Delights of Cambodia

Upon your arrival at Siem Reap international airport, your driver will welcome you and take you to your hotel for check-in. We will give you all the information about your tour and answer any questions you may have. According to your arrival time, you can start exploring the city of Siem Reap. Your driver will be happy to help you and give you suggestions. You can visit the old market, enjoy the walk along the Siem Reap river or visit the night market. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After your breakfast, your private driver will take you to see one of the most famous world-heritage sites on the planet: the Angkor temples. You will go for a day tour of so called "Small circle". The city used to be the capital of Khmer Empire and was the biggest metropolis of that time with more than 800,000 inhabitants. First you will have the chance to explore the biggest and most famous temple of all: Angkor Wat. Built in the 12th century, Angkor Wat (‘Wat’ means temple in Khmer) is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. You will then visit Angkor Thom (literally “Big Angkor”, or “Big City”). This area is surrounded by a protecting wall and you will access it through one of its gates, made of 4 giant stone heads. Then you will visit one of the most mysterious sites of the Angkor site: Bayon - with 148 giant Buddha faces made of stone, facing the four main directions. Next you will discover the temple of Baphuon, built as pyramid in the 11th century. It's main attraction is the 60 meters long lying Buddha. Next to the temple, you will discover Phimeanakas. The temple of Phimeanakas (known in English as “celestial palace”) is a 10th century Hindu temple which was covered by a golden roof. You will also discover the Elephants terrace. Then you will finish the tour by exploring Ta Phrom - one of the most iconic temples of Angkor. The famous Hollywood movie ‘Tomb Raider’ gave the temple its fame. As soon as you enter the site you will be amazed by the unique atmosphere of the Angkorian temples half covered by giant trees and vegetation. Then return to Siem Reap to your hotel and relax after this fantastic day of sightseeing. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Today you will continue exploring the ancient capital city of the Khmer empire. During the 13th century, this city ruled over the area which included the current Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and vast part of Vietnam. Your driver will take you for the ‘Big Circle’ tour. First you will discover the lost city of Preah Khan. You will discover the ruins which used to be a monastery and a Buddhist university. You will then continue to travel back through time and discover the site of Neak Pean. It is built in 12th century and features a sanctuary set in the middle of a small lake. The lake was made to be a replica of sacred Anavatapta lake located in the Tibetan Himalayas. You will pass along Ta Som, a temple literally swallowed by the nature, before reaching East Mebon. Only the main temple remained from this former city, surrounded by a water tank. You will then explore the site of Banteay Kdei. 4 giant stone Buddha faces will welcome you at the entrance. This architectural journey will end with the discovery of Srah Srang (a pool built in 10th century) and Prasat Kravan (a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu). Your driver will then take you back to your hotel for a short rest. In the evening you can explore the night market of Siem Reap located right across the river in the city center. The center of Siem Reap is a lively area and can be best explored by foot. Overnight in Siem Reap.

After your breakfast, your driver will take you to explore sites of the greater Angkor area. Your journey will take you through the beautiful Cambodian.  First stop will be Banteay Samre. This 12th century temple is also called ‘mini Angkor Wat’ and is definitely a hidden treasure. Then your driver will take you to the famous site of Banteay Srei. This temple has unique color as it is made of pink sandstones. It is believed that it is  made by women (“Srei” meaning “woman” in Cambodian) since the carvings are extremely precise and well made. Then your journey will take you to Roluos, going through typical villages of the Cambodian countryside. The Roluos consists of three interesting sites: Lolei, Preah Ko and Bakong - all built in the 9th century. In the afternoon, your driver will drive you back to Siem Reap. You can then decide if you wish to relax at your hotel or to explore the city center. You can visit the Old Market at the riverside and walk along the vibrant Pub Street. Overnight in Siem Reap.

Today your driver will take you to Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. The journey will take you through the Cambodian countryside crossing the provinces of Siem Reap and Kampong Thom. You will visit Kampong Kdei, where you will see the 8th century Naga bridge. The province of Kampong Thom is full of wide forests which were sadly filled with landmines remained from the war. Then you will arrive to Kampong Thom for lunch. The city is located along the Stueng Saen river and connected with the Tonle Sap lake (the beating heart of Cambodia). It used to be a very powerful capital in Southeast Asia during the Funan period. Today it is a peaceful and typical Cambodian town. You will then continue your trip towards Phnom Penh. On the way you will stop at Skun where you will have the chance to discover a typical Cambodian snack: fried spiders. It is one of the locals’ favorites, but if you’d prefer to taste some other delicacies such as the fried insects (or not), your guide will be glad to help you choose. You will reach Phnom Penh in the afternoon and have some free time at your leisure. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel in the morning, before your driver meets you to start exploring the capital city of Cambodia. You will first visit the magnificent Royal Palace, built in the 1860’s by monarch King Norodom, under the French protectorate. Since the current King (Norodom Sihamoni) still lives in the Palace, only half of the buildings can be visited. You will see the beautiful Silver Pagoda and the Throne Hall. After the Palace visit, enjoy the walk along the Tonle Sap river. Your driver will then take you to visit the Central Market. It is the most famous market in Phnom Penh located in the heart of the city.  For lunch time, your driver will be happy to recommend a safe restaurant (such as the Lotus Blanc) or, if you are adventurous, you can choose to taste delicious street food. In the early afternoon, your driver will take you to the S21 museum in Tuol Sleng which used to be a school turned into one of the prisons and pre-extermination units during the Khmer Rouge regime. Walking through the museum will give you a better understanding of one of the darkest happenings in human history. Your driver will then take you to the Olympic Stadium for a truly authentic local experience. Hundreds of locals gather here around 5PM to practice their daily aerobic. If you feel like, you can join the crowd as everybody is welcome (you can simply give a very small tip to the dancing teacher). Your driver will then take you to the night market (if the market is open) to discover the variety of street food offered by Cambodian markets (such as fried tarantulas…) - or to the nearby FCC (the Foreign Correspondents' Club) where you can have a drink while enjoy watching the sunset over the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Your private driver will meet you today at your hotel and you will leave Phnom Penh to reach the coastal city of Kep. On the way, you will make a first stop near the city of Takmao, at the site of Tonle Bati. Tonle Bati is a small lake, very famous among local people and mostly unknown by the tourists. Cambodians like to enjoy picnic here and to spend time on the fresh air during the hot season. Tonle Bati also hosts the Ta Prohm site built in the 13th century.  Then you will continue your way towards the city of Takeo, to reach another hidden treasure of Cambodia. Located at the top of a mountain with 461 steps stairway, you will discover Phnom Chisor. This ancient Khmer temple, built in the 11th century, is dedicated to Hindu Gods. From this off the beaten path site, you will be amazed by the panoramic view. Then you will continue your trip to Kep and the Gulf of Thailand. Before arriving at destination, you will do another stop at Kampong Trach and visit beautiful caves, carved with the limestone which makes the beauty of this region. In the evening you will arrive in Kep and your driver will take you to your hotel. Overnight in Kep.

In the morning, your driver will take you the Kep Crab Market. This small local market is located right at the seaside and depending on the fisherman schedule, you may see them walking in the sea to pick the crabs they have caught during the day. Here you will be able to discover and taste many Khmer food specialties and your driver will be glad to tell you all about it and advise which one to try. You will then head towards the Kep harbor to embark on a fisherman boat to reach the little island of Koh Tonsay. Koh Tonsay (literally “Rabbit Island”) is located a few miles of the coast. Upon your arrival, you can go for a short walk to explore the island or enjoy a massage in the bungalow at the beach. Enjoy your lunch at the beach (we recommend a grilled fish or other seafood, as you won’t find any fresher than at this place). After lunch, you can relax on the beach until you wish to return to Kep. You will then take the boat back to the coast. Your driver will take you to your hotel. You can relax by the pool or enjoy a walk on the hills of the Kep National Park. Overnight in Kep.

Enjoy your breakfast by the pool at your hotel and the relaxing atmosphere in Kep. Kep (also called Kep-sur-Mer) was highly visited by the French establishment during the French protectorate. Therefore you will be able to still see some abandoned villas from that time. At your desired departure time, your driver will take you to Kampot. On the way, you will get off the main road to visit the Brateak Kola lake (also called ‘sacred lake’) and drive through the typical Cambodian countryside. You will have the chance to witness farmers daily live in so called “the bread basket of Cambodia”, due to many rice fields in the region. Then you will arrive to Kampot and your hotel for lunchtime. After lunch, your driver will take you to the nearby salt marshes which provide a significant income of the province and also beautiful landscapes. In the late afternoon, you can enjoy walking around the city. Kampot is a relatively small and very quiet town where time sometimes seems to stand still. Around the city and at the riverside you will find many options for dinner (from Cambodian to Western cuisine). Overnight in Kampot.

In the morning your driver will take you for a tour of Kampot and the surrounding areas. You will drive to the top of Mount Bokor. This beautiful mountain is located at the shore of the gulf of Thailand. Lies on 1100 meters above the sea level and with its fresh micro-climate it used to be a special spot where the French colonialists built small resort in 1920’s. Don’t forget to bring some warm clothes for this mountain trip. You will have the chance to see the remains of the old casino, an abandoned church, the water tower and more. You will feel like everything seems to date from different time particularly as new modern buildings, such as the new casino, are built just next to it. From the top, you will admire to the panoramic view of the sea and the entire Kampot province. On the way back to Kampot, you will make a stop and see ”the sitting Buddha”. Locals love to have a break here on the way to the hill resort. After you enjoyed your lunch in Kampot, you will visit La Plantation, one of the many pepper plantations in the area. Kampot pepper is well known worldwide among the biggest culinary experts. During this one-hour tour you will get an insight about why this organic pepper so unique. You will then continue exploring the countryside and daily life of the people around Kampot area. Overnight in Kampot.

After having breakfast at your hotel, your driver will meet you to head towards Sihanoukville (also called Kampong Som). Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Sihanoukville is the only international port of Cambodia. It is also the main seaside resort of the kingdom and it has beautiful white sand beaches, especially when one moves away from the city. Then your driver will take to the pier to board the speedboat ferry to Koh Rong Samloem (about 30 min transfer). Once arrived in 'heaven on earth' (also called Koh Rong Samloem), the hotel staff will meet you at the pier and take you to your room. Overnight in Koh Rong Samloem.

Enjoy the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches to relax on Koh Rong Samloem paradisiac island. Different options of activities are available on the island (snorkeling, diving, etc., to be organized with your hotel). Overnight in Koh Rong Samloem.

Today you will have another day of relaxation in Koh Rong Samloem enjoying the beautiful seaside coast of Cambodia. It is a real paradise to enjoy your peaceful stay on the beach. Koh Rong Samloem is located not far from the island of Koh Rong, the second island of Cambodia which also welcome the travelers for their seaside stay. However, Koh Rong Samloem is smaller than Koh Rong, more picturesque and less touristic. Overnight in Koh Rong Samloem.

Today, depending on the time of your return to Sihanoukville from the island, your driver will meet you at the pier to take you to Phnom Penh. You will drive through the Cambodian countryside and witness daily life of the local farmers and see some typical Cambodian houses. Then you will arrive to the capital city of Cambodia: Phnom Penh. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy some sightseeing (please note that most sites close at 5pm local time). Your driver will then take you to your hotel for check-in and in the evening if you wish, you can enjoy a drink at the riverside (also called Sisowath quay), or visit the night market which is only open during the weekend. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

In the morning enjoy the breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, your driver will be happy to suggest and take you for the visits according to your wishes. If you would like to do some shopping before you leave, the Russian Market will be a good choice if you look for souvenirs from Cambodia and a tour at Orussey Market would take you off the tourist path. Your driver will then drive you to Phnom Penh International airport to take your departure flight.