Northern Cambodian Adventure[ Print this itinerary ]

Your trip starts in Cambodia at Phnom Penh International Airport, where you will be picked up and transferred to the hotel for check in.

In the afternoon, you can discover the streets of Phnom Penh with a cycle tour of the city. A popular form of transport throughout Southeast Asia, the cyclo is still widely used in the Cambodian capital and is a comfortable way to see the city. You can enjoy the different sights of the city like the National Library, Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh train station, the Psar Thmei market, Independence monument and the Royal Palace and National Museum.

• Meals:No Meals
• Accommodation: Raffles Le Royal

Today you will explore the stunning Royal Palace complex, home to the Cambodian royal family and a symbol of the nation. Later you will visit the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5000 silver tiles covering the floor.

After the Royal Palace you will visit the nearby National Museum, home to the world's finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period.
In the afternoon, you come face to face with the horrific crimes of the Khmer Rouge. Tuol Sleng was a former high school that the Khmer Rouge turned into a centre for interrogation, torture and death. Today it is a museum and serves to remind visitors of the terrible atrocities that came to pass in Cambodia. 17,000 people passed through the gates of this prison and only seven lived to tell the tale.

You then travel out of town to the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. The remains of 8985 people were exhumed from mass graves and are kept in a memorial stupa here. Despite the horrors of the past, it is a peaceful place to go and a tranquil spot to reflect on the tragic events that engulfed Cambodia and its people.

Later pay a visit to the Russian Market, one of the premier shopping destinations in the Cambodian capital.

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation:Raffles Le Royal

Leaving Phnom Penh behind you will visit the woman and man hill, Phnom Srei/Phnom Pros in Kampong Cham and learn more about the story behind this ancient hill with modern style structures built on top of it. After lunch at the river front in Kampong Cham you head into the highlands of Mondulkiri. The scenery starts to change drastically as you climb higher, the hills become green and lush and pine trees and grassy hills dictate the scenery.

If time allows you will make a quick excursion to Sen Monorom waterfall located only 5km from town. This waterfall is easily accessible and is an excellent first stop for our trip around Mondulkiri. Late in the afternoon you can enjoy a swim in the pools during the dry season or admire the power of the falls in the wet season.

End the night with a dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy the quiet and pure skies over the province.

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Mondulkiri Hotel

Today you will enjoy an elephant ride over the plains and through the jungle. You have the opportunity to wash and feed the elephants and enjoy a picnic lunch and swim in the stream before the elephant brings us back to the village.

Back at the village you have time to explore and play with the local children before the town’s women return from working in the fields. Once they have returned you can help prepare your traditional evening meal with the locals and enjoy a fabulous cultural evening before returning back to your hotel.

• Meals:Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
• Accommodation: Mondulkiri Hotel

Today you start the day on a 20km mountain bike ride or a transfer to Romnear 1 waterfall. The ride provides fabulous scenery and stunning views. Once at the waterfall you can can relax with a swim in the amazing pools and have lunch in one of the wooden huts along the river.

Later head back to town by car which is also an option for those not keen to cycle to the waterfall and onwards to Bou Sraa, Cambodia’s largest waterfall. If time allows you may visit the next village and learn more about traditional weaving before heading back to Sen Monorom in the late afternoon.

• Meals:Breakfast,Lunch
• Accommodation:Mondulkiri Hotel

Today you travel to Ban Lung in the Ratanakiri province, stopping in Stung Treng for lunch before arriving in Ban Lung early afternoon. You have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy the beautiful crystal clear Yaek Lom Lake, set amid a pocket of lush jungle.

Back at your hotel you will be met by one of the trekking guides who will brief you on your 2 day jungle trek and advice you on the equipment you will need to carry.(Remember you have to carry your own luggage)

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Terre Rouge

Your day starts early as you assemble at 08.00am and leave at 08.30am. You start with about a 90 minutes drive to Ta Veaeng. And then walk for about an hour crossing a few bridges and some small settlements. Ahead you will see the mountains which you will embark on once you cross the Tonle Sap (river) in a small wooden boat.

Your trek continues until noon through a diversity of landscapes such as rice fields, fruit and vegetable gardens. You also cross small streams and the Steung Kampha River. On the way you will meet friendly tribal people and you can watch their daily activities. You will have lunch at a tribal family village. You arrive at the campsite where you will spend the night. Freshen up and have a heart dinner under the starry sky.

• Meals:Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp site

Today you head further North. You will cross an open grassland which according to anthropologists, was an ancient settlement.Though now it has become a feeding ground for the local wildlife.

You continue further north and take a look at the Stone temples which the indigenous people consider as a sacred place. The stone temples also marks the outskirts of the trail. From here you loop back in South-Western direction. Some parts are ‘off track’ through dense vegetation. You cross the Steung Kampha once again to get to the Jungle campsite.

• Meals:Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
• Accommodation: Camp site

Today you leave the campsite at 09.00 am. As you take a short cut through densed jungle you will find the path that will lead you back to Ta Veaeng Leu. You will cross a variety of landscapes and small villages.

The last couple of km is the same as you would have walked on the first day. In Ta Veaeng Leu you cross the Tonle San (river). With still 4 km to go rest a while before you head to the market of Ta Veaeng. Here you have lunch at a restaurant (included, exc. soft drinks). At around 14.00 you go back to Banlung. On the way you stop to visit Kala village (Krung people) and arrive in Banlung around 16.00 hr.

• Meals:Breakfast,Lunch
• Accommodation: Terre Rouge

After breakfast you make your way to Kratie and have lunch in the town before heading to the dolphin pool of Kampi, which is the largest dolphin pool on the Mekong River and the natural habitat of the critically endangered Mekong Dolphin (Irrawaddy Dolphin) that only lives in fresh water deep pools.

A smooth 16km drive will bring you to the boat landing of Kampi where a traditional fishermen boat awaits you. A one hour cruise through the deep pool of Kampi will guarantee sightings of this rare animal species. After the visit to Kampi you have time to enjoy the fabulous Mekong River Sunset, one of the best spots to see the sunset in Cambodia.

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Santepheap Hotel

Today you leave behind the banks of the Mekong in the early morning and start the long journey to Siem Reap. After stopping for lunch in Kampong Thom you head to the beautiful 6th century Sambor Prei Kuk. A local guide will join you and enthrall you with the history of the three main temple sites, Prasat Sambor, Prasat Tao and Prasat Yeai Poeun.

You can choose to either walk the sites or use a locally rented bicycle to cycle the beautiful jungle paths that link the three main sites. Before departing you have the opportunity to purchase some local handicrafts at the Isanborei Crafts hut where several locally produced handicrafts are displayed. You then head back towards Kampong Thom and continue your journey to Siem Reap.

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Sojourn Boutique Hotel / Angkor Palace Resort & Spa / Pavillon D’Orient

Rising early, you leave to visit the Mother of all temples, Angkor Wat. Believed to be the world's largest religious building, this temple is the perfect fusion of symbolism and symmetry and a source of pride and strength to all Khmers. Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, this is most famous temple at Angkor.

Stretching for almost one kilometre, these intricate carvings are a candidate for the world’s longest unbroken piece of art.

The final steps to the upper terrace of Angkor are the steepest of all, as pilgrims of old were to stoop on their pilgrimage to encounter the Gods. Finally the pinnacle, the sacred heart of Angkor Wat, a blend of spirituality and symmetry so perfect that few moments will measure up.

Also this morning, you will visit the Ta Prohm temple and later in the afternoon visit the immense walled city of Angkor Thom that was the masterpiece of King Jayavarman VII.

Your day ends at the enigmatic and enchanting temple of the Bayon.

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Sojourn Boutique Hotel

Today you have the day at your leisure and you can spend it exploring the temples one last time on this trip or choose to relax after a fantastic trip!

• Meals:Breakfast
• Accommodation: Sojourn Boutique Hotel

Today is your last day in Cambodia and you will be transferred to the airport in plenty of time for your departing flight.

• Meals:Breakfast