The Miracles of Cambodia

Siem Reap arrival - rest (D)

Welcome at the airport by our guide and driver.

Transfer and check-in at the hotel, to freshen up and rest a little.

In the afternoon, free time for your personal explorations. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

Siem Reap - Visit (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we stroll through the countryside and along the ancient Royal Road to discover the lost temple of Chao Srei Vibol and its pagoda.

We continue through the villages to discover authentic Cambodian houses then visit the Bakong temple.

In the afternoon, departure for the village of Kampong Pluk on the banks of Tonlé Sap, the great lake of Cambodia, where you observe the life of the floating villages, fishing techniques, fish farms and private crocodile farms. Each year, the water level of the lake varies from 4 to 8 m, flooding all the lands and forests of this region (from August to February). Depending on the season, we can discover these flooded forests thanks to wooden pirogues. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Siem Reap - Visit (B/L/D)

After breakfast, departure from the hotel by tuk-tuk to explore Angkor Thom (Great City) starting with the terrace of the Leper King, a platform featuring several admirable sculpted figures of apsaras.

Your visit continues along the Terrace of the Elephants which hosted the splendor of royal audiences and public ceremonies.

Let's continue towards the south gate with the famous Bayon, the enigmatic and enchanting temple composed of 54 gigantic towers decorated with 216 faces of Avalokiteshvara (Buddha of compassion) then we will discover the forgotten temple of Ta Prohm invaded by the jungle.

In the afternoon, visit of Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With its slender towers and unique bas-reliefs, it is one of the most extraordinary monuments ever conceived by the human mind, erected in the 12th century in honor of Vishnu.

Compared to all other temples, Angkor Wat is the most famous and majestic. Upon leaving Angkor Wat temple, you can enjoy a glass of champagne and fruits served on board to witness a unique sunset over Angkor Wat. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Siem Reap - Visit (B/L/D)

After breakfast, departure for the mythical Banteay Srei, the citadel of women. This pink sandstone jewel contains remarkable carved lintels in an incredible state of preservation.

On the way back, visit the palm sugar production and authentic Cambodian houses, visit the romantic Beanteay Samré temple.

In the afternoon, visit of the grand circuit: the ancient city of Preah Khan (city of victorious royal fortune) and Neak Pean, Pre Rup, an astonishing site built in the 12th century. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Siem Reap - Kampong Thom (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

A day to search for (and find...) lost treasures and authentic Cambodian villages: we start with Prasat Beng Mealea Son dominated by the jungle: trees have grown on the towers, roots and lianas entwine the columns. The lintels and other sandstone blocks of the construction litter the ground in gigantic piles and require visitors to climb them to approach the central tower, which has also completely collapsed.

Then you will continue into the bush towards the ancient and distant Angkorian capital of Koh Ker. The history of Cambodia is made of dynastic conflicts and political intrigues, one of the most memorable being the establishment of a rival capital in Koh Ker by Jayavarman IV following a serious disagreement with his family. Although Koh Ker was capital for only about fifteen years, Jayavarman IV was determined to impose his authority through a significant, very prolific construction program, which would leave a legacy of about thirty major temples and several gigantic sculptures now preserved in the National Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh.

You will climb to the summit of Prasat Thom, a seven-tiered pyramid, more "Mayan" than Khmer, whose panorama over the surrounding forests is absolutely superb. Not far from Prasat Thom is Prasat Krahom, or Red Temple, named for the color given to it by the red "Bantey Srei" style stones used in its construction.

Far from the crowds of Angkor, Koh Ker has an attractive side for anyone wishing to experience deserted temples whose silence is only disturbed by the singing of birds. Lunch and dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Kampong Thom.

Kampong Thom - Kampong Cham - Kratie (B/L/D)

After breakfast, you discover the temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. The three groups of the pre-Angkorian temple in this complex are dedicated to Shiva. They were built in the 7th century, abandoned then rediscovered and restored in 1980. Hinduism largely influenced the pre-Angkorian and Angkorian civilizations.

The guide will present "Introduction to Hinduism," focusing on Hindu influences on pre-Angkorian and Angkorian temples. Following this, we will continue our journey to Kapong Cham, Cambodia's most populous city, renowned for its rich basaltic soil. Lunch will be at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to a rubber plantation and its factory.

Arrival in Kratie is scheduled for late afternoon. We will have lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a dinner show featuring village children. Overnight stay will be with local residents on Koh Trong.

Kratie - Tour (B/L/D)

After breakfast, embark on a Mekong River cruise to observe the Irrawaddy dolphins. Afterward, we will visit Vat SOR 100 and Phnom Sambok, both visible from the Mekong.

In the afternoon, we return to Koh Trong. As we pass through the village, your guide will inform you about available activities, which you may choose to participate in if desired.

(Depending on the season, these activities might include corn planting or rice harvesting, vegetable planting or harvesting, basket weaving, accompanying animals in the fields, or fishing). Lunch and dinner will be with a local family. Overnight stay with a local family.

Kratie - Mondulkiri (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will depart for Mondulkiri, traveling via Snoul.

Mondulkiri, similar to Ratanakiri, stands as one of Cambodia's most remote regions. It is situated in the southern highlands, an expansive area stretching between Southern Laos, Central Vietnam, and Eastern Cambodia.

After settling into a local guesthouse, we will depart by bus to visit Bou Sra waterfalls, weather permitting, or alternatively, admire the sunset over Dos Krormom hill, accessed via a bumpy dirt track lined with Mnong hamlets.

Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Mondulkiri.

Mondulkiri - Tour (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will head towards Phulung village, where the Mnong ethnic villagers continue to utilize elephants for labor.

This village serves as the starting point for your elephant trek (approximately 2 hours). After a meeting with the Mnong people, you will follow a charming small river, which occasionally becomes rapids, with its banks literally enveloped by the dense tropical forest. Subsequently, we will take a vehicle to the Kbal Preah waterfalls, a hidden paradise in the jungle.

A picnic lunch will be provided. You will have multiple opportunities to swim.

We will return to Mondulkiri in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the local guesthouse in Mondulkiri.

Mondulkiri - Kampong Cham (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we will explore the local market in Senmonorom before departing from Mondulkiri for Kampong Cham.

Lunch will be en route. We anticipate arriving in Kampong Cham in the late afternoon. Dinner will be at a local restaurant, followed by an overnight stay at the hotel.

Kampong Cham - Phnom Penh (B/L/D)

Following breakfast, you will embark on a cruise from Kampong Cham to Phnom Penh (approximately 7 hours) aboard a traditional boat. This journey will offer ample opportunity to observe the lives of fishermen, their techniques, and the fields and villages along the Mekong River.

Lunch will be served on board. Arrival in Phnom Penh is expected in the afternoon, with direct transfer to the hotel.

Dinner will be at a local restaurant, followed by an overnight stay at the hotel.

Phnom Penh - Tour (B/L/D)

Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

A forty-five-minute cyclo-pousse ride will take you to discover the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, the residence of the royal family and a symbol of the kingdom. This provides a dignified start to the day.

Next, you will explore the palace's magnificent gardens, adorned with various tropical plant species, before proceeding to the Throne Hall, where official receptions are held and where the king's coronation took place.

Subsequently, you will pass through the Napoleon III Pavilion, constructed of steel, a 19th-century gift from the French emperor to the Cambodian royal family.

You will also visit the Silver Pagoda, so named for the approximately 5000 silver tiles covering its floor. It houses Cambodia's most extraordinary treasures, including a golden Buddha adorned with 9584 diamonds, the largest of which is 25 carats. Here you will also see a delicate emerald Buddha, giving the temple its Khmer name, Wat Preah Keo ('Temple of the Emerald Buddha').

In the afternoon, you will visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. This former high school, converted into a prison, was the site of extreme violence against opponents of the regime. The gallery of prisoner photographs, torture chambers, and cramped cells reveal the horror of the Khmer genocide.

You will also explore the National Museum of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, which houses the most incredible collection of sculptures from the Angkorian period. This splendid building was constructed between 1917 and 1920 and features a magnificent inner courtyard, a lush garden surrounded by the museum's unique exhibits.

Lunch and dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Phnom Penh - Tour / Departure (B/L)

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning, you will visit the Central Market and the Russian Market. Afterward, there will be free time before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.