Cruise in Cambodia. Shores of the Mekong and Dreams of Angkor

Welcome from our driver upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH).

Transfer and check-in at our hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Rooms available from 2:00 PM. If you arrive a bit early and your room is not yet ready, you can drop off your luggage at the reception before going for a walk in the city or resting by the pool.

Day trip by tuk-tuk

Embark at 4:00 PM at Phnom Penh port, be welcomed with a drink and a cold towel, settle comfortably into your cabin, then enjoy dinner.

After breakfast, set off on a walking tour of the village of Koh Chen, where the highlight is meeting a local copper and silver craftsman. Then travel by coach to Oudong, the former capital of Cambodge, with a stop at the fascinating Vipassana Dhura meditation center.

After lunch on board, head to Silk Island by tuk-tuk, where you will discover the silk weaving process, from cocoon to shuttle, with the opportunity to observe local families weaving the krama, Cambodia's emblematic scarf.

Before dinner, immerse yourself in Cambodian cultural heritage with a captivating Krama presentation, where you will learn the history and significance of this iconic scarf, as well as its multiple uses in daily life.

The boat continues towards your next stop: Angkor Ban.

This morning, explore Angkor Ban village with its wooden stilt houses and local atmosphere. Return to the cruise to continue the journey with Victoria Mekong heading towards Kampong Cham.

Before leaving for the afternoon excursion, take a few minutes for a hands-on cultural experience by learning the delicate art of folding lotus flowers, a symbol of purity and devotion in Southeast Asian tradition.

Take a walk along the river to visit the town of Kampong Cham.

Then enjoy dinner and the evening show on board.

Day trip by tuk-tuk to the magnificent temples of Angkor located around and within the walls of Angkor Thom. We discover in particular Angkor Wat, symbol of the peak of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era.

Within the walls of Angkor Thom, discover Bayon and its numerous towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic 40-meter reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Elephant Terrace with 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 their sprawling aerial roots. We can finish 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 intentionally skip some secondary temples of 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 the crowds. Just let your guide know at the start 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 the sculptures or sit on temple elements.

In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to behave rowdily inside a sacred place, calmness and respect are key words.

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 it is close to your heart.

If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. Moreover, you must not touch them at all, they have the right to touch you but not the other way around.

We then begin a short hike needed to reach the site of Kbal Spean nicknamed "the temple under water", 49 km north of Angkor. Temple ruins 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 Khmer carved Shivas and squares of stone used to bless the waters before they arrived at the Royal City. The site was discovered in 1968 by ethnologist Jean Boulbet from Ariège, and in his footsteps you can wander along the lush banks. A small waterfall near the sacred protected site will allow us to cool off or even swim there (bring a small towel).

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

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

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

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

Free program before your transfer to Siem Reap International Airport. (included; we will organize the transfer based on your flight time). Note: you will need to check out of your room before noon. If your flight is in the evening, you can leave your luggage at the hotel reception to stroll around the city.