DAY 01: PHNOM PENH – ARRIVAL (D)
Pick up from Phnom Penh airport upon arrival by our private vehicle and English-speaking guide. Check in at hotel and at your leisure.
Evening Phnom Penh’s Culinary Underground: Local Food Tour by Remok (Khmer Tuk Tuk)
Our Phnom Penh Evening Food and Beer Tour takes you to the heart of Cambodian cuisine, visiting the kind of mom-and-pop restaurants that the major guidebooks don’t know about. In order to cover the ground between these spread out destinations, we’ll travel by tuktuk, zooming past some of Phnom Penh’s best-known landmarks in a tuktuk, covering a total distance of around 10km. The tour kicks off at a streetside noodle joint where we’ll add local veggies and herbs on top of the nation's most popular dish. Our next couple stops are at tiny family-run restaurants where you can see them preparing their specialties. Travel through Cambodia's past and learn how the country's war-torn past has influenced modern cuisine. Pull up a plastic stool and watch life pass by while eating shoulder to shoulder with other locals. The tour ends at a lively rooftop bar where you can grab a pint of local craft beer or a cocktail made with local rum. Pass By: Russian Market Our tour will finish at a rooftop bar overlooking the Russian Market.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
DAY 02: PHNOM PENH – EXPLORE (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, head out to the 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. Confront Cambodia's tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture center. It's estimated that more than 20,000 people were held and tortured here.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the National Museum. Housed in a beautiful traditional building, it contains many outstanding examples of Khmer craftsmanship. Learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with a visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda. Explore Wat Phnom, a peaceful temple situated on a hill for which the city is named. According to legend, a 14th-century woman named Penh found sacred Buddhist objects in the nearby river and placed them here on the small hill.
Overnight in Phnom Penh
DAY 03: PHNOM PENH – KRATIE – KOH TRONG ISLAND (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. This morning we leave early by private bus for our trip to Kratie.
En route, we pass through Skuon (a small town famous for its tasty spiders), where it's possible to sample an eight-legged snack. It's recommended that you eat these furry arachnids as you would a crab, by cracking the body open and pulling the legs off one by one - delicious! Kratie is a picturesque town on the banks of the Mekong.
Until recently Kratie was a strategic trading port on the river between Phnom Penh and Stung Treng. Both the French and Khmer Rouge found the town useful and there are a number of French colonial buildings that remain. Board a local boat from Kratie waterfront to KohTrong for our island homestay. Approximately 280 families call this 6km island home.
Depending on the season and the height of the Mekong River we may need to walk up a stretch of beach and then take a local bike to our destination. The island is famous for growing pomelos (supposedly some of the best in Cambodia), rice and other agricultural products.
Lunch at the homestay
Our homestay is a wonderful opportunity to witness everyday Cambodian life. In the evening, we enjoy a traditional-style dinner. Facilities are basic and multi share with mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets all provided. Underneath the house a few hammocks are strung around making this a very scenic place to unwind. Dinner with the local home-cooked at the homestay.
Overnight in Koh Trong (Homestay)
DAY 04: KOH TRONG ISLAND – KRATIE – STUNG TRENG (B, L)
Breakfast at homestay. A 9km loop road around the KohTrong Island’s perimeter provides opportunities for us to leisurely cycle through traditional Khmer villages, fruits orchards and rice fields while observing the daily rituals and routines of traditional village life.
We will leave Koh Trang Island in the midafternoon to Kratie City. We wander down the river boulevard and take a break for lunch before driving to Kampi Reserved Center where you see the River Dolphins.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Afterwards we travel to Stung Treng situated on the banks of the San River (which flows into the Mekong River a few kilometers out of town).
Overnight in Stung Treng.
DAY 05: STUNG TRENG (B, L)
Breakfast at local restaurant. This morning we start early for a full day of activities. Travel to the village of Ou Svay and catch a local boat close to the famous Sopheak Mitt Waterfall in the Mekong River on the Cambodia-Laos border.
We then hike back to Preah Rumkel where we enjoy a simple local lunch cooked by the community.
Afterwards we have a unique opportunity to view the rare Irrawaddy dolphins from our kayaks at the nearby Anlung Cheuteal Dolphin Pool. Enjoy kayaking down the river through the spectacular flooded forests to Veun Sien village. (1.5-2 hours trekking, 2.5-3 hours kayaking).
Return to hotel for overnight.
Overnight in Stung Treng.
DAY 06: STUNG TRENG – PREAH VIHEAR (B, L)
Breakfast at local restaurant. This morning we set out on our journey to Preah Vihear Province travelling through the wilds of Cambodia. We will stop for a short visit at the Tbeng Meanchey city before driving on to SAEM Town where you check in hotel.
Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, drive up Preah Vihear Mountains to see the UNESCO Temple Sites of Preah Vihear, standing on the hilltop of Dangrek Mountains Range. Down below is the border of Cambodia – Thailand.
Drive back to hotel for the night at hotel.
Overnight in Preah Vihear
DAY 07: PREAH VIHEAR – KOH KER TEMPLES - SIEM REAP (B, L, D)
Breakfast at hotel. Your final destination today is Siem Reap, land of Angkor. However, we will not miss one of the most important temples along the way, Koh Ker temple Group, known as Pyramid of ASIA. We will spend time walking around this nice temple, surrounded by small jungles, and big trees.
Lunch at the local restaurant.
Arrive in Siem Reap, check in at hotel for the rest of your trip.
Evening dinner at local restaurant then enjoy a talented troupe of acrobats and dancers of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS); marvel at the sleek agility of the performers, all of who derive from unimaginably difficult situations, and feel the melodic pulsations of the music as the show launches into life.
Transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap
DAY 08: SIEM REAP - ANGKOR WAT – ANGKOR THOM (B, L)
Rising before dawn, proceed for your exploration of the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor. Arrive at the monument as the sun rises and then proceed into the great structure to discover its intricacies, as described by your guide. You are driven back to the hotel afterward for breakfast and some time to freshen up.
Next, pay a visit to the immense walled city Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII. Following the occupation of Angkor by the Chams from 1177 to 1181, the new king decided to build an impregnable fortress at the heart of his empire. The scale is simply staggering and you will be awed by the achievement of King Jayavarman as you enter the city’s gates. The causeway is lined by an intricate bridge depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk from Hindu mythology in which the Devas (gods) and Asuras (devils) are engaged in tug of war with a naga (seven-headed serpent) to obtain the elixir of immortality. Begin your visit at the Terrace of the Leper King. This intricately carved platform was the royal crematorium and the statue that was originally thought to be the leper king is now believed to be Yama, the god of death
We continue along the Terrace of Elephants, originally used as a viewing gallery for the king to preside over parades, performances and traditional sports. At the southern end lies the Baphuon, once of the most beautiful temples at Angkor, dating from the reign of Uditayavarman 1 in the 11th century. It has undergone a massive renovation by the French and is now once again open for viewing.
Then proceed to the enigmatic and enchanting temple of the Bayon. At the exact center of Angkor Thom, this is an eccentric expression of the creative genius and inflated ego of Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Its 54 towers are each topped off with the four faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of Compassion), all of which bear more than a passing resemblance to the king himself.
There is a break for lunch at local restaurant.
Next up is the mystical Ta Prohm, which has been abandoned to the elements, a reminder that while empires rise and fall, the riotous power of nature marches on, oblivious to the dramas of human history. Left as it was ‘discovered’ by French explorer Henri Mouhout in 1860, the tentacle-like tree roots here are slowly strangling the surviving stones, man first conquering nature to create, nature later conquering man to destroy. This was one of the settings for Lara Croft’s adventures in “Tomb Raider”.
Complete your exploration of the Angkor ruins with a visit to another temple that makes you feel like you have traveled back in time - Preah Khan. This large temple is left unrestored for the most part and is a fascinating maze of narrow passageways and windows that each offer their own unique view into the past. You are driven back to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Siem Reap
DAY 09: SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREY – TONLE SAP (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Banteay Srey, known as Citadel of Women or a Pink Temple, and Banteay Samre Temples.
Lunch at local restaurant.
Afternoon enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake at KAMPONG PHLUK VILLAGE. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen's "floating village" with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the "village" move from place-to-place following water levels and current.
Experience the magic of Tonle Sap Lake at twilight board the Taras floating restaurant for a drink or a cocktail as you watch the sunset over the lake. Transfer back to your hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap
DAY 10: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Time at your own leisure until check out time by noon.
Transfer to Siem Reap airport for flight to next destination
GLOBE Stays in Cambodia
SIEM REAP
Phum Baitang Zannier Hotels
Nestled in 20 acres (8 hectares) of lush gardens and rice paddy fields, our hotel and “green village” sit on the threshold of UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat. Inspired by Khmer architecture, our 45 private terrace and pool villas are styled like traditional stilted farmhouses, while our Spa Temple G treatment menus embrace centuries-old local wellness practices.
PHNOM PENH
Rosewood Phnom Penh
In the heart of the Cambodian capital. Soaring 188 meters above the heart of Phnom Penh, the hotel occupies the top 14 floors of Vattanac Capital Tower, the city's most iconic modern structure and a symbol of the new Cambodia, with unobstructed views of the fabled Mekong River.
SONG SAA ISLAND
Song Saa Private Island
ETHICAL LUXURY RESORT IN CAMBODIA Welcome to a carefree paradise, an intimate escape, crafted with love, inspired by our surroundings. Song Saa Private Island offers luxury, serenity, and a deep connection with the environment.
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