The Road of Delights

Welcome by our driver upon your arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (KTI).

Transfer and check-in at the hotel.

The rest of the day is free.

Rooms available from 2:00 PM. If we arrive a little early and our room is not yet ready, we can leave our luggage at reception before going for a walk in the city or resting by the pool.

Day trip by tuk-tuk

Road transfer to Kampong Thom halfway between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. On the way, be bold to make the most of a brief "gastronomic" stop in the town of Skun, famous for its fried spiders and insects.

We then visit Phnom Santuk mountain, the sacred mountain which brings together pagodas and large reclining Buddhas; the oldest ones have been carved into the rock over time and more recent ones are simply made of cement. You must climb more than 800 steps through the forest to reach the summit of this popular pilgrimage site in the region (motorbike taxi available as an alternative). We will probably be accompanied by troops of monkeys. From up there, you can enjoy the view of the vast plains and surrounding countryside.

In the morning, transfer by road to Siem Reap, an essential stop during your stay in Cambodge. The city-province is home to the extraordinary Angkor temples and the vast Tonlé Sap Lake. Along the way, we make a detour towards the village of Kampong Kleang located on Tonlé Sap Lake approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Siem Reap.

Once you arrive at your destination, we settle you in at the hotel; the rest of the day is free. Day without English-speaking guide

A day of visiting wonderful Angkor temples by tuk-tuk located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure. We discover in particular Angkor Wat, symbol of the apex of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era.

Within the Angkor Thom enclosure, discover Bayon and its numerous towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic 40-meter reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace and its great diversity of sculptures as well as the Terrace of the Leper King.

Let's conclude with Ta Prohm famous for its immense trees with tentacular aerial roots. We can end this day with a sunset either at Srah Srang, or from the heights of Pre Rup or Phnom Bakheng if you are ready to brave the crowds (note: Phnom Bakheng is off-limits to children under 12 years old and authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, creating a queue)

Due to an already busy schedule, we deliberately skip a few secondary temples from the small circuit such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda or Ta Keo. If you wish to visit these sites, do not hesitate to inform your guide at the beginning of the day so he can best arrange the schedule.

Possibility to do the visits in reverse order to avoid crowds. Simply inform your guide at the beginning of the day.

The temples are sacred places, avoid short clothing, you must cover your shoulders and wear long pants or a long skirt.

In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch sculptures or to sit on temple elements.

In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to misbehave inside a sacred place, calmness and respect are key values.

It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child vendors, this only encourages begging and truancy, prefer a donation to an association if you care about it.

If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. Furthermore, you must never touch them, they have the right to touch you but not the other way around.

We then begin the short hiking trail needed to reach the Kbal Spean site nicknamed "the temple under water", 49 km north of Angkor. Ruins of temples dating from the 9th century border a river whose bed is scattered with carved lingas. A nourishing source for Angkor, the waters of Kbal Spean once irrigated the rice fields of the ancient city. In its bed, the Khmers carved Shiva and stone squares used to bless the waters before they reached the Royal City. The site was discovered in 1968 by French ethnologist Jean Boulbet, and following in his footsteps you will be able to wander along the lush banks. A small waterfall near the sacred protected site will allow us to refresh ourselves and even bathe in it (bring a small towel).

A very accessible hike of approximately 1.5 km (or 3 km round trip) with a slight elevation gain over the last 700 meters.

Bring hiking shoes or sneakers as the trail is quite rocky.

After lunch, let's continue with a visit to Banteay Srey, a temple on a human scale compared to the gigantic Angkor Wat or Bayon. This pink sandstone temple, nicknamed "The Citadel of Women," is renowned for the refinement of the bas-reliefs and sculptures that adorn its walls and columns.

If we have energy left, we can conclude the day with a visit to Banteay Samre temple or return to the hotel directly.

After breakfast, transfer by road to Battambang.

Before going to the hotel, discover the Wat Slaket pagoda and Ek Phnom, an 11th century sandstone Brahmanical temple now in ruins. It was ransacked by the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot, and looted by the Vietnamese at liberation. A place full of history. Take the opportunity to linger over the immense statue of the seated Buddha that stands near these ruins.

After check-in and lunch, we can rest for a few hours before leaving in mid-afternoon south of Battambang to visit the Banon temple erected at the top of a hill and which offers, after climbing 358 steps, a lovely panorama of the Cambodian countryside. Passing through traditional villages lining the road, you can witness the family production of rice cakes and chat with locals about their daily lives.

We then discover Phnom Sampov, "the ship-hill" where we stay until sunset to observe the flight of bats and their incredible choreography across the sky. Day without English-speaking guide. Return to the hotel.

In the morning, we head out by bike to meet local communities. Your morning will be dedicated to a great guided bicycle ride through the beautiful Cambodian countryside. This authentic immersion in a rural environment will allow you to visit a Buddhist temple with a dark history, observe the daily life of villagers and discover some of the region's artisanal products (bamboo cake, rice wine, banana chips, fish paste, rice paper…) as well as a crocodile farm. Rich and friendly exchanges await you during this itinerary. Bike tour with an English-speaking local guide

Transfer by local bus to Phnom Penh. We take care of the tuk-tuk transfer to take you to the bus in Battambang and pick you up upon your arrival in Phnom Penh. Day without an English-speaking guide

Road transfer to Kep, a charming seaside town renowned for its crab market and national park ideal for a lovely walk. Around Tonle Bati lake you will discover beautiful temples bearing witness to Angkorian architecture such as Yeay Pow and Ta Prohm. Visit to Phnom Chisor in Takeo province. This 11th century temple was originally dedicated to the Brahmanical divinities Shiva and Vishnu. A peaceful return to the roots of the Khmer empire, ideal for those wishing to escape the crowds of the great temples of Siem Reap. Nicknamed "the maidens of the Mekong" giant freshwater shrimp are the great specialty of Takeo.

Enjoy yourself! Once we arrive at our destination, we settle into the hotel.

On the way, near Kep, exploring the caves of Phnom Kampong Trach will hold some lovely surprises for you. Considered as natural temples by local Buddhists, they hide numerous statues and altars. As the highlight of this "speleological" excursion, a beautiful representation of a reclining Buddha awaits you in a clearing open to the sky created by the collapse of the rock.

The Kampot region is internationally recognized for its exceptional pepper. It is therefore impossible to visit Kampot without taking a tour of one of the region's numerous pepper plantations! We then visit the famous family-run pepper production farm, La Plantation, with one of their English-speaking guides who will explain the origins and reasons for the fame of this pepper. We will learn more about the cultivation methods and how to cook this famous pepper.

Free program before your transfer, directly to Phnom Penh international airport (we will organize the transfer according to your flight schedule). You will need to vacate your room before noon. If your flight is in the evening, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception before a final stroll around the city.