Country Roads Of Cambodia – 14 days

It is the perfect Cambodia holiday for anyone wanting to see Cambodia’s best-known highlights.
Starting in the capital Phnom Penh, including a journey to uncover the Cambodia’s dark past, before head off the beaten path through Cambodia’s lovely countryside to Stung Treng, then Kratie province for spectacular scenery and look for a chance to watch the Irrawaddy Dolphins. Explore the ancient ruins of Angkor. Take boat cruise to Battambang where you will experience the Bamboo Train. The journey finishes in Kampong Chhang, known for its traditional pottery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dinner cruise on the Mekong River
• The Irrawaddy Dolphins along the Mekong in Kratie
• The fantastic temple complexes and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Angkor Wat

• The local life and beautiful sights on the Tonle Sap Lake

• Unique experience the Bamboo Train in Battambang 

ITINERARY

Day 1:  Phnom Penh Arrival
Day 2:  Toul Sleng & Cheung Ek, Phnom Penh City Tour
Day 3:  Phnom Penh – Kampong Cham – Stung Treng 
Day 4:  Stung Treng
Day 5:  Stung Treng – Kratie
Day 6:  Kratie
Day 7:  Kratie – Chhlong – Kampong Cham – Kampong Thom
Day 8:  Kampong Thom – Siem Reap
Day 9:  Angkor Wat Tour
Day 10: Banteay Srey – Tonle Sap
Day 11: Siem Reap – Battambang
Day 12: Battambang Walking Tour, Bammboo Train
Day 13: Battambang – Kampong Chhang – Oudong – Phnom Penh
Day 14: Phnom Penh Departure

DAY 1:             PHNOM PENH ARRIVAL – DINNER CRUISE ON THE MEKONG RIVER (D)

Upon arrival in Phnom Penh, you will be met by local guide transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure. The city was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in the Orient and despite its recent turbulent history it still retains much Colonial charm. Enjoy the Welcome Dinner Cruise!

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

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DAY 2:             TUOL SLENG & CHEUNG EK TOUR, PHNOM PENH CITY TOUR (B, L)

The morning, gain insight into Cambodia’s recent dark history on a visit to the remarkable Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum of Genocidal Crimes and Cheung Ek, better known as the “Killing Fields”, housed in the former school that was taken over by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center named ‘S-21’.

In the afternoon, visit the Royal Palace, situated on the site of the former citadel and built by King Norodom in 1966, the Palace still serves as the King and Queen’s residential quarters. Also within the walls of the Palace is the Silver Pagoda, so called because of five thousand silver tiles that line its exquisite floor. Afterwards, we visit the National Museum, which houses the world leading collection of Khmer art and sculpture, and Wat Phnom the founding site of the city.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

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DAY 3:             PHNOM PENH – KAMPONG CHAM – STUNG TRENG (B, L, D)

Morning departure for Stung Treng where you will find a unique opportunity to see the unspoiled rural life of the Cambodia. En-route visit Wat Nokor (closed to Kampong Cham) a historic temple famous for its impressive wall painting, followed by a short tour of the provincial capital and its market. A pinic  lunch will be served afterwards.

Drive further to Stung Treng and check in at your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a special dinner of some delicious Khmer food at Tonle Tourism Training Center, where young locals are trained in tourism and hospitality.

Overnight in Stung Treng.

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DAY 4:             STUNG TRENG (B, L)

After breakfast, take a local ferry across the river and drive to Preah Rumkel for around an hour. At Preah Rumkel, you will have an opportunity to watch the Irrawaddy Dolphins at Anlung Cheuteal dolphin pool, one of the best spot to view the dolphins along the Mekong from the river bank.

Continue further to visit the Sopheak Mitt Waterfall – accessible by a 3 kilometer trek. It is very close to Cambodia-Laos border and you can see a picturesque stretch of Mekong River along its path. A packed lunch is served at this scenic point.

In the afternoon, return to Stung Treng. En-route visit the Mekong Blue, a local silk weaving center where the local disadvantage young women are trained to work in this remote area (Mekong Blue is closed on Sunday).
 
Overnight in Stung Treng.

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DAY 5:             STUNG TRENG – KRATIE (B, L)

Breakfast at a local restaurant. Drive to Kratie. En-route visit Wat Sorsor Mouy Roy in the village of Sambo. The vihara of the so-called ‘100 Pillars Pagoda’ is an important historical and cultural building and quite famous for its legend involving a princess and a crocodile. A delicious lunch will be prepared for you in on the pagoda grounds. 

Continue driving to Kratie. Upon arrival in Kratie, check into your hotel on Koh Trong Island, only a short 10 minutes boat ride away from Kratie. The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight on Koh Trong Island.

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DAY 6:             KRATIE (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel. Drive north along the banks of the Mekong, a scenic route with great views. The village of Kampi is one of the best places to view the rare Irrawaddy Dolphins along the Mekong. Get on board a local boat that will take you to the preferred habitats of these interesting creatures.

This afternoon, return to the island of Koh Trong. Take a local horse cart or bicycle to discover a charming, colonial-style town situated on the banks of the Mekong River. Kratie also has a lively morning market and a vibrant waterfront.

Overnight on Koh Trong Island.

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DAY 7:             KRATIE – CHHLONG – KAMPONG CHAM – KAMPONG THOM (B, L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Farewell the Koh Trong Island and Kratie and drive southward. En-route visit Chhlong, a small town with many French colonial houses that are among the most beautiful in Cambodia. Drive further to Kampong Cham. Lunch at a local restaurant and explore around this provincial town of Kampong Cham and its market. Continue to Kampong Thom and enjoy seeing the countryside of Cambodia.

Overnight in Kampong Thom.

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DAY 8:             KAMPONG THOM – SAMBOR PREI KUK – SIEM REAP (B, L)

Breakfast at your hotel. Visit one of the most important pre-Angkorian site – the Sambor Prei Kuk, built during the Chenla period between the 6th and 7th century with over 100 well-preserved temples scattered throughout the forest. The seven villages around the temples still practice ancient craftsmanship of bamboo and rattan making. Enjoy your tasty lunch, prepared by the local community. Continue further to Siem Reap and check in at your hotel for a short break.

In the late afternoon, experience a unique opportunity to visit the magnificent Angkor Wat during the sunset on a typical Cambodian Tuk Tuk.
 
Overnight in Siem Reap.

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DAY 9:             SIEM REAP (B, L)

Visit South Gate of Angkor Thom and the marvelous of the eerie Bayon, Baphuon, Phimeanakas, Terrace of Elephant, Terrace of Leper King, Royal Enclosure. Also visit Ta Prohm Temple. Afternoon visit the famous of Angkor Wat, built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city – first Hindo, then Buddhist-since its foundation, trip conclude by experience sunset view at Angkor Wat.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

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DAY 10:           SIEM REAP – BANTEAY SREY – TONLE SAP – SIEM REAP (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Banteay Srey. The so-called “Citadel of the Women” displays some of the finest examples of classical Khmer art as this small temple is noted for its truly remarkable fine bas-reliefs, depicting Hindu god Shiva. Banteay Srei is unique in that it is constructed of pink sandstone, which is seen nowhere else in Angkor. 

We also visit Banteay Samre, built in the third quarter of the 12th century. It consists of a central temple with four wings preceded by a hall and accompanied by two libraries, the southern most of which is remarkably well preserved. 

This afternoon we will enjoy a boat ride on the Tonle Sap Lake. This is the largest permanent fresh-water lake in South East Asia and flows into Tonle Sap River, joining the Mekong in Phnom Penh. We will see a fishermen’s “floating village” with floating schools, floating police station, etc. It is same as a big village floating on the lake, and the “village” move from place to place following water levels and current.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

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DAY 11:           SIEM REAP – BATTAMBANG (B, L)

Today, you will embark on one of the most stunning boat trips in Cambodia, as you will be taken from Siem Reap to Battambang by a comfortable private boat (please note that between March and July this journey may have to be made by land if the water level is especially low). Picnic lunch will be served on board. The journey will take around five hours up to eight hours in low water. Throughout the day you will have the chance to observe the daily lives of the Cambodians living both next to, and on, the waterways nicknamed the ‘life blood of Cambodia’.

Upon arrival Battambang, check in hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Battambang.

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DAY 12:           BATTAMBANG WALKING TOUR, BAMBOO TRAIN (B, L)

Start your morning with a leisurely walking tour to explore the city’s architectural highlights. First stop is Psar Nath, the central public market was built in 1936 by the French engineers who build the central markets in Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City. Walking through the market lined with vendors selling heaps of the freshest catch and harvests gives you an indication of the rich natural resources from Battambang’s countryside. Past the central market, more well-preserved colonial shop houses line the street fronting the Sangker River. Along this stretch one can also find an inconspicuous 150-year-old Chinese temple, the oldest structure in the conservation area, and an exquisitely preserved corner French-style villa converted into a bank.

Continue walking to the beautiful Post Office, built from 1907 to 1926, to drop some postcards, before heading to the Provincial Museum, inaugurated in 1968, which houses archaeological finds from across Battambang province including Phnom Banan temple. Artifacts on display in the small museum include large statuary and intricately carved lintels. The last stop on our walk is one of the city’s colonial jewels: Sala Khaet, or the Lord Governor’s Palace, built within the fort during the final years of the Thai occupation (1795 to 1907), when Battambang was ruled by six generations of the Chavfea Baen family appointed by the Thai King.

Lunch is at Jaan Bai, a kindness restaurant run by CCT (Cambodia Children Trust), helping to provide vocational training for orphan’s and street children from the Battambang area.

In the afternoon, experience one of the highlights in Battambang, the Bamboo Train, an original means of transportation on the old train tracks. Then continuing to Phnom Banan where, having climbed the 358 steps to the summit, you will discover a sandstone and laterite temple, with distinctive five towers, that was built between the mid-11th and 12th centuries.

Overnight in Battambang.

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DAY 13:           BATTAMBANG – KAMPONG CHHANG – OUDONG – PHNOM PENH (B, L)

Morning departure to Kampong Chhang, known for its traditional pottery. Take the time to stop at the small pottery village of Angdong Russey and the stone marble carving village in Pursat. Continue to Oudong, the former royal capital of Cambodia. Upon arrival at Oudong, enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch at a picnic hut at the foot of the hill. Then, climb the stairs to the top of Oudong Mountain and enjoy magnificent views over the plains below.

Complete your journey to Phnom Penh.

Overnight in Phnom Penh.

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DAY 14:           PHNOM PENH DEPARTURE (B)

Your day is free day at leisure until transfer to airport for your departure flight.

SERVICE INCLUDED

• Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast
• Tours as per itinerar with local speaking guide
• All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
• All entrance fees as program
• Meals (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner) as indicated in the program
• A bottle of mineral water per day tour

SERVICE EXCLUDED 

• Drinks
• Mineral water beyond that supplied
• Tips
• Personal expenses and tips
• Visa to Cambodia
• Airfares (international and domestic)
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Airport taxes  
• Early check in or late check out
• Insurances
• Optional excursions and activities
• Additional transfer required due to any emergency situation
• Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, beverages…)
• Peak season surcharges if any
• All not mentioned above