This tour will allow you to discover the three major sites that Cambodia is undertaking to preserve and conserve thanks to their inclusion by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Many other wonderful stops will immerse you in local history, culture and traditions for a real discovery of the country and its population
Welcome by your driver upon your arrival at the airport. Transfer and installation at your hotel. Rest of the day free.
Rooms available from 2 p.m. If you arrive a little early and your room isn't ready yet, you can drop off your bags at reception before going for a walk in town or relaxing by the pool.
No guide is included on this day
Meet with your guide and your tuktuk for departure from the hotel at 8 a.m.
Discover the famous Wat Phnom which gave its name to the capital. The "hill pagoda" is the highest point of Phnom Penh.
Visit the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, real gems of Khmer architecture built in the middle of the 19th century.
The dress code at the Royal Palace is quite strict: shoulders and knees must be covered. Wearing a mask is compulsory.
Let's continue with the National Museum and discover one of the most important collections of Khmer art: 14,000 sculptures and ethnographic objects, mostly from the temples of Angkor
Visit of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21), the largest detention and torture center under the Pol Pot regime and the Khmer Rouge which will reveal a very painful chapter to you of the history of Cambodia.
Visit Phnom Penh's Central Market and/or Russian Market if there's enough time after the previous visits (markets close rather early)
In the late afternoon, embark on a boat for a trip on the Tonle Sap to enjoy an amazing view of Phnom Penh and a beautiful sunset.
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at Iroha Garden
Accommodation: Iroha Garden Hotel & Resort / Comfort Balcony Pool View
Transfer by road to Siem Reap, the city-province which hosts, among other things, the magnificent temples of Angkor. A must-see destination par excellence, the city also borders the no less famous Tonlé Sap lake and its floating villages.
On the road, at the crossroads of the national roads N6 and N7, be daring to take full advantage of a brief “gastronomic” stop in the town of Skun, famous for its spiders and grilled insects.
On the edge of Kampong Thom, discover of the astounding pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. This archaeological site has been part of UNESCO World Heritage since July 2017. It used to be an ancient capital during the period preceding the advent of the Khmer empire which settled in Angkor a few centuries later.
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at Iroha Garden
Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe
Day visit in a tuktuk of the marvelous temples of Angkor located around and inside the Angkor Thom .
You will notably discover Angkor Wat, symbol of the apogee of the Khmer Empire under the Angkorian era. Inside Angkor Thom, discover Bayon and its many towers with gigantic faces, Baphuon and its gigantic 40m reclining Buddha statue, Phimeanakas, the Terrasse des Elephants and its wide variety of sculptures, but also the Terrasse du Roi Leper.
Continue by Ta Prohm famous for its huge trees with sprawling aerial roots and conclude with a sunset from the heights of Phnom Bakheng.
Possibility of making the visits in the opposite direction to avoid the crowds. Just let your guide know at the start of the day.
Temples are sacred places, avoid short clothes, cover your shoulders and wear pants or a long skirt.
In order to preserve these fragile monuments, it is forbidden to touch the sculptures or to sit on elements of the temple.
In Cambodian culture, it is offensive to heckle inside a sacred place, calm and respect are key words.
It is not recommended to buy items or sweets from child sellers, this only encourages begging and the practice of skipping school, prefer a donation to an association if it is important to you.
If you wish to photograph the monks (called Bonzes), you must obtain their permission beforehand. In addition, you must not touch them, they have the right to touch you but not the opposite.
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apsara Greenland
Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe
The rivers that flow through Angkor have their sources in the mountain of Phnom Kulen. It is in this very extensive natural site that the Khmer kingdom was born in 802 proclaimed by King Jayavarman II who made his country independent from the tutelage of Java. We therefore suggest that you visit the cradle of the Khmer Kingdom.
Climb by car to the top of Phnom Kulen or "mount of lychees", a place of pilgrimage for Cambodians thanks to the presence of a large statue of Reclining Buddha. A refreshing swim in the natural pool of a pretty waterfall rewards your effort. On weekdays, you will also have the opportunity to visit the bottled water factory "Kulen Water" (closed on Sundays and public holidays).
In the afternoon, continue with the visit of Banteay Srey temple, smaller than the gigantic Angkor Wat or Bayon. This pink sandstone temple nicknamed "The Citadel of Women" is known for the refinement of bas-reliefs and sculptures that adorn its walls and columns.
Then, discover the Banteay Samre temple.
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apsara Greenland
Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe
Transfer to Preah Vihear. Upon your arrival at the hotel, installation and rest/free time.
In the afternoon, visit the temple of Preah Vihear. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, this remarkable masterpiece of Khmer architecture is located on the Thai border.
English-speaking guide included on this day
In the morning, discover Koh Ker, capital of Cambodia for a short period during the tenth century. Amongst other visits: Prasat Thom, a 30m-high mountain temple.
Visit Beng Mealea Temple invaded by ficus roots. It was used as a set for the 2004 movie « Two Brothers » by Jean-Jacques Annaud.
Once arrived at destination, we check in at the hotel; The rest of the day is free.
Visit the Lotus Farm by Samatoa, a unique production workshop in the world presenting the method of manufacturing the most ecological fabric from lotus fiber. After a presentation of the sacred lotus flower and its meaning in Asian cultures, you will observe each step in the creation of this rare fabric, prized by great fashion designers: harvesting the stems; spinning, which consists of transforming the fibers into a high-quality yarn; weaving to arrive at the finished product; and finally the recycling of unused parts of the plant for medicinal, nutritional and cosmetic purposes.
Continue the road to Phnom Krom mountain. From up there, you will have a beautiful view of all the surrounding rice fields. In addition, you can visit the temple and the pagoda of Phnom Krom, at the top of the mountain. The place is ideal to admire the sunset.
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Preah Vihear Boutique hotel
Accommodation: Apsara Greenland Boutique Hotel / Deluxe
Transfer by car to Battambang.
Upon your arrival, installation at the hotel then rest/free time for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit one of the last houses of traditional Khmer architecture in Battambang. Built from three different woods, it houses numerous period utensils, trompe-l'oeil pieces, and even massive furniture. The rich history of this charming building built in 1920 will be told to you by the great-grandson of its first owner. A lover of historical stories.
To the south of Battambang, a visit to the Banon temple erected at the top of a hill offers you, after climbing the 358 steps, a lovely panorama of the Cambodian countryside. Passing through the traditional villages along the road, you can watch the family making rice cakes and chat with the locals about their daily lives.
Also take the opportunity to stop in the vineyards of Battambang. Something to admire the greenhouse work of Cambodian winegrowers. And to taste if you wish wine, grape juice, ginger, and why not cognac!
Discover the temple of Phnom Sampov, “the hill-ship”. You stay there until sunset to watch the flight of the bats and their incredible choreography in the sky
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at Apsara Greenland
Lunch: Lunch inlcuding at the bambu hotel
Accommodation: Bambu hotel / Superior
You will start your day discovering the authenticity of Battambang with a ride on the famous bamboo train. Being early in the morning, this activity is ideal to start the day. The fresh air will pleasantly tickle your face when your eyes admire the rice fields painted in the landscape.
Then head to the ruins of the temple d'Ek Phnom destroyed by the Khmer Rouge and looted upon liberation by the Vietnamese. You can also visit a pagoda and a massive statue of the Buddha.
The driver will then take you to first discover the workshop where the rice cake is made, the one used to cook spring rolls and spring rolls. Then a few meters further you will see the manufacturers of glutinous rice, this dish, enclosed in a bamboo stick, which is all the rage in Cambodia. You will then visit, opposite, the pagoda of Wat Samrong Knong which houses the killing fields, an area that witnessed the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime.
After this visit you will take the direction of a crocodile farm, where you will be able to see these gigantic reptiles very closely.
The penultimate stage of this tour will take place in a workshop making banana chips. Here you will help the cooks to cut these fruits to help them, against which you can taste this delicious snack.
You will finally go to a larger workshop this time, that of manufacture of prahok. This condiment, fish brine, is highly sought after in Cambodia despite its off-putting smell.
At the end of the day, you can visit the Psar Nat market (closes at 6 p.m.).
English-speaking guide included on this day
Breakfast: Breakfast at the Bambu hotel
Lunch: Lunch inlcuding at the bambu hotel
Transfer back to Phnom Penh in the morning.
In the morning, about 10 kilometers from Kampong Chhnang, discover the know-how of the potters. The traditional village has been famous for centuries for its clay pots sold throughout the whole country. The tools have been modernized but the know-how still remains, from generation to generation.
From Phnom Penh, by car, you reach the meeting point to take the ferry to Silk Island Koh Dach. This island of 20,000 inhabitants in the middle of the Mekong is known for its silk weaving craft.
You discover this pleasant and authentic island on foot or by bike surrounded by nature, between fruit trees, fields and the banks of the Mekong with even a small beach equipped for swimming.
First, you visit the silk factory of Chamka Sne, where you can observe the different stages of the making of silk, from the breeding of the worm to the weaving of the threads.
On the road, you can also observe a large number of pagodas
English-speaking guide included on this day
Transfer by car without guide to Kampot in the morning.
The Kampot region is internationally recognized for its exceptional pepper. It is therefore impossible to go to Kampot without taking a trip to one of the many pepper plantations in the region!
In the morning, we take the direction of Secret Lake which offers a magnificent panorama with a view of the mountains.
Then we visit the family pepper production farm, La Ferme de Sothy with a French-speaking guide of the plantation who will explain the origin and why of the reputation of this pepper. You will learn more about cultivation methods and how to cook this famous pepper.
Then head to the salt marshes to discover how the region produces this precious condiment and preservative.
Conclude the day with a visit to the community of Trapeang Sangkae which will take you on a tour of the mangroves and will tell you about the efforts made to preserve and restore these real natural barriers.
No guide is included on this day
Embark on a full-day eco-tour around the islands of Kep Bay.
Aboard the Nāga, a traditional Khmer fishing boat, we will guide you through the Kep archipelago, following the waves and currents, away from any other tourist circuit.
Equipped with masks and snorkels, discover the bottoms and reefs of the Kep archipelago where many species of colorful fish, sea urchins, starfish and corals evolve.
Relax in the warm, swimmable waters of Serpents' Island Bay for a fish and seafood barbecue on the boat. Then visit a traditional fishing village where you can soak up the atmosphere and watch the preparation of nets, crab cages and bait while drinking an iced coffee. Finally, set off to explore a charming little lost and atypical islet.
You may have the rare chance to observe Irrawaddy dolphins… Keep an eye out!
The boat tour is private and starts around 9am with a return around 4pm.
Vegetarian menu on request
Lunch: Lunch included on board Beverages (water, syrups, beer, rosé wine) BBQ (fish and seafood or meat) Dessert
In the morning or early afternoon, transfer by road to Phnom Penh.
Once arrived at destination, we check in at the hotel; The rest of the day is free.
No guide is included on this day
Free program before your evening transfer to Phnom Penh International Airport (included; we will organize the transfer according to your flight schedule).
Note: you must leave your room before noon. If your flight is in the evening, you can leave your suitcases at the hotel reception for a last walk around town.
No guide is included on this day