Day 1
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Phnom Penh was once considered one of the most beautiful city's in the Orient and, despite its recent turbulent history, it still retains a Colonial charm.
The days programme will depend on your time of arrival - we can tailor today and tomorrow to suit each client’s flights. If time permits: Once you have had time to relax and freshen up (and if you are on a morning flight), visit the Royal Palace, situated on the site of the former citadel and built by King Norodom in 1966, the Palace still serves as the King and Queen's residential quarters. Also within the walls of the Palace is the Silver Pagoda, so called because of five thousand silver tiles that line its exquisite floor. If time permits there is also the option of visiting the National Museum, which houses the worlds leading collection of Khmer art and sculpture, and Wat Phnom the founding site of the city. All are within easy walking distance of each other and are a great introduction to this laid-back city.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (_/_/_)
Day 2
In 1975, after years of guerrilla warfare, the radical Communist Khmer Rouge party, under its leader Pol Pot, seized power of Cambodia and declared ‘year zero’. They immediately abolished money and private property, and ordered the entire population of Phnom Penh from their homes and into the countryside to cultivate the fields. Over the next three years an estimated 2 million Cambodians died, many from starvation and exhaustion. Many others were tortured and executed for being supposed ‘enemies of the state’. The morning is spent learning more about these terrible years, through visits to the infamous Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes and Cheung Ek, better known as the ‘Killing Fields’. It is an incredibly moving experience, but these are two visits you will be glad to have made. During your visit to Cambodia, you will barely meet a single person who didn’t lose a member of their family during these years, yet they are all willing to talk openly about it with you. They wish you to hear about it and see these places, to ensure that it never happens again.
Lunch is at Friends the Restaurant a ‘kindness restaurant’ where ex-street children are trained in hospitality and restaurant skills, helping them to break away from life on the streets. The afternoon and evening are at leisure for you to explore more of the city. A great place to find yourself at sunset is on the banks of the Mekong River with a cold drink, watching the city slow down.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 3
Morning departure in a north-west direction, stopping just an hour out of the capital at Phnom Oudong, the ancient Cambodian capital during the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of many past kings.
Made up of a series of stupas atop a large hill, there are outstanding views across the surrounding plains below. Phnom Oudong was bombed and desecrated by the Americans and then the Khmer Rouge, but still possesses a beauty that no war has been able to steal from it.
Having had time to explore, continue to Kompong Chhnang, taking the time to stop at a pottery village before continuing further north to Pursat Province, famous for its marble stone carvings.
After stopping for lunch, continue towards Battambang, your base for the next few days. Until recently Battambang was very much off the map for visitors as it was a Khmer Rouge stronghold. A riverside town and home to some of the best-preserved Colonial architecture in all Cambodia, Battambang is now making something of a comeback, with improved tourist facilities and roads allowing visitors to explore in comfort.
The town also makes a great base for visiting nearby villages and a number of hilltop Angkor-era temples. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau and the notorious killing caves (another of Cambodia's killing-field sites).
Initially, you'll pass through Battambang and follow the Stung Sanke River as far as Wat Kor, a well-preserved ancient village, over 100 years in age.
Tonight you will be staying at one of the oldest houses in the village and, having had time to freshen up after the day's journey, you will take a ride on a horse-drawn cart to visit some of the surrounding fields and farms. Depending on the season, you are likely to see, and taste, grapefruit, sapodillas, guavas and oranges.
Dinner will be prepared by your host back at the house. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day life of the villagers and how their lives have changed over the years.
Overnight in home stay.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/Dinner)
Day 4
Having enjoyed a breakfast prepared by your host, it's time to say goodbye and drive to Phnom Banon. Having climbed the 358 steps to the summit you will reach a sandstone and laterite temple, with distinctive five towers, that was built between the mid-11th and 12th centuries.
Continuing on in the direction of Battambang, you will stop to visit your first Cambodian vineyard. The fields are still worked to this day, and you are likely to see local people working on the various stages of the wine production. There will, of course, be the opportunity to sample the grapes before visiting the local Damrey Sor Pagoda (White Elephant Pagoda) in Battambang.
After a break for lunch, visit Wat Ek Phnom Temple, built in AD1027 during the reign of King Surayavarman I. En route you will pass through many beautiful villages, and there will be the opportunity to stop and see how locals produce the popular local rice cakes.
In the late afternoon, return to Battambang on the 'Bamboo Train', a popular method of transport for the local people looking to move their produce from their villages to the busier market of Battambang. The train consists of an open platform and is powered by a converted motorbike engine. When two trains head towards each other on the same section of track, one is simply lifted off the track to let the other pass!
Having arrived in Battambang, there will be time to take a walk through the bustling streets, with their superb Colonial architecture - the people here lead a life in stark contrast to that of your hosts last night!
Overnight in Battambang.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 5
Morning transfer to the local port for the chartered boat journey to Siem Reap (please note that between March and July this journey will be made by land due to low waters).
The journey will take about five hours, first travelling along the Stung Sanke River, allowing you the opportunity to observe the daily lives of the Cambodians living both next to and on the waterways nicknamed the 'life blood of Cambodia'. Heading out on to the Tonlé Sap Great Lake, you will continue through the water lanes of flooded forests and alongside floating villages and crocodile farms. There will also be plenty of opportunities to view wildlife, including a number of unique bird species that reside in the area.
Stop en route to visit the Cheu Khmao Pagoda (Black Wood Pagoda), built approximately 200 years ago, before returning to your boat for a picnic - Cambodian style!
Arrive at Siem Reap port in the afternoon and transfer to your hotel. Siem Reap is the base for exploring the fabled temples of Angkor, the ancient capital of the Khmer empire. Over 100 temples are spread over a vast area and the site easily lives up to its status as one of the seven wonders of the forgotten world.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 6
Morning departure from Siem Reap for Banteay Srei, a pink stone temple located within the Angkor region. After time to explore continue to Phnom Penh Kulen where you will discover the unique riverbed carvings known as the 'River of 1000 Lingas'.
After a break for lunch visit the Preah Ang Thom, or Grand Buddha Statue, where you can stop to bathe in the holy waterfalls or continue further into the jungle and visit hidden temples such as Lion Temple and Elephant Temple. The tourist count in this area is low and it isn't unusual to find yourself alone at the temples.
Returning to the waterfall you will pitch camp close-by. Dinner will be prepared at the camp by your guide.
Overnight Camping.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 7
After a camp breakfast, start out on your days trek, traveling from the west to the east of the Kulen Mountain, passing villages such as Anlong Thom, Thmor Chrougn and Ta Penh along the way. There will be plenty of time to stop and meet the villagers and learn about their way of life.
Having stopped for lunch, you've got a couple more hours of trekking before you reach the big Nevenea (Buddha). For those in need of a natural freshen up, there's a waterfall just 1km further on.
Having met your driver, you will continue by road to the massive jungle temple of Beng Mealea, the size and scale of Angkor Wat but utterly swallowed by the jungle. This is real Lara Croft land! Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 8
During any visit to the Angkor temples, we ensure your day(s) remain both flexible and personal. Having met with your guide, you will be able to discuss in detail what you are looking to achieve from your time at the temples. Whilst some wish to explore as many temples as they can during their stay, others like to travel at a slower, more relaxed pace.
Maximum experience, minimum crowds
Whether it’s sunrise at Angkor Wat or sunset at Pre Rup, climbing through the snake like roots that engulf Ta Prohm or swimming in the quiet waters of the West Baray Reservoir (or a combination of these), you can be sure that your visit to one of the seven wonders will not be easily forgotten. Unlike some archaeological tours, the Angkor temples never seem to lose that initial ‘wow factor’. Every site is as outstanding as the last, and it will be with a mixture of regret and excitement that you'll get back into your air-conditioned transport to visit the next site. We do still appreciate that some visitors are wary of becoming ‘templed-out’ and to combat this we can create more varied days with visits to other sites such as floating villages and flooded forests on the Tonlé Sap Lake, museums and exhibitions, cooking schools or simply time at leisure to explore Siem Reap or laze by the pool.
Your guide
All our guides are highly experienced Angkor specialists, fully trained and licensed to work at the temples. Along with their exceptional knowledge of each temple and the civilisations that built them, Selective Asia’s guides know how best to avoid the bus-loads that descend on any given temple at certain times of the day, and know every trick in the book when it comes to getting the best photos and the most tranquil moments.
If you have any specific requirements or special interests, be sure to let us know and we will arrange the guide with the most suitable expertise.
Additional Temples
You may also wish to consider visiting some of the further lying such as Beng Melea & Koh Ker, Sambor Prei Kuk or Preah Vihear. Excursions to these less-visited temples always enhance your experience however they do change things logistically and therefore visits must be arranged well in advance of your arrival.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 9
Continue your tour of the Angkor Temples…
Supper is at the Apsara Theatre, where you will be entertained by a traditional Khmer dance show. You will have seen evidence of Apsaras, or celestial dancers, adorning the walls of many of the Angkorian temples. These traditional dances have been passed down through the generations.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/Dinner)
Day 10
Morning departure for Kratie via Kompong Thom. En route there will be time to visit the Sambor Prei Kuk, a 7th Century, pre-Angkorian capital believed to have been the first temple city in South East Asia. Far less known than Angkor Wat; any visitor to the temples is rewarded with space and tranquillity.
After a break in Kompong Thom visit the hilltop temple of Phnom Sontuk, with its many Buddha images. There will also be an opportunity to visit the hilltop temples of as of Phnom Pros, Phnom Srey and the Angkorian-era temple of Wat Nokor.
Arrive in Chhlong, a small town with a fine architectural legacy from the French years, in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Chhlong.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 11
Kratie is a delightfully energetic, colonial-style town situated on the banks of the Mekong River. Most visitors come to Kratie in the hope of a glimpse of the towns famous Irrawaddy dolphins, often to be seen frolicking in the waters just a few km's to the north of the town centre.
After breakfast visit the rare freshwater dolphins before continuing by road to Ratanakiri, arriving in Banlung in the late afternoon.
This region of Cambodia has only recently opened up to visitors and, whilst roads are still very poor, it’s a stunning area that’s slowly growing in popularity with lovers of the outdoors and those with an interest in ancient Asian cultures. With so much open space it will feel a million miles from the crowded streets of Siem Reap!
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Banlung.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 12
After breakfast, travel by jeep to the remote district of Andong Meas - approximately 80km from Banlung. From here you will continue by foot to a nearby Jarai village where, thanks to the linguistic skills of your guide, you will be able to meet with the villagers and learn about their way of life.
Continuing by foot along the banks of the San River as far as a Jarai cemetery; surrounded by forest and complete with many ancestral tombs. From here you will have to cross the water to visit an isolated Jarai community before heading further downstream as far as Andong Meas.
After lunch it’s back to Banlung – this time by river. Upon arrival the remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the town.
Overnight in Banlung.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Day 13
After breakfast you will depart for the small village of Kreung, famous in the region for the breeding of working elephants. ‘Saddle’ up and take a leisurely ride through rubber plantations, gaining a unique perspective on your new surroundings.
Having followed the course of a small river, the elephants will wade across and then descend to a spot close to the Kaa Tien waterfalls. Surrounded by jungle, the waterfalls are outstanding and it’s possible to clamber behind the falls and swim in the huge splash pool below. For those seeking a little more action; many of the natural jungle vines hanging from the gorge above are strong enough to create a swing!
After a break for lunch back in Banlung, make a visit to Voen Sai on the banks of the San River. From here you will travel by boat once again, this time to a local minority village where there is an unusual cemetery complete with carved effigies. You can also visit a picturesque Chinese village that has existed here for approximately 200 years. Time permitting, visit one of the many Lao settlements in the area.
Overnight in Banlung.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 14
Morning visit to the stunning crater lake of Yeak Lom, surrounded by lush tropical forest. Local people believe the lake is home to mystical water spirits and it is unquestionably the finest natural swimming pool in Cambodia; it’s the perfect place to spend your last afternoon in this wonderful region. You will also have the chance to visit some remote gem mines close to an ethnic Tompuon village.
Overnight in Banlung.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 15
Morning departure for the drive to Phnom Penh. It's a long day on the road but the ever changing back-drop and frequent stops at points of interests will ensure it's not an unpleasant one.
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh transfer to your hotel and enjoy a much deserved drink!
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 16
Departing Phnom Penh, your journey south takes you through Takeo Province, where the earliest remains of the Khmer civilization have been found. The province is also known for being the centre for Khmer art and dance.
En route, visit the Tonle Bati temples, Prasat Ta Prohm, Yeay Peau temple dating from the 12th century, and Phnom Chisor, a Brahman Temple dating back to the 11th century. Arrive in Takeo in perfect time for lunch.
In the afternoon, take a boat trip to the 6th century Phnom Da where you can explore caves as well as the Asrom Maharosei temple. Continue on to Angkor Borei, the former capital of Chenla, dating back to the 8th century.
To complete your journey, head further south to the coastal town of Kep, one of Cambodia’s up-and-coming south coast destinations. Once a favorite seaside resort for French and Cambodian residents of Phnom Penh, the town is having something of a resurgence. Whilst the town itself has no beach, Rabbit Island is just a short boat ride away and makes for a great day trip.
Overnight in Kep.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 17
After breakfast, take a boat to Koh Tunsay (Rabbit Island), a quiet and unspoiled island, located opposite Kep town.
Upon arrival, disembark and having explored the small village, spend the remainder of the day relaxing on the beautiful sandy beach.
Overnight in Kep.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 18
Morning departure for Kompot. Switching to 4-wheel drive, you’ll be able to traverse up Bokor Hill Mountain. Part of the range known as the Elephant Mountains, Bokor has a pleasantly cool climate and at just over a thousand meters above sea level you will reach the Bokor Hill Station, with its commanding views over Kampot. Visit some of the old French ruins including a former casino, a church and the former house of the King of Cambodia.
After lunch at the summit, return to sea level and head north for Phnom Penh where the remainder of your day is at leisure.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
Day 19
Your day is at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: (Breakfast/_/_)
