Beautiful Cambodia 13 days 12 nights

Day 1 : Phnom Penh Arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport in the morning and warm welcome by our guide and transfer to the city . Phnom Penh sightseeing tour : the city full of charm , historical capital with wide avenues and beautiful gardens through the Monument of Independence of Angkorian style adorned by beautiful gardens tower to symbolize the day Cambodia achieved independence from French in November 1953 and Wat Phnom built on a small artificial hill topped by a magnificent pagoda monastery for housing sacred relics and a huge stupa of the former king PonheaYat founder of the Phnom Penh capital. You will visit the colonial districk that has preserved its many houses of French style , passing the national library , the Municipality of Phnom Penh , Calmette Hospital , the Embassy of France and C hhruoy Changva bridge over the Tonle Sap and the great post ,visit the Royal Palace built in 1866 by King Norodom consisting of different structures grouped in an enclosure with a remarkable architecture of Khmer art , the Silver Pagoda which tile is made of silver (or pagoda emerald ) located inside the Royal Palace brings together masterpieces by such a large gold Buddha weighing 90kg solid gold and encrusted with diamonds 9584 , an emerald Buddha and baccarat crystal, visit the National Museum stunning example of Khmer architecture which was officially inaugurated in 1920 in which are exhibited artworks and sculptures relating to different periods of the history of art Khmer. Overnight.

Day 2 : Phnom Penh – Battambang Full day trip of 291 km to Battambang province located in the north -west , known for its natural resources and its soil. Several visits are planned along the way : first workshops of artisans village bordering the Tonle Sap whose inhabitants specialize in silver work and copper which are the ornaments shaped objects used during traditional ceremonies at the pagoda or for marriages , then the Kompong Chhnang city , one of the largest fishing ports on the Tonle Sap. It also raising fish . The area is particularly famous for its archaic pottery supply the entire country and palm sugar that abound this area producing sugar and palm wine . You discover floating villages of fishermen and to the famous village at the foot of the mountain with its particularly archaic pottery , visit the hereditary work by hand from clay . Continue to Pursat and stop at distict Krakor to the excursion on the Tonle Sap in Kampong Luong to explore the largest floating village on the Tonle Sap consists of a Vietnamese village and a Khmer village. Almost never visited the village considered a small town lives in complete autarky. Floating school , factories to make ice for fish preservation , church, pagoda, service stations, pigsty , stores, boat repair or TV , video club, karaoke bar, police station … everything is floating. All trades are represented and everybody from children to grandparents goes by boat through the network of canals that cross this little town.Enjoy the opportunity to see how to make fresh noodle from rice paste and marble carving workshop at Pursat known in the country.Arrival in Battambang in late afternoon. Hotel installation .

Day 3 : Battambang Colonial House BAT Battambang was a big city after Phnom Penh, you can impress the houses keeping their colonial style along the Sangker river and also it market. Tuk -Tuk ride ( bike trailer ) or by car along the river passing through the Vietnamese and Cham villages to visit the ancient pagoda Samrong Khnong and manufacture of glutinous rice cake cooked in bamboo stems cut , then crossed the bridge , visit Prahok market ” Phsar prahoc ” ( prahoc is a traditional Khmer food) and market Daun Teav with old jute bag factory , now converted into a rice factory .

Continuation by bus through beautiful villages of rice cakes to the 11th century temple of Ek Phnom . On the way back , stop in the village of rice pancake that you could see the activities and contact people .

Return Wat Kor village and visit a very old traditional house over a century . Then transfer to the bamboo train station , creative transport by villagers . You will have the opportunity to make a unique experience on a short drive for 6 km to contemplate the landscape of rice fields and countryside at sunset and the brick factory at the terminus. Overnight in Battambang.

Day 4 : Battambang – Siem Reap (July – January) You will take a private traditional wooden boat to Siem Reap. First, you will down the Sangker river, on the way you can see the splendid landscapes of the villages on the stilts, the pagodas, the bamboo trees and the family fishing, stop at Bak Prea fishing village , Chheu Khmau pagoda and arrive at Prek Toal a big fishing floating village with crocod

ile farm, fishpond, floating shop, visit the water hyacinth handicraft. You will have a picnic lunch on boat. The navigation continuous on the great lake of Tonle Sap until Chong Khneas Village, the pier at Siem Reap. You will visit the fishpond, crocodile farm and souvenir shop before taking the car to Siem Reap city along the busy road. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 5 : Siem Reap Starting to discover the Rolous Group temples , it is a collection of monuments representing the remains of Hariharalya, the first major capital of the Angkorian era Khmer Empire : Lolei, Preah Ko & Bakong temple. Continuation to visit the Grand Circuit: Pre Rup, traditionally believed to be a funerary temple, but in fact the state temple of Rajendravarman II. East Mebon, it is architecturally and artistically superior temple-mountain and beautifully carved false doors on upper level as well as an excellent view of the surrounding countryside, Ta Som, is the most distant temple on the grand circuit. Even it is small but classic Jayavarman VII temple, Neak Pean, which means ‘coiled serpents’, from the encoiled nagas that encircled the temple and Preah Khan temple dedicated to JayavarmanVII’s father.

Day 6 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples This morning, you will experience the wind-swept transfers particularly by Tuk Tuk (motor-cycles) , 2 people per Tuk-Tuk, enjoy an exciting morning in the ancient Angkor environment and the most popular transfer locally of Cambodia . Visit Angkor Thom temples , starting from the South Gate , the famous Bayon Temple – built by Jayavarman VII at the end of the 12th, in the exact center of the city of Angkor Thom, Baphuon , Phimean Akas, Elephants and Leper King Terraces. In the afternoon, visit Angkor Wat, one of the seven greatest architectural wonders of the world, as a temple and mausoleum for King Suryavarman II at the peak of the Khmer empire in the first half of 12th . Angkor Wat is probably the best-preserved of the Angkorean temples, with a central tower surrounded by four smaller towers. Finally, in the late afternoon, coming to the Phnom Bakheng temple, the first temple in Angkor region build by the Yacovarman I King in the first of 9th century, located on a slope gently hill where thousands tourist are grouping on the hill top to catch a memorable time of life when viewing the marvelous sunset. Return by car to hotel .Overnight.

Day 7 : Siem Reap – Angkor Temples Excursion to Kbal Spean or Thousand lingas river located around 40 km . After traveling by car, you walk 30mn more trough the forest to get the river that contribute to the irrigation of Angkor The bed of the river is lavishly sculpted. Numerous lingas lay there, caressed by the crystal clear water . Bas-reliefs depict scenes from the Brahman pantheon such as Vishnu lying or Brahman born out of a lotus. After climbing down, on way stop at Banteay Srey temple built under Jayavarman V, as the jewel in the crown of classical Khmer arts. Its rose-colored sandstone walls are decorated with carvings and bas-reliefs, which are among the most accomplished Angkor has to offer and Banteay Samre , then visit Sras Srang and visit the famous Ta Phrom Temple-a monastery built by Jayavarman VII as a residence for his mother. Ta Prohm has been controversially left to the destructive power of the jungle by French archeologists to show how nature can destroy man’s work. It has been largely overgrown by the jungle and as you climb through the dilapidated stone structures you see many giant trees growing out of the top of the temple itself. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 8 : Siem Reap – Kompong Thom – Kompong Cham Road to Kompong Cham trough Kopomg Thom city. Visit on the way the antique Naga brige at Kompong Kdei,then the Sambo Prei Kuk, group temples dispersed in the forest, is the most significant conglomeration of pre-angkorian temples. It was constructed during the period when the Khmer Kingdom of Chenla was at its apex and controlled much of the area, more than 150 years before the rise of Angkor . Continue to Kompong Cham, one of the most populated province in Cambodia . Overnight at Kompong Cham.

Day 9 : Kompong Cham – Kratié Kompong Cham sightseeing tour. Visit the men and women hills of the buddhist sanctuary (Phnom Pros, Phnom Srei and Wat Nokor temple. After, road tp Kratie, cross the Mekong river by the Kisona bridge and visit the Chup rubber plantation . Arrive at Kratie city, then cruise on Mekong river to watch Irrawaddy dolphin. Overnight at Kratie..

Day 10 : Kratié – Ratanakiri Visit Phnom Sambok , the natural and historical resort . The mountain has two peak, adult peak and a pointed peak. On the mountain top, we can view the beautiful scene especially the Mekong River. Then trip to Ban Lung known as Red city in Ratanakiri , nicknamed the “Red City” because of the omnipresent laterite. Free and Overnight. Overnight.

Day 11 : Ratanakiri- The Totem Tampoun Direction northwest today, we cross bamboo forests before reaching the village of Veune Saï located on the left bank of the Se San river; the view on the Chinese village on the other side of the river is quite pretty. Besides, this place is nearly a Chinese enclave in Cambodian territory, most villagers, who are there the thirties, don’t even speak Khmer. Upstream , there are Tampoun villages, minority that practices funeral statuary If possible, we will rent a boat to get to the village of Ka Chohan which offers beautiful totems. We end up with a detour to Yaklaom lake, a beautiful and perfectly-round stretch of water, surrounded by forest, for a late afternoon swim. Overnight

Day 12 : Ratanakiri – The Kroeung territory Depart for a trip through rubber plantations towar ds the nearby waterfalls and elephant ride before heading towards Laos and the village of Taveng. First cross Vealrum Plang, a round lava field in the forest; a few steps away there is a small waterfall (in the rainy season only) surrounded by tigers caves. Later on, we stop at some nice Kroeung villages located in the forest on both sides of the road.

The more North we go, the more beautiful the forest. In some Kroeung villages, depending on the season, we might discover some quite impressive bachelor houses built on very high stilts. Let’s notice that, when they have achieved their goal and when the young man has become head of a family, these houses are destroyed before being raised again by younger men the following season.

Overnight. Road to Laos and Taveng village, via Veal Rumplang and the Tiger cave. Next, you are more and more in the forest close to Kroeung with its stilt houses. So, a small detour to Yak Loam lake to have a swimming and relax afternoon. Overnight . Transfer by road until Laos border “Dong Kralor” via Stung Treng province.

Day 13 : Ratanakiri – Laos border Transfer to Voen Kham , Lao border , via Stung Treng city.

Please note : This tour is an example of our numerous packages around Cambodia. If you need more information on other programs and destinations, please contact us. We’ll do our best to suit your needs.

Warning : *Our prices are in American Dollars (USD)* *Our prices depend on the number of customers*

We thank you for your interest for Mekong Heritage Travel. It’s a pleasure for us to help you compose your trip at a reasonable price.