Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Phnom Penh
Your guide meets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel so you can settle in and refresh. Later this evening, head down to the dock for a boat cruise along the Mekong River. You'll have dinner onboard and watch the sun set over the city lights reflecting off the water.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner on boat)
Included Activities
- Evening boat cruise on the Mekong River
- Welcome dinner on boat
Landmarks/POIs Mekong River - Day 2
Phnom Penh
This day covers Phnom Penh's difficult history and living culture. Start with a guided tour through Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, then continue to the Choeung Ek Killing Fields. From there, walk through Russian Market where you can bargain for anything from motorcycle parts to gems. After lunch, visit the National Museum to see ancient Khmer art, then finish at the Royal Palace and its Silver Pagoda.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
- Visit to Choeung Ek Killing Fields
- Walk through Russian Market
- Guided visit to National Museum
- Visit to Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
Landmarks/POIs Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum Choeung Ek Killing Fields Russian Market National Museum Royal Palace - Day 3
Phnom Penh to Battambang
Drive toward Battambang, stopping along the way at Kompong Chnang to visit the floating village of Kompong Luong. After checking into your hotel in Battambang, take a walking tour through the colonial streets. Later, head to the hilltop temples and Phnom Sampov cave, where you'll learn about its difficult history from the Khmer Rouge period.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to floating village of Kompong Luong
- Orienting walking tour of Battambang
- Visit to hilltop temples
- Visit to Phnom Sampov cave
Landmarks/POIs Kompong Luong Phnom Sampov - Day 4
Battambang to Siem Reap
Depart Battambang early for the 3-hour drive to Siem Reap. The route takes you through the countryside past rice paddies and local hamlets. Once you arrive and check in at your hotel, the afternoon is free for you to rest and walk around the town on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Angkor Archaeological Park
- Visit Bayon temple
- Visit Banteay Srei temple
- Visit Angkor Wat
Landmarks/POIs Angkor Archaeological Park Bayon Banteay Srei Angkor Wat - Day 5
Siem Reap to Kampong Khleang
Head out to Kampong Khleang and Tonle Sap Lake to see how locals live and work. Drive along rural roads, pausing to watch roof building and banana harvesting. By afternoon you'll reach the Kampong Khleang homestay where you'll take a Khmer cooking class before settling in with your host family for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Kampong Khleang floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake
- Traditional Khmer cooking class
- Homestay with local family
Landmarks/POIs Tonle Sap Lake Kampong Khleang - Day 6
Kampong Khleang to Kampong Thom
After saying goodbye to your host family in the morning, travel to the remote Beng Mealea temple covered in jungle growth. Then drive to Koh Ker, an old temple complex deep in northern Cambodia's forests with over 30 major structures from when this was the capital. Later in the afternoon, continue to Kampong Thom, check in, and have free time to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Beng Mealea temple
- Visit to Koh Ker temple complex
Landmarks/POIs Beng Mealea Koh Ker - Day 7
Kampong Thom to Kratie
Drive north to Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex just past Kampong Thom. Walk through 7th century brick monuments dedicated to Shiva scattered across the jungle. Travel to Kratie, stopping at the Cham Ka Lour rubber plantation on the way. After checking in, take a local boat out on the Mekong River to see endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, then return to explore the town's old French colonial buildings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex
- Visit to Cham Ka Lour rubber plantation
- Local boat trip to view Irrawaddy dolphins
Landmarks/POIs Sambor Prei Kuk Cham Ka Lour rubber plantation Mekong River - Day 8
Kratie to Mondulkiri
Travel east to Mondulkiri province, a sparsely populated region unlike other parts of Cambodia. Rolling grassy hills, pine forests, and rainforests cover the landscape, and indigenous minorities including the Cham and Phnong peoples live here. Arrive in Sen Monorom by late afternoon, check in, and take time to look around this small, unusual town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks/POIs Sen Monorom - Day 9
Hill Tribe Villages and Elephants
Start early at the local market where Phnong villagers come to buy and sell goods. Then visit surrounding hill tribe villages like Phlung, known for its distinctive wooden huts with woven walls and thatched roofs. During the day the villages are quiet since most people work in the fields. In the afternoon, ride an elephant through the jungle with experienced guides, then stop at some local waterfalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to local market
- Visit to Phlung village
- Elephant ride through the jungle
- Visit to waterfalls
Landmarks/POIs Phlung village Sen Monorom - Day 10
Full Day with Elephants
Spend the entire day in the jungle with elephants at a protected forest project. Follow four elephants through the forest without riding, swim and wash them at the waterfall, and learn about elephant and Bunong culture. Lunch is at the Jungle Lodge in a hammock overlooking the jungle where you might spot wildlife and birds. After time with the elephants, walk back out and return to Sen Monorom.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at the Jungle Lodge)
Included Activities
- Full day with Mondulkiri elephants at protected forest
- Follow elephants through jungle without riding
- Swimming and washing elephants at waterfall
- Learning about elephants and Bunong culture and traditions
- Lunch at Jungle Lodge
Landmarks/POIs Mondulkiri Project - Day 11
Mondulkiri to Phnom Penh
Leave Mondulkiri and drive to Kampong Cham to see Wat Nokor Pagoda, an 11th century Buddhist shrine with a large reclining Buddha and many carved Buddha statues. Continue toward Phnom Penh in the afternoon, stopping at Skun market to see rural Cambodia and try street food including fried spiders, a local favorite. Check in to your hotel and spend the evening at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Wat Nokor Pagoda
- Stop at Skun market
Optional Activities
- Try fried spiders at Skun market
Landmarks/POIs Wat Nokor Pagoda Skun market - Day 12
Phnom Penh to Koh Rong Island
After breakfast, drive 5 hours overland to Sihanoukville by private car. Head to the pier and take a speedboat out to Koh Rong Island, known for white sandy beaches and clear warm water. The island has options for trekking through tropical forest, snorkeling, diving, and watching plankton at early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Speedboat transfer to Koh Rong Island
Optional Activities
- Trekking in tropical forest
- Snorkeling
- Diving
- Watching plankton at early evening
Landmarks/POIs Koh Rong Island - Day 13
Koh Rong Island
The day is yours on Koh Rong Island. Relax on the beaches and swim in the clear water at whatever pace suits you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 14
Koh Rong Island
Another free day on Koh Rong Island. Spend time on the beaches and in the water however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 15
Koh Rong Island
Free time again on Koh Rong Island. Enjoy the beaches and water at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 16
Koh Rong to Phnom Penh
Relax on the beach this morning. In the afternoon, take the private car back to Phnom Penh, a 5-hour drive. Check in at your hotel and have your last evening to walk around this vibrant capital.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 17
Departure from Phnom Penh
Have breakfast at the hotel, then your driver takes you to Phnom Penh International Airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
