Cambodia Complete

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

Upon your arrival in Siem Reap, you will be welcomed by your local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Please note the standard check-in time is at 14:00. 

19:00 - enjoy a Khmer classic dishes at a restaurant where is another social enterprise restaurant providing disadvantaged youths, and underprivileged adults, professional training and employment in the hospitality industry. Learn about its efforts while dining

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

📍 Siem Reap – Banteay Srei Temple (37km)

08:00 - Experience the temples of Angkor in a different way today by a bike tour with customized ‘remork’ (similar to the Thai tuk tuk) back up and assistance. A guide will accompany you on bicycle as well. 

The ‘remork’ will collect you at the hotel in the morning for a short ride to the outskirts of town. You will then be debriefed by an operational staff member who will check your bicycle and fitting. Set off on the first stretch to Angkor Wat, where your bike will stay with the remork driver. You will enter and exit Angkor Wat from different entrances and the bikes will be transferred in between so there is no need for you to backtrack.  

Built during the reign of King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat was constructed following the model of the temple mountain symbolizing Mount Meru, the home of the gods. Inside the temple, the walls are covered with stone carvings and bas-reliefs depicting Hindu mythology and the wars Suryavarman II waged during his reign. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. Construction is thought to have taken around thirty years of intensive labor. Today, Angkor Wat is featured on Cambodia's national flag as the temple symbolizes the soul of the Khmer people. 

After leaving Angkor Wat continue cycling to the ancient city of Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Great Khmer Empire under the reign of Jayavarman VII. This city is surrounded by an 8m-high wall, drawing a perfect square around the city. Enter through the ancient South Gate, an impressive stone gate carved with Elephants and capped with four giant faces of the Buddha. On each side of the causeway over the moat, a row of 54 gods and demons stands holding a sacred Naga snake. Enter the city and cycle to the exact center where the Bayon temple is located. This 12th century masterpiece is a study in grandeur and is well-known for its numerous towers with enigmatic faces looking out over the far-flung provinces of the Great Khmer Empire.

Leaving Bayon, cycle on past The Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper King before arriving at Ta Prohm. Ta Prohm is unique in that it has been left largely overgrown by jungle trees and vines, with many parts of the temple crumbling to the ground. This makes the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ one of the most picturesque and memorable of the Angkor temples. Again at Ta Prohm, the remork will pick you up at a different point from which you enter. From there it’s a short cycle or remork ride to Srah Srang. 

Continue  along quieter routes with rice paddies and beautiful Cambodian countryside all around. Pass through Pradak village, which is renowned for all types of traditional Khmer noodles or ka tien, the most traditional being nom banchok, made of rice paddy flour and served with a yellow curry soup or praher Khmer.

Lunch at local restaurant.

The road follows north before arriving at the “gem” of the Angkor area, the pretty temple of Banteay Srei. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” remains the best preserved temple in Cambodia. It displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs. Banteay Srei is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else at Angkor.

After Banteay Srei the remork will transfer you back to Angkor for a relaxing cruise in a gondola paddle boat on the moat surrounding Angkor Thom. Enjoy gliding gently along, as the sun begins to set. The boat will arrive close to the historical ruins of Prasat Chrung with a viewpoint where the sun sets over the countryside.

Head back to the Angkor Thom gate and transfer back to your hotel by remork. 

(Note – some deviation from the route is possible as the temples are all included in the Apsara Angkor Archaeological Park pass that is included in the cost of the day trip. Cycling distance is 40km, though this can be shortened by using the remork to travel if required).

19:30 - This evening, attend a performance of ‘Phare, the Cambodian Circus’. Starting at 8pm, professional artists of Phare Ponleu Selpak (PPS) will perform an inspiring show suitable for people of all ages. Set up in Battambang in 1994 by young returnee Cambodians from the refugee camps who learned to use art as a means of coping with trauma, PPS has played an influential role in promoting and developing Khmer culture over the years after the Khmer Rouge genocide. The hour long show mixes traditional and modern theater, music, dance, acrobatics, juggling and contortion performed in a story about Cambodian lives and society. 

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Siem Reap – Tabrak Village (19km): 32 mins / Tabrak VIllage - Kampong Phluk (12km):25 mins

08:00 - 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.

Start with an early morning visit to Ta Brak village. 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. 

Take an ox cart ride, a traditional countryside method of transporting people and goods. The 30 minute journey passes through the village on the way to 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 on foot through the village, providing ample opportunities to stop and chat with locals and to observe their activities. Depending on the time of year, they may be planting rice, weaving thatch coverings for their roofs, harvesting vegetables, or other similar tasks. For a truly immersive experience, lend a hand and join the locals in these activities!

Before leaving the village, partake in a special Buddhist tradition. Local monks will impart wishes of good luck and success in a solemn, age-old ceremony.

Continue the rural Cambodia tour out of town to Tonle Sap Lake and have the opportunity to learn about life on the lake. Drive past expansive rice fields and through local villages where rice and fish can frequently be spotted drying alongside the road. Next, board a private wooden vessel for a boat trip along a canal that leads to the Tonle Sap Lake. 

Cruise along the canal with houses on either side: depending on the time of the visit, the houses will either have immediate access to the water or stand perched on stilts high above the ground, a phenomena caused by the annual rising and receding waters of the Tonle Sap Lake, Southeast Asia’s largest lake. Pass by the boats and nets used by local fishermen, some of whom will be fishing in the waters through which the boat passes. Nearing the lake, see floating houses that move location with the annual ebb and flow of the lake’s waters. 

Along the way, gain a better understanding of the local lifestyle with a packed lunch box in a family house. This is a unique opportunity to gain first-hand experience of the way of life of the local people- sitting inside a stilted house while watching the boats pass outside. 

Then it is time to say farewell to the host family and return to Siem Reap. (Time: 08:00 -16:00) 

(Note: Due to fluctuating water levels on the lake and canals, the village visited will depend on the date and water levels at that time).

18:00 - Bring an appetite and sense of adventure on this unique Siem Reap nightlife tour. After sunset, travel by remork (Cambodian tuk-tuk) to Street 60 on the outskirts of town. Busy most every night, this street has the feel of a night market with locals throwing down bamboo mats to enjoy a smorgasbord of freshly cooked dishes. It’s an evening picnic of barbecue heaven. The aromatic smells will certainly make the mouth water. Make a stop at a stall famous for its pickled fruit and fried insects. These are popular snacks for the Cambodian people. Taste the contrasting flavors of sour fruit dipped in a salty and spicy dip, or try a selection of crispy crickets, grasshoppers, or silkworms. 

Then, head over to the Sombai rice wine workshop to sample a selection of spirits made from fermented rice. Taste the unusual concoctions infused with local fruits and herbs, accompanied by local snacks. This is a great break of the culinary adventure! 

Continue the culinary adventure to Wat Damnak to the handful of smoke-filled corrugated-iron roofed shacks and fancier open-sided eateries on Wat Damnak Street, for one of Siem Reap’s most popular street food snacks, sach ko ang jakak, (beef skewers) marinated in palm sugar, soy and kroeung (a paste of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric, kaffir lime, garlic), and then barbecued over coals on a traditional clay grill. Cambodians love barbecue. All well and delicious, but what truly qualifies this barbecued beef is its accompaniment: a sweet-sour pickle-salad of thick cucumber slices finely shredded green papaya and ginger. 

Next, explore the streets around Psar Chas (Old Market), which are lined with various stalls selling pancakes, fruit shakes, fried bananas, waffles, coconut rice cakes, and various fried rice and noodle dishes. Sit down anywhere and enjoy anything at leisure! Make sure to stop at one of the many fresh fruit stalls to try a range of exotic local fruit, including dragon fruit, longans, mangoes, mangosteens, snake fruit, and the pungent but very tasty durian! 

Continue the foodie adventure and drop by a famous local ice cream shop just off the popular Pub Street. There are a lot of ice cream shops in town but Gelato Lab is truly special. Pick a flavour of ice cream or sorbet that’s bursting with the pure taste of organic milk, local fruits, chocolate, nuts, Madagascar vanilla and other flavours. This stop will mark the end of the tour. Be driven safely back to the hotel, or dropped off anywhere in the city center of Siem Reap.

Note: This food tour is not vegetarian friendly.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Siem Reap – Siem Reap airport (50 km): 60 mins / Phnom Penh Airport - Phnom Penh (11 km): 20 mins

There is some free time this morning after breakfast. Later transfer to the airport for your  flight to Phnom Penh (60 mins). On arrival in the Cambodian capital you will be welcomed by a local English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. 

Please note the standard check in time is at 14:00. 

After a relaxing break, you will be greeted by a driver who will take you on a tour of the historical French Quarter in a cyclo, an original Phnom Penh means of transportation and a fun way to explore this lively city. Continue to visit the Royal Palace, built during the French colonial period. The same complex houses the Silver Pagoda, named for the over 5,000 heavy silver tiles that cover its floors. Its original name is Wat Prakeo, meaning Temple of the Emerald Buddha. In this temple you will view a collection of Buddha images in gold, silver, crystal, and bronze. Also stop to visit the National Museum, which was built in traditional Khmer style. It houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer artistic, archaeological, and religious artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. 

17:00 - In the evening, enjoy a cruise on the mighty Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers: the perfect opportunity for a different perspective of the Cambodian capital. Appreciate scenic landscapes along the contrasting riversides of the Tonle Sap, where a modern skyline is rapidly developing, and the Mekong River, where a rural Cambodian lifestyle and landscape still remain. 

Whether comfortably seated on the aft deck or standing on the foredeck, enjoy the breezy evening atmosphere with local beer and soft drinks. Enjoy the spectacular views of the city, reflecting the charm of Phnom Penh during the sunset hour. 

After the cruise, return to the riverfront and continue to dinner at a local restaurant.  

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Phnom Penh – The Killing Fields (11 km): 20 mins

08:00 - Explore the tragic recent history of Cambodia with a guided Khmer Rouge tour to two of the country’s most notorious sites.

Start with a visit to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. This rural compound was used as an execution site and burial ground for some of the millions killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. Learn about the atrocities and brutal killings that occurred at this site.

Continue on to Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S-21. Originally built as a school, the compound was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture centre. Take a sobering tour of the site, learning about the prison’s history and hear the stories of the people held within its walls.

Before the day comes to a close if time permitted, stop at the Russian Market. This bustling bazaar earned its name in the 1980s as the expat Russian population often shopped here. These days the market is filled with everything from souvenirs to local handicrafts, silver jewelry to electronic goods. 

Note: All visitors to Toul Sleng Genocide Museum are required to wear modest clothing: no short pants or short skirts (knees must be covered) and no sleeveless shirts (shoulders must be covered). See-through clothing will also not be allowed.

Return to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure. 

17:00 - This evening’s beer-hopping adventure begins at 17:00. Depending on your hotel location, enjoy a riverside walk or get picked up by a ramork (a Cambodian-style tuktuk) and head over to a nano-brewery built by a Singaporean homebrewer. From this riverside location, enjoy a tour of the brewery followed by a selection of three house-made beers as boats pass along the river in the setting sun light.

The next stop is a German-style beer garden in the heart of the city. Here, take a tour of the brewery, hosted by the brewer (subject to availability) and then enjoy a flight of four beers brewed on premise along with food perfectly paired to enjoy with beer and useful to soak up the suds that will be consumed throughout the night. 

The third stop features a fun activity: a blind taste test of Cambodia’s best-selling commercial beers to determine which of the three most popular lagers is the favorite. After selecting the favorite, save a few sips to wash down some shots of local rice wine. Each shot of this popular local tipple is infused with different herbs and spices to give it medicinal properties, including stamina which is needed to complete the night’s adventure. 

Your next destination is another cozy beer garden to select three more beers from a constantly changing menu of craft brews produced by an American expat who grew his beer business from home brewer to supplier of many Phnom Penh’s coolers bars. The last stop of the night offers the largest selection of locally and regionally produced craft beer in Cambodia. The program includes one more beer of your choice at this scenic venue (specialty beers excluded). If preferred, you are more than welcome to hang out, order more beers and food at a discounted price, and enjoy the atmosphere. Alternatively, be driven back to the hotel after enjoying the final brew. (Time: 17:00 – 21:00) 

Overnight in Phnom Penh.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Phnom Penh – Takeo (75 Km): 1h 45 mins / Takeo – Kep (96 Km): 2hrs

08:00 - This morning, you will leave Phnom Penh in a southern direction for Takeo Province. On the way, you will visit Neang Khmao temple which was built in 921. The same you will visit Wat Prasat Neang Khmao. Wat Prasat Neang Khmao is more than a simple pagoda, it is a shelter and education center for 345 young people aged five to 20. 

Next, enjoy a simple but tasty lunch at a local restaurant in Takeo town. After lunch, board a fiberglass motorboat in Takeo that will zip you along an ancient canal to the archaeological museum of Angkor Borei and the pre-Angkorian temple ruins of Phnom Da. (Note: Due to low water levels during the dry season the site can only be accessible by car: the boat trip is only generally possible from June to March, depending on water levels.)

Continue to Kep, Cambodia’s prestigious seaside resort of the 1960s that is slowly awakening to its former glory. The small town offers reminders of the past and a growing choice of activities including island trips, a national park, and the famous crab market.
    
Overnight in Kep.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kep – La Plantation (16 Km): 33 mins / Kep to Kampot (27 Km): 40 mins

08:00 - This morning, pay a visit to the popular Kep crab market and see crabs being stored in baskets in the shallow water and being cooked in the market itself. Learn from your guide which are the best and tastiest crabs to select. The market is busiest at weekends and holidays but is fun at any time. 

Then a drive through the countryside to La Plantation pepper farm. Upon arrival at La Plantation, enjoy an informative presentation to learn about different types of Kampot pepper, tasting the various forms grown on the farm. 

Next, learn to cook traditional Khmer dishes prepared exclusively with La Plantation spices and then lunch on the dishes that have been prepared along with a selection of seasonal fresh juices, home-
made ice-teas, or other refreshments. (Note: cooking class is a joining class)

After dining, enjoy some leisure time at the open-air restaurant where you can enjoy the view or shop for various pepper products, including black, pink, and salted pepper, as well as locally-produced Samai pepper-infused rum (provided they have some of the rum on hand, which uses pepper from the farm and is incredibly popular). (Time: 08:00 – 14:00) 

This afternoon, continue to Kampot. Explore one of Kampot’s beautiful rivers by boat and Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP) to experience local river life. Start at 2 pm to head out for an exciting day exploring a tranquil river by SUP. Transferring back to Kep, enjoying a well deserved and hydrating cocktail as the sun sets over the  horizon. Note: the area paddled depends on seasonal water levels on Kampot-area rivers.

Overnight in Kep.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Kep – Ta Tai Bridge (249 km): 6 hrs

08:00 - After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Ta Tai in Koh Kong. After arriving at Tatai bridge you will be transferred by shared-boat (approximately 20 mins) to tonight’s accommodation, a peaceful retreat with overwater tented villas, set on a quiet bend in the river with the lush Cardamom Mountains as the idyllic backdrop.

Spend this afternoon at your leisure exploring the river by kayak, swimming in its clear waters or fishing from your private terrace. 

Dinner will be served at the lodge.

Overnight in Koh Kong Province

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Today spend a relaxing day on a private excursion. Away from the tranquility of Canvas and Orchids Retreat, the thunder of the majestic Tatai Falls reveals the river’s true power as it drops 6 meters to the rocks below. Your day, depending on the tide, starts at around 10am for the 45-minute boat ride past Tatai village to the falls. A local English speaking guide will lead the tour.

Turning on to a tributary you head into the heart of the Cardamom jungle to the far-off sounds of exotic birds and its secretive wildlife. Within minutes you are at journey’s end, gazing down into the turbulent waters of the falls. Soon it’s time for your picnic lunch, maybe a few moments hydro-massage and a refreshing drink as you find some shade for a picnic and relax amongst the sights and sounds of the jungle. Kayaks are available for the last stretch to add some fun and adventure or you can stay on board the boat. 

On your return to the lodge the late afternoon is free at leisure for you to relax or do some more kayaking or fishing from the tent platform.

Overnight in Koh Kong Province.
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Ta Tai Bridge – Sihanouk Ville Port (204 km): 3 hrs 30 mins / Sihanouk Ville Port – Koh Rong: 45 – 60 mins

Breakfast at the hotel. 

08:00 - Take shared-boat to the mainland. Then you will be transferred directly to the boat station in Sihanoukville. Upon your arrival in Sihanoukville, you will take a shared-speedboat to Koh Rong (approx. 45-60 minutes). Check in your hotel. 
 
The rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight on Koh Rong.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Day at leisure. 

Overnight on Koh Rong.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Day at leisure. 

Overnight on Koh Rong.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Koh Rong – Sihanouk Ville Port: 45-60 mins / Sihanouk Ville – Phnom Penh (217km): 2 hrs 30 mins

Breakfast at the hotel. 

Take shared-speedboat to the mainland. Then you will be transferred directly via expressway to Phnom Penh airport for your departure flight (3hrs).

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast