Cambodia Bird Watching & Cultural Diversity

📍 Siem Reap Airport - Siem Reap (50 km): 60 mins

Welcome to Cambodia! Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide who will accompany you to your hotel for check in.

In case you cannot find your guide, please call our 24 Hrs Customer Care number +855 12 908 097.

Overnight in Siem Reap 

Inclusions:

📍 Siem Reap – Temples (06 km): 10 mins

Beginning from 07:30, this is the best time to experience Ta Prohm temple. The temple was made famous by the Angelina Jolie film Tomb Raider. The temple is best known for the trees and vines growing atop the temple walls. Enter from the east, to avoid the crowds. Then continue to Angkor Thom, visit The Terrace of The Elephants and the Royal Palace enclosure. Next, take a stroll around the lower galleries of carvings of Bayon, which depict fascinating scenes of life from the late 11th century, then find a quiet spot on the exterior of the temple to appreciate the 54 towers featuring faces of the Buddha looking out into the jungle around you.

Return to your hotel. Lunch on your own account. 

Afternoon visit the magnificent Angkor Wat, a 12th-century temple built by King Suryavarman II. This architectural marvel reflects Mount Meru, the abode of Hindu gods. Inside, intricate carvings and reliefs showcase Hindu myths with over 2,000 Apsara dancers grace the walls. Angkor Wat remains a powerful symbol of Cambodia, even gracing the national flag.

Depart the Angkor temples to the moat of Angkor Thom, where a private gondola paddle boat will be waiting for a relaxing cruise in the afternoon sunlight. Paddle along the moat while the melody of birdsong fills your ears. 

Overnight in Siem Reap

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Siem Reap – Ang Trapaeng Thmor (90 km): 2hr & 30 mins

Roll out of bed early today to begin the bird watching tour. Our expert guide and driver will pick you up at 5:30 am for a thrilling ride to Ang Trapeang Thmor, a haven for birds located roughly 2.5 hours from Siem Reap.

This area was originally constructed for irrigation during the rule of the Khmer Rouge. These days it is surrounded by rice paddies and is home to a great diversity of water birds. A local bird watching guide will select the best places for spotting some of the 200 species that live here or come for breeding. Keep a close eye on the sky for the endangered species that sometimes pass over the wetlands. As well the endangered Eld’s Deer is often sighted here.

Fuel up with a delicious breakfast packed from Siem Reap with a few stops along the way. After the bird watching, we will visit the local silk weaving village. Conclude the Siem Reap bird watching tour late in the afternoon with a return back to the city.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Siem Reap – Kbal Spean (47 km): 1hr 10 mins

Today the tour begins at 07:00. You will get an early start for the trip to Kbal Spean. This is one of Cambodia’s earliest Hindu sites. Take a 3-kilometre trek through the jungle. The trek ends at the ‘River of 1000 Lingas’, a riverbed featuring stone carvings of Hindu gods, animals and phallic symbols. (Please note the trek is fairly easy going but as the walk is uphill and on uneven ground it is most suitable for those with average level of fitness and not suitable for those with mobility problems.) 

Then visit the Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity (ACCB). You will learn about the threats to Cambodia’s wildlife and the efforts of ACCB to protect the environment and promote wildlife conservation through education. 

Lunch at a local restaurant. 

After lunch you will explore the rarely-visited Banteay Srei temple, known for its pink sandstone and intricate carvings. This well-preserved gem is often overlooked due to its location, but you'll enjoy a peaceful visit with close-up views of the reliefs. Continue on to the Landmine Museum. This remarkable project was established by Mr Aki Ra, who is reputed to have served as a child soldier during the Khmer Rouge regime. 

Overnight in Siem Reap    

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Siem Reap – Prek Toal (120 km): 3hr

Wake up early today to begin the bird watching tour. Our expert guide and driver will pick you up at 5:30 am to Prek Toal (duration 3h one way). Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, a significant Ramsar site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, boasts the largest waterbird colony in Southeast Asia. Situated on the edge of Tonle Sap Lake, this sanctuary is a haven for diverse birdlife, particularly during the dry season. It's a prime destination for birdwatchers, offering unique opportunities to observe rare waterbirds.

Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in Siem Reap

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Siem Reap - Ta Brak village (20km) : 28mins / Ta Brak village - Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium (15km) : 19 mins

This morning the tour begins at 07:30 Today embark on an authentic rural Cambodia tour to learn about life in a typical village. Meet friendly locals and discover traditional village customs and cultures.

Like most villages in Asia, Ta Brak is busiest in the morning hours. Sit down with a local family and enjoy breakfast (take-away from the hotel) while observing the activities of the village.  By foot, visit the local market. Explore the colourful displays of vegetables, herbs and other locally-grown produce, and mingle with the shoppers who come every morning to buy the fresh ingredients. Continue through the village, providing ample opportunities to stop and chat with locals and to observe their activities. 

Before leaving the village, head to Khmer smokehouse and meet a warm family. Learn the process of smoking fish, discover Cambodian rural life through stories shared amidst fragrant smoke. Over a fresh coconut juice, get to know the family, engage in discussions, and gain a better understanding of the countryside lifestyle in Cambodia. 

Conclude this morning, partake in a special Buddhist tradition. Local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony.

After visiting Ta Brak village, head to the Angkor Wildlife and Aquarium (AWA) for a closer look at the lake’s marine ecosystems. The AWA, in cooperation with NGOs and the Cambodian government, plays an active role in conservation by providing educational content about different species and operating an important breeding project.

On arrival, enjoy a welcome drink and meet with one of the AWA’s marine biologist for a behind- the-scenes tour of the marine exhibit. During the visit, learn about the environmental threats faced by the Tonle Sap, including habitat destruction, illegal fishing and disrupted migration patterns.

This insightful visit includes a donation that supports vital conservation efforts for endangered species in Tonle Sap lake.

Lunch break at a local restaurant. 

Return to the hotel. 
Dining for A Cause.  Pick up from the hotel by Remork (a local transportation) at 18:00 and drive to the first restaurant, where follows a different business model, directing their profits to various organisations. You may order any drink from the menu (they make some special cocktails and fruit mix using local ingredients) and any one appetiser (try different ones and share with each other). Next, enjoy Khmer classic dishes at another social enterprise restaurant providing disadvantaged youths, and underprivileged adults, professional training and employment in the hospitality industry. 

After dinner, go to a tropical garden restaurant run by an organisation that operates a hospitality training school where all the restaurant workers learned (or are currently learning) their trade. Learn about how the program runs and its achievements while enjoying a creative cocktail, a glass of wine, beer, or coffee.  This stop will mark the end of your tour and your driver will bring you safely to your hotel or, at your choice, drop you off at Pub Street or in the city centre of Siem Reap.

Overnight in Siem Reap

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Siem Reap – Siem Reap airport (50 km): 60 mins

You will be transferred to Siem Reap Airport for your departure.  

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast