Discover Cambodia in 2 Weeks: Nature and Heritage

Dedicated day to discovering the city of Phnom Penh - Cambodian capital:

• Wat Phnom - Buddhist temple that gave rise to the city of Phnom Penh in the 14th century.
• The Royal Palace - residence and workplace of the Norodom kings since 1870
• The Silver Pagoda - one of the most original pagodas in the country with a floor entirely paved with silver tiles, a gift from the French king Napoleon III.
• Apsara Association - art school educating underprivileged children.
• Toul Sleng Genocide Museum - the school-turned-prison where thousands of Cambodian women were detained and tortured under the Khmer Rouge regime.

Return to the hotel at dusk. Overnight in Phnom Penh.

Travel to Kampong Cham, an authentic small town on the banks of the Mighty Mekong.

Stop en route in the village of Skun, visit Skun market known for its culinary specialty: roasted/fried insects (crickets, grasshoppers, rhynchocoris....).

In the afternoon, visit the temples: Wat Nokor Bachey; Phnom Pros and Phnom Srey.

If time permits, stroll on the Koh Pen bamboo bridge to admire the sunset over the Mekong River.

Overnight in Kampong Cham.

Departure towards Mondulkiri known for its rich flora and fauna: from the highest mountains to the vast rubber and cashew forests.

This region is also inhabited by ethnic minorities: Mnong, Jorai, Kochok..... Make some stops along the way to meet the hospitable but shy villagers.

Arrival in the afternoon in Sen Monorom, the provincial capital.

Overnight in hotel.

The day is dedicated to hiking and discovering this wild area: After breakfast, transfer by bus to the village of Putrom (10 km), where the hike begins. The route crosses rivers on tree trunks, waterfalls. Picnic lunch by a river. In the afternoon, ascent to the village of Putang, dominated by the Phnong people.

Stop at a small village bistro to enjoy grilled fish and cold beer before returning to the hotel by car.

Overnight in hotel.

Departure towards the Bou Sra waterfall located at the foot of Mount Doh Kramom in the northeast of Sen Monorom.

It is the most beautiful and famous waterfall in Mondulkiri.

Continue the journey towards Ban Lung, the capital of Ratanakiri in the northeastern corner of Cambodia, this isolated region is home to astonishing biodiversity and a mountain people called Khmer Loeu "Highland Khmer".

Overnight in hotel.

Partake in a guided tour of the city with its highlights:

• The spectacular Yeak Lom Lake, a volcanic lake located 8 km from Banlung.
• Basa, an almost perfectly round crater that has existed for 4000 years, has exceptionally clean and clear water. It is 800 meters in diameter and 50 meters deep.
• The lake is surrounded by tall trees and lush tropical jungle, home to many exotic birds and parrots.
• Take a walk around this nearly circular lake and swim in its crystal-clear waters.
• The Banlung market, a unique market where, every morning, different ethnic groups (Kroeung, Tompuon, Jaraï) come to sell or exchange their products, vegetables, forest produce, hunting, etc.
• These ethnic groups are easily recognizable by the small round wicker basket that women carry on their back or in front during the market.
• Cha Ong Falls, one of the most visited waterfalls in the region, 18 meters high, right in the middle of the wildest jungle around.

Overnight in Ratanakiri.

Travel to Kratie, a small town in Cambodia and the former city of the Chenla kingdom (6th to 8th centuries).

Arrival in Kratie in the afternoon, transfer by local ferry to Koh Trong Island.

Dinner and accommodation in a local's house.

After breakfast, a short horseback, ox-cart, or bicycle ride to discover the beautiful landscapes of this island:

Stop at some picturesque places, such as Kbal Koh Pagoda, the old stupa of the abandoned pagoda, the Vietnamese pagoda, and also the Vietnamese floating village, where you can even have a drink at a small and rustic floating bistro!

Depending on the season, you will see people planting rice, vegetables, or building boats.

In the afternoon, cross the Mekong to Kampi, a village famous for its Irrawaddy dolphins.

Overnight in a local hostel.

A transfer day to Siem Reap via Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom.

Stop along the way to see the rubber plantation and then the Naga Bridge in Kompong Kdei.

Arrival in Siem Reap.

Stay the night in a hotel.

Day dedicated to discovering the mystical temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, the ancient capital of the Khmer Empire (9th-15th centuries):

• Angkor Wat Temples - dedicated to Vishnu, the supreme god of Hinduism, considered the masterpiece of Khmer art and architecture.
• Angkor Thom Temples - a walled city of 10 km² that once housed a million people.
• Visit the huge statues of the South Gate, the Terrace of the Elephants, the Terrace of the Leper King, and the famous Bayon temple formed by 54 gigantic towers with 216 faces of Avalokitesvara, the most important goddess of Buddhism.
• Return to Siem Reap late in the afternoon.
• In the evening, dinner and Apsara music and dance show at a charming local restaurant.

Overnight in Siem Reap.

After breakfast, visit the majestic temples of the Small and Grand Circuit:

Banteay Srei Temple (Citadel of Women) - one of the most beautiful temples of pink sandstone, with finely carved Apsaras and deities in stone.

The sacred temples of Takeo, Bantey Kdei, and the impressive Taprohm temple - an abandoned Buddhist monastery covered with trees and with its gigantic snake-like roots.

At the end of the day, sunset from the mountain temple of Pre Rup.

Return to Siem Reap and accommodation in a hotel.

Early departure for an emotional excursion to Lake Tonle Sap - the largest lake in Southeast Asia:

• Stop at the lakeside village of Kompong Khleang - authentic and less touristy, visit the village with houses on stilts or floating rafts, the market, the pagoda, and a primary school with smiling children.
• Discover the daily life of local fishermen.
• Return to Siem Reap in the afternoon.
• Visit along the way the Roluos, a group of temples built at the beginning of the Angkor era, before the temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom.
• Preah Ko - one of the oldest temples of the Angkor era that served as a basic model for other mountain temples of Angkor.
• Bakong - the most important and lively temple of Roluos, frequented by monks dressed in saffron as its pagoda is located in the same place.

Overnight in a hotel.

Enjoy a free day for last-minute shopping.

Depending on your flight schedule, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Thank you for choosing Kampá Tour!

This marks the end of your 2-Week Cambodia itinerary. Safe travels!