Day 1 – Arrival in Phnom Penh
Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, transfer to hotel independently (rooms available from 2 pm). Time at leisure. In the evening, meet your guide in the hotel lobby and walk to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. Meals included: dinner
Overnight: Lavanya Boutique hotel/Rambutan Resort Phnom Penh/The Onra or similar
Day 2 – Phnom Penh – Koh Dach by bicycle – City tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for the pier to board a local proven boat or ferry to Koh Dach Island. Once disembarked on this 7-kilometer-long island, the journey continues by bicycle to soak in the surrounding landscape and atmosphere, completely different from the vibrant city of Phnom Penh. The island is extremely peaceful and characterized by the rural life of farms, wooden houses and small, charming pagodas. The bike tour starts from the pier, feel free to stop at any time to take photos. After about 6 kilometers, with no elevation gain, you reach a traditional house on stilts where there is a small restaurant. Stop for a pleasant lunch break and some relaxation in a relaxed atmosphere. Slowly resume the journey back to the pier for embarkation and return to vibrant Phnom Penh. Afternoon dedicated to visiting Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s capital city rises at the confluence of three rivers: the mighty Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac. With its balanced mix of modernity and provincial charm, this capital stands out from others in Southeast Asia. The obvious French colonial touch that lurks among the imposing Angkorian monuments provide the backdrop for your stroll through the downtown streets. Your visit begins with the National Museum, which houses an extensive collection of Khmer sculptures, ceramics and ethnographic works. Continue to the Royal Palace, which stands proudly on the horizon line. In the past, the complex, consisting of four main areas, served as the royal residence of the King of Cambodia. End of the tour at the central market for some shopping. Return to hotel, free dinner and overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch at a local house
Overnight: Lavanya Boutique hotel/Rambutan Resort Phnom Penh/The Onra or similar Day 3: Phnom Penh – Kratie After breakfast at the hotel, continue the adventure on the road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap with a stop in Skun, famous for its spider skewers. Continue to the hills of Phnom Pros (the Hill of Men) and Phnom Srey (the Hill of Women). While Phnom Srey remains undeveloped and still covered in vegetation, Phnom Pros is known for its collection of modern pagodas and stupas commemorating the thousands of victims murdered during the Khmer Rouge regime. Continue down the road for a final stop at Wat Nokor Bachey, a rather unusual temple with distinctive architecture. Cross the bridge to Kompong Cham City from where you continue on to Kratie. Upon arrival, board a local ferry to cross the great Mekong River to Koh Trong Island, a small island on the Mekong River, characterized by fine sandy beaches (during the dry season) and reachable only by ferry from Kratie City. Accommodation in homestay, before taking a walk to explore the surroundings.
This small island is a true paradise for the senses; there are no cars, the atmosphere is peaceful, and the inhabitants are very hospitable. Stop to observe the fishermen in full swing and the lush orchards in the fields. For those who wish, opportunity to experience a ride on a typical ox-drawn cart. Dinner and overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay on Koh Trong island in homestay
Note: Kratie is not yet very developed as a tourist area, so the quality of restaurants, hotels and general services is based on the standard of the place.
Day 4: Kratie – Ban Lung Breakfast at homestay. After enjoying the tranquility of the island of Koh Trong, return to Kratie by ferry and from here depart for Ratanakiri. Along the way, a stop in Kampi is a must: on board a boat you might spot the very rare freshwater dolphins (Orcella). These dolphins are endangered throughout Asia, and Cambodia is one of the few countries where they are still present. Upon arrival in Banlung, check into your hotel and walk to the top of a hill to enjoy the sunset, one of the best panoramic views in the entire city. Along the walk you can explore Wat Rahtanharanm Pagoda and its reclining Buddha before reaching the top. Return to hotel, free dinner and overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Ratanakiri Boutique Hotel or similar Day 5: Banlung – adventure in the far east of Cambodia After breakfast, leave your hotel at 8:00 am for a full-day adventure tour to visit a local village. Head north by car to reach a small village, then cross the river by ferry and prepare for a journey to the local tribe. The village chief will be waiting for you across the river and accommodate you aboard his motorized tractor, called “Koyoun.” The road passes through pretty villages, as well as rice and cassava plantations, until you reach the starting point of the hike, from where you begin walking for about 7 kilometers. At the end of the trail, you finally reach the local village located on the bank of a small river. Upon arrival, meet the villagers with whom you will enjoy a refreshing drink while interacting and learning about the local culture and way of life. Tasting their traditional rice wine, Srah Thnam, is an experience not to be missed. Lunch cooked with traditional methods and seasonal ingredients and a brief moment of relaxation. Continue your hike for another 1.5 kilometers until you reach an extraordinary viewpoint. During the hike, villagers will show you some edible plants (be brave and try some if you like) and some jungle survival techniques, before returning to the starting point. Back at the village, continue by traditional boat, following the river downstream back to town. Along the river, you can take a dip in the crystal clear water. Arriving on the mainland, by tractor, ferry and finally by private van back to the hotel. Free dinner, overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Ratanakiri Boutique Hotel or similar Day 6: Banlung – Preah Vihear Breakfast at hotel. Visit to Ban Lung market where some of the local ethnic groups go every day with their traditional baskets and local products to sell and exchange.
You can witness unique and authentic scenes of local life. After your visit, continue to Preah Vihear, a province located 185 kilometers northeast of Siem Reap, on the border with Thailand and Laos. This area is home to many temples, earning it the name “mother of mountain temples.” Upon arrival, settle into rooms and time at leisure to relax at the hotel or to continue exploring the area on your own. Dinner at leisure, overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Preah Vihear Boutique Day 7: Preah Vihear – Siem Reap After breakfast, visit the magnificent Preah Vihear Mountain Temple, built to worship Shiva, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on a hill, it offers spectacular views of the Cambodian plain. After the visit, continue on to Siem Reap. On the way, stop to visit the temples of Koh Ker, the ancient capital of the Angkorian Empire, which has more than a hundred buildings, including Prasat Thom (a 7-tiered sandstone pyramid) and Linga Temple. Arrive in Siem Reap around mid-afternoon. Time at leisure. Free dinner and overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: Amber Angkor Villa Hotel and Spa/Memoire Siem Reap/Angkor Aurora or similar Day 8: Siem Reap – Angkor Wat After breakfast, start your day by visiting Angkor Wat, the largest religious structure in the world, and one of the most jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After your visit, continue your walking tour by walking along the moat of this huge temple and crossing a forest path that passes through a small local village. Continue through the south gate of Angkor Thom, climb its ancient walls and walk along the shady path covered by ancient trees until you reach a small temple and finally the center of the Khmer capital, where the majestic Bayon Temple is located. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then continue your visit to Angkor Thom, exploring the Royal Palace, the Elephant Terrace and the other incredible temples located in the area. Conclude your visit at Bayon Temple before returning to your hotel. Dinner at leisure, overnight stay. Evening option: Discovering the flavors of Cambodian cuisine
(daily except Mondays) – no tour guide is needed, tuk-tuk will take you to the restaurant and the information letter will be in English. Start time: 6:30 pm.
Enjoy a multi-step dinner with appetizer, main course and dessert at three different restaurants, carefully chosen based on their flavors and atmosphere. The curious traveler and foodie will discover a selection of our favorite dishes and addresses in Siem Reap: P ou – appetizer and one drink per person; The Sugar Palm – main course and one drink per person; Malis – dessert and one drink per person. Price per person € 96.00. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight: Amber Angkor Villa Hotel and Spa/Memoire Siem Reap/Angkor Aurora or similar Day 9: Siem Reap – Phnom Kulen off the beaten track Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, around 7:00 am, depart Siem Reap for Phnom Kulen, the largest forested area in Siem Reap province. Upon arrival at the National Park, meet with the local ranger for a tour in the company of your guide. After a brief introduction, begin the hike along a varied mix of trails through the deep jungle and rocky Kulen plateau, leading to some hidden 10th-century temples, religious sites and an enchanting river. The highlight of this morning is definitely a visit to the famous site of Sra Damrei, which houses a shrine with a sacred statue of an elephant carved from sandstone and representing the guardian of the mountain along with other nearby statues. After the visit, continue along the trail to visit other important sites until you reach the local tractor, called guyun in the Cambodian language, for transfer to a scenic spot for a picnic lunch along a small river. Relax and swim in the river before departing. After lunch, begin the second part of the hike by following a path through deep forest and, surrendering to the surrounding nature, try to spot Cambodian wildlife. The road leads to the main area of Mount Kulen, for a visit to the golden reclining Buddha located at Preah Ang Thom, and then to Phnom Kulen Waterfall, where you can cool off with a swim. Return to Siem Reap in the late afternoon. Free dinner, overnight stay. Meals included: breakfast, packed lunch
Overnight: Amber Angkor Villa Hotel and Spa/Memoire Siem Reap/Angkor Aurora or similar Day 10: Siem Reap – Tonle Sap Lake – departure The last day in Cambodia begins with breakfast before checking out of rooms and departing for a morning excursion to Komgpong Khleang. Aboard a local boat guided by a village captain, we slowly cross Tonle Sap Lake to catch a glimpse of small floating villages. The small local boat is equipped with a motor that makes it easy to move from the village and along the various channels leading to the Great Lake. Once you reach the end of the canal, the immensity of this lake becomes apparent and the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. During the dry season, a walk is offered to meet the locals before leaving for the cruise. After the visit, transfer to Siem Reap airport for your flight back to Italy (to be booked after 5 p.m.).
Meals included: breakfast
Note: From Feb. 15 due to low water level, the boat trip cannot be done with large boats of 10 people and up. Only small boats (1-9 people) are available. Therefore, for groups of 10 pax and up, the trip will instead be conducted in Chong Kneas.
