Panorama of Cambodia 14 days

Tour the Capital, which has retained its charm with its beautiful colonial buildings, wide avenues, monuments and beautiful Khmer architecture

• Visit the National Museum of Fine Arts which shows a collection of pre-Angkorian and Angkorian sculptures
• Discover the Royal Palace, resplendent in traditional Khmer Architecture
• See the Silver Pagoda and its magnificent Emerald Buddha, Gold inlaid with diamonds
• Explore Wat Phnom, the oldest temple in the city, and is the origin of the name of the Cambodian capital, and the statue of Madam Penh

In the afternoon, we will visit:

• The Museum of Genocidal Crime, which was the S-21 prison – scene of the worst examples of brutality and torture under the infamous Pol Pot
• The camp Choeng Ek Killing Field, outside Phnom Penh, the last resting place of many Cambodian people, these killings committed by the brutal Khmer Rouge

Overnight at a hotel in Phnom Penh
Highlight experience: Discover the oldest temple of Wat Phnom

• You will be picked up at your hotel in Phnom Penh to head north to Stung Treng where you will find a unique opportunity to see the unspoiled rural life of the Cambodian.

Overnight at hotel in Stung Treng

Highlight experience: Stung Treng local discovery

• Departure to Banlung, the capital of Rattanakiri province in Eastern Cambodia.
• Stroll down the main street of Banlung
• Walk to the volcanic lake, Yak Lom in a superb location surrounded by pristine rainforest.
• Swim or take a stroll around the lake.

Overnight at hotel in Banlung
Highlight experience: Swim in the lake of Yak Lom

• A detour to the early morning market Banlung, where the different ethnic groups (Kroeung, Tompuon…) come to sell or exchange their products.
• Drive north towards Laos and the village of Taveng
• Cross the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plang.
• Travelling north the landscape changes from primary forest to cleared forest, bamboo and bush.
• Walk to visit some Kroeung villages en route. The Kroeung people have the curious custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so until the young man finds a wife. Only then will the unusual bachelor pad be destroyed. The time of year to see them is usually from February to August.

Overnight at a hotel in Banlung
Highlight experience: Explore the Kroeung people’s bachelor houses
 

• Drive to Kratie.
• Arrive in Kratie and continue to Prek Kampi on the Mekong River, a natural site, where we will get the best chances of seeing the rare and protected Irrawaddy dolphins, the only freshwater dolphins.
• We will cross the Mekong on a small boat, enter the mangroves and wait! As well we have the chance of spotting the rare Mekong mud turtle, and with a little bit of luck you will see both and be truly amazed.

Overnight at a homestay in Kratie

Highlight experience: Chance of catching sight of Irrawaddy dolphins and Mekong mud turtles

• Breakfast at the hotel. Farewell Kratie and drive southward.
• En-route visit Chhlong, a small town with many French colonial houses that are among the most beautiful in Cambodia.
• Drive further to Kampong Cham.
• Lunch at a local restaurant and explore around this provincial town of Kampong Cham and its market.
• Continue to Kampong Thom and enjoy seeing the countryside of Cambodia.

Overnight at Kampong Thom.
Highlight experience: French colonial-styled houses in Chhlong

• Explore one of the most important pre-Angkorian site – the Sambor Prei Kuk, built by King Ishanavaman in the early 7th century with over 100 well-preserved temples scattered throughout the forest
• Enjoy your tasty lunch, prepared by the local community.
• Continue further to Siem Reap and check in at your hotel for a short break.
  In the late afternoon, experience a unique opportunity to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat on a typical Cambodian Tuk Tuk.
• Witness the sunset, from the top of the hill of Phnom Bakheng, which offers a magnificent overview of Angkor Wat.
• In the evening: Attend to Apsara dance Show with dinner

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Highlight experience: Apsara traditional Cambodian dance performance

Explore the walled city of Angkor Thom, 10sq km in size:

• Visit the South Gate, Bayon and the Baphuon with its splendid sculptures
• Pass through the Terrace of the Elephants
• See the Terrace of the Leper King with its beautiful carvings of gods, nagas, and dancers
• The Royal Enclosure and its small temple, Phimeanakas

Following your visits to Angkor, discover other monuments of the 12th century:

• The monastery of Preah Khan, whose name means “Sacred Sword”.
• The small Temple of Neak Pean.
• Ta Som Temple.

Then transfer to the homestay on the road to Banteay Srei temple.
Overnight at the homestay.
Highlight experience: The Terrace of the Leper King

• Visit Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple dating back to the 10th century and Banteay Samre, a Hindu temple dedicated in the 12th century to Vishnu Shiva.
• Return to Siem Reap.
• In the afternoon, transfer by tuk-tuk to a local market to choose ingredients, there you will see fresh produce, locally grown herbs, spices, exotic fruit and vegetables.
• Return to your cooking class. Together with your chef and guide, you will create several dishes which you can then reproduce at home.
• Learn about the typical ingredients in Cambodian cooking and have the opportunity to see Cambodian cooking first hand.

Overnight at hotel in Siem Reap
Highlight experience: Cambodian cuisine and cooking class

• We drive to the fishing village of Me Chrey, on the banks of the Tonle Sap Lake, board a boat and take a cruise to explore some of the floating villages on this massive expanse of water.
• Take a boat trip to Prek Toal floating village, across the flooded forest and the great lake
• On arrival at the floating village, you will change boat to go and visit the bird sanctuary under the guidance of a local ranger.
• Return to Me Chrey by boat and continue by road to Battambang

Overnight at hotel in Battambang
Highlight experience: Stunning sunset and panorama over the floating villages

• Discover Battambang, a small colourful town, with charming Khmer characteristics
• Climb up the Phnom Banan hill to discover sanctuaries built in the 11th that locals claim to be the inspiration for Angkor and its hillside location offers incredible views across the surrounding countryside, Wat

Return to Battambang

• Visit the Provincial Museum,
• Pleasant stroll downtown to see the colonial architecture, Chinese compartments and colourful temples.
• In the afternoon, amid the rice fields and insight of lovely landscapes, journey by road alongside the river back to Sangker:
• Pagoda Wat Slaket, the residence of Buddhist Patriarch, and an opportunity to meet the monks.
• Then visit the temple of Wat Ek Phnom.
• On the way back to Battambang, visit the Prahoc market.

Overnight at hotel in Battambang
Highlight experience: Great views of Battambang from the Phnom Banan hill

• Travel across the fertile plains of rice cultivation, along the road to Kompong Chhnang town, and see its beautiful colonial charm.
• On the way, make a brief stop in Pursat, famous for its marble sculptures.
• Then, a boat trip in the floating village of Kompong Luong, inhabited mostly by Vietnamese. We again see houseboats or houses built on stilts to avoid floods.
• Visit the villages of potters around Kompong Chhnang area

Overnight at hotel in Phnom Penh
Highlight experience: Having a home dinner at a local family’s house in Kompong Luong

Free time until transfer to the airport for your onward flight