Itinerary in Details
Day 1: Veun Khan - Stung Treng - Ratanakiri (L,D)
Customs and immigration formalities at Veun Khan (Laos-Cambodia border). Welcome by your guide at Cambodian side and departure by boat to Stung Treng (1½ hours navigation by speed boat). Note: Currently it is not possible to obtain Cambodian visa upon arrival at this border! Guests arriving at Veun Khan border must apply for Cambodian visa at an Embassy or Consulate abroad prior to arrival! Arrive in Stung Treng and lunch at local restaurant.Then, departure by road to Banlung, capital of Ratanakiri, nicknamed The Red City because of the omnipresent laterite (4 hours drive). Check-in at Terres Rouges Lodge. Dinner and accommodation at Terres Rouges Lodge (14 rooms only).
Day 2: Ratanakiri (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the Lodge. We head north today, in the direction of Laos and the village of Taveng. We first cross the curious extent of volcanic rocks of Veyrum Plang: a lava field in the forest with a small waterfall nearby (only in the wet season though) and what locals call tiger caves. As we go north to Taveng, we cross a variety of landscapes: primary forest, clear forest, bamboo forest and African bush. We stop at a few nice Kroeung villages located quite far away in the forest. The Kroeung people have the peculiar custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on very long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so till the young man finds a wife, then they are destroyed. The right time to see them is usually from February to August. We have lunch at a small waterfall lost in the forest and we go on to visiting villages. Dinner and accommodation at Terres Rouges Lodge.
Day 3: Ratanakiri (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the Lodge. We go in a northwest direction today, crossing bamboo forests before reaching the village of Voeune Sai located on the left bank of the Se San River. The view of the Chinese village on the other side of the river is quite pretty. Besides, this place is nearly a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory. Most villagers don’t even speak Khmer. Upstream of the Se San are a certain number of Tampoun villages that practice funeral statuary; if it is possible, we will rent a boat to go to the village of Ka Chaoan that has superb totems, if not we will reach it by jeep. Dinner and accommodation at Terres Rouges Lodge.
Day 4: Ratanakiri - Stung Treng - Kratie (B,L,D)
Breakfast at the Lodge. Early morning, departure by road to Stung Treng. Lunch at local restaurant. Then, continuation by road to Kratie. Stop in Sambo to observe the river dolphins until sunset. Then, continue to Kratie, a small colonial-style town. Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at Oudom Sambath Hotel (2-star, best available).
Day 5: Kratie - Kompong Cham (B,L,D)
Breakfast at local restaurant. Departure by car to Kompong Cham. On the way to Kompong Cham stop at Chhlong, a small and peaceful village on the Mekong River Bank with both Khmer and Colonial architecture. Continue to Chhup, a rubber plantation first established in the region by the French tire maker Michelin. Lunch at local restaurant in Kompong Cham. Tour of Kompong Cham to view examples of colonial architecture and check in at Mekong Hotel. Visit the silk-weaving village of Prek Chang Krane. Visit Wat Nokor with its ancient temple and modern style pagoda (12th century). Dinner at local restaurant. Accommodation at Mekong Hotel (2-star, best available).
Day 6: Kompong Cham - Phnom Penh (B,L,D)
Breakfast at hotel. Depart by car to Phnom Penh via Preak Kdam. Take the ferry across the Tonle Sap river. Then, stop at Prek Kdam to visit Kôh Chen, a small silver handicraft village Drive to Udong where a picnic lunch will be served. Visit the various temples and the three large stupas where the ashes of three former kings are preserved. Continue to Phnom Penh and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at hotel.
Day 7: Phnom Penh (B,L)
This morning do Phnom Penh city tour: Visit the Royal Palace, built by King Norodom in 1866 on the site of the old town, and the Silver Pagoda. Located within the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5000 silver tiles. The treasures found inside include a solid gold Buddha encrusted and weighing 90kilograms and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha. Visit Wat Phnom Temple, Phnom Penh's namesake, from where you can enjoy views over the tree-lined avenues of Phnom Penh. Afternoon take a trip to the Killing Field and Toul Sleng Museum of the genocide Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide): former Tuol Svay Prey High School, in 1975 it became the Khmer Rouge's main torture and interrogation center. It was known as Security Prison 21 - or just S-21. Back Phnom Penh city for overnight.
Day 8: Phnom Penh – Siem reap ( B, D )
This morning transfer to airport for flight to Siemreap. Arrive in Siemreap transfer to hotel, check in, relax.
This afternoon, visit Preah Khan temple. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulders-hanging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, Preah Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation. Continue your visits to Neak Pean, a fountain built in the middle of a pool and representing the paradisiacal Himalayan mountain-lake and visit the temple of Ta Som and Sunset at Pre
Dinner at local restaurant and enjoy Apsara Dance show.
Day 9: Siem Reap - Angkor (B , L)
After breakfast, we access Angkor Thom via the Southern Gate to explore the ancient city and then proceed to visit the ruins at Bayon, Baphoun, Phimeanakas, the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terrace and the Leper King Terrace. In the afternoon, a visit to the magnificent Angkor Wat with its extraordinary architecture offers an opportunity to experience a spectacular sunset over the monuments. The temple complex covers 81 hectares and is comparable in size to the Imperial Palace in Beijing. Its distinctive five towers are emblazoned on the Cambodian flag and the 12th century masterpiece is considered by art historians to be the prime example of classical Khmer art and architecture. Angkor Wat's five towers symbolize Meru's five peaks - the enclosed wall represents the mountains at the edge of the world and the surrounding moat, the ocean beyond.
Day 10: Siem Reap - Angkor (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
After breakfast, visit the graceful 11th century Temple of Shiva – Banteay Srei – and the Banteay Samre Temple. On the return trip, experience the impressive Ta Prohm Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in the area. Ta Prohm has been left relatively untouched since it was discovered and retains much of its mystery.
Day 11: Siem Reap - Departure (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the floating village of Chong Khneas, located 10 kilometers south of Siem Reap. Visit the village and take an excursion in a traditional wooden boat on the Tonle Sap Lake, the "Great Lake" of Cambodia, one of the largest in Asia.
Transfer to Siem Reap International Airport for departure flight to the next destination.
Tour includes:
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Tours & transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
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All accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
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Private English speaking guide
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Meals as indicated in the itinerary with local foods (B= breakfast; L=Lunch; D = Dinner)
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Entrance fees and permits for all sights visited
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Mineral Water and towel
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Government taxes & Service charges
Tour excludes:
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International flight ticket to and from Cambodia
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Visa in Cambodia ( available at the airport at 20 USD )
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Personal travel insurance
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Personal expenses such as Telephone and Laundry bills.
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Tips and gratuities
