Day 1: Phnom Penh Arrival (-/-/-)

Phnom Penh - Airport: 12km, ~35min drive

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time at leisure to recover after the long flight.

This afternoon, we spend time to discover this capital city which was once considered the loveliest city of Indochina. Despite its recent turbulent history, it still maintains considerable charm. The private quarters of the Royal Palace are now home to the royal family and are therefore very close to the public. At the northern area of the palace grounds is Silver Pagoda, the most sacred shrine in the country. We visit both structures as well as the legendary temple of Wat Phnom, which provides an interesting view over the surroundings.

Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 2: Phnom Penh (B/L/-)

After breakfast, our sightseeing tour of Phnom Penh continues with the Royal University of Fine Arts, where the young Cambodians learn the ancient arts of their ancestors. A view of numerous children practicing the graceful movements of the beautiful national dances is impressive. The next stop of our trip is the National Museum, exclusively dedicated to Khmer art and sculpture. The majority of the exhibits are from the Angkor period from 9th to 15th centuries, but some date from as early as the 4th century. Heading out of town we visit the Tuol Sleng Prison Museum and the notorious ‘Killing Fields' of Choeung Ek, which will give us a deep insight into the painful bloody rule of the Khmer Rouge. We have time this afternoon, exploring Psar Toul Tom Pong, also called the “Russian Market”, where anything and everything is for sales.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Phnom Penh

Day 3: Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham (B/L/-)

Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham: 127km, ~2h30min drive

After breakfast at hotel, we depart for Kampong Cham, also called "The Garden City" and the main town in the province of that name. After check-in at your hotel we will continue by car to visit a rubber plantation and a rubber factory by crossing Kizona bridge. Return to Kampong Cham for lunch. Visit Phnom Pros (the hill of men) and Phnom Srei (the hill of women) from which you can admire the surrounding panorama. Visit the interesting temples in the area which dated back to 12th and 13th centuries.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampong Cham

Day 4: Kampong Cham - Snoul – Sen Monorom (B/L/D)

Kampong Cham - Sen Monorom: 268km, ~6h drive

Morning after having breakfast, we depart for Snuol where you will have lunch at local restaurant. Drive to Sen Monorom, the province capital of the Mondolkiri province with scenery and a climate quite unlike anywhere else in the country. Arrival in Sen Monorom in the late afternoon. Check in at guesthouse. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Sen Monorom.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Sen Monorom

Day 5: Sen Monorom (B/L/D)

Early morning after breakfast at a local restaurant, we visit the local market where many of the Phnong people from the nearby villages are coming to trade with their distinctive baskets they carry on their back. Full day visit to the nearby hill tribe’s villages and the pretty waterfalls just a few k.m away from the sleepy capital. There are hundreds of minority villages around Sen Monorom. One of the largest and easiest to access being Phlung village inhabited by Phnong Chunchiets. The curious huts have woven wooden walls and thatched roofs almost to the floor. Three or more families often live in just one hut. You will be lucky to see more than a handful of people during daytime, as they are all out working in the fields. Lunch box will be provided. Elephant riding with the experienced Phnong mahouts to explore the jungle. Dinner and overnight in Sen Monorom.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Sen Monorom

Day 6: Sen Monorom - Banlung (B/L/D)

Sen Monorom - Banlung: 198km, ~4h drive

After breakfast at a local restaurant, we drive to Banlung , the capital city of Ratanakiri province, check in hotel and lunch. Afternoon take trip to Cha Oug Waterfalls and Yeak Laom Park, a protected area, which is looked after and managed by the regional authority . The main attraction of this area is Yeak Laom Lake, a volcanic crater lake believed to have been created about 700,000 years ago. Surrounded by forest up to the crater rim, the spectacular lake is a beautiful oasis and a great place for a refreshing swim! We will walk along the lake - side and visit the simple visitor center, which exhibits different tools from the various tribes.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Banlung

Day 7: Banlung - Tampolum - Banlung (B/L/D)

Breakfast is served at hotel. Heading out of the town, we make our way to Voeune Say which is one of the main villages by the Se San River. The road conditions are rough in this region and the travel is somewhat arduous. We arrive at Voeune Say and are sure to attract attention since this part of the country receives very few tourists. After a short walk through this village, we will embark on a traditional wooden long boat navigating on the scenic Se San River which gives us a taste of adventure and an enjoyable visit to the Tampoun, Kroeng and Brou minority people. They are very poor but have rich and interesting culture.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Banlung

Day 8: Banlung - Kroeung Territori - Banlung (B/L/-)

After having breakfast, our journey northwards begins as we depart the town and pass various scenic landscapes changing from the volcanic lava field of Veyrum Plang to the village of Kroeung. The Kroeung people have the curious custom of erecting bachelor houses standing on long bamboo poles. These houses will remain so till the young man finds a wife. After a short walk around this seldom visited village we continue driving to the Bai Srog, an impressive waterfall with seven levels in the middle of the forest. A swim in the clean and refreshing mountain water is highly recommended.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Banlung

Day 9: Banlung - Stung Treng (B/L/D)

Banlung - Stung Treng: 135km, ~3h20min drive

Breakfast is served at hotel. The morning market of Balung also attracts a wide array of hill tribe people who converge from the surrounding the mountainsides to trade their goods. After an enjoyable walk around this congregation we set off on a rough but scenic drive to Stung Treng. These back roads are a great way to explore the real Cambodia. We see very few other travelers, mostly rural dwellers who are just as interested in finding out about our lives as we are of theirs. On arrival in Stung Treng we have time to stroll around this outpost town. There are not many things to see Stung Treng apart from the countryside and few temples.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Stung Treng

Day 10: Stung Treng - Kratie (B/L/D)

Stung Treng - Kratie: 116km, ~3h drive

Breakfast is served at hotel. Upon leaving Stung Treng, we board a local boat navigating down-stream on the Mekong River to Kratie, a lovely riverside town. The pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to observe the rural life close up. After checking into hotel in Kratie we transfer out to explore a complex of temple, containing Phnom Sambok and Kampi, which boast the major sights in this region. A view over the surrounding area from the temple is impressive. The next stop of our trip is Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros. A part of the pleasure of travelling in Kratie is the simple joy of catching a glimpse of the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin and seeing the dramatic sunset over the river.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kratie

Day 11: Kratie - Kampong Thom (B/L/-)

Kratie - Kampong Thom: 216km, ~5h drive

Morning after breakfast, we depart for Kampong Thom passing through lush grasslands- home to a plethora of water birds- and watch out for ox-carts along the road, the main form of local transportation in this region. Although there are almost 1000 steps, climbing up Phnom Santuk Mountain offers spectacular vistas of the surrounding countryside and houses a small pagoda at the top. After soaking in the view, descend the steps and continue by road to Kampong Thom.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Kampong Thom

Day 12: Kampong Thom - Siem Riep (B/-/-)

Kampong Thom - Siem Riep: 133km, ~2h40min drive

After having breakfast, we make early morning departure to the archeological sight of Sambor Prei Kuk, which is dotted with hundred pre-angkor styled temples. The road conditions are very poor, but the spectacular scenery of this ancient ruin, with a mixture of temples and forest makes the hardship all worthwhile. We then continue our journey to Siem Reap. This town is our base for visiting the world famous temples of the ancient city Angkor, home for the capital of the powerful Khmer Empire, which is dated from 802 AD to 1350 AD. This stunning and extensive site sprawls through the dense jungle, over an area of 60 square miles.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 13: Siem Riep - Angkor Temples (B/-/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we spend a full day exploring the wondrous ancient ruins with the South Gate of Angkor Thom, which is famous for its series of colossal human faces carved in stone, the impressive Bayon Temple, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the largest as well as the most complete temple of Angkor Wat. This architectural masterpiece was constructed in the 12th century and covers an area of about 210 hectares. We stroll around this massive edifice, seeing the many galleries with columns, libraries, pavilions, courtyards and ponds full of water reflecting the towering temple.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 14: Siem Riep - Angkor Temples (B/-/-)

After breakfast at hotel, we drive to the typical Khmer countryside and visit Banteay Srei temple (10th c), regarded as the jewel in the crown of Classical Khmer Art. Continue to visit Banteay Samre, one of the most complete complexes at Angkor due to restoration using the method of "anastylosis". The name Samre refers to an ethnic group of mountain people, who inhabited the region at the base of Phnom Kulen and were probably related to the Khmers. The proportions of Banteay Samre are splendid. A unique feature is an interior moat with laterite paving, which when filled with water must have given an ethereal atmosphere to the temple. Lunch at restaurant. In the afternoon, you will continue your temple visits to Preah Khan. Built by the King Jayavarman VII, Preah Khan is, like Ta Prohm, a place of towered enclosures and shoulder hugging corridors. Unlike Ta Prohm, however, the temple of Prea Khan is in a reasonable state of preservation and ongoing restoration efforts should maintain and even improve this situation.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Siem Riep

Day 15: Siem Riep - Departure (B/-/-)

After having breakfast at hotel, there is free time for you own exploration of the town and strolling around the shopping areas. The trip ends after your transfer to Siem Reap Airport for your flight to next destination. Thank you very much for travelling with us!

Meals Included: Breakfast