that is animated by ritual cultures, customs and interesting routine.

We’ll take about an hour and half drive that passes fascinating scenery and stop on the way to visit traditional Kroeung village to witness lifestyle of her friendly people and other highlight in the village before we arrive at Veun Sai for a boat excursion cross the river to explore other tribal villages. The boat excursion offers scenic views of lush rainforest and Tonle San River, and if you’re luck to spot wildlife and hear sounds of birds.

Disembark the boat, visit interesting ancient cemeteries at tribal villages of Kachok and Koh Piek. Next, we continue down Tonle San River where we will find a stop for lunch at a local restaurant (at your own account).

After lunch break, we continue our boat trip to Chinese and Laos villages to observe people making a living based on simple life, and visit their traditional medical center where they produce traditional medicines by their ancient methods and based local natural products included tree roots, leaf, flowers and tree skins etc. You may interrupt them to ask questions regarding to healing and sickness before we make our way back to Banlong City.

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 5 | Half a Day with Noelle and Her mum

Meal: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
We make small trip towards the South of Banlung trough fields and rubber plantations, half road, half dirt track. Arrival at the Airavata site at 8.45-9.00AM. Presentation of Airavata Elephants of the place, our philosophy, and preparation of the milk bottles and Noelle’s bath. We leave for the enclosure, greet mother and daughter and give treats to the mother while listening to the story of Ikeo and of her unlikely pregnancy.

We take Ikeo to the training area, hose her, brush her nails with shampoo and do a health check. Noelle’s bath, we wash her with shampoo, check her weight while giving her the bottle to get on the scale. All this done, we take mother and daughter into the forest, walking to the place where they will spend the day together. It is elephant school for Noelle as by observing her mother and mimicking her, she learns what plants to eat or not to eat.

We return and eventually observe the training of the other elephants (power washing, etc).

Overnight in Ratanakiri

Day 6 | Private Car/Minivan to Preah Vihear Province

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
We say goodbye to Ratanakiri and make a long journey with approx. 5-6 hours to Sra’aem in Preah Vihear. On the way, we will spend a few lovely hours (depends on your interest) to visit cow and animal farms where you learn about cow milk processing, see green farms and wild animals included deer, boars and take a breathtaking views of the surrounding.

Arrived, check in and have free time at a booked hotel in the evening.

Overnight in Preah Vihear

Day 7 | Preah Vihear Temple & Koh Ker Pyramid

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
We leave with at 8.00am to the base of DangRek mountain. Once we arrived, we process to get pick-up car which will take all of you up the mountain to visit the ancient Preah Vihear temple that was built atop Mt DangRek as of the scenery provides the fascinating landscape while learn from your tour guide about temple history and take picturesque photos of the most spectacular setting of the temple.

Around noon, we return to our awaiting car then go to hotel for refreshment and check out. Continue our adventure to discover the hidden Koh Ker temple which was listed as UNESCO World Heritage on 17 September 2023. We stroll around to witness the rich history of Pre-Angkorian Koh Ker in Pyramid shape, the very less touristy temple surrounded by the stunning lush jungle. Once it’s done, we will spend an overnight in a guesthouse near Koh Ker.

Overnight in Preah Vihear

Day 8 | Beng Mealea Jungle Temple & Tonle Sap Lake

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at a local restaurant near Koh Ker.
Check out then we’re heading out to visit Beng Mealea temple hidden amongst the stunning vegetation. We walk to experience the guided adventure within the lush jungle to reveal the lost temple “Beng Mealea”. Since the temple was constructed during the reign of king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century until then it’s never been restored again. It provides wonderful adventure that you’re going to climb over/down the ruined rocks, walking into the gallery to unlock the carvings and its interesting history of the Hindu temple related Angkor time. We then tranquilly capture picturesque photos before resuming to Kompong Phluk village of Tonle Sap Lake. We process to take a boat trip along canal toward the centre of Kompong Phluk then the boat slows down to let you enjoy the surrounding admired by amazing houses atop high poles, come across the highlight of fishing activities as well as see people selling fruits/vegetable/meats on their boats, you sometimes see kids in their student uniforms coming back from their classes. Witness how life works on the water and how people make the lake as home then we embark on a canoe to explore the pleasant mangroves, enjoy the serenity while taking picturesque photos and you may see a few waterbirds. Continue by our main boat to see the great lake of Tonle Sap, learn from your tour guide about Tonle Sap ecosystem and its rich biosphere reserve.

We drive to a booked hotel in Siem Reap City and have free time in the evening.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 9 | Fully Guided Angkor Discovery

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
We’re journeying out of hotel at 8.00am the South Gate of Angkor Thom atop 4 giant faces that religiously represents compassion, sympathy, equanimity and charity. Stroll around Bayon temple consisting of more than 200 smiling faces in stone, admired by interesting temples including Baphuon, Phimeanakas, terrace of leper king and terrace of elephant. Resume the journey to visit Ta Prohm temple adorned with the stunning, amazing tree roots where Lara Croft Tomb Raider was filmed.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at a selected local restaurant near temple.

Afternoon, continue to witness the marvelous Angkor Wat – the world’s heritage listed by UNESCO in 1992 and the largest unrivaled monument in the world. Built by Suryavarman II in 12th Century, Angkor Wat is considered as one of the top destinations in Asia and is a must-see in your lifetime. Learning from your tour guide the amazing history, its ancestral incredible, architectural masterpieces and the finest carvings dates back to the Khmer Empire when it dominated the largest parts of Southeast Asia.

Note: Visiting beautiful sunset is available at Phnom Bakheng, please speak to our tour guide to manage this for you. This is a hiking up (Approx. 30 minutes/way) to the hill and it’s always touristy or skip it if you feel tired.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 10 | Wildlife Sanctuary, Kbal Spean Trekking & Beautiful Banteay Srei

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
We start at 7.45am then drive passing ruined Angkorian temples, rice paddies and countryside toward wildlife sanctuary “Angkor Center for Conservation of Biodiversity” whose wildlife expert will give you a great tour to learn about wildlife/birds being protected and how they rescue those rare endangered species. We challenge trekking up with 45 minutes, through rooting/rocky path to see the series of sandstone formation carved under the river, which was built during Angkor period. We stroll around the riverbed of 1000 linga carvings admired small river and its waterfall (seasonal) and learn from your tour guide about Angkorian history then you can bathe under the falls if you visit it at the end of the rainy season.

Enjoy Khmer set lunch at a selected local restaurant near temple.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 11 | Unique Village Experience & Traditional Water Blessing

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
The tour begins at 8.00am then we head of out the bustling Siem Reap city to a remote countryside village, the journey passes interesting city highlight and huge beautiful rice paddies dotting with palm trees and cattle in the fields. We observe bamboo sticky rice and rice noodle making then we dare sample some deep fried crispy insects before arriving in the village. Next have some fun on the oxcart ride through the village to get interaction along with “Hello” from friendly kids. Disembark the ox cart, you’ll be greeted by a host family then we get involved with village activity of palm roof making (or/and planting vegetables depends) which it is probably the most unique, memorable experience in your trip to Cambodia. Return to the family’s house, stroll round to see the surrounding which admired by routine, lifestyle, culture, customs and superstitions, enjoy tropical fruits and get refreshed by coconut juice before local lunch is served.

Afternoon, we say Goodbye to the host family then set off toward to Buddhist pagoda in the village, you’re welcomed to meet saffron monks and witness how they practice their lives to Buddhist religion. By the following time, you will prepare to receive special water blessing which is ritually practiced from the ancient time and it is religiously believed to bring good fortune to life as well as getting rid out of bad evil. Return hotel for refreshment.

Evening around 6.15pm, we leave to enjoy delicate Khmer set dinner followed by traditional Apsara dance performance at a selected local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 12 | Private Car/Minivan to Battambang & Battambang Tour

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
Check out and goodbye to Siem Reap. We drive (3 hours) to Battambang Province, we stop at a roadside for chances to dare of sampling deep-fried crispy insects including crickets, grasshoppers etc. Check in at a booked hotel in Battambang and have your own free time.

*Note: Angkor Silk farm is available for a visit on the way. Please talk to our tour guide if you want to observe the silk processing as well as browser unique silk products at Angkor Silk Farm.

Afternoon, continue our journey to visit traditional wooden house which was built a century ago during French Era and have a short tour that reveals a very interesting background regarding to its history. We will stroll at Battambang winery (with grape wine tasting) before heading to Phnom Sampov where you enjoy the active walking at the top of the mountain to witness the killing caves and visit hidden caves of Battambang. Next, we wait at hillside to watch thousands of bats flying back to their caves in the red sky while the sun is setting down.

Overnight in Battambang

Day 13 | Full Day Battambang Tour with Bamboo Train

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
We set off at 8.00am to experience some fun on the famous bamboo train in Battambang, cruising on the track of the train rail while enjoying the highlight of rural landscape. Continue to wander around the infamous Prohoc market “Fermented Fish Market”, observe rice paper making, have chances to try the taste of Cambodian rice wine and learn how it is made before drive to visit ancient temple of Wat Ek Phnom – an Angkorain temple built in the 11th century.

Enjoy lunch at a selected local restaurant.

Afternoon, we will have Battambang City tour, start with the market of Phsar Nat with interesting local trades and have chances to taste some of local snacks then we go for the fascinating highlights of Khmer & French architectures, National Bank and the old bridge that was built more than a hundred year ago. Continue to visit the most popular Ta Dumbang Statue with an interesting legendary and now become the religious site for praying to have happiness and good luck in life.

Overnight in Battambang

Day 14 | Private Car/Minivan to Phnom Penh & Sunset Cruise

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Breakfast is at hotel.
After having breakfast, we make the journey with 5-6 hours to Phnom Penh Capital, drive passing beautiful rice paddies dotting with palm trees. On the way, we stop at Kampong Chhnang’s local village where we learn from people producing pottery and ceramic items to generate their daily income and then we make a visit at Silver Smith Making Village where we observe the locals making silver handicrafts. Check in into a booked hotel in Phnom Penh and have your own free time.

Evening at 3.30pm, we leave to visit Wat Phnom with interesting legendary of founding place of Phnom Penh Capital. Next, go to Phnom Penh’s Riverside and get on board to enjoy a welcome cocktail while the boat is slowly cruising along Mekong & Tonle Sap, watch the sunset fading at horizon.

Disembark the boat cruise then we walk to along Phnom Penh Riverside to enjoy delicate Khmer set dinner at Bopha Titanic restaurant which offers breathtaking view of the riverside.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 15 | Phnom Penh Tour by Cyclo & Historical Sites

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Breakfast is at hotel.
We leave hotel at 8.00am to challenge of cyclo ride (rickshaw) along riverfront for fantastic morning highlight of Phnom Penh Capital toward Independent Monument where we stop to capture some beautiful photos before resuming the ride to stroll around central market to see bustling local trades. Finished the cyclo ride at Royal Palace, we walk to visit The Royal Palace – a complex of buildings which are served as the royal residence for the King of Cambodia, admired by impressive Silver Pagoda with over 5000 solid silver tiles and other Royal Stupas, shrines, monuments etc. Next, stroll for guided tour at the National Museum, the world’s most important collection of Cambodian antique sculptures and carvings.

Enjoy yummy Khmer set lunch at a selected local restaurant.

Afternoon, we drive to witness the tragic site of Choeung Ek – the killing field that proceeded more than 20 thousands of civilians and the site is connecting with Tuol Sleng Museum – was the former school that was transformed to Tortured Prison S21. Stroll around Russian market for shopping.

Overnight in Phnom Penh

Day 16 | Phnom Penh – Departure

Meal: Breakfast
Breakfast is at hotel.
Simply enjoy the rest of free time in Phnom Penh before our team picks you up from hotel’s lobby and transfers to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight to the next destination.

*Thank You and Goodbye to Beautiful Cambodia