Angkor, Tropical Adventure & Secret Paradise

Pick-up by our driver upon arrival at the airport. 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 leave your luggage at reception before going for a walk around town or resting by the pool.

In the morning, we head towards Kampong Cham.

Along the way, let's be adventurous and make the most of a "gastronomic" stop in the town of Skun, famous for its grilled spiders and insects.

In Kampong Cham, we leave the city to visit the village of Steung Trong and explore the beautiful rice fields and other plantations (peanuts, jicama and yam beans) in this very fertile riverside area. A little further on, a different landscape awaits us in the district of Krouch Chhmar. We set out to meet the villagers on a short 30-minute walk through tobacco fields. A discovery of authentic rural Cambodge.

We then head towards Kratie, a provincial town on the banks of the great Mekong with a peaceful reputation and magnificent rural landscapes.

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

We take a small boat to reach the river island of Koh Trong.

Equipped with a life jacket, cap and water bottle, set off kayaking on the river at your own pace, alone (following a guide of course!) or in tandem.

Meet at your guesthouse reception at 7am for breakfast and to meet your kayak guide who will give you instructions and safety details.

This morning excursion will have you paddling mainly with the current between the small sandy islets dotting the Mekong River and a riverine forest. Your efforts will be interspersed with several snack breaks and swimming sessions, culminating in a stop to observe the rare Irrawady dolphins from your kayak.

Return to the guesthouse around 12:30pm.

Along the way, we make a detour towards the village of Kampong Kleang located on Tonlé Sap lake approximately 1.5 hours by car from Siem Reap.

We board a private boat there to discover and visit this floating village that lives mainly from fishing.

Once we arrive at our destination, we settle in at the hotel; the rest of the day is free.

Full-day bike tour of the wonderful temples of Angkor located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure.

We discover in particular Angkor Wat, symbol of the pinnacle 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 statue of a 40m reclining Buddha, Phimeanakas, the Terrace of Elephants 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 or, if you're ready to brave the crowds, with a sunset from the heights of Phnom Bakheng (_note: Phnom Bakheng is off-limits to children under 12 years old and authorities limit access to 300 people at sunset, thus creating a queue_)

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

Possibility to conduct visits in reverse order to avoid crowds. Simply mention this to your guide 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 misbehave inside a sacred place, calm and respect are paramount.

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 touches your heart.

If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. Furthermore, you must absolutely not touch them, they are allowed 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". Temple ruins dating from the 9th century border a river whose bed is scattered with sculpted lingas. 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 slight elevation gain over the last 700 meters. Bring hiking shoes or sneakers as the trail is quite rocky.

After lunch, 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 known for the refinement of the bas-reliefs and sculptures that adorn its walls and columns. Your discovery continues with a visit to the Banteay Samre temple.

After your check-in at the hotel, discover the pagoda Wat Slaket and Ek Phnom, an eleventh-century sandstone Brahmin temple now in ruins. It was ransacked by the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot, and looted by the Vietnamese at liberation. A place steeped in history.

South of Battambang, a visit to the Banon temple built at the top of a hill offers you, after climbing 358 steps, a lovely panorama of the Cambodian countryside.

Go discover the temple of Phnom Sampov, "the ship-hill". You stay there until sunset to observe the flight of bats and their incredible choreography towards the sky.

After breakfast, we depart by road towards Koh Kong province, in the west of the country.

The region is still very wild and underdeveloped. Ideal for getting off the beaten path!

Once we arrive at our destination, we settle into the hotel; the rest of the day is free.

Road transfer to Sihanoukville, a coastal city in the south with beautiful sandy beaches and gateway to the paradisiacal islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

Once you arrive at the pier, if you have time, take the opportunity to have a quick lunch (and light, as the sea can be rough!).

Towards .... boat departure to the paradise island of Koh Rong Samloem.

After breakfast and checking out of our room, we return by boat to Sihanoukville.

The boat departure is scheduled for ...

Upon arrival at the Sihanoukville pier, a driver will be waiting for us for a final transfer via the country's only highway (to date) which will take us directly to Phnom Penh International Airport (KTI) for our return flight.

The driver will be waiting for you at the ......office, a few dozen meters away. Vehicles cannot always access the boat landing directly.

Please note: this itinerary is only possible with a return flight at the earliest in the mid-afternoon (i.e. from 16:30 onwards). If the flight is in the morning, we will need to arrange one last night in the capital.