The Reverse Loop from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh

Welcome from our driver upon your arrival at the airport.

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

Rooms available from 2:00 PM. If we arrive a bit early and our room is not yet ready, we can leave our luggage at the reception desk.

Day trip by tuk-tuk to the magnificent temples of Angkor located around and inside the Angkor Thom enclosure. We will discover in particular Angkor Wat, symbol of the height 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 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. 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 prohibited for 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 of the small circuit such as Banteay Kdei, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda or Ta Keo. If you wish to visit these sites, feel free to inform your guide at the beginning of the day so he can arrange the schedule as best as possible.

It is possible to visit in reverse order to avoid crowds. Simply indicate this to your guide at the start of the day.

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 sit on temple elements.

In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to fool around inside a sacred place, calm and respect are the watchwords.

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 matters to you.

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

We then begin the short hike necessary to reach the Kbal Spean site 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 sculpted 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 sculpted Shivas and stone squares used to bless the waters before they reached the Royal City. The site was discovered in 1968 by Ariège ethnologist Jean Boulbet, and following 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 (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 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.

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

This morning, we head towards the village of Kampong Kleang located on the Tonlé Sap Lake approximately 1.5 hours by car from Siem Reap. We board a private boat to discover and visit the floating village. We experience the daily life of this community living primarily from fishing and at the rhythm of the lake.

In the afternoon, we return to the Angkor archaeological site, more precisely to the Roluos site, a small Khmer city housing the beginnings of the Angkorian period. Seat of the first capital of the Hariharalaya empire, Roluos marks the beginning of classical Khmer civilization. The buildings are mostly constructed in brick, laterite, or sandstone. Bakong, Lolei, and Preah Ko are the three main temples of the place. All devoted to the worship of Hinduism, the latter two however today protect Buddhist pagodas. We reserve the visit to Bakong temple for the end as we will be able to take advantage of the viewpoint to admire the sunset from the heights of this temple-mountain.

Late morning, transfer by road towards Kampong Thom halfway between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

At the edge of Kampong Thom, we make a small detour to discover the magnificent pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage since July 2017.

We are settling in Steung Sen the capital of Kampong Thom province crossed by a river of the same name. Here, with a touch of irony, the locals like to remind us that they too have their "Seine".

Road transfer to Steung Treng, a quiet small town located near the Laotian border on a sandy riverbank overlooking the Mekong, at the confluence with the Sé Kong river. Check-in at your accommodation.

We settle at the Mekong Bird Resort, a charming small family establishment in the heart of nature and by the water.

Transfer with guide to Banlung, provincial capital of Ratanakiri. Hotel check-in.

Departure with your driver by road to Kratie, a peaceful town-province on the banks of the great Mekong with magnificent rural landscapes.

Upon your arrival, you take a small boat to reach the river island of Koh Trong.

A lunch at a local home awaits you.

Equipped with a life jacket, cap and water bottle, set off by kayak to tackle 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 Grand Mékong and a river forest. Your efforts will be interrupted by several snack breaks and swimming stops, culminating in a stop to observe the rare Irrawady dolphins from your kayak.

Return to the guesthouse around 12:30pm.

After lunch, we head out for a short drive to Chhlong where you can rest at the hotel.

After breakfast, road transfer to Kampong Cham.

Visit the Hanchey Pagoda, at the top of the mountain of the same name. This atypical place is home not only to the temple but also to a multitude of other sculptures, including fruits and vegetables.

Furthermore, you will have a magnificent clear view of the Mekong and the surrounding countryside.

The hills of Phnom Bros and Phnom Srei are located in Kampong Cham. Separated by a kilometer of distance from each other, the two peaks offer a magnificent view of the countryside and the Mekong. You can visit modern temples on these hills and take advantage of the place to relax pleasantly. Two places steeped in history not to be missed.

Possible activity from late January to late May: to admire a bamboo bridge of the most original kind. Connecting Kampong Cham and the island of Koh Paeng, it is rebuilt every year in January and destroyed at the end of May due to the higher water level during the rainy season.

Road transfer to Kep, a charming seaside town renowned for its crab market and national park perfect for a beautiful walk.

The Kampot region is internationally recognized for its exceptional pepper. It is therefore impossible to pass through Kampot without visiting one of the many pepper plantations in the region!

We then visit the family pepper production farm, La Ferme de Sothy with an English-speaking guide from the plantation who will explain to us the origin and the reason for the fame of this pepper. We will learn more about the cultivation methods and how to cook this famous pepper.

On the way, near Kep, the exploration of the Phnom Kampong Trach caves holds lovely surprises for us. Considered as natural temples by local Buddhists, they conceal many statues and altars. As the highlight of this "speleological" excursion, a beautiful representation of a reclining Buddha awaits us in a clearing open to the sky created by the collapse of the rock.

Road transfer to the Sihanoukville pier, a seaside town in the south with beautiful fine sandy beaches and gateway to the paradisiacal islands of Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.

Boat transfer to Koh Rong from Sihanoukville pier. Our team on the ground will wait for you at the pier to give you your boat tickets.

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

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

The boat departure is scheduled for .......

Upon our arrival in Sihanoukville, a driver will be waiting for us at the pier for a final transfer to Phnom Penh via the country's only highway.

Free program before our transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport.

We will need to check out of our room before noon. If our flight is in the evening, we can leave our luggage at the hotel reception for one last stroll around the city.