Country
Cambodia
Duration
12 Days/11 Nights
Travel Type
Private Tour
This journey combines some of the greatest cultural heritage of Cambodia with some of its most pristine and untouched pieces of natural paradise. Stay in a beautifully restored colonial villa in Kratie; explore Angkor beyond the temples on a memorable scooter ride; head to the Southern coast and soak up some exotic vibe amidst pepper farms and thick mangrove; optionally extend with style on the beautiful sandy beaches of Koh Rong Island.
Inclusions
11-night accommodation
19 meals: 11 breakfasts and 8 lunches
All transfers and transportation with private air-conditioned vehicles
Domestic flight Siem Reap – Sihanoukville
Angkor visit by Vespa, leisure cruise on Kampot River, cooking classes, spice farm and mangrove conservation project visits.
Private local English-speaking guides
All entrance fees
2 bottles of mineral water per person, per day during transfers and sightseeings
Exclusions
International airfares, meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary, drinks, early check-in or late check-out, visa (if needed), gratuities to drivers, guide and hotel staff, travel insurance, items and expenses of personal nature, all other item not included in the inclusion section
Additional Information
Koh Rong paradise Island extension available!
Located near the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Koh Rong is famous for its serene beauty. Often described as an ‘island paradise’ by visiting tourists, the island boasts pristine white sandy beaches, warm crystal-clear ocean waters, and a hot tropical climate. Add our optional 5-night Koh Rong paradise island extension!
1
DAY 1 ARRIVAL IN PHNOM PENH
Welcome to Cambodia! You are greeted by your driver at the exit of the airport and driven to your hotel the city center. Check-in is available from 14.00, make yourself comfortable and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the hotel’s pool or heading for a first immersion in the lively streets of the capital.
Accommodation : Phnom Penh for 2 nights
2
DAY 2 PHNOM PENH BEHIND THE SCENES
Phnom Penh is an Asian capital, and the kind of destination that you only need to scratch the surface and explore beyond its classic sites to really know what it is truly made of. Get ready for a fun and experiential day around some popular but also lesser known corners of the city. The guide picks you up at the hotel and we take off by local remork to a district out of the city centre. Enjoy a local coffee on the street, visit a true local market (Orussey Market), wander around narrow alleys and immerse you into the fascinating daily life of the locals. Continue on local remork to the pier for a ferry to a big island on the Mekong River. There we start a 15-kilometre bicycle ride on a small concrete road around the island; offering the opportunity to soak up a bit of rural life just outside Phnom Penh as well as to visit a silk weaving workshop. We stop for lunch at a local home and are hosted by a charming couple of islanders. We return to the city afterwards and will devote some time to dive into the tragic history at the Tuol Sleng museum. Our day continues with a stroll in the garden complex of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda before ending in style with a drink on a rooftop terrace with the best views over Phnom Penh’s riverfront.
Note: To see the Royal palace and silver pagoda in Phnom Penh, visitors are required to wear appropriated cloths. Guests wearing short pans (above knee level) and sleeveless tops are not permitted.
Note: To see the Royal palace and silver pagoda in Phnom Penh, visitors are required to wear appropriated cloths. Guests wearing short pans (above knee level) and sleeveless tops are not permitted.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
3
DAY 3 EXPLORE UDONG ANCIENT CAPITAL
After breakfast hit the road along the Tonle Sap River to Udong ancient capital, where temples, stupas and other structures are spread over three hills. We climb a stairway to the top of Phnom Preah Reach Troup, catch your breath and be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views over the surrounding countryside. The guide will tell us more about the glorious past of Oudong before we walk down back to our vehicle. We then continue our journey, with a stop en-route in Skun town famous for its fried tarentulas. We reach in the afternoon the village of Chhlong on the shores of the Mekong River. Our accommodation for the next two nights will be the Relais de Chhlong, a magnificent building built in during the colonial era in 1916 by wealthy merchants from the region, then renovated and transformed into a charming hotel structure from 2017.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation : Kratie for 2 nights
4
DAY 4 KRATIE EXPLORER
After a breakfast on the terracre, we set off to explore this magnificent region. First stop at Chhlong market before continuing to the town of Kratie, located just under an hour’s drive north. We take a walk there and unveil a quiet riverside village, with lively streets and lined with old houses displaying a beautiful colonial architecture. Lunch in a restaurant in town before heading to the Kampi rapids, a little further north, for a short river getaway. This may be the opportunity to see the famous Irrawaddy dolphins, a species endemic to the Southeast Asian region. We then return to the Relais de Chhlong for some time by the pool and a sunset over the Mekong.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
5
DAY 5 TEMPLES AND CBT PROJECT IN SAMBOR PREI KUK
Early in the morning, we hit the road and drive to the province of Kompong Thom (about 4 hours’ drive). We will first reach a small village and have lunch there at the heart of a community tourism project. The opportunity to meet and exchange with locals and to sample some great home-cooked food. In the afternoon, we take the time for a short bike ride around the village and will explore the pre-Angkorian complex of Sambor Prei Kuk, the former capital of Chenla. A set of temples dating from the 7th century, 600 years before Angkor Wat. In the middle of the afternoon, we resume our drive to Siem Reap. Arrival at your hotel and end of the day at leisure.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation : Siem Reap for 4 nights
6
DAY 6 BANTEAY SREI AND SOME KHMER COUNTRYSIDE
Following breakfast, we depart about thirty kilometers north of the city to discover the Banteay Srei temple, the citadel of women, considered the jewel of Khmer art for the finesse of its bas-reliefs and remarkably preserved sculptures. Along the way we will stop at the Landmine Museum, founded by veteran and deminer Aki Ra, an occasion to learn more about war and resilience. In the late morning, we continue to a small village immersed in a stretch of quaint Khmer countryside. We are welcomed by a family for lunch and then take a short tour of the village to gain insights into the rural Cambodian daily life. Later we return Siem Reap and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
7
DAY 7 TEMPLES SAFARI ON THE BACK OF VESPAS
Get ready to explore the temples of Angkor as very few other do. Ride pillion on the back of a scooter and embark on what is the most original and exciting way to dodge the crowds and enjoy Angkor. On this adventure, we visit the major highlights of Angkor Wat, the walled city of Angkor Thom, the Bayon and Ta Prohm (the “Tomb Raider” temple), as well as some lesser known gems. The most important temples are always busy nowadays, but our tour focuses not only on the temples, but also the amazing surroundings. We dodge the big buses by leaving the busy roads behind using hidden trails through the jungle, villages and rice fields. These villages and trails have existed since the time of the temples and it’s a unique experience that visitors on 4 wheels simply cannot recreate! We guarantee you will love the temples, however, it’s the ride on past ancient ruins, through the jungle and along ancient city walls that becomes the real highlight. A local lunch will be served en-route. We will be back at the hotel in the mid-afternoon, end of the day at leisure.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
8
DAY 8 DAY AT LEISURE IN SIEM REAP
Enjoy a full day at leisure in Siem Reap. Explore any of the city’s numerous markets, they are all well worth a visit and a photographic spectacle. If you’re into crafts, do not miss the Made In Cambodia market, as well as some craftsmen workshops such as the Artisans d’Angkor. For delicious food and a break from the iconic fried noodles and num pang sandwiches that you’ll find in the street, we recommend visiting one of the social restaurants of Siem Reap. Our top suggested restaurant is Spoons Café with its beautiful bamboo structure and fine Cambodian cuisine. For those interested in learning more about the tragic history of Cambodia, we suggest a visit to the Cambodian Landmine Museum and Relief Centre. Engage in discussions with locals who are passionate about educating visitors about the past as well as the continued issues of landmines that many Cambodians still face today.
Meals : Breakfast
9
DAY 9 THE MANGROVE OF KAMPOT
After a short transfer from your hotel to Siem Reap’s airport, you will board a flight to Sihanoukville. You are welcomed on site and driven towards the charming colonial town of Kampot, located about 2h30 away. The car will drop us on the shores of the Kampot River where our boat is waiting for us. Time for a refreshment and we embark on a leisurely cruise down the river and through a thick mangrove (the so-called Green Cathedral). We reach the town and take a short walk to the hotel. Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the end of the day in this idyllic setting.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation : Kampot for 2 nights
10
DAY 10 ENVIRONMENT, GASTRONOMY AND COLONIAL TOWN
Get ready for a day literally filled with exciting activities. We start at about 9.30 with a nice walk around the town and a visit of Kampot’s market. In the mid-morning, we take a transfer to go meet the team of La Plantation pepper farm (certainly the most reputed pepper farm in the whole country). Their Chef will lead us through an exciting cooking class that will be held in the lovely open-air restaurant. Under the guidance of the Chef, we will cook 3 dishes, of course all generously incorporating the spices cultivated at the farm, and later on we will enjoy the fruits of our labour over lunch.
In the afternoon, on our way to Kampot, we stop to visit a mangrove conservation project. The mangrove is an essential ecosystem and it plays a crucial role in the fight against coastal erosion. We will learn more about the situation and visit the mangrove nursery, then hop on a sampan to reach a zone that urgently needs reforestation. After taking part in the fight by planting a few trees, we return to the conservation center and meet our vehicle for a drive back to Kampot.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch
11
DAY 11 RETURN TO THE CAPITAL
Enjoy a morning of leisure for a last walk around Kampot. In the early afternoon, we drive to Phnom Penh. Arrival at your hotel is to be expected in the late afternoon. End of the day at leisure.
Meals : Breakfast
Accommodation : Phnom Penh for 1 night
12
DAY 12 DEPARTURE
Day at leisure until a driver picks you up at the hotel to drive you to the airport for your outbound flight.
Meals : Breakfast
HOTEL OPTIONS OR SIMILAR
Main Tour
Phnom Penh /Baitong Hotel & Resort 4* – Standard room
Kratie / Le Relais De Chhlong 4 * – Heritage Suite
Siem Reap / Saem Siem Reap 4* Hotel – Deluxe room
Kampot / Boutique Kampot 3* Hotel – Superior room
Island extension
Category: Superior
Sihanoukville / Tamu Koh Rong 4* – Jungle Room
Phnom Penh / Baitong Hotel & Resort 4* – Superior City View
Category: Deluxe
Koh Rong / The Royal Sands Koh Rong 5* – Oceanview Villa
Phnom Penh / Baitong Hotel & Resort 4* – Superior City View
| Rates per person, in CA$, starting from, double occupancy |
Land portion |
||
| January 1st, 2024 – April 30, 2024 | 2 pax | 3-4 pax | Supp. single occ. |
| Main trip | 3355 | 2890 | +715 |
| Island Extension Superior (Tamu Koh Rong with breakfast) | +1039 | +969 | +645 |
| Island Extension Deluxe (Royal Sands Koh Rong with breakfast) | On request | ||
SUMMER PROMO! Book before September 30th for travel betwenn May and September
| Rates per person, in CA$, starting from, double occupancy |
Land portion |
||
| May 1st, 2024 – September 30, 2024 | 2 pax | 3-4 pax | Supp. single occ. |
| Main trip | +690 | ||
| Island Extension Superior (Tamu Koh Rong with breakfast) | +975 | +899 | +585 |
| Island Extension Deluxe (Royal Sands Koh Rong with breakfast) | On request | ||
| Rates per person, in CA$, starting from, double occupancy |
Land portion |
||
| October 1st, 2024 – December 31, 2024 | 2 pax | 3-4 pax | Supp. single occ. |
| Main trip | 3379 | 2890 | +780 |
| Island Extension Superior (Tamu Koh Rong with breakfast) | +989 | +965 | +730 |
| Island Extension Deluxe (Royal Sands Koh Rong with breakfast) | On request | ||
Solo traveler’s rate on request.
A solo traveler is a person who travels completely on his own with services, such as guides and drivers, on a private basis. A solo traveler rate should not be mistaken by a single ccupancy rate.
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
Temples, mangrove and Khmer culture – Promotional flyer
Temples, mangrove and Khmer culture – Promotional flyer
