Day 1: Arrival – Phnom Penh
Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, you will be welcomed by our local guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. Cambodia’s capital is a bustling city, majestically located at the confluence of the mighty rivers of the Mekong and Tonlé Sap.
Many of the tourist areas and sights are in the old central city near the river where you may notice classic old French buildings in classic colonial yellow amongst the Southeast Asian shophouses and traditional Khmer pagodas and markets.
Afternoon, start your cyclo tour with Wat Phnom temple, the founding place of the city on a small hilltop, is tied to the beginnings of Phnom Penh.The large stupa contains the remains of King Ponhea Yat (1405-1467) who moved the Khmer capital from Angkor to Phnom Penh the early 15th century. Then continue to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda in the same compound where you can see a collection of Buddhas in gold, silver, crystal etc. called Wat Preah Keo and a pagoda with over 5000 silver tiles cover its floors.
Your next stop is the National Museum, located just north of the Royal Palace, a housed in a graceful terracotta structure of traditional design (built from 1917 to 1920), with an inviting courtyard garden. The museum is home to the world’s finest collection of Khmer sculpture: a millennium’s worth and more of masterful Khmer design.
Late afternoon, enjoy an atmospheric sunset river cruise with soft drink and watch the great views of colonial building over the Mekong River.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: no
Day 2: Phnom Penh
After breakfast, this morning, you will start tour to visit Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, former school that was taken and convert to be prison by the Khmer Rouge and used as its main detention and torture center named ‘S-21’. After that, you also are going to visit The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, the extermination camp of all peoples that were transported from “S-21”.
Afternoon, spend your time to explore the colorful markets of Phnom Penh; The Central Market is one of landmark where you can find clothes, souvenirs, jewellery. Also visit the Russian Market, the best place in the city for wood and stone carvings, jewellery, clothes and Cambodian silk souvenirs.
Late evening, Enjoy with watching to traditional dance performance by Cambodian Living Arts, one of Cambodia's most famous arts. Featuring more than Apsara dances, offering the chance to discover the diversity of Cambodian culture.
Overnight in Phnom Penh.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Phnom Penh - Kampong Cham
Today, you will be transferred to Kampong Cham by overland in private transport and escort tour guide. A stop break in the town of Skuon to see their most famous speciality being sold such deep-fried of insects, snake, especially spiders as favourite snack of many Cambodians. The spiders are caught in the soft ground of the surrounding countryside. Skuon well know as spiders market called by traveler who visited Cambodia now. Continue trip to Kampong Cham, "Port of the Chams" is located on the central lowlands of the Mekong River. Kampong Cham was an important trading post during the French period, the legacy of which is evident as you wander through the streets of crumbling yet classic buildings. Before arrive the downtown, and then we stop by to visit Wat Nokhor Temple with a relatively modern pagoda Nokor Bachay Pagoda buried within the walls of an Angkorian temple dating back to the era of Jayavarman VII. Transfer to hotel and check in.
Rest of the day at your own leisure or relax with riverfront view over Mekong River during sunset where you can see the standing of The French watchtower Just on the far side of Kizuna Bridge, and north a little, a proud remnant of the French period looks over the Mekong. Was built in the 1900s, presumably to guard the rubber plantations against bandits sneaking up from the river, and renovated in 2005.
Overnight in Kampong Cham.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Kampong Cham – Kampong Thom
Have breakfast at hotel. This morning, drive up to the north of Kampong Cham just over 22 kilometres, at the side of a picturesque road that skirts the Mekong River, you’ll find Prasat Han Chey on top of a hill on the far side of an iron bridge. It is, perhaps, one of the more kitsch pagoda grounds we’ve come across. Once at the top, you find a rather large monastery intertwined with several pagodas, an extensive statue garden and 1,500-year-old Angkorian ruins.
After that, back to visit another top highlight of Kampong Cham, The bamboo bridge, It is the longest bamboo bridge in the world, and is rebuilt every year once the rainy season passes and the Mekong subsides to reveal the sandy banks below. Almost a kilometre long and made entirely of blonde bamboo poles, the bridge remains until it is submerged and washed away again every year.
Afternoon, before leaving Kampong Cham to Kampong thom province, then on the way, you should not missing on visiting to Phnom Pros & Phnom Srei hill temple. Two hills face one another in a near stand-off, each topped with their own pagodas: The rather lovely, grand and ornate pagodas on top of Phnom Pros (Men’s Hill), and a rather shabbier cluster on top of Phnom Srei (Women’s Hill). But Phnom Srei is higher, which may have prompted the pagoda version of compensatory overachievement on the other side of the gulf between them.
Continue to Kampong Thom, arrive and check in at hotel.
Overnight in Kampong Thom.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Kampong Thom - Siem Reap
After breakfast, drive to a site older than Angkor lost in tranquil forests, Sambor Prei Kuk is even more mysterious (and to some, lovely) than the more famous temples to the west, built in the Chenla period between the 6th and 7th century and there are over 100 well preserved temples scattered in the forest.
In a cool and peaceful leafy setting, beautiful 1,200-year-old brick temples combine with nature to create an environment that showcases the best of both worlds.
Continue to Siem Reap. Another interesting point you may not miss is the old bridge of Kampong Kdei, was built by Jayavarman 7th in Angkor period about 1000 years ago. The bridge has undergone the long process of its history.
Arrive Siem Reap and transfer to hotel for check in. Siem Reap was little more than a village when French explorers first stumbled across Angkor. Siem Reap has colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter, and around the Old Market. Angkor is rightly considered to be one of the world’s most spectacular and important historic areas, and is featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage.
Late Afternoon, excursion to Kampong Phluck floating villages for boat trip on the Tonle Sap Lake, where you will have the opportunity to learn about daily life of local people on the lake. You will see houses on the high stills that built within the floodplain about 16 km southeast of Siem Reap. The villages are primarily Khmer and have about 3000 inhabitants between them. Flooded mangrove forest surrounds the area and is home to a variety of wildlife including crab-eating macaques. On the way, you will passed by the floating houses. Experience with ox-cart riding throughout the local villages, rice field, vegetable field, may sometime you can interact with children out from school back to their home. Sunset may can visit over the rice field.
(Note: Due to the boat trip is only possible from June to March. However an alternative floating village at Chong Kneas or Mechrey can be arranged instead).
This evening, free at own leisure with hotel facilities or discover a small city of Siem Reap to see the local lifestyle and colorful of markets by evening time. Perhaps hit the markets for some delicious street food or walking a long night market.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast.
Day 6: Siem Reap
Today, Option for early Sunrise over Angkor Wat temple. Watch the sun rise over the Angkor Temple to reveal the natural beauty of this area. Back to hotel for your breakfast. After breakfast, experience your tour to ancient city of Angkor Thom complex, which is the last capital of Great Khmer Empire during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. Photo opportunities in front of Ancient South Gate Angkor Thom, before entry the city which you will impressive with stone gate carved with four faces tower of Avalokiteshvara, with the gods or demons statues holding the naga snake along on both side of entrance. After that, continue to Bayon Temple in the center of the city temple. Its 54 Gothic towers are decorated with 216 gargantuan smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, and it is adorned with 1.2km of extraordinary bas-reliefs incorporating more than 11,000 figures located in the heart of Angkor Thom, is the 12th century. Continue to the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper king as bas-reliefs are available to visit.
After that, continue to the temples of Ta Prohm, The famous temple as “Tree in Temple” photograph opportunity, built in the mid of 12th to early of 13th centuries. a unique temple which is overgrown by jungle trees and vines. Continue to Banteay Kdei, Buddhist monastery from the late 12th Century, and Srah Srang, also known as the “pool of ablutions”.
Afternoon, visit to a famous temple of Angkor Wat, was built during the reign of king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, Angkor Wat is constructed as earthly representation of Mt Meru, surrounded by a vast moat, Angkor Wat was dedicated to Hindu gods. Angkor Wat is well known for the more than 2,000 Apsara dancers decorating the temple. After that, continue to enjoy the scenery from top view of Bakheng Mountain during sunset time. Return to your hotel.
Overnight in Siem Reap.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Siem Reap
Today, free at own leisure or you can take Remork (Tuk Tuk) for half day city tour (own expense) to visit Artisans d’Angkor, the Arts and craft school which established in 1992 in order to support Cambodian young poor people, and to help young people find work in their local villages by continuing the practice of traditional arts. You can find wood and stone carvings, and silk paintings are available here.
Transfer to airport for departure flight.